Page 50 of Fastlander Fallen

This had been his favorite morning in a long time.

Chapter Eight

She should’ve worn a belt. Right? No. Yes. No. Shit!

She’d gotten here too early by fifteen minutes, and was currently trying to look cool leaned up against her car. Maybe she should look at her phone. Wait, she should tuck her curls behind her ears so he could see her contoured cheekbones better.

Now she should look at her phone. Yes.

Corey checked the gravel entrance to the potential Moosey’s for the dozenth time. He still wasn’t here. She checked the address again, and yep, this was the place.

The place looked like an old mechanic shop connected to a gas station. Everything was old, and the paint was chipped on every inch of this place. Two garage hangers hung open, and inside were still piles of abandoned tools and old tires and debris. She couldn’t imagine it.

She poked her photos and stared at the picture he’d sent her this morning. That man. Ace had sleep-mussed hair, and dark, two-day scruff on his jaw that was so sexy. He had taken the selfie with one hand, and she could see the perfect muscular curves of his shoulders, triceps, and every defined ab. He’d flexed for her. That was a good sign, right? Oh, stop it.

She scrolled, but landed on a few pictures Hallie had sent her last night. One was of her and Ace at the bar, smiling at each other. Her lips were parted with whatever she was saying to him, and his eyes were on her lips. His smile was so soft. Another was of her and Ace dancing. And the last was one of Ace by the railing, standing beside Gunner. Gunner had his back to the camera, but Ace was twisted around, his eyes narrowed on something. Owen? His eyes were glowing and ice-blue, and his features were too sharp, and almost inhuman. He looked dangerous.

Chills rippled up her arms just as they had the first time she’d seen this picture last night. The next picture was of her striking her pose in front of his motorcycle.

There had been so much excitement in such a short time, and what Owen said last night made sense. Her human life had been boring, and she hadn’t realized it. Being around shifters could be dangerous, yes, but she did feel as if she was living.

She could understand Hallie’s love for her new life.

The sound of tires on gravel startled her. An unfamiliar Lexus coasted in, but it wasn’t Ace or Captain. A well-dressed woman with her hair back in a bun stepped out of her car and waved. “Hi! I’m Marissa, the realtor,” she introduced herself.

Corey shook her hand. “I’m Corey, I’m just here to meet the boys.”

“Aah, perfect.” She checked her watch. “I’m a little early.”

The roar of a loud engine sounded, and they both turned to see a jacked-up black F-150 coming into the clearing. Behind it was a silver Ram, also on huge mud tires. That one was filthy and covered in mud.

The windows were so tinted, she couldn’t see either of the drivers, but it was Ace who stepped out of the black truck. His eyes flashed too bright as he waved, and then his attention drifted to Captain, who was getting out of the silver truck parked next to him.

“Oh my,” Marissa said. “Are they…are they shifters?”

“Yup.”

“Is this safe?” she asked. “I mean, are we safe?”

“Sure,” she said, scrunching her face. “I’m sure we are. They’re totally mature, and—oh!”

Captain charged Ace, and he ducked out of the way. “Stop it!” he roared in a very inhuman-sounding way.

Captain circled and straightened his spine. “Let’s finish it. No one here to stop it this time.”

“You dumb-fuck, I almost broke your arm last time. It’s over.”

“Change then,” Captain growled. “Let’s see who has the bigger bear.”

“You, motherfucker. I’m not a bear!” Ace yelled.

That stopped Captain in his tracks. The behemoth frowned.

“We have a job to do. We’re on the clock,” Ace barked. He jammed his finger at Corey and Marissa. “Humans. Keep your shifter shit for when you aren’t on the clock.”

Corey stood there with her lips pursed against a smile. She’d really just told the realtor they were safe, and then the boys immediately almost fought. Ha. Haha.

The look on the realtor’s face was half terror, half awe as Ace approached her. “I’m sorry about that. We have a little unfinished business. We’re good now.” He offered his hand for a shake. “I’m Ace.”