Reluctant by Lauren Dane Page A

it is. So let’s see what you have in your closet. I’ll pick out an outfit for you while you shower.” Tia shoved her into the direction of her bathroom and then headed off to root through her closet to find what Layla was sure would be the most revealing outfit she owned.
    Even as she thought it she laughed. Tia Mathers had been her best friend since third grade. They’d gone to college and roomed together and basically shared just about everything. It helped that Tia and her family were part of Cascadia Pack too.
    The best thing about Tia was that she knew a side of Layla most people didn’t. People thought of Tia as the fun-loving one while Layla was the serious one—they didn’t know that Layla had a fun side too. It just got a little lost sometimes, especially since she’d gotten promoted at work.
    Going into her bedroom after the shower, Layla saw that on her bed lay a pair of leather pants and a tank top.
    “Are you kidding me? That’s a Halloween costume!” Layla had gone to a party as Catwoman two years before and probably hadn’t worn the pants since. “I’m sure I will not be able to get my ass into them now.”
    “Oh stop crying and try them on. They looked good on you then and hell, woman, I’d be surprised if you even ate today. You’re getting skinny since you work all the damned time.”
    Giving in, Layla tried the pants on and Tia was right. They fit quite well and Layla had to admit she looked pretty sexy in them.
    “Okay, okay. But no tank top. I can’t wear a bra with one. You know how I hate when straps show and goodness knows me without a bra is a challenge to gravity.”
    “Fine. Wear this one.” Tia tossed her a bright red, shimmery , short-sleeved blouse that was tight across the bodice but loose around the waist.
    By the time they’d left the condo, Layla’s hair was tousled in a sexy style and she wore red lipstick to match the blouse and teetered on spiky heels.
    “Before you complain, we’re going to Nautica . I made reservations for us.”
    Nautica was a werewolf hot spot. Members only. Tia loved it, Layla tolerated it for Tia .
    “I thought you said I was supposed to play tonight? Now I’ll be hounded by power-hungry males who want to fuck their way into my family.”
    “Oh my god! Lay! Have you looked at yourself lately? You’re fucking gorgeous. They want to fuck you . Some of them are hot to be married into the Warden family but most of them want to bed you because you’re beautiful, sexy and have a good job.”
    It was an old argument and on most days Layla could believe Tia , but it was hard being from an influential family. People assumed things. They assumed she got her job through her connections instead of the fact she’d graduated at the top of her class, interned and then worked part-time at her company for three years. They assumed her money was family money. There was money there but it was all tied up in trusts. What she and her siblings had they’d all earned.
    “Okay. Fine.” She knew she was being selfish and she gave in. Tia didn’t date too many humans. She didn’t think it was fair to have to hide such a large part of herself from them. Werewolf-only clubs like Nautica were the few places she could meet wolf males their age.
    “Good. Life would be so much better if you just agreed with me from the start and I didn’t have to argue with you. Because you know I’m right.”
    Layla rolled her eyes when they pulled into valet and flashed their membership cards. “It’s 1996! What is up with the mullets?” Layla whispered this quietly to Tia before they got to the top of the stairs leading into the restaurant and lounge area.
    Tia looked back over her shoulder at the group of male wolves clustered near the front doors, several with the short on the top, long in the back hairdo that puzzled both women. “Werewolves and their mullets! I don’t know, but I’m sure glad Cade got rid of his. Your brother is hot stuff but man did he look