Page 42 of The Dinner Party

It’s true. Carson saved your life tonight, even though he could just as easily have taken his sister-wolf and left. He looked out for you. He’s a good man. Well, man-wolf.

Carson reaches for your hand. At his touch, a tingle goes through you that you haven’t experienced in a long time. And you can see in his eyes that he is thinking the same thing you are.

To mate with the werewolf, turn to Chapter 71 (page 182)

To tell him you just want to be friends, turn to Chapter 69 (page 177)

69

“Listen,” you say, “I think you’re incredibly attractive, but this has all been a lot to absorb tonight.”

“I’m sure it is,” Carson agrees. “And if you don’t feel like going home tonight, you’re welcome to stay at my place.”

“Your place?” you ask dubiously. “Where is that?”

You’re not excited to stay at a werewolf’s den. You assume it’s some sort of weird cave.

“I have a mansion,” Carson says.

“A… a mansion?”

“Yes,” he confirms. “I invested in Bitcoin, and now I’m a billionaire.”

The werewolf is also a billionaire? Wow, that might change things.

To change your mind and mate with the werewolf, turn to Chapter 71 (page 182)

To insist again that you just want to be friends, turn to Chapter 70 (page 179)

70

“Actually,” you say, “I’d rather just go home. If it’s all okay with you.”

Carson nods. “I completely understand. I would have loved to show you my mansion, but I understand that sometimes it’s just not meant to be.”

You wonder if you’re making a mistake, but no. As much as you like Carson, it feels like there will be some major downsides to dating a werewolf that you’re not thinking of right now. It’s better to remain friends.

Eventually, you reach Carson’s car, which turns out to be a really cool red Jaguar. Man, you could have dated a guy with a Jaguar! Again, you wonder if you’re making a mistake, but it’s too late now. You’ve already made the decision.

Carson drives you back to your apartment building. By the time you get there, he has morphed back into his human form. He smiles at you as you sit in the car by the entrance to your building.

“I’d like to pay you what Avery promised for the evening,” he says, pulling his wallet out of his back pocket. You’re not sure how his pants stayed intact during the transition from human to wolf and then back to human, but there might be some things you’re not meant to understand.

“You don’t have to give me any money,” you protest.

“I want to,” he insists. “Besides, I’m a billionaire, remember?”

Ugh, way to rub it in.

He gives you even more than what Mr. Wentworth owed you—enough to pay Blair this month’s rent and next and then some. That will tide you over for a little while and give you some breathing room. “What about my car?”

“I’m going to go back and take care of the rest of the Adventurous Eaters Club,” he says. “When I’m done with them and have freed my sister, I’ll be able to open the gates and drive your car back here.”

“Thank you, Carson.”

He reaches for your hand and kisses the back of it. What a sweet guy. And you’re definitely going to keep up with this friendship. After all, it seems like it might come in handy to know a billionaire werewolf.

When you get upstairs to your apartment, your head is still swimming from the events of the evening. What a narrow escape. If anything had gone differently, you could be dead right now.