WHEN THE WOLF FINDS YOU

Amara Rhodes gazed across the lavish hotel reception hall and nearly choked on the shrimp appetizer she had just plopped into her mouth. Her heart began to beat rapidly, and a chill slid down her spine. 

Oh, God, tell me that is not Tyler! 

As she watched that familiar swagger and saw that overly cheerful smile, Amara's stomach sank. Tyler Cross, the man who had taken her to a restaurant to publicly dump her, when she’d been fool enough to believe he was going to propose. The man she'd had such a hard time getting over. So much so that when the company she worked for requested that she move two states away for a project for two years, she'd taken the job without much questioning. She'd needed that much time and space, mostly out of embarrassment than heartbreak. 

Turning abruptly, Amara hurried a few steps over to the bar, where she squeezed herself between the wall of men gathered there. Hopefully, Tyler hadn’t seen her. 

“What can I get you?” the bartender asked her almost immediately. 

“Urmm...”

Amara scratched her head, too distracted to figure out what she wanted at the moment. Gosh, she'd forgotten that Tyler Cross loved being everywhere and anywhere. He loved being popular, being the center of attention and meeting the movers and shakers of the city. Even an event launched in honour of the Oakhaven City Firefighters’ wouldn't go past him.

“Can you get me a White Zinfandel?” 

“Of course.”

As Amara watched the bartender pour her drink, she became aware of the fact that her breathing was all but nonexistent. It was as though Tyler had sucked all the air out of the room.  She glanced over her shoulder and felt a spurt of panic. Tyler was heading in her direction. 

Even worse, there was a stunning, tall woman on his arm. A woman Amara recognized. Vanessa Laurent, the lead actress whom Tyler had cast in one of his movies before she left Oakhaven two years ago. Were they a couple now? 

“There you go,” the bartender said, and Amara was grateful that she needed to turn her attention back to him. 

She was tempted to down the wine and promptly purchase another one. Then she asked herself, Why are you letting Tyler get to you? It was likely that she could go the whole evening without even running into him. There were enough attendees at the event that two people could never even cross paths. She glanced over her shoulder again. And her heart just about imploded. Not only was Tyler heading in her direction, his eyes connected with hers. 

He smiled. 

Amara took a liberal sip of her drink as her brain scrambled to figure out what to do. Should she simply walk away? Walk? Heck, she wanted to run as fast and far as her five-inch heels would take her. But running would make her look like a coward. Or worse, it would make her look like she was still hung up on Tyler after two years. Tyler waved, making it clear that she’d lost her chance to flee. There went her plan of pretending that she hadn’t seen him.

Amara swallowed. Darn it, she wasn’t prepared to talk to him. She wasn’t prepared to make nice with Vanessa Laurent, either, who was clinging to him as if he were Denzel Washington. She had never liked Vanessa, who had overtly flirted with Tyler after she was cast in the movie. Amara had feared that Tyler had crossed the line with her but had never had any proof. Now, however, she had to wonder if Vanessa had been the reason behind their breakup... 

Oh, God. He’s getting closer! What was she going to do? With no particular plan in mind, Amara found herself trailing her fingers down the arm of the man beside her. Stunned, his gaze whipped to hers and then he frowned. 

Amara didn't care at the moment. She looped her arm through his. “Just go with it,” she whispered.

“Go with what?”

The man, whom she now recognized as one of the firefighters that had been honoured that evening. The city hero in fact, who'd saved Senator Evelyn Smith from a fire that had almost claimed her life, narrowed his eyes in confusion and something close to annoyance that a stranger had dared to touch him.

Amara ignored that frown. “Baby,” she purred moments before Tyler reached her. “It’s not polite to ignore me for so long.”

“I’m sorry?” The man said as his frown deepened.

“It’s okay, I forgive you.”

And before he could say another word, Amara eased up on her toes, snaked a hand around his neck and pulled his head down. And then she kissed him.

She kissed him brazenly, despite the fact that they were in public. Her tongue forced his lips open, then slipped into his mouth. As she made out with this stranger, Amara was aware of just how delectable his lips were. Not to mention how amazing his muscular body felt pressed against hers. Kissing him with the kind of passion reserved for the bedroom, she strummed her fingers along his neck. She could feel the man’s surprise in the way his athletic body had tensed, but soon, he gave in and kissed her back…but only for a second, as if he had no choice. Well, technically, he didn't. 

Breaking free of him with an exaggerated moan of desire, Amara eased back. She shot a glance to her right, and yes! Tyler was standing right there, staring at her with an unguarded look of surprise.

“Oh, hi,” Amara said breathlessly. 

She placed her hand on the firefighter’s chest, whom she now remembered to be Silas Something-Or-Other. When he’d come into the studio where Amara worked to be photographed, she’d thought he was especially attractive. She'd thought the same when he'd been called to the stage that evening as well, and she'd noticed once again that for a hero who was being celebrated by the town, the man rarely smiled. He seemed to have a permanent, detached look on his face. Just zoned out. Oh boy, had she chosen the wrong man for her ruse, but it was too late now. She just hoped he'd play along. 

The event had been going remarkably well. Until Amara had seen Tyler, and forgive her for not wanting to look like a lonely loser the first time she faced her ex again after two years, especially having embarrassed herself so much the last time she spoke to him. 

“Good evening, Amara,” Tyler said. His gaze flitted from Amara to Silas and his eyes narrowed slightly.

“Wow,” Amara said, her tone bright, “it’s been a long time.”

“Two years,” Tyler said.

“Since we broke up,” Amara replied, although she had no idea why she'd added that detail. “Two years since we last saw each other. Not that I’m counting.” Gosh, she was rambling. 

“Something like that.”

Amara did her best not to glare at him. Instead, she concentrated on trying to prove to him that she had moved on. “Tyler, I want you to meet Silas. My boyfriend.”