Page 36 of What a Wolf's Heart Decides

“Haley, are you in there? It’s Benjamin Rupert.”

Her heart skipped a beat. Benjamin Rupert? The male she’d flown all the way to Washington to see?

And a male who might be willing to help her get back home.

She hurried across the foyer, which was lit up like a Broadway stage as thick shafts of sunlight poured through the windows. Then she flipped the deadbolt and opened the door.

Whoa.

A tall male with dark brown hair stood inches away, one hand raised like he was mid-knock.

And he was gorgeous. Like Disney prince handsome, with a square jaw, an aquiline nose, and hazel eyes that seemed to shift between green and blue.

They smiled down at her now as his mouth split in a broad, white grin. “Haley?”

Mild air swirled around her, teasing the curls around her face. It was warmer than yesterday, the breeze almost playful after the miserable wet of the airfield.

The male cleared his throat, and she realized she was staring, her mouth slightly open.

She snapped it shut.

He shifted, sunlight glinting in his hair. “You are Haley, right?”

“Yes,” she breathed, sounding like a phone sex operator. She cleared her throat. Get it together, Michaels. “I mean, yes. I’m Haley. Haley Michaels.”

Aaaaand she’d just used the same catch phrase as James Bond.

But Benjamin didn’t seem to notice. His smile turned bashful, and he ran his hand through his hair and held it on the back of his neck. “I’m, uh, really sorry to just show up like this. I would have called, but I didn’t want to risk Bard picking up.”

Without really noticing what she was doing, Haley sank against the door frame, her gaze on the curve of his bicep as he palmed his nape.

“I hope you don’t mind,” he said.

“Huh?” She straightened. “Oh. No, it’s fine. You’re fine.” Shit! She gulped. “Everything is fine.”

He dropped his hand and shoved it in his jeans pocket. “Plus, ah, my mom fessed up to her scheme this morning. I really apologize. I’m so embarrassed.”

“Scheme?” Haley asked. Then her conversation with Bard hurtled back to her. “You mean the letter.”

“Yeah.” He grimaced. “She sort of . . . made it seem like it came from Bard. He doesn’t really do phone calls, so I assume your Alpha thought it was genuine.”

Haley was speechless. What could she say to that? Mrs. Rupert had orchestrated this whole thing? Without Bard’s knowledge or permission? No wonder he was pissed.

Benjamin swallowed. “Bard’s furious, of course.”

“Of course,” she murmured. She hugged her arms around her midsection. “Did you know about this?”

“No!” He seemed to realize he’d shouted, and he lowered his voice. “No, I swear it.”

Well, that was something, at least. Still, what a mess. Max was going to be livid when he found out—or maybe he already had. She met Benjamin’s gaze. “Why would your mom do something like this? Why not just ask Bard’s permission?”

He hesitated. “It’s complicated.”

Haley tipped her head to the side. He was cute, and he seemed genuine, but she couldn’t let him off the hook that easily. “Don’t you think I deserve an explanation? I traveled a long way because of a lie.” And it’s almost my birthday, which I might have to spend with your asshat of an Alpha.

To his credit, Benjamin sobered. “You do. Absolutely, you do.” His throat worked as he swallowed again, and his blue-green eyes ran over her face. “Gosh, you’re beautiful,” he said, almost under his breath.

Despite the weirdness of her predicament, warmth blossomed in her cheeks. And a glimmer of surprise sparked through her. She’d never thought of herself as easy, but a compliment was a compliment.

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