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  A Paranormal Dating Agency Story

  Jennifer Wedmore

  Save A Horse

  Paranormal Dating Agency

  Copyright 2018 Jennifer Wedmore

  Published by MT Worlds Press, Inc.

  Winter Springs, FL 32708

  http://mtworldspress.com

  Formatting by Celtic Formatting

  All rights reserved under the International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.

  This is a work of fiction. Names, places, characters and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to any actual persons, living or dead, organizations, events or locales is entirely coincidental.

  http://mtworldspress.com

  Ryley Stewart grew up knowing shifters were everywhere. Little was known about them though; she made it her life's mission to meet and interview as many as she could. As a freelance journalist, she traveled the country meeting new shifters. When Gerri Wilder contacts her to help her find new shifters to interview. Ryley makes it known she is only interested in interviews, not a mate.

  TC Donovan wasn't looking for his mate. He was content on his ranch, rehabilitating horses. TC saw the worst things people could do to animals; it made him distrustful and grouchy. The last thing he wanted was a journalist staying in his house or interviewing him.

  It only took one look, and TC knew he met his mate, but would Ryley be willing to give up her globe-trotting lifestyle to stay with him on his ranch or would she take Gerri up on her offer to meet other shifters?

  Dedication

  To my sisters who didn't laugh when I said I was doing this. Who only offered encouragement, even if not verbally stated.

  To my mom who read it as I wrote and helped me every step of the way.

  To my husband who asked for years if I was going to write. He has encouraged me from the start and brags to everyone.

  To Gracen thank you for editing, encouraging and laughing at me when I got frustrated. Paybacks are a bitch.

  There are so many authors/readers and bloggers who this book is dedicated to. For years you asked me when I was writing, encouraged me to write and got just as excited when I said I was. Thank you so much, I wish I could name all of you. Rest assured when we see each other again, there are massive hugs coming your way.

  Lastly to Milly. I told you my first book was coming out and you said Congrats, now write a book in my world. You never lacked confidence and encouraged me. Thank you for everything.

  Acknowledgement

  I had several people beta read this story, I was worried about it being my first solo release so I want to take a moment to thank them.

  Heather Ray

  Tammy Sullivan

  Cassidy K. O'Connor

  Sheri Lyn

  Patti Spell

  Kara Tate Schilling

  and I know I am forgetting people, blame it on the formatter who is waiting on this lol.

  Mostly thank you to YOU. For picking up my book, for giving me a chance. I hope you will come back and see me soon.

  Xoxo

  Jenn

  Prologue

  Gerri sat at her favorite bakery, enjoying a brownie and people-watching. This was the best way to spend a lazy day. She loved seeing how people interacted with each other. It helped in her line of work, or that was the excuse she gave herself. Occasionally she would flip through the pages of a magazine that was left on the table where she sat.

  The Great Adventurer, not one she would typically take a second glance at but the woman on the cover… well, she was as intriguing as the byline, “Interviews with Shifters.” That was precisely up her alley. The magazine had an interview with Ryley Stewart, a journalist who had made it her life's mission to meet and interview as many types of shifters as she could find. She wondered what Ms. Ryley had to say about shifters and who else she wanted to meet.

  GAMagazine: What or who is the most fascinating shifter you’ve ever interviewed?

  Ryley: You want me to pick one? They’re shifters! They go from man/woman to animal in seconds. That makes them all fascinating.

  GAMagazine: Good point! What is one shifter you’ve never met but would like to?

  Ryley: An American Bison shifter! How cool would that be? They’re such unique animals. Or a mouse shifter, or a spider! There are so many animals out there. I want to know if they all have shifter relatives. It's really mind-boggling, the possibilities.

  GAMagazine: What was the first shifter you remember meeting?

  Ryley: That’s an interesting question, isn’t it? Shifters have been around longer than we knew. We’ve all met them and didn't realize they were not the same as you and I. There are tells we have learned since then, but it’s not common knowledge. Anyways, my first shifter was a wolf in college. He was a cocky frat boy who loved to boast about being a wolf. You could hear him howling across the college campus.

  GAMagazine: What peaked your interest in shifters and started you on this quest?

  Ryley: I mentioned earlier I always knew about shifters, my mom was fascinated by them. She made it her mission to find one and make him love her. This led to a series of really unhealthy relationships. I wanted to show her the truth about shifters, so I started searching myself. I thought maybe if she met one and learned what I did about mates. She would give up and be a mom to me. I gave up eventually but I kept my fascination with them.

  I always wanted to be a journalist, I just didn't want to do the newspaper route, so I decided to freelance. One day I was working on an article for a women’s magazine, the topic was about women finding the perfect man.

  I interviewed fifty women to find out what they were looking for and several said shifters. When I asked about them, the standard response was that they were better in bed, hung better than a human male, and had more stamina. Most importantly, they cherished their women. I started wondering more about shifters, both male and female. I wanted to know them, what made them stand out on the inside as well as the outside. I finished the article and started researching shifters and trying to meet as many as I could. It was easy to combine my interest with those of men and women everywhere.

  GAMagazine: Can you tell us where you’re headed next? What shifter are you planning to interview?

