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He’s thinking there’s no way I could possibly be a virgin since I’m twenty-four, but I am. I’ve been completely absorbed in work for the past five years and I just never met anyone I was interested in.
The more I think about it, the more I think this could actually be a shot worth taking.
Caroline soothes both kids with a new cartoon and a lollipop each. She sighs as she comes back.
I quickly turn to her husband and whisper. “Can you get me the number?”
Chapter Three
Warren
Snoops whimpers as another private jet lands on the dirt runway.
“It’s okay, boy,” I say as I pet his head. He turns in a circle and gives me an uneasy look. “At least, I hope it’s okay.”
I take a sip of my stout as I watch the plane taxi beside the others. Two more are circling in the air over my ranch, waiting to land. I’m sitting on the porch with my dog, watching everything from a distance. Private jets have been landing all day. An enormous luxurious tent like something a Roman Emperor would have had back in the day is erected in the valley that generations of my family rode horses along. My grandfather proposed to my grandmother right where those lion shifter guards are standing.
Snoops whimpers as another private jet touches down. The plane taxis in the opposite direction, rolling close to the large tent. I watch closely as the steps lower and about two dozen girls hurry out. I don’t get a good look at any of them, but the sight still makes me uneasy.
This was a bad idea. I never should have agreed to this.
I take my last sip of beer, get up, and crush my empty can as Snoops bounds up by my side. He’s looking at me with his big brown eyes, hoping that I’ll take him over to investigate all the strangers on our ranch.
“Sorry, buddy,” I say as I bring him inside. “You’re going to have to hang back here.”
A look of pure betrayal flashes on his face as I close the door. He pops up in the side window and barks at me.
“This was my mistake,” I whisper as I head down the stairs. “I’ll fix it myself.”
It’s late in the evening on one of those long summer days when the darkness really takes its time in coming out. The next jet that lands has its lights on.
It’s dark enough and I’m approaching from downwind, so I can sneak close enough to the tents without those lion shifters knowing I’m here.
Part of the deal I made with Coco St. James was that I had to stay away from the event. ‘I don’t want to see you leaving your house,’ is what she said. Too bad for her, this is my land and I make the rules.
I head for the back of the tent near the flap where the girls were ushered in. Just as I arrive, the three lion shifters pop out of the door and lock eyes with me.
The one in the front with the shaved head gets right in my face. My inner grizzly growls. He doesn’t like the smell of him and neither do I.
“Aren’t you supposed to be in your house?” he says with a snarl. “I suggest you go and watch Wheel of Fortune or something before I get mad.”
My bear has always been territorial on this ranch, so having these three hostile shifters in my face is making him extra grumpy.
I puff out my chest as I stare him down. “I’m taking a look inside.”
The two other brutes flank him.
“I don’t think so.”
He grabs my arm and I yank it from his grip.
“Move,” I growl as my bear hovers at the surface, ready to jump in case I need to pull out the big furry guns.
“Why are you damn bears always a fucking problem?” he spits out as he glares at me.
“Maybe because lion shifters are always shady as fuck.”
“What did you say?” the guy in the back left says as he steps forward with a snarl.
My bear is on the verge of bursting out. He wants to fight. I can feel it.
“Coco,” the third lion shifter says into the little radio strapped to his shoulder. “We have a problem outside. Southside. Back of the tent.”
Great. This thing keeps escalating. Maybe I should have brought Snoops along. He could have created a diversion while I slipped inside undetected.
“Shit, why’d you call, Coco?” the first guy says with a grunt. “She’s going to tear our asses open for letting him get this close.”
“Seriously,” the other one says. “What the fuck, Magnus?”
They’re distracted while they argue.
I charge through them and march into the tent. Beautiful young women in all sorts of outfits are getting ready. My eyes slice through the crowd and land on the most beautiful girl I’ve ever seen. She’s… She’s… It’s her. It’s really her.
