What a Werewolf Wants (San Francisco Wolf Pack) Read Online Free Page A

loyalty,” she blurted, feeling awkward in her own skin. “Those are my top two.”
    He frowned, turning her way. “Honesty and loyalty?”
    “Absolutely. A relationship without those things can’t last.”
    “I find that ironic.”
    “Why’s that?”
    Laughter floated over from the next table, and for the first time, Josie realized there were other people in the restaurant. How easily he could make her forget it wasn’t only the two of them.
    “Because I’m sitting here telling you that there are things Mitch isn’t telling your sister, yet you are dead set on having them go through with their wedding. If you were loyal to your sister, you wouldn’t have set her up with a complete stranger. And if you were honest with yourself, you’d recognize the match is a bust.”
    She dropped the skewer and turned toward him completely, giving him all her attention. “I set them up because they’re the perfect match. You’re simply too blind to see it. And you told me two things that are hardly deal breakers. Unless you know that he’s hiding something else, or lied about a huge aspect on his application, I’m choosing my sister’s happiness over your suspicions.”
    “Oh, they’re more than suspicions.”
    Resting her elbows on the table, she turned to him. “Tell me then. What don’t I know?”
    On a burdened exhale, Ryder swiped a champagne flute off the table and clinked his fork against the side. One by one, Mitch’s family and friends turned their attention to him, and the room slowly quieted.
    Tugging on the hem of his shirt, she looked up at him. “What the hell are you doing?”
    “Proving my point. Watch this.” He cleared his throat and addressed the guests. “On behalf of the future Mr. and Mrs. Mitch Oakey, I’d like to thank everyone for coming this afternoon. Mitch is like a brother to me. I’ve known him most of my life. It thrills me to see him so happy.”
    Then why try to sabotage the whole thing?
    “Cheers to the lucky couple.”
    Cameras snapped pictures from the corners of the room—more material for the Channel 10 spot. Glasses rose in unison, creating the perfect moment to capture on film. Mitch called Carrie to his side by crooking his finger. Grinning seductively, he winked, bringing a sweet blush to Carrie’s cheeks. She shrugged shyly and met him with a bear hug.
    Josie could almost feel the heat from the cameras radiating through the restaurant. It was really going to happen. Her special with Martha Silverstone was going to be epic. With two romantics like Mitch and Carrie, nothing would top it.
    “Their connection is undeniable.” Josie stood on tiptoe beside Ryder and bumped him playfully in the shoulder. “How can you think that’s a bad idea?”
    “Because of this.” He raised his glass, and his voice, higher. “May you love as long as you live…and may you always feel as though you can tell each other your deepest, darkest secrets.”
    Mitch’s smile faltered, and his jaw clenched wildly as he stared Ryder down. His dark eyes shadowed until Carrie nuzzled against him, waking him from some kind of trance. Something passed between the two friends. Although she didn’t know Mitch well enough to read his expressions, that glare in his eyes meant shut the hell up.
    He was hiding something.
    And Ryder knew exactly what that was.
    Come hell or high water, she’d find out what she was missing. Before her sister walked down the aisle.

Chapter Three
    Later that night, Josie raided the filing cabinets in her office. The two mahogany towers were packed to the brim, and needed to be sorted anyway.
    Now was as good a time as any to expose a liar.
    “Mitch Oakey,” she mumbled to herself. “Where are you?”
    There’d been something different about his applications—she remembered clearly—though she couldn’t pinpoint what that thing was. Had it been the paper he’d turned them in on? Could’ve been Ryder’s private investigating stationery. That certainly