  Ryley: Actually, I’m on vacation for a few weeks and just relaxing. I’m not sure where I’m headed next. Maybe your readers will have an idea of a shifter I should meet?

  GAMagazine: Great idea. Okay, readers, if you want to talk to Ryley or help her find her next shifter interviewee drop her a letter here. Ryley Stewart ℅ Great Adventurer Magazine 3478 NW Ridgemoor Road, Albany, Georgia. We will forward all the mail to her to answer.

  Gerri knew just the person for Ryley to interview next.

  One

  “Katarina Stormy Townsend, get your ass out here! You are not going to believe the latest batch of letters the magazine sent over.” Ryley could hear Kat stomping down the hallway from her bedroom. She knew the fastest way to get a reaction out of Kat was to use her whole name.

  “Goddammit, I asked you to not use my full name. I shouldn't have told it to you.”

  Ryley laughed at her. “Blame it on the rum. It’s not my fault you have a stripper name. Anyways, I have more letters from the magazine. Apparently, it took a while for the real whack jobs to learn to write.” Ryley couldn’t imagine why these people thought it was okay to say some of the things they had written down. She would need brain bleach by the end of thi
s batch.

  “Bitch, you know this is the highlight of my week! Share them with me now. It makes me feel better about the men I’ve met.” Ryley slid a stack of letters over, and they both started reading them. “Listen to this one Ry.

  My Dearest Ryley,

  I'm a Donkey shifter, and as you can imagine I'm the butt of a lot of jokes. I'm a very stoic person and dislike jokes at my expense. I implore you to do an interview with me. I want to show the world how disrespectful it is to be called an ass. I'm a donkey, not an ASS.

  Yours, Brad Gregory IV.

  “Oh, he is an ass,” Kat said and tossed the letter to the side. “Ha, I got one to beat that.” Ryley started reading aloud…

  “Hey toots, us rodent shifters are looking for some good times. Think you can share that with your readers and send us some women?

  In lust and sex, Filton Monroe.”

  When Ryley set out to meet shifters she never expected the draw and attention she received. She knew women fantasized but she didn't expect the shifters to start reaching out to her.

  “Challenge accepted.” Kat smirked. “This one wants to know if you want to meet his second cousin who is also his uncle. How does that even work?” Kat looked up at Ryley, waiting for her response. Ryley was engrossed in a letter. “Share the details... What kind of whack job did you find in that one?”

  “Hmm?” Ryley glanced up and then went back to reading the letter. “Kat, listen to this. I’m not sure if it’s legit or another whack job.”

  Dear Ms. Stewart,

  I'm sure you are receiving missives from all types of people and shifters. I hope my letter is different and you take my offer as it is intended. An offer of help in your search and friendship. Let me start over. Hello, my name is Gerri Wilder. I own the Paranormal Dating Agency, I can see you shaking your head already. I'm not offering to set you up with a shifter, or anything of the sort. In my business, I come across all types of shifters. I can help you locate those you are searching for. Maybe even a few shifters you weren’t aware you were looking for. If it’s acceptable for you, we could meet at the Devilishly Delightful Bakery on September 3rd at 3pm? My treat of course. If you would prefer to bring a friend, so you are comfortable and safe, please do so. I'll be traveling and will be in your area, so no need to respond to my letter if you are interested please just meet me at the bakery.

  Yours,

  Gerri Wilder.

  Ryley looked up after finishing the letter to see Kat gaping at her. “What? You don’t think it’s a legit offer?”

  “You don’t know who Gerri Wilder is? Everyone knows of her, she’s the most famous shifter matchmaker. I’m not sure there is even any competition though… Anyways you have to meet her, this would be your chance to find all kinds of shifters. No more aimless traveling, no more meeting strange people in the hopes they are the shifter you’re looking for.” Kat practically jumped up and down in her seat in excitement.

  Ryley wasn’t sure what to make of her reaction. There was a dating agency for shifters? Well that did make sense, but why would she help her out. Oh! Shit! Maybe she thought I was looking for a shifter and this was just an excuse. Oh no way, Ryley was going to meet her and make sure she knew this was for a story or stories and nothing else. This was her chance to make it as a journalist. No matter how unorthodox she was taking the reigns of this opportunity with both hands and going along for the ride.

  “Well it says I can bring a friend with me. Will you come with me? I’m making sure right away she knows this is business, and I do not want to be hooked up with anyone.”

  “I guess we’re going to meet this Gerri Wilder, good thing we got these letters today and opened them up. You do realize tomorrow is the 3rd?” Kat reached for another letter. “Less time for you to stress about going then.” Kat had that right, new situations made her nervous and to meet someone so famous in the shifter world. What if she was upset that Ryley was sharing details about them? Ryley put it out of her mind and went back to the letters that were delivered.

  A few hours later after they had read all the letters, they separated them into piles.

  Crazy/Whacko/Pervert went straight to the trash and potential new interviewees went into another.

  “All right, sweets, I'm heading to bed. Love you, lady.” Ryley smiled at her best friend and roommate. She was lucky to have someone like Kat.

