Page 69 of Mating Season
She hit a button on her cellphone. No doubt paging security who came stepping out of the tents.
I put on my trained smile, wrapping my arm over Aspen’s shoulder, more so to hold her back than to add merit to my cause. “Tell Molly I’m here for the interview.”
“You’re really going to do it?” She blinked as the security crew headed our way.
It seemed my team had already been in touch. I figured this would happen, but I hadn’t thought it’d be such a shock. I wasn’t that much of a monster, was I? It’s not like I’d murder everyone in cold blood with all these witnesses.
Aspen growled beside me.“I don’t see why we have to do this.”
“Trust me beautiful.”I gave her shoulder a squeeze, winking at the production assistant who rushed to page Molly with the news.“We’ve already won. But I trust my team and my pack. They want us to play by the rules a little longer.”
“Please come with me, Mr. McCaw.” The production assistant ushered us through the security guards, shooing them and sending them on their way.
“What a season it’s been,” Jay Renfro spoke to the cameras filming as they moved to catch his best angles. He wore khaki shorts and a palm leaf print bandana, dressed like a safari lap dog.
“Broken bones, broken promises, and some broken hearts. But, as always,Mating Seasonproves that true love exists.”
I tuned out the rest of his rehearsed speech as I walked beside my pissed off mate to the main production tent, knowing reality TV was about to get real and I had front row seats to the show.
*
“Miss Nuva.” Molly clapped her hands together as Aspen pushed open the tent flap.
“It’s Mrs. McCaw to you.” I caught my mate by the arm before she lunged.
“Camera team four come to the production tent.” Molly never broke her confident smile as she spoke into the headset.
Aspen calmed herself with a deep breath, mimicking Molly’s grin. “Now why would you need the cameras in here?”
“You know how these things go.” Molly shrugged. “He said. She said. Show business is so dramatic. It’s best to have these kinds ofconversations recorded so everything is out in the open.”
Molly sent an evil glance my way. I must have done something to get on her bad side.
Oops.
“I didn’t give you permission to look at my mate.” Aspen rested her fists on the plastic folding table that served as Molly’s desk. “Eyes on me.”
“Or you’ll what?” Molly grinned as the camera crew came in and started filming.
“I’ll see you in court.” Aspen stood up straight, re-tying the flannel shirt around her hips as she turned to the cameras. “If you want interviews, you’ve got five minutes to get the crew set up.”
*
“I hate this,” Aspen pouted. “It’d be more satisfying to break her nose.”
“I know.” I held her close, breathing in her scent to calm my beast. “But our world is changing. Violence only gets us so far. It’s better to beat them at their own game and in their own fighting rings. To show we really are the superior species.”
“Yeah, okay.” She rolled her eyes. But I heard her thoughts.That’s rich boy bullshit.
“I can assure you I’ve lived on both sides of the fence and while I’m always down to break a nose, it’s not always satisfying if you can’t win.”
She nudged her hip into mine. “I trust you. Now go tell the world what you think of me.”
I ran my hand over my face, suddenly nervous as the camera team hurried to set up a makeshift interview tent. In all the time I’d been on this show, they’d never been able to corner me into this. But I’d do it for Aspen.
Anything for her.
*