Page 23 of Twisted Howlidays

Bailey, speaking loud enough for Ryan to hear, kicked things off. “I can’t believe you are really going to create an erotic photo calendar of naked guys.”

“Why not. I’ve already got January right here. And he’s posing in the snow by a hot spring,” Kendra replied.

Bailey shrugged. “Meh. I mean, kinda cute. But it’s just Ryan. Maybe if he wasn’t acting like such a goofball there would be something interesting there. But he just killed it with his cheesy posing.”

“What do you think, ladies? Hot or not?” Kendra asked.

One of the girls squinted at the photo. “He definitely has potential. But he’s lacking…in sincerity. Maybe he could do a photoshoot here on the dancefloor.”

Approaching the table, Ryan crossed his arms and scowled at the girls. “Did I hear my name? Are those photos of me?”

“These…are none of your business,” Bailey said, slapping the palm of her hand down on the folder.

Ruby Jean snagged the folder and took a quick peek at the contents. “Yeah, they’re for Kendra’s new nudie calendar.”

Ryan gulped and turned his gaze to Kendra. “Now you’re working on a nude calendar?”

“Sure. Why not. I just happen to have a full series of photos of a guy stripping for the camera.”

“Whoa. If those are pictures of me, I—”

“Who says they are pictures of you?” Kendra said playfully.

“Because I overheard someone here mention my name,” he said, not even remotely amused.

The alcohol was hitting her hard, and she really let loose. Tracing her finger down over his chest, she mercilessly teased him. “Okay, big guy. Let’s say they are pictures of you. If that’s the case, they would be the pictures you intentionally posed for on my trail camera without my permission. And then you strategically returned that same camera to me. So, basically, you slipped me your unrequested nude photos. And this is all after you sweet-talked me into your little love shack with some phony story.” Kendra maintained her playful tone, relishing the way Ryan squirmed. She turned to address the group of women huddled around her. “What do you call a guy like that?”

“Typical player,” Ruby Jean replied.

“A player. Right. Maybe that will be the title of my calendar. Player of the month?”

“All right, Kendra. I get it. Can we talk?”

Bailey intentionally stumbled, throwing her weight into Kendra’s back, and sending her into Ryan’s arms.

Too shocked to scold Bailey, she glanced up at Ryan’s eyes. At that moment, his arms wrapped around her waist, and she felt her smart-ass attitude melt away.

She hadn’t even noticed that the DJ had switched the music to a slow song—not until Ryan swept her onto the dance floor.

“I’m not used to saying this, but I just want to say I’m sorry. Honestly, I’m not a player or whatever that is.”

“A player is any self-centered person who says and does whatever they want in order to trick another person into bed. You know, fake bears, a fake guide story, to get me naked in the hot spring and then spend the night in the cozy cabin. Yep, it worked out well for you. Anyway, I’ve concluded that’s what most guys are these days. So don’t feel sorry. You’re just part of the mainstream trend I suppose.”

“I’m dead serious. You must feel there’s something different about me. What we shared that night was magic. Your wolf knows it, even if you don’t want to admit it.”

“Ugh. Give it up already. You don’t need to carry on with the ‘what we had was special.’ You smooth-talked the city girl and got laid. Congrats. I’d suggest you try one of the other girls here, but I’ve kind of exposed your gig. Besides, I’m sure you’ve worked your way through half of them already.”

“Just answer these questions. When we were together did you feel like you had found your other half, the part that makes you whole? Did you want nothing more than to sink your teeth into my flesh and claim your mate, your destiny? Is your heart aching every second we are apart? Well, I can answer yes to every one of those questions. What about you?”

“But what does it matter? None of this was ever in my plan. I came here to meet a deadline and go home. Nice and simple. And by the way, those aren’t your pictures in that folder. I was just trying to embarrass you. So you can go on being a player,” she said, pulling away from him.

Bypassing the table, she raced out the door. Shifting to her wolf, the healing effects of the transformation sobered her instantly.

Racing back to the cottage, she returned to human form and gathered her things together. Most of her things were already loaded in her Jeep.

“Fuck the passes. That’s why I have four-wheel drive,” she mumbled, hitting the gas.

Driving down the winding road away from the cabin, she didn’t even slow down at the crossroads. In the dark and blowing snow, she only caught a glimpse of the old truck pulling out in front of her.

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