“I dare you.” Meredith cocked a hip. It was a skinny-ass hip. The kind of hip Alice used to dream of having. She had long since given up on that dream though since a diet of leaves wasn't her thing.

Then she realized what the little witch had just said. “Excuse me?” Alice narrowed her eyes, trying to throw daggers at Meredith.

“You heard me.” Her salon’s best stylist looked at her from under long lashes and threw her a cocky smile. “I dare you to come with us tonight.”

Alice had to fight not to return the smile. Forget it! “What?” She gave a quick shake of the head and frowned. “Are we twelve or something? You’re daring me?”

“We’re certainly not twelve.” Meredith giggled. “If we were that young, I would never dare you to go to a place like this. And yes, I’m most definitely daring you to come with us.”

“I should hope not and forget about it.” She turned back to her client ‒ or rather, the back of her client’s damp head ‒ and glanced up.

Mrs. Kellerman’s reflection grinned back at her in the mirror. “I have to say that I agree with that young lady.” She gestured to where Meredith was still standing. Still staring at her. Still smiling like a naughty child.

“What harm can it do?” Mrs. Kellerman went on. “All you do is work, work, work. You are always at the salon. You’ve never once mentioned a personal life.”

Ouch! Sad but true. “This place is open six days a week. I order all the supplies and catch up on the admin on my one day off. I don’t have time to go traipsing around pick-up bars.”

“Firstly—” Meredith put up a beautifully manicured finger.

“Is that the new pink nail polish that just came in?”

Meredith nodded. “Yep, it’s the new watermelon pink. Isn’t it pretty?” She held up her whole hand. “Don’t answer that. Good try at changing the subject though. Firstly,” the one finger went back up, “the salon is closed at night. Secondly, you keep saying you have no time for a relationship, so a pick-up bar is perfect for you.” She winked at Alice, who couldn’t help but roll her eyes.

“If I were ten years younger I’d go for sure.” The older woman blushed as she spoke.

“You should come anyway, Mrs. Kellerman. Just because you go, does not mean that you have to take one of them home. Go for the eye candy.” Meredith gave an eye-roll of her own. This one had a different connotation altogether. “Those shifters sure are fine. It’s not easy to snag one though. The competition is fierce.”

“Seriously? It doesn’t sound like any kind of fun. These guys are so used to women throwing themselves at them. They might be good-looking, but I’m sure they’re a bunch of arrogant assholes. If I went, it would only be so I could turn one down and see the look on his face. I’m sure that’s never happened before.” Alice snickered at the thought.

“You would be right.” Meredith’s eyes were wide. “No-one in their right mind would turn one of them down.” She shook her head. “It just wouldn’t happen. I know I would jump at the chance. You would too, mark my words.” Her whole demeanor turned serious.

“Wait just a minute,” Alice turned to Meredith, “I thought you said you’ve been to Shifter Night a few times.”

“Yeah, I’ve been every Saturday night for the last couple of weeks, barring one when my folks were in town for the weekend.” Meredith had moved to Sweetwater a couple of years ago and moved in with a local guy she’d met in college. They’d since broken up but Meredith had stayed in town. She’d said that her life was here now.

“And?” Alice asked when Meredith didn’t add anything.

“And,” she shrugged, “despite going a couple of times, I’ve had no luck.”

Alice felt her mouth fall open. As in, ‘snap-dragon, catching flies’ wide open. Meredith was a stunner. Slim, trim and as cute as a button. She jogged several miles every morning. She drank protein shakes instead of eating actual food for lunch. She was perfect, or as close as a woman could get to perfect. Alice envied her skinny jeans and perky little breasts. No bra necessary for those babies. “You’re kidding me,” she finally blurted.

Meredith removed some non-existent lint from her cutsie tank top and sighed. “Nope, no luck yet. Like I said, competition is fierce. There’s even a company organizing Shifter Night tours. There are women who come to town just to take part. It’s really become a thing. Tourism in Sweetwater is booming, especially on the weekends. Haven’t you noticed how many B&Bs have suddenly popped up, and a hotel? The thing has six floors.”

“Shifter Night tours? That’s nuts!”

“You’re telling me! That’s why I’m inviting you right now; if you come to the Dark Horse on a Saturday night and manage to snag the interest of one of those gorgeous men ‒ or should I say shifters ‒ you will not be able to turn him down. That much I guarantee you.”

“I most certainly would. Especially if he was an arrogant ass, and I suspect they all are. They have to be with all that attention thrown their way.” She widened her eyes. “Shifter Night tours.” She shook her head in disbelief.

“Well then …” Meredith folded her arms. Alice didn’t like the look that had appeared on her face. “Why not prove it and come along? My dare still stands. In fact, I’ll work your shift tomorrow if you come. Mrs. Kellerman is right, you never take a day for yourself. You never indulge in anything, for that matter.”

“Go! What do you have to lose?” Mrs. Kellerman flapped her hands, looking excited. “It’ll be fun.”

The thought of a day off was appealing. Especially a Sunday. She’d sleep in and stay in her pajamas the whole day. She’d order pizza and binge-watch Game of Thrones.

“I can see you want to,” Meredith spoke in a sing-song voice. “Come on, you have nothing to lose. Who knows …” she bobbed her eyebrows, “you might even need that day off to recuperate.”

“Now that’s not going to happen, but yes, if you work my Sunday shift I’ll go with you to the Dark Horse tonight.”

Meredith jumped up and down while clapping her hands.