Vivian Arend - Diamond Dust

“Your mate.” Shaun whistled. “Well, congrats.”

“Yeah, thanks. Welcome to the coming shit storm.”

“Oh man, for sure.” Shaun sat on the edge of the bed as Evan dug in drawers and pulled out a pair of jeans and T-shirt. “She’s not from the Takhini pack, or you’d have found her before. What was she doing in the kitchen, and why did she leave? Does she know you’re her mate? Why did this have to happen while the town is full to the brim with bears and potential trouble?”

All those were minor compared to the one other issue scratching Evan’s nerves like nails on a blackboard. “You’re missing one item.”

Shaun choked off into silence, before clearing his throat. “So. How are you going to tell Caroline?”

Tyler closed the suite door behind him and leaned on the solid surface as he dealt with the intense need his bear had to chase down the delectable Caroline Bradley.

“If you’re planning on abdicating from your position as CEO, I get dibs on your house and swimming pool.”

Justin handed him a clean shirt, and Tyler pulled himself back to vertical to accept it. “Thanks for not giving away the little name thing there. Not often you see that kind of situation. A human who knows all about shifters—her family is half blood.”

“And she always goes around soaking wet?”

Tyler shook his head. “She was floating dazed in the tub when I got here.”

Justin stiffened as he moved for the door. “And you let her go off alone? She needs medical attention.”

Tyler held up a hand. “I said the same thing, but I checked her vitals while she was recovering on our couch. She promised to see someone, but I think she’ll be fine.” He hesitated. “Now that’s an odd response. I expected you would be more concerned with discovering a strange woman in our suite than advocating medical attention for them.”

“You told me to trust your instincts. Obviously from the way you were eyeing the woman you don’t think she’s a danger to anything but your recently dead sex life.”

“ Har-har . Did you get the updated schedules for conclave?”

Justin paced to the bar counter and picked up a stack of papers. “The organizing committee is trying to keep it as simple and painless as possible. Two more votes, three at the most. The only trouble I see is if Clan Ainsworth manages to persuade Nakusp to support him. You could have a tight vote count if that happens.”

Tyler nodded, still distracted by thoughts of Caroline. Why had he allowed her to leave the room without insisting she get checked? He could have at least accompanied her to find clean dry clothes.

His lack of consideration and mental clarity he would blame on his bear. Stupid beast had continued to grumble and send him far too vivid images of Caroline’s breasts.

Focus on the task at hand. “Any suggestions on how to sweeten the pot in terms of Clan Nakusp? Ainsworth hates my guts—that won’t change. But if we can swing Nakusp’s vote our way we could kill two birds with one stone.”

Justin leaned on the counter, tapping the schedule against his hand. “Well, there is one thing that could help. It wouldn’t hurt.”

“Sounds as if I’m not going to like your idea.” He finished doing up his buttons and tucked in his shirt. “Wait, before you tell me, get housekeeping on the line and make sure Caroline is okay.”

Justin made a face but followed orders, putting through the call. “You want to talk? I mean, you are the security guard who saved her.”

Tyler was still scrambling for an answer when Justin spoke.

“Hello? Is Caroline Bradley available?” Justin’s expression tightened. “I see. Thank you.”

“What? Is she okay? What’s wrong with her?”

Justin eyed him suspiciously. “She’s gone home for the day. You, on the other hand, have issues.”

Tyler grabbed the paperwork and strolled to one of the oversized easy chairs, collapsing onto it with far more exhaustion than he should have at this point in the day. “I’m not allowed to be concerned about someone?”

He buried his head in the files, ignoring Justin. Because, dammit, his friend was right, something was wrong, and he had a good idea what it was.

Justin folded his long body into the chair opposite him. “I talked to your brother. We’re picking him up for dinner at six.”

“Fine.” Tyler rustled more papers, pretending to be busy. He’d already memorized the damn things, but maybe Justin would pretend to go along with his pretending.

Nope. Justin was going to be the usual pain in the ass. “Back to the Nakusp issue, it could help to have a woman on your arm for the formal events. Not only would Mrs. Nakusp have someone to gossip with, he’s always made it known your marital status is a detriment in his opinion.”

“I’m not pulling a wife out of the woodwork in the next five days, Justin, not to try and impress Clan Nakusp.”

His friend grimaced. “No, you won’t find a wife, but even a date would make a difference. I was going to suggest you see who this special someone is that your brother is all keen to introduce you to. Having a local woman on your side wouldn’t be a bad idea.”

“You really think Frank found someone who can deal with the setting, let alone the politics? Frank used to be more impressed with the type who can guzzle a six-pack and then belch the alphabet.”

Justin grinned. “Well, you never know.”

“Wait, you said you were going to suggest that. What do you have in mind now?”

Justin rose to his feet and paced to the windows, staring at the hot tub. “You could see if your mysterious Caroline Bradley is available.”

The idea shouldn’t have given Tyler such a thrill. “She’s a human.”

“Who knows shifters. She works at the hotel owned by the controlling wolf pack of Whitehorse. She’s got to have some influence in the area, maybe even recognize some of the important players.”

“You want me to take advantage of her for the connections she might have?” The suggestion wasn’t outrageous; it was only good sense in light of the recent upheavals in the voting situations. Tyler wasn’t sure why the idea made him so damn uncomfortable.

“Not really use her. Just see if she wants to help. I bet she cleans up nice. Buy her a couple of pretty dresses, give her a good time, and not only will it help our cause, but you’ll have provided the thrill of a lifetime. She’d probably never get an invite to a gala like this otherwise.”

Justin’s words sat uneasily on Tyler. He checked his watch. “Then again, she could turn me down flat.”

“Not likely.” Justin waggled his brows. “I saw her reaction to your bare-chested bear-self. She tried to hide it, but she was interested.”

“Still, your first idea is a good one. Contact Frank and see if he can rustle up his someone in time to join us for dinner tonight. Widen the pool a little.”

Tyler excused himself before his friend’s far-too-alert gaze told him more than he was willing to share.

He was looking forward to seeing his brother. Pleased to meet this whoever Frank thought was so interesting. But his actions were all a cover-up for how much he really wanted to ask Caroline to join him for the galas.

The kind of reaction his bear had to the woman made him wonder all over again if something was fishy. If they’d slipped a love potion into his water on the plane. Or if an aphrodisiac of some kind was being piped into the air.

Now was not the time to have to soothe the beast. Not with votes to be won, not with shifter secrecy to be maintained. Now was the time he needed all his wits about him.

Instead it appeared he was being led by the balls, and his captor? A fair-haired human with a snarky attitude.