Page 53 of Luna Trials

I would have growled at the intrusion had Jesse not shoved a Styrofoam cup of coffee into my hand.

“Late night?” He winked, looking way too put together with navy dress slacks and his hair slicked back this early in the morning.

“Never. I like my sleep.” I sipped the coffee, waiting for my brain to wake up.

“Are those for us?” Stef threw off her mask, eyeing the rack of chiffon and silk on hangers.

“No. These are for Aspen.” Jesse’s upper lip curled as he looked her over. “It pays to be nice to your stylist.”

I choked on hot coffee as her face turned red.

“You’ve got to be kidding me.” Stef stomped her foot.“Trenton!”

I put my finger in my ear as if I could block out the sound of her voice screaming in my head. She could link him directly without pulling me in, but I think she liked making a big deal out of everything.

“Come on.” Jesse snapped his fingers, ignoring her tantrum. “Let’s get these hung up and try a few of the different fits before I need to clock in.”

*

“You’re my fairy godmother.” I froze, dragging my eyes away from the rack of designer wear that ranged from cute strappy sundresses and business suits to a few different evening gowns. “Sorry. Is that rude?”

“Why would it be rude?” Jesse sipped his coffee as the awkward silence stretched between us.

“Oh,” he finally said. “You think I’m gay.”

“What? No,” I stuttered. “I mean. Wait. Are you?”

Jesse rolled his eyes. “My love life is none of your business. Now get your size six to eight ass in the bathroom and make sure those gowns fit.”

After bending myself into more positions than the shifter Barbie they’d rolled out last year, I sat on the bed admiring my full closet. Never once did I think I was a “clothes girl,” but I was an official convert. It’s amazing how the right fit could change your mind.

“Thank you again,” I said, still not believing my luck.

“You can thank me by burning this shirt.” Jesse tossed Jim’s Garage tee outside my bedroom door.

“You said to get sponsors.” I chuckled.

Jesse’s green eyes flashed yellow as he studied his nails like… well… a cat. “You have a better sponsor now.”

“What? You didn’t get these from the basement?” Blood rushed to my cheeks as I tried to process what he was saying. There was no way another mail shipment came so quick. That meant he had something to do with this. “Jesse. No. You have to take these back.”

“Honey, please.” He sighed, glancing at the door like he was expecting someone to come burstingthrough. “I can’t have you in last season cast-offs if you’re going to pass these trials and settle down with your Alpha catch. Plus, stylists like to make our own little bets and your look is my work exposure.”

I chewed my bottom lip. Jesse was awesome and I didn’t want to let him down. I wasn’t sure what the rules were exactly for this sort of thing, but I didn’t want to lie to him when he’d been so nice to me.

I might as well come clean now. “Listen, I’m not sure if I’ll even pass the Luna Trials, but I’m only here because my Alpha is forcing me. I’m supposed to help his son through the games. The whole mate thing isn’t even on my radar. I didn’t come here to find a match.”

“Is that all?” Jesse blinked. Not the response I was expecting. “Half the girls here are in it for the money or to keep daddy from setting up an arranged match.”

“Who?” I sat up straighter, thirsty for some tea to be spilled.

“Stylist/client confidentiality.” He bopped me on the nose. “But as for the mate part, I’ve seen crazier things happen on the show. Let’s see what your wolf decides. You can trust your beast to protect your heart. And I’ll take care of your face.”

Jesse left the room with a swagger no normal being could pull off, leaving me stunned on the bed.

My wolf smirked.He’s alright for a cat.

*

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