Page 30 of Fastlander Fallen

“Swear not to make a big deal?” he asked.

She held up her pinky. “I pinky-swear, and those are the most serious oaths in the entire world.”

He hesitated for a few seconds and then hooked his pinky with hers, only he didn’t pull away. He set their hands on the bar top and held her pinky with his.

Butterflies took over her middle again, and she marveled at how easily this man did that to her.

“My boss is from Damon’s Mountains. She approached me and Captain a couple of weeks ago about opening a new location for her.”

Her eyes went wide with the thought of him moving away. “Where?”

“Laramie.”

Chills rippled up her forearms. “Wait, that can’t be a coincidence. Do you think she knew what was going to happen with Gunner’s Crew opening up? Think about it. You and Captain are in the running, and clearly Damon has something to do with that. Do you think the opportunity is Damon’s doing?”

He nodded. “Clever human. The dragon has chess pieces moving into place all over the board. I just don’t know what piece I am yet. Or why I’m on the board at all.”

“You’re unregistered,” she whispered, knowing damn well he would hear her with his shifter senses. “But you’ve been around Damon’s Mountains since you were twelve. He had to know you were here all this time.”

“My dad went to him for permission to settle in his territory the first day we arrived seeking sanctuary. Damon granted it. He’s known about me all along,” he agreed.

“He knows what you are, and that you were supposed to be some kind of king?” she asked in a whisper.

Ace nodded.

Chills, chills, chills! All of the shifter dynamics were so interesting to her. There was so much history here!

Humans knew Damon ran the mountains. They knew he had power over the shifters, and was a big part of policing the species under the radar, but actually getting a front-row seat to the different relationships people had with the dragon dredged up more and more questions from a curious little kitty like her.

“You look all impressed, but you should remember I work at a gas station.”

“So? I work reception for a dentist. I’m not even an oral hygienist. Who cares what your job is as long as you work hard and like your life. Are you paying your bills?”

“I’m doing all right,” he said with a quirk to his lips that said he was doing just fine.

“Then who am I to say your job isn’t important? Own that shit, Ace.” She jammed her finger at him and bobbed her head sassily as she said, “My name is Ace and I work at a motherfucking gas station.”

His face softened and he squeezed her pinky, then released her. “You’re a surprising woman, Corey.”

“Well, I’m no mysterious royal shifter,” she said. “But I can probably keep you on your toes.”

He chuckled and assured her, “You’re lucky you aren’t a shifter. Some girls run as soon as I say I work at a gas station.”

“Good.” She sipped her soda. “You weed out the gold-diggers that way. I wish I had a line that weeded out the lame boys.”

“I’m assuming they take a look at your cleavage and ignore your red flags?” he guessed.

She sipped the drink again. Mmm, delicious. “Yup. You boys and your booby obsession. You make everything confusing.”

“You date a lot?” he asked, but his tone had lost the joking quality, and now he looked curious.

“Some. I had a boyfriend I thought could be important a few years ago, but we just…” She shrugged. “We didn’t match.”

“Who broke up with who?”

“I broke up with him, but he should’ve done it long before I finally pulled the trigger. It felt like he was sabotaging us, and it was almost daily at the end. Just picking at me. Making me miserable until I couldn’t do it anymore. We broke up, and he went and dated one of the oral hygienists in my office for a few months. They broke up, and one day after their breakup, she asked if we could get lunch and talk. I said okay. I mean, I was hurt by it all, but I honestly loved him and wanted him to be happy, and I was not it, you know? I wasn’t enough. It was a long and hard lesson, and I got to rock bottom by the time I left. Anyway…” She slurped her soda again. “Do you want me to continue with this boring story? Or not?”

“I’m invested now. What did she say at the lunch?”

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