The Mating Game: Big Bad Wolf(24)

“Is none of your business!” Ryker growled.

Mr. Trenton looked him right in the eye. “But it is, if you expect us to invest in your company,” he said coolly. “This is our money that you’re asking for. Your public image is everything, and whoever you mate is part of your public image. So I suggest you rein in her behavior if you expect us to move forward.”

Ryker shifted into wolf form, and barely restrained himself from lunging at Mr. Trenton again. Instead he turned and stormed out of the room.

He could hear Walt desperately apologizing to Mr. Trenton; Walt was shouting to be heard over Harriet’s howls of anger.





Chapter Ten




Ryker didn’t waste any time getting Daisy’s car fixed. He’d had it towed to a garage, fixed, and dropped it off at the school for her by the end of her work day Monday. Then he’d left the keys at the front desk for her. He’d told her where he’d left it, towards the back of the lot.

As Daisy left, she felt an odd, uncomfortable prickling on her neck. The closer she walked to her car, the sharper the prickles got.

When she reached her car, she saw why. Her mother Phyllis was standing there next to her car – and she’d brought Frasier. They’d come all the way from Georgia. Hooray. That probably meant they were renting a hotel in town and wouldn’t be leaving soon.

“Mother,” she said, as her mother looked around her in dismay.

“Well, this won’t do,” Phyllis said in a disgusted tone, eyeing the scruffy children running around the parking lot.

“The children? They won’t do? It’s a little late, they’re already here,” Daisy said. “And so are you. Why?”

Her mother looked annoyed and opened her mouth to make a sharp retort. Frasier elbowed her and gave her a significant glance.

Phyllis cleared her throat and forced a smile. “By the way, I was going to mention, congratulations. I can see that you’ve lost a few pounds.”

Daisy looked at her mother with suspicion. The last time that her mother had complimented her was… She couldn’t remember a time.

“No I haven’t, I’ve actually gained two pounds this month. Went up a clothing size this year. Eighteen, if you’re looking to buy me something.”

“Daisy!” her mother hissed furiously, looking around frantically. “Somebody might hear!”

“Somebody might hear that a member of the Bennett family wears a size eighteen?” Daisy raised her voice even more.

Her mother’s face was turning an interesting shade of scarlet.

Frasier quickly reached into the pocket of his lime-green sports jacket and pulled out an envelope, which he held out towards Daisy. “Here,” he said. “For you. Well, for us, really.”

She took it gingerly. “What is it?”

“A ten-day trip to the Healthy Heaven Ranch in Texas. For the two of us! The plane tickets are in there too!” He looked at her expectantly. She shook her head in bewilderment.

“So you can slim down for our wedding. And I’ll be there to cheer you on and make sure you stick to your diet. Don’t worry, there’s plenty of pampering and spa treatments for you. Just no second helpings. Or desserts.” He turned his smile up a notch to “dazzling”. Daisy blinked hard. The afternoon sun was bouncing off his big Chiclet teeth and blinding her. Ryker had white teeth too, but they weren’t perfect like Frasier’s. They were a little crooked, and she loved that.

Jasmine walked up to them, causing her mother to take a step backwards and clutch her purse.

“Ewww, you’re marrying him?” Jasmine said to Daisy, appalled. “Gross. He waxes his eyebrows and wears perfume!”

Frasier’s strained smile vanished. “Cologne!” he squawked indignantly.

“Your instincts are spot on, and no, I’m not marrying him,” Daisy said to Jasmine. “I was going to, but then, thank God, he cheated on me.”

She turned to her mother. “I am involved with someone,” she said. “It’s actually pretty serious. We’re talking about cubs.”

Her mother went pale. “I have heard that you are associating with some low-class boxer. That is simply not acceptable.”

“Ooh, is it the guy who dropped you off at school this morning?” Jasmine said. “I need to check him out. In case he’s a jerk. I might have to shank him.”

“Will you stop with the shanking?” Daisy said with exasperation.

Jasmine pretended to think about it. “Probably not,” she said after a moment’s consideration.

“Anyway, Ryker’s not a jerk,” Daisy said. “He actually treats me very well.”