I ignored the insult. “They formed teams, and each team member has to perform a certain ranch task. Right now, they’re in the barn cleaning stalls and bucking hay. The team with the highest number of points is safe from elimination tonight and has a group date with me tomorrow night.”
Alexander nodded his head approvingly. “Niiiice. Where are you taking them for that? The group fantasy suite? Going to have an orgie so you can assess their prowess in a group setting?”
“What I wouldn’t give for a stake right now, and I’m not talking about the kind you can eat.” Easy for him to joke about all of this—it wasn’t his family’s land and livelihood on the line.
We watched as the women, flanked by cameras, exited the main barn. They headed into the corral where four horses were saddled up and ready to go, one for each team.
I scanned the group and quickly found Daphne. Unlike the other contestants who’d clearly primped and prepped, whichstruck me as a little silly considering they knew they were coming to the ranch to work, she wore a pair of slim-fitting jeans tucked into old cowboy boots and had pulled her silky brown hair into a messy ponytail. She radiated a no BS attitude that said she wasn’t trying to impress anyone.
Least of all me.
Beyond her initial shock at the hospital, she hadn’t reacted to this new world in fear, but with a sense of awe and wonder. If the situation were reversed, I reckon I’d have gotten drunk off my ass and taken the first ferry back to the mainland, so props to her for sticking it out.
Her reaction to the fairy-sprites was charming as hell. I recalled the look on her face when one had landed on her finger. Having grown up on the island and now working on a show where almost everyone was some sort of magical creature, I didn’t see my world the way she did. It was...interesting.
She’d looked stunning in that blue dress too. Then I imagined how she’d look beneath me, her loosened hair spread out on my pillow?—
“Ladies,” Jada’s voice boomed through a bullhorn, jerking me away from my carnal thoughts.
Heaven’s Moon, I had no business thinking of Daphne this way. I wasn’t here for a love match. Or a fuck buddy.
“I see you’ve picked your horses,” she said. “Have you chosen which teammate is going to ride?” She waited for the nods and affirmations. “Okay, then. Helmets on, butts in the saddles. I’m going to walk you through the next challenge. Come on, right this way. Chop-chop!”
“Your sister is a pint-sized combination of Jeff Probst, Chris Harrison and T.J. Lavin,” Alexander remarked.
I nodded. “Except meaner and more demanding.”
Mia had been chosen to ride from Daphne’s team, and she sprang into the saddle like she’d done it a million times. Butrather than watching her ride, I found myself watching Daphne instead.
Why was I so bewitched by this human—someone who had no place in my world?
She and Sarah were laughing about something. Actually, Daphne appeared to be acting out some sort of goofy story. I strained to hear her above the sounds of the horses and riders getting into position, but even with my wolf senses, I was too far away. I watched as she did a silly dance, pulsing her arm up and down.
What on earth was she doing? One of the other contestants shushed her, and the two of them clamped their hands over their mouths.
That was when Daphne caught my gaze and that fierce heat ignited in me again—a wild, primal surge that set my blood on fire. But to my surprise, she didn’t seem to feel the same spark. Instead, the amusement in her expression instantly faded, and she inclined her head in acknowledgement, all business-like again. I nodded back, perplexed and frankly, a little disappointed. My attention normally got the opposite reaction from women.
She whispered something to Sarah, who looked over at me, eyes wide, cheeks bright red. Daphne elbowed her, and Sarah gave me a little wave.
Well, wasn’t that interesting? Daphne wanted me to notice Sarah instead. Didn’t she care I was noticingher?
Jada pointed to a series of obstacles set up in the arena. “One at a time, you’ll ride your horse over the bridge, weave in and out of the poles, then go through that freestanding gate, closing it behind you. Then you’ll gallop around the barrels at the far end of the arena. Fastest time from start to finish wins this part of the challenge. Any questions?”
Alexander let out a low whistle. I turned, assuming he wasogling Mia and her shapely figure atop her horse, so I was annoyed to see him looking in Daphne’s direction.
“Isn’t that the human woman who was with you in the ER?” he asked, his gaze lingering a bit too long for my liking. “I didn’t know she was a contestant.”
“Neither did I,” I replied. “Not until last night, that is.” I explained how Daphne had come to the island thinking she’d won a singles trip then learned she was a contestant in a dating contest.
“And yet, she still agreed to take part,” he said, nodding with respect. “She’s sure handling it like a champ.”
I agreed. “However, Jada’s mad atmethat Daphne is here today.”
“Why?” Alexander asked, his brow knit in confusion. “That washerfault, not yours.” Like a true friend, the guy had my back.
“You’re fucking right, it is.” I carefully flexed then rubbed my sore knee. “She promised Daphne she wouldn’t advance in the contest. Told her if she participated in the first meet, she’d see to it that I wouldn’t give her a charm, and her participation in Date-A-Wolf would be over.”
“But you gave her a charm anyway,” Alexander mused. “Way to show your sister who’s boss. She can’t tell you what to do.”
