The Mate Challenge

8

Emma watched as Nic’s eyes started to glow a faint gold. “Her name came up at home. Jake said something about the Mansion on top of Cherry Hill being taken over by some Spanish heiress.”

Emma blinked. “Is that her?”

Nic shrugged and picked up her cup to take a drink. “I guess so.”

“Dios mio!” Emma growled. “I’ve been looking for this woman all over and she’s like right up the street.”

Nic grinned. “Keep your panties on. It might not even be the right person. You can look it up in the local newspaper, though. That should mention that it was bought and by whom. I mean, something that important wouldn’t go unnoticed.”

She was right. Emma opened up a new window and searched for the Cherry Hill Mansion. The place was massive and had remained empty for almost ten years because the owners and their entire family had died in a freak accident during a family vacation.”

The search paid off. There was an article by the local press about Cherry Hill having a new owner. She scanned the words, searching for a name but all she came up with were initials. AV. That was the one reference made to the mysterious owner.

“AV has moved in to Cherry Hill with a host of friends and family to help use up the almost fifty rooms inside the giant mansion.” She read from the article.

“So this Aria chick got a few of her closest friends and moved in to that massive mansion. I bet she has some serious money.”

Emma snorted. “s**t, she better. Can you imagine the utility bills on that place? I don’t think my savings would cover it.”

Nic giggled and took another bite of her croissant. “What else does it say?”

Emma continued reading to herself then out loud. “AV has been living on her private island in the Caribbean until now. This is the first time she makes any public moves.”

“That doesn’t even sound right. Who the hell lives that closed up?”

Emma swallowed down the last bite of her Danish. “Someone hiding something.” She mumbled.

And she was going to go pay Ms. Valderi a visit.

“What?” Nic asked, narrowing her eyes. “I know you. I can see the wheels turning inside that twisted head of yours.”

Emma choked on her drink and sputtered her Chai to the side, trying not to get any on her laptop. “You,” she coughed, “are crazy.”

Nic lifted a brow. “Right. Run that by me again but with the truth this time.”

Ah, s**t. How did everyone know her so well? Probably because her ideas got her or the others in trouble at some point or another. Although, they should all be thanking her for their men. She’d strategically worked with Ellie to ensure the guys knew where each of the girls were located. Except for Mason, but he would have found her anywhere. The stupid shifter was like a bloodhound. She could leave a pair of panties in the middle of the city and he’d probably find them blindfolded. He was that good.

“I’m just going to go see what this Aria chick knows about Maria,” she said. It was crazy that the kid had disappeared without a trace and nobody was out looking for her. Everyone was so obsessed with the Rahound issues that it seemed they’d forgotten there was more rogues and vampires than normal in their town.

“Emma, please don’t do anything that can get you in trouble,” Nic pleaded.

“I’m not. Since when does talking signify trouble? I’ll go be nice and welcome her to the neighborhood.”

Nic blinked, the surprise in her face obvious by the way she widened her eyes. “Maybe I should come with you.”

She shook her head. “No way. I’m sure it’s nothing.”

Nic bit her lip and clearly debated arguing her point. “Fine, but at least give it a few days and I’ll ask around about Maria. Maybe someone does know where she is and you’re just not talking to the right people.”

“Stop worrying so much,” she said and picked up another pastry. “You really need to be positive.”

Nic’s shoulders dropped. “I’m positive. Positive your ass is gonna end up arrested or kicked out of somewhere. Again.”

Emma grinned and lifted her cup in salute. “It’s not fun any other way.”

So maybe she had a bit of a reckless streak in her, but that was part of her charm. At least she liked to think so.

* * *

That evening, she waited until she was sure Mason was at his club before she drove to Cherry Hill mansion. She parked down the hill in an area her car wouldn’t be found but easy for her to hike up and go through the back if she chose to. She debated on how to approach Aria. The woman had taken great pains to keep her solitude. There were three gates up the driveway and a giant guard post near the entrance to the mansion. She decided to call Mason and test his knowledge before making a decision.

“Hey, sexy brat,” he said as a greeting when he answered his phone.

And this was the man her heart did flips for? It was insane. She needed therapy. “Hello, mutt. Got a minute?”

She’d been calling him that for years. Not that he really liked the named, but she didn’t care. This man was hers. She just needed to accept his proposal for mating, but she wasn’t quite ready. Mason needed to learn she was independent and couldn’t be bossed around. If anyone would do the bossing around it was her.

He sighed loudly. “I’ve got time. What’s up? You’re not getting arrested, are you?”

She grinned. Not yet she wasn’t. “Why do you always think the worst?”

“Because this is you I’m talking to. You’ve almost been arrested twice in the past few weeks,” he said, reminding her of their Vegas trip.

“Hey! Those were misunderstandings.”

“Do I need to come tie you to the bed again?”

She smirked, knowing he wanted her to say yes to his offer. She’d never met a man that loved her being bad so much. “What will we do there?”

“Do you want me to tell you now or would you rather I just come show you?” His voice was low and rough. Not what she needed to hear at that moment. Not to mention the memories of the last time or two he’d tied her had all rushed forward to the front of her mind. Each time she’d ended up having amazing orgasms of the multiple kind.