“Not really.”
“She’s that big national anchor who I heard came into town just for the event. The other one is some big debutante.”
“They still exist?” I asked her.
“I guess they do.”
We all had a good laugh while security attempted to break it up. Finally, the two women went back to their seats, neither one winning the bid.
Another two men paraded in front of the women and I was starting to grow bored. With the dudes all behind a half face mask, I couldn’t tell if they were handsome or not. Not that it should matter since it was for charity, but the thought of spending an entire evening with a dud dude wasn’t on my bucket list.
I continued to glance at my watch, wishing I could go home and crawl into bed. That way I could finish my… shit. Werewolf romance. It was now a private joke that would remain that way. I had no intention of ever telling my besties how stupid I’d been.
After ordering another glass of wine, I was thankful I’d taken a cab. I wasn’t drunk but would be well on my way if I kept it up like I had.
“I think there’s one more. This is your guy, Cass,” Penny said. She was close to being intoxicated herself.
“I don’t think so. I told you.”
“Don’t you ever live dangerously?” Josie asked me. I could tell she wished she had the nerve to do so. Her last boyfriend had been no better than David, although she’d gotten to within two weeks of her wedding before realizing he’d been fucking a friend of hers.
I’d almost killed them both.
“Dangerously?” I repeated, another vision of the hunt popping into my mind. Why had I enjoyed it so much? “I have and I will again.”
“You mean like purchasing a new bottle of cabernet on a whim?” Penny teased as she’d been doing the entire night.
“I’m going to kick your butt.”
“Ladies and gentlemen, our last contestant. First, let’s have a look.”
As the announcer had done with the rest of the bachelors, he forced the last bachelor to come out onto the stage and show off his wares.
Only instead of strutting or swaggering like every other contestant had done, he simply walked out onto the stage, glanced at the audience, although I’d call it a glare and sat down on the stool provided for him.
“Wow. Now, that dude is arrogant as hell,” Penny whispered.
“But handsome. Would you look how he fills out that tuxedo?” Josie murmured. The girl was swooning.
I took a good look. Yes, he was very handsome, the dark suit complementing his dark wavy hair and… I stiffened and almost knocked my wine over.
“What is wrong?” Penny was staring at me the way I was staring at him.
I opened my mouth to say something. Anything. But nothing came out. I’d either need to admit I’d had a hot one-night fling or had been felt up by a werewolf. Or both.
“Ladies, allow me to introduce to you Wilder Blackwell, vice president of the Blackwell Group.”
“Fuck. Fuck. Fuck.”
“What is wrong with you?” Josie pressed.
He was also only wearing a half mask, black in color, but from where I was seated and how the lights reflected off the stage, I could make out his eyes. His luminous green eyes. Just like Wilder’s. Just like… This couldn’t be a coincidence.
“Talk fast or I’m going to bid on that man until we claim him.” Penny was insistent.
I lowered my head and tried to keep my voice down so no one else could hear my admittance. “The night I found out about David’s infidelities and he tried to strangle me?—”
“What?” Josie interrupted.