  “Night. Love you.” Ryley pulled up Google and did a search of Paranormal Dating Agency and Gerri Wilder. She hadn’t expected to find so many references. The more Ryley looked around, the more secure she felt in her decision to meet with her the next day.

  There wasn't one bad thing mentioned about her. Numerous stories of couples who found their “mate” and even articles about her charitable work. She sounded like a saint. The clock in the kitchen chimed midnight, and Ryley was shocked to see how long she had been sitting reading about Mrs. Wilder.

  She couldn't help but feel a bit of excitement that she might have finally found the way to meet all those elusive shifters. Her dream and life’s work could continue, to bad her mom was past listening to her. She was happy flitting from douchebag to douchecanoe. Ryley was just thankful she was an only child and no one else had to be raised with her influence.

  Two

  Ryley opened the door to Devilishly Delightful and inhaled the delicious scent of chocolate. “Oh, my, Kat, I'm going to gain weight just from the smells in here. Why have we never been in here before?” Ryley was frozen in the doorway, in chocolate lust. This was heaven, nothing could beat this or at least none of the men she had met in the last few years. Chocolate could give her the pleasure the men she slept with couldn’t.

  Kat shoved Ryley inside all the way. “Let me in the door, I want to smell all the yummies too.” Ryley couldn’t fault Kat’s shove; the smell was doing funny things to her right now. They migrated towards the counter to see what offerings they had available. “Surely anything that smelled this good had to be a sin.”

  “Welcome to Devilishly Delightful. Can I help you with anything?” Ryley looked up to see a smiling older woman. She wore an apron that read, “A Sin on the Lips is better than a Sin from the Lips.” Ryley laughed out loud, she called it.

  She also had flour on her cheek, this made Ryley smile. “Hi, thank you. We have never been here before, there is so much to pick from.” Ryley glanced over to Kat to see her practically drooling on the glass case.

  “May I make a suggestion?” Ryley turned to the person who spoke behind her.

  “Hello, dear, I heard you and your friend when you walked in. I'm Gerri Wilder, and you I assume are Ryley Stewart. Now, I recommend the triple chocolate brownies. You can never go wrong with chocolate, and they make amazing ones here.”

  Ryley just nodded and turned to the woman behind the counter. “I’ll take a brownie, please. Kat, have you decided?” Ryley watched Kat bounce on her toes. “Maybe no sugar for you.”

  Kat gasped in dismay and threw her hand over her forehead. “My best friend is denying me the most heavenly food ever. How could you? I throw myself on your mercy. I’ll let you pick for me.”

  Quickly before Kat did drop to the floor, Ryley rushed out, “Please add a buttercream marble cheesecake cupcake for my overly dramatic friend here.” She watched Kat out of the corner of her eye, to make sure she didn’t lick the glass case. Ryley felt a hand at her elbow.

  “I have a table over here, dear. You and your friend must join me so we can chat. They’ll bring your desserts.” Gerri led the way to her table and waited until they were all settled. She reached over and patted Kat’s hand. “It won't be long. I can see you eyeing the display counter like a pole vaulter.”

  Ryley laughed. “You have her pegged already. She is a sweets fanatic, she can’t control herself. It works great when she is mad at me. An easy way to bribe my way into her good thoughts.” Ryley could see Kat glowering at her but didn't bother to soothe her ego. The dessert coming would be enough for her to forget.

  �
��So, Mrs. Wilder, it’s a pleasure to meet you. I admit to googling you last night. I wanted to make sure you were legit, and this was a real meeting. You’d be surprised at some of the letters I’ve received.” Ryley hoped she didn’t sound like a stalker or dismissive since she didn’t know who Gerri was.

  Kat burst into laughter. “Can you imagine what kind of letters a Paranormal Dating Agency gets? Dear, Mrs. Wilder, I need a shifter to ravage me. Please hook me up!” Kat had tears running down her face. Her imagination could be quite a thing to behold, she frequently kept herself amused.

  Ryley just shook her head. “I’m sorry. She can get a bit spastic around sweets; hopefully, they bring it soon and soothe her savage beast.” Ryley felt her cheeks flush when she realized what she said to the lady who runs a paranormal dating agency. She dealt with beasts all day long.

  Gerri leaned back and smiled. “I know all about soothing savage beasts. She is right though, some of the letters I get are pretty desperate. But we aren't here to talk about me, let's talk about you and what type of beast you want to meet next.”

  Ryley put the brakes on fast, interview yes, date no. She refused to be a serial dater like her loser mom. “Before we start, I wanted to make sure you understand, Mrs. Wilder, I don't want to meet a man even one who shifts into an animal. I’m here for a story, and that’s all.”

  “Please call me Gerri. We’re going to be frequently chatting so I can send you new shifters, right? I completely understand, no dates, just interviews.”

  Kat leaned forward. “Why do I see a twinkle in your eye? You have something up your sleeve, don’t you?” Ryley gasped and smacked Kat on the arm. “Don’t talk to her like that, you’re so rude!” Kate glowered at Ryley “She runs a ‘Dating Agency’ what do you think she is going to do? It’s her business to set people up!”