fascination.
White-suited attendants opened doors and took her wrap. Justin crowded close as they were led out of the grand foyer toward open doors at least ten feet tall.
If an attendant had banged a mallet on the floor and announced their names
The magnificent hall they entered was filled with delicate music, a four-piece ensemble tucked into the corner providing a live performance. The sparkle and shine of jewels twinkled everywhere. He bet Caroline had never seen a setting like this outside of a movie.
He was right. She whistled softly before muttering, “We’re not in Kansas anymore, Toto.”
“What’s that?” Tyler leaned toward her, eager for a closer touch.
Caroline placed her lips an inch from his ear. “This is more elaborate than I expected.”
Tyler rested his fingers on her hand and squeezed reassuringly. “You can handle it. I know you can.”
She was tense, though. He regretted more than ever his screw-up during the planning portion of the evening. His bear snorted, pointing out that so far she hadn’t seemed to fail when it came to going completely on impulse.
“Tyler. There you are.”
Tyler turned them both to face the young man stepping closer, an impeccably dressed redhead on his arm. He spoke softly before the couple could reach them. “Jim and Lillie Halcyon. Our hosts.”
“Got it.” Caroline nodded, her face lighting up with an incredible smile.
Hosts, and his promised supporter. From Jim’s enthusiastic approach, it appeared the positive sentiment was still there. The men shook hands before Tyler introduced her. “Jim, Lillie. I don’t know if you’ve met Caroline Bradley before. She’s also local to Whitehorse.”
Jim lifted Caroline’s hand and kissed her fingers, his gaze pinned to her face. “I haven’t had the pleasure.”
Caroline remained polite, but her gaze darted between Jim’s wife and Tyler to see their reaction to what must have felt like an over-the-top greeting.
Lillie didn’t seem the least bit concerned, and Tyler made sure his own response remained neutral. Old- world charm was another built-in response bears used to stay in control.
In fact, their hostess clapped her hands in delight. “It’s lovely to finally meet you. I have heard your name. You spend time with the local wolves, correct?”
Caroline’s smile now contained a hint of amusement. “The Takhini pack and I go way back.”
Lillie threaded her arm around Caroline. “Let’s go find somewhere to chat, so the guys can do the political wrangling they are longing to get into.”
“They only just got here,” Jim admonished. “We can’t monopolize them this quickly.”
Lillie sighed dramatically as she released Caroline, and Caroline laughed.
Even as he corrected her, Jim made his words softer by pulling Lillie close and kissing her cheek. The honest affection between them confirmed what Tyler had heard. It also made him slip against Caroline, sliding a hand around her waist.
She tensed for a second before adjusting her stance to press closer. One palm skimmed his chest in plain view of their hosts as she adjusted his tie with familiarity. Warmth spread from where her breast nudged his open dinner jacket.
He wasn’t sure he liked how good she was at picking up clues, or if her astute moves would kill him by the end of the evening.
Caroline turned to Lillie. “Tell you what. After we’ve made our rounds, I’d love to join you.”
Lillie smiled. “I’ll be here.”
Jim motioned to the door. “Here, or somewhere close to here. We have more guests. Tyler”—he nodded briskly—“I look forward to visiting later as well. When you have time for a serious discussion.”
Their hosts stepped away to welcome the next couple.
Caroline allowed Tyler to guide her a few paces farther into the room. “That was both painfully formal and strangely comfortable. Nice people, though.”
“Halcyons? Definitely. They’ve been in the Whitehorse area since February.”
“Strange. I’ve never met them.”
Tyler shrugged. Her hand was warm and soft, and he definitely liked the sensation more than as a political necessity. “Not really. Bears don’t usually spend much time in public places. And that’s part of the reason this event is painfully formal. We know how to be brutes, or we know how to put on the Ritz. There’s not much between the two extremes.”
They were nearly across the wide expanse of floor, Justin dogging their steps as usual. Small clusters of people stood with drinks in hand, conversing in low tones. A quick glance showed everyone had arrived.
This was about the time things went to hell, at least historically. Sure enough, the next person to catch his eye was not really who he wanted to inflict upon Caroline.
“This will be unpleasant,” he warned. “That’s Todd Ainsworth waving at us. Wife is Amanda.”
“The enemy,” Caroline whispered dramatically. “Dun-dun-dun duhhhhh.”
Her smart-ass comment meant he wore a far wider grin than he usually could muster in Ainsworth’s presence.
The men shook hands and exchanged greetings, Caroline waiting politely. She smiled at Amanda opposite her. Tyler wasn’t shocked to see the other woman jerk her gaze away and ignore Caroline, all attention focused on the men as they spoke.
Caroline’s smile faded to be replaced with intense concentration.
Tyler debated breaking in and making introductions, but what would be the point? This was a great opportunity for her to witness the Ainsworth charm firsthand.
It wasn’t forever, not nearly as long as it must have felt to her, but the wait was a hell of a lot longer than it would be in normal human society before Todd turned his gaze toward her.
Even then he didn’t give Tyler an opportunity to introduce them. Todd kept talking, his gaze examining every inch of Caroline as if she were the arm candy she’d accused Tyler of wanting.
Tyler figured any second her
And there it was. Caroline shot her hand out. “Nice to meet you.”
She stood, hand suspended in midair, waiting for Todd to respond. Tyler figured the only possible thing that could motivate the ass to act out of character would be guilt at confusing the poor human.
Nope. Todd stared at her fingers as if she’d offered him a dead fish.
Caroline glanced at Amanda. Mrs. Ainsworth had pasted on a smile and was looking anywhere but at what was happening right in front of her.
Damn it all. Knowing what he did of Caroline, she was probably ready to stand there like a statue until Todd was forced to deal with her, but Tyler didn’t give her a chance.
He caught her hand and tugged it back to his side. “I see the others have all arrived.”
Todd mysteriously returned to life. “Yes, they’ll call us to dinner in a few minutes. We’ll talk later.”
Todd and Amanda vanished, the swirl of formal clothing gliding away as if jet-propelled.
Caroline sniffed before turning to Tyler. “That was weird. Do I have cooties or something?”
Tyler slowly led her across the floor toward a second set of doors, ignoring all the other couples murmuring madly together. “Todd Ainsworth at his finest.”
“The woman looks like a robot. Amanda isn’t nearly as happy as Lillie,” Caroline whispered. “Who is a more typical clan leader, Todd or Jim?”
“About half and half? Before you ask, it’s not a generational pattern, as far as I know. My father would never have treated my mother that way. Rumour has it Ainsworth makes his woman’s life hell.”
She glanced around the room, her expression thoughtful as she eyed the ladies clinging to their men. Tyler analyzed them as well, noting which of them were smiling mindlessly like a freaking bunch of Stepford wives.
He’d known the way some of the bears treated their ladies was an issue, but it had never registered this hard before. Not only because a bear gathering like this was a rare situation, but because he seldom had anyone on his arm.
