Page 8 of So I Dared a Dragon

On to the next folder.

A curvy lady with light blue hair, bubblegum pink lips, and gorgeous blue eyes smiled back at me. She was a mural artist, and her file included some truly incredible photos of her street art from all over the country. Would she be happy settling down?

“I think Calista’s mate is a man,” I said softly.

“Have you seen the hockey player yet?” Marissa asked, wiggling her eyebrows.

“Someone, probably from his team, leaked that he was a potential contestant and the forums have been going wild,” Hannah sang the last word. “Not that we’re hurting for viewers, but he could bring us a whole new audience.”

She leaned over and slid his folder out of the pile.

He was a Canadian with long, sandy brown hair and a grin that promised trouble. There was no doubt he’d make for a great episode, but this episode?

Why was I having such a hard time with this?

“I think these are all incredible choices, and there are strong arguments for every one of them—”

“But?” Marissa said with a cocked brow, sliding her gaze to Tina.

“We had plenty of time to prepare for this intervention,” Tina said, leaning forward. “This isn’t me speaking as a producer, it’s me talking to you as your new best friend. The Bibi that everyone in this room knows and loves isn’t afraid of anything. But something about this episode has you off your game.”

Hannah scraped her teeth over her bottom lip. “There’s another very loud contingent of forum regulars who want to seeyou answering questions on stage. Obviously, they want it to be a surprise for Calista, which might be a little hard to pull off since you’re the host of the show. Their argument is the only way to prove you’re not her mate once and for all is to have you go head-to-head with the shifter she ultimately winds up picking.”

“It’s a pretty strong argument,” Marissa added.

“If it was anyone but you, we’d all be lobbying hard for this arrangement.” Tina gave me a sympathetic smile. “But again, I have to be honest with you. Maybe this isn’t the way for the two of you to settle your differences.”

I threw my shoulders back, straightening my spine before pushing the folders to the middle of the table. “You’re right. You all are. This episode won’t be easy, but it’s important that we see it through. Pick your two favorite contestants, and I’ll join them on the stage.”

Three shocked faces looked back at me.

“We can do that,” Marissa said as she gathered the folders. “But if she picks you, we might have a logistical issue, because she’s scheduled to move into the spare boudoir later today.”

“I’m barely unpacked from Vegas!” I exclaimed. “But there’s no way I can postpone Calista’s move in.”

“You went to the mercantile and got fresh-cut flowers for her room,” Tina said as she helped me put the lavender satin fitted sheet on the bed. “That seems ready to me. And she’s checked out of the chalet. She’s coming whether you’re ready or not.”

“I’ve got bath bombs, that amazing moisturizer from the chalet spa, and the shampoo and conditioner Calista likes.”Hannah stood in the doorway of the en-suite bathroom. “I’ve got towels in the warmer, but I’m not sure if I should turn them on? I don’t think she’ll need them right away. How long are we staying?”

“I ordered catering from the mercantile. Jenny promised she’d have it here as soon as Gretta and Sunny were done cooking. There’s dessert too. Chocolate-covered cherry cheesecake. You’re welcome to stay as long as you want.”

Tina pulled comforter over the bed. “We’ll stay, make sure Calista is settled, and have something to eat. But then we need to head out and give the two of you some alone time.”

“I’ll be here,” Hugo growled. He stood behind us with his arms crossed. “I’m not going anywhere.”

“To say Hugo wasn’t happy when he heard the plan for me to go on stage would be a gross understatement,” I said as I placed the pillows.

“It’s reckless. Dangerous,” he said. “It won’t fix any problems.”

“It’s a strategy.” It would take some time for him to understand, but hopefully he wouldn’t have to. There was no way Calista would pick me.

Hannah gasped. “You don’t think Bibi and Calista are in danger, do you?”

Tina glared at her.

“Oh. Right.” Hannah smiled at Hugo apologetically. “Listen, I can sympathize more than most with why you hate this. After all, I didn’t choose the right contestant at first.”

The sound that came out of him was between a groan and growl.

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