“Ineed you to be a real jerk right now.”
“That’s an odd request.” I frowned at Daphne over the rim of my IPA. She was looking back at me rather intently. I couldn’t imagine why she was asking this, or what she wanted me to do.
After her close encounter with the vampire, we came to Rover’s Shed, an unmarked speakeasy around the corner from Nightmare Alley. You had to know the special knock to get in. Although it had been years since I’d been here, I was glad I still remembered it.
I took another large swig and wiped the foam from my mouth with the back of my hand. I needed to tread lightly here. If she learned I’d been tailing her through Wickedville—and why—she’d know just what kind of asshole I could be.
I cared about what she thought of me.Stupid, I know.But I didn’t want her to think I was an asshole. Even though I was a giant one.
She truly didn’t seem In-The-Know when she got to theisland, but maybe I was wrong. Jada had blamed bad internet targeting, but was it possible that Daphne, or someone she was in cahoots with, gamed the system in order to get her into the contest?
I didn’t want to believe she was the mole, but I hadn’t forgotten how strangely she’d acted outside the hospital, either. Her nervous smile. Her sudden inability to meet my gaze. I doubted it was because she didn’t want to have lunch with me. Paired with what I’d learned from my attorney, it was obvious she was hiding something. And I was determined to find out what.
Daphne plopped her beach bag on the table with athunkand shoved it at me, almost knocking over my pint.“Ask me again why I came to Wickedville.”
Her eyes blazed with fiery determination as she focused all of her attention on me. My cock thickened in response. I may not understand her, but fuck, the woman unleashed something wicked in me.
“Okay,” I said slowly, playing along with whatever this was. “Why did you come to Wickedville, Daphne?”
“I can’t tell you that.” Clutching the fabric of her beach bag right over the printed sloganFinding My True Nature On Darkaway Island,she jerked it forcefully off the table. “You’re an actor. I need you to act like a major jerk, okay? What do you really want to do right now?”
Bend you over this table and?—
I needed to get a grip and muzzle my inner wolf better. He’d been much more aggressive lately.
“Come on, Travis,” she said, completely oblivious to my feral thoughts. “Think. WWDVD. What would Drake Valentino do?”
He’d want to fuck you too.
Heaven’s Moon! I gritted my teeth and vowed to call the pack together for a group run as soon as possible. This wasridiculous. My knee was healed enough. My ability to shift with no adverse consequences had proven that.
She shoved her bag at me again, and this time itdidknock over my pint.
Swearing loudly, I sprang to my feet, but not before beer poured onto my lap. I grabbed her bag so it wouldn’t get soaked too.
Damn, it was heavy. Much heavier than I’d been expecting. For a moment, I forgot about my wet crotch. “What the hell is in this thing?”
“I’m not telling you anything, Drake. Give it to me.” She had an oddly expectant look on her face as she reached for the bag but didn’t quite touch it.
Drake? What was she—? And then I got it. Or at least, I think I did. She wanted me to do what Drake Valentino would do.
I gave her a crooked smile. “Oh no, you don’t, darlin’.” I jerked it out of her reach. “What do we have here?” I stuck my hand inside and pulled out…an ancient leather-bound book with a rusty metal clasp.
Daphne gave a little fist pump. “Yes!”
I prided myself on being fairly intuitive when it came to women. Daphne, however, wasn’t like most women. “Why are you hauling this thing around? It’s got to weigh almost ten pounds.”
“I was waiting for you to do that.”
“If you wanted to show me, why didn’t you just tell me? Why all the games?” I felt like I was auditioning for a top-secret part knowing nothing about the show or the role.
She lowered her voice. “Because I didn’t want to barf on you.”
I raised a brow, more confused than ever. She certainly didn’t look sick.
“Sit back down.” She snapped her fingers at me, and I felt my mouth quirk. No one had ever snapped their fingers at me. Idoubt I’d tolerate it from anyone other than her. “I have something I can tell you now.”
Taking a seat on her side of the banquette since my side was wet, I dabbed at my crotch with a few napkins.
