Page 13 of The Wolf I Sworn To Hate

They waved back.

“They are just the cutest couple,” Ellie gushed. “They are so much in love. They met at a roller skating rink when they were in high school and fell in love. It’s just like a fairy tale. I just love fairy tale endings, don’t you?”

Sawyer rubbed his chin. “Well, that all depends. Are you talking about Disney tales or Grimm’s version? There’s quite a difference, you know.”

Ellie smiled at him. “Disney’s version, of course, silly.”

Sean bit his lip to keep from laughing. He had a sneaking suspicion that Ellie and Marcie had a glass or two of wine before they came to dinner.

Ellie’s eyes sparkled as she leaned closer to Sawyer. “Well, Dr. Charming, if you’re so versed in fairy tales, which one do you think we’re living right now?”

Sawyer was caught off guard for a minute before he thought of an answer. “One of the doctors I worked with used to tell the story of Snow White and Red Rose to the children. Here we have two beautiful women, two dashing men, and a magical setting on the mountain.”

Marcie clapped her hands like a happy little kid. “Ooh, I love that fairy tale.” She rubbed Sean’s arm and leaned toward him. “Which one of you is the bear in disguise? You both seem manly enough to fit the bill.”

“I’m the bear. He’s the dwarf,” Sawyer said, pointing at Sean. “Can’t you tell?”

“Yeah, my beard got cut off, and I grew a couple of inches.”

“I’d say.” Marcie looked him up and down exaggeratingly, and she licked her lips seductively.

Sawyer choked on the tea he just swallowed again and grinned at Sean.

Ellie squeezed his hand. “So, Doctor Charming, if we get into trouble on the slopes tomorrow, are you going to rescue us as a knight in shining ski gear?”

“I’ll do my best, but that knightly armor might be more along the lines of thermal underwear than any kind of shining metal.”

“Thermal underwear can be very sexy and heroic,” Ellie assured him.

Marcie raised her glass of tea. “To fairy tales and ski adventures. May our story have a happily ever after – or at least a very happy right now.”

The four of them flirted throughout dinner. Sean was pretty sure the women were disappointed when Sawyer and Sean, once again, turned them down for an evening watching horror movies.

“I think they have something more in mind than just watching movies,” Sean said.

“Gee. Whatever gave you that idea? I’m just glad that we managed to leave with my virtue intact.”

Sean laughed. “Virtue? Sir, I think that you might be a wee bit past that. You are no virgin.”

“How dare you impugn my dignity in such a way. If I had a white glove, I’d slap you across the face and we would duel at dawn.”

“I think you might have been swept up in your own fairy tales. No one duels anymore.” Sean unlocked their cabin door. “Besides, I left my epee at home.”

“I seriously think people should duel, only with paint guns, plastic light sabers, or something like that. That way, no one gets seriously injured and everyone’s honor is intact.”

“I don’t think we brought either of those things with us.” Sean was quiet for a second. “We might be able to find some paper towel tubes.”

“You’re on. Paper towel tubes at dawn. But as for Marcie and Ellie – I’m sure they aren’t too brokenhearted. After all, there are two other men here who are the same age. Maybe not quite as good-looking as us, but they’d do in a pinch.” Sawyer strutted through the cabin, his chest puffed out and his chin up, making Sean laugh.

“I see that someone isn’t humble.”

They plopped down on the couch and Sean picked up his phone. “It says we could be in for a serious snowstorm tonight. It could dump a foot or more of snow on top of us. That could make it difficult to get out when we’re ready to leave.”

“It’ll be fine. We’re at a ski resort on a mountain. I’m sure that they’re used to a little snow. And, so what if we’re here for a couple of extra days. Jade is more than able to take care ofHowlers’for you, and I don’t have anywhere pressing to be. Relax.”

Sean had a bad feeling about the situation, but he nodded. “I guess I’m not used to being away fromHowlers’this long.”

“You should get used to it. You know the old cliché, ‘All work and no play make Sean a dull boy.’”

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