Page 71 of Stripped

“Dad and I like to have plenty of food if the mood strikes us to cook for a bunch of people.”

“And the rest of the town?”

He shrugged. “Haven't asked. I imagine they have extra food stores or they're hunting for their meals. Now that Leopold's gone, we should be able to get food in town again.”

“With what money?”

“Now that Leopold won't be keeping us out of Aspens Whiten, those who still have jobs there can go back to work. We'll have money soon enough.”

He wiped up the last bits of stew from the bowl with the last bite of bread and stood to carry his bowl to the sink. I hopped out of the way before he could cage me in and steal a kiss that would change my mind.

“We should work on that yoga video,” I said. “The sooner you get it out there, the sooner you can start making money.”

“Do we even need it? Now that Leopold's gone, maybe I can get my yoga studio back.”

“Until the next vampire king decides to use the same leverage Leopold did to chase you out of Aspens Whiten. You need to have an income stream the vampires can't touch or interfere with.”

“You're probably right, but I'm not doing this alone.” He pulled his cell phone from his back pocket. “I'm calling a couple guys to come over and help.”

“If you know anyone with a nice video camera, call her, too.”

He made the phone calls and went back to his room to change. I went downstairs and picked up the room to make it as neat and sparkly as possible for the video.

Zane walked in topless and in tight-fitted shorts. He took my breath away. I considered grabbing my stuff and running to Denver because just the sight of him made me never want to leave. He glanced my way and started stretching. His expression was tense. He hated this.

“Thank you,” I said. “For going for a sexier look. I know you hate it, but I promise, it will get you the attention you need.”

He stopped stretching and stalked over to me. “I don't care if we make a naked yoga video, I hate that you're pulling away from me. You haven't even left, yet, but you're already forcing distance between us.”

“It's better this way.” My heart cracked. “The more attached we get—”

“I'm already attached, Abby. There is no getting more attached for me, and you pulling away now isn't going to make it hurt any less when you leave.”

I swallowed against the tight knot in my throat. “Then I'm doing it for me,” I said. “If we get any closer, I won't be able to walk away.”

“Abby.” His voice was gentle now. He leaned in and brushed a strand of hair behind my ear. “I—”

A knock at the door stopped him. I slipped under his arm and raced for the stairs. Julie waited for me, video camera in hand. “Hey,” Julie said. “I know Zane called Kara for the camera, but she's got some stuff to do. I figured I'd bring the camera by and stay for the show.”

“Great,” I said, maybe with a bit too much gratitude in my voice based on Julie's wide eyes and raised eyebrows.

She stepped inside just as two burly men in sweatpants and baggy t-shirts stepped onto the porch. “Hey, babe,” one of the guys said, running his gaze over me. “Zane called us about a yoga class.”

“Come on in,” I said.

***

“Okay,” I said, once everyone was in the basement, yoga mats spread out. “We're making a sexy yoga video to generate followers and views online so that the pack can benefit from advertising money.”

The guys, Rodney and Mitch, glanced at Zane, wide-eyed, to confirm. He nodded and gestured toward me to let them know I still had the floor.

“What that means is, I'm going to need you guys to lose the shirts, possibly the sweatpants, but we'll make a call on that after you lose the shirts.”

Again, the guys glanced over at Zane, who nodded. “Sex sells.”

Rodney and Mitch pulled off their shirts to reveal tanned, fit torsos that would be perfect for our video. Were all wolves built like that? Without the shirts, their sweatpants hung low, revealing the flat planes of their lower abdomens, impressive six-packs, and a lovely muscular V that led down to happy pastures. I looked over at Julie. “Shorts? Or do the sweats work?”

“They look good to me. Maybe sweats for this first video and shorts for the next?”

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