Page 57 of Fastlander Fallen

“Yeah, but you made an offer on Moosey’s BBQ. That feels like a decision.”

“Eh, I can still back out of that. I’m not saying no, I’m just…not certain yet.”

“I get it. I have an invite too,” she said softly. “I’m leaning toward no.”

He nodded and twitched his chin up ahead. “Is that it?”

“Yep! Oh gosh, it’s busy. Let me see if Hallie has a table for us already.”

Just got here. Are you inside? Send.

Hallie’s response was immediate. No! Got a table on the balcony!

Oh heck yeah. “You are in for a treat,” she told him as he turned into the parking lot. “Hallie got a table on the balcony. It’s the best seat in the house! It has a beautiful view of the mountains.”

He did that hot-guy thing where he backed the truck up, and then told her to wait there while he jogged around the front and opened her door for her. There was a mud puddle by her door, so he scooped her up and settled her on her feet on the other side of it.

“You’re late!” Hallie called from up on the balcony.

“Sorry! I picked up a hitchhiker!” she called.

Ace snorted.

Hallie held up a whole bottle of champagne. “I ordered mango!”

Ace chuckled and shook his head. “She knows you well.”

“Don’t be jealous, you are still my second-best friend.”

He ducked under a hanging pot of colorful flowers on the front porch and led her through the crowd waiting for a table, then told the hostess they had a table up on the balcony, and she pointed them toward the stairs.

Okay, it was really hot how he took charge and figured stuff out. She could just flit around and exist and be her happy little self. Who was going to mess with her? Ace was the size of a shipping container.

He offered his elbow when she slowed down on the stairs. “My heels are rubbing blisters,” she admitted.

“Want to take them off?”

She parted her lips to explain how that would be rude, but there was no one around the stairs, and he seemed to be honestly asking. So she dipped down and took them off, gathered them in one hand, and jogged up the stairs beside him much more easily.

Hallie was waiting impatiently at the door of the balcony. She was absolutely humming with excitement, and it made Corey so happy. She hugged her up tight, and then eased back enough to show her left hand.

“Oooh my gosh, Hallie!” Corey exclaimed as she held her hand and studied the gorgeous ring. It was simple and elegant. “Gunner, you did so good!” she called to Hallie’s mate, who was standing to do one of those mannish, back-clapping handshakes with Ace.

Hallie took a quick look back at Ace, then turned with a knowing expression on her face, and an over-exaggerated wink.

“Yeah, yeah, we had already met up this morning. I just dragged him along.”

She watched Ace squat down near Gunner and tilt his head to the side as they talked. Hallie had told her about that last night when they were girl-talking. Ace was presenting his throat to the Alpha as a sign of submission.

Gunner ruffled his hair and shoved his head, and Ace laughed loudly enough to reach Corey’s ears as he stood and took the chair across from Gunner.

All of the shifter dynamics were so interesting to her. As she made her way to the table, Ace pulled the chair out for her without even looking as he carried on the conversation with Gunner. And when she sat down, he pushed the chair in easily and slid his hand to her thigh, and oh goodness, now the butterflies were back. She just stared at his strong hand on her thigh, squeezing her gently.

She was careful on her bedroom partners, but if that man asked her to go to the bathroom right now, she would say yes and make a memory.

As if he could hear her thoughts, he turned a wicked grin on her and leaned over to whisper in her ear. “You want me. I can smell it.”

“What?” she asked, mortified, as she eased back to look him in the eye.

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