How to Tame a Werewolf: Seven Brides for Seven Shifters, Book 3 by Thalia Eames Page A
Authors: Thalia Eames
Ads: Link
Groupon classes and stock girl positions aren’t going to impress Cora Somers.”
Spock nodded, his thumb rubbing circles over her cheekbone. “I can see that,” he said.
“But I think she’s a fair lady. If an applicant secures a hell of a recommendation she’ll consider that equal to training.” Off Spock’s puzzled look Rue went on. “I don’t know anyone with the clout to give me the referral I need and I’ve only got two days left and you—”
“I what?” He dropped his caress from her face. She grabbed his wrist and held him in place.
“You’re a double for the missing vineyard heir, Ian Somers,” she said.
His mouth dropped open and he gawked at her. Once again his expression clearly communicated his thoughts. This particular expression blared with incredulity.
“It could work. Okay, you’re an inch or two taller and more rugged. But you could fool anyone who doesn’t know him well. Or hasn’t seen him in awhile. That’s why I need a favor and you’re the only one who can pull if off.” She peered up at him and kept talking. “There’s a party here tonight and it’ll be filled with the wine elite from all over the state. If they think you’re Ian Somers and you lead them to believe I have his blessing that’ll be all the recommendation I need. I’ll make sure the news gets back to Cora Somers. And if too many questions come up about it, I’ll tell his family he’s not ready to come home.” She held up both hands. “Which I know is kind of iffy on the integrity scale but which also has to be true since he hasn’t gone back yet.”
“Maybe he’s dead,” Spock said with the emotionlessness of a true Vulcan.
“Don’t say that.” Rue watched him work through a variety of expressions. “It’s one night,” she said.
She expected her new friend to be stunned but he didn’t look stunned at all. Instead, he appeared contemplative, maybe slightly amused or bemused she couldn’t really say. When he gently tugged out of her grip she let go. Pushing off the streetlight pole, he walked a few paces away from her. After barely a second he turned back.
“You want me to go to a party and impersonate Ian Somers?”
“Um, yes?” she said, far more questioningly than she intended.
He laughed. “How am I supposed to know how Ethan Somerland—”
“Ian Somers,” she corrected.
He bit down on his lip. “How am I supposed to know how this guy acts? How he speaks? How he moves?”
“There are a few videos out there. And he’s been missing for a couple of years. Most people will attribute any weirdness from you to eccentricity or him being a little crazy.”
“Crazy, huh?” he asked. That devilish eyebrow shot up as he finished the question. “If I do this, what do I get out of it?”
Suspicion hit Rue in the gut. Something seemed weird about how easily he’d taken everything in. “What do you want, Mr. Spock?”
“I warn you,” he said. “You’re not going to like it.”
Rue shrugged. “I don’t have a lot of choices left. This matters to me.” She set the coffee down at the base of the streetlight and moved to face him. Resolute in her decision to give him whatever he wanted, she took hold of both his biceps. The muscles were hard and warm beneath her fingers. He was her last viable chance at becoming a part of Somerfield Vineyards. If she could make a home for herself there she knew she could use her family’s happiest memories to bring them back together again. They’d forgive her. They would. She just had to convince this man to help her.
“Name it,” she whispered. “Tell me what you want.”
He dipped so close to her that the tips of their noses touched. “In exchange for impersonating a vineyard heir to help you land the position of sommelier ,” he said sommelier with flair, like someone who’d been saying it all his life, rather than someone who’d learned it minutes ago, “give me the bottle of 1993 Reserve.”
The words punched Rue in
Spock nodded, his thumb rubbing circles over her cheekbone. “I can see that,” he said.
“But I think she’s a fair lady. If an applicant secures a hell of a recommendation she’ll consider that equal to training.” Off Spock’s puzzled look Rue went on. “I don’t know anyone with the clout to give me the referral I need and I’ve only got two days left and you—”
“I what?” He dropped his caress from her face. She grabbed his wrist and held him in place.
“You’re a double for the missing vineyard heir, Ian Somers,” she said.
His mouth dropped open and he gawked at her. Once again his expression clearly communicated his thoughts. This particular expression blared with incredulity.
“It could work. Okay, you’re an inch or two taller and more rugged. But you could fool anyone who doesn’t know him well. Or hasn’t seen him in awhile. That’s why I need a favor and you’re the only one who can pull if off.” She peered up at him and kept talking. “There’s a party here tonight and it’ll be filled with the wine elite from all over the state. If they think you’re Ian Somers and you lead them to believe I have his blessing that’ll be all the recommendation I need. I’ll make sure the news gets back to Cora Somers. And if too many questions come up about it, I’ll tell his family he’s not ready to come home.” She held up both hands. “Which I know is kind of iffy on the integrity scale but which also has to be true since he hasn’t gone back yet.”
“Maybe he’s dead,” Spock said with the emotionlessness of a true Vulcan.
“Don’t say that.” Rue watched him work through a variety of expressions. “It’s one night,” she said.
She expected her new friend to be stunned but he didn’t look stunned at all. Instead, he appeared contemplative, maybe slightly amused or bemused she couldn’t really say. When he gently tugged out of her grip she let go. Pushing off the streetlight pole, he walked a few paces away from her. After barely a second he turned back.
“You want me to go to a party and impersonate Ian Somers?”
“Um, yes?” she said, far more questioningly than she intended.
He laughed. “How am I supposed to know how Ethan Somerland—”
“Ian Somers,” she corrected.
He bit down on his lip. “How am I supposed to know how this guy acts? How he speaks? How he moves?”
“There are a few videos out there. And he’s been missing for a couple of years. Most people will attribute any weirdness from you to eccentricity or him being a little crazy.”
“Crazy, huh?” he asked. That devilish eyebrow shot up as he finished the question. “If I do this, what do I get out of it?”
Suspicion hit Rue in the gut. Something seemed weird about how easily he’d taken everything in. “What do you want, Mr. Spock?”
“I warn you,” he said. “You’re not going to like it.”
Rue shrugged. “I don’t have a lot of choices left. This matters to me.” She set the coffee down at the base of the streetlight and moved to face him. Resolute in her decision to give him whatever he wanted, she took hold of both his biceps. The muscles were hard and warm beneath her fingers. He was her last viable chance at becoming a part of Somerfield Vineyards. If she could make a home for herself there she knew she could use her family’s happiest memories to bring them back together again. They’d forgive her. They would. She just had to convince this man to help her.
“Name it,” she whispered. “Tell me what you want.”
He dipped so close to her that the tips of their noses touched. “In exchange for impersonating a vineyard heir to help you land the position of sommelier ,” he said sommelier with flair, like someone who’d been saying it all his life, rather than someone who’d learned it minutes ago, “give me the bottle of 1993 Reserve.”
The words punched Rue in
Similar Books
