Page 56 of Fastlander Fallen

“So much. Do you like mimosas?” she asked as she scrolled the flavors they had available at Sprinkleberries Café. “They have blueberry. That seems like the manliest one they have.”

“No mimosa is manly,” he pointed out.

“Well, you’re going to have to pretend, because we are sharing a bucket of mimosas.”

“A bucket of…what?”

“Okay, imagine it,” she said excitedly, turning to him. “One bottle of champagne, a cup of concentrated blueberry puree—”

“Pure-what?”

“Puree. And two glasses, and we can do as much champagne as we want in each glass. Also, Gunner and Hallie are meeting us there.”

“Oh my God, Corey. Gunner won’t drink a mimosa either.”

“Wanna bet? This is their engagement celebration, and he is a good mate. He will understand that Hallie has needs.”

“So we’re meeting Gunner and his mate for brunch, and I’m going to be doing mimosa buckets with the Alpha of the Fastlanders?”

“Technically it was all planned already and a part of my self-care day, but you volunteered the second you bossed me around and said I needed to consume food with you, so you are on this adventure wagon now, mister. Buckle up.”

“I’ll get a morning beer for me and Gunner.”

“Fine. More mimosas for me and Hallie. Whoo, they have mango flavor.”

“You ordered a mango margarita with Owen yesterday,” he reminisced as he turned onto the main road toward Laramie.

“And I’ll do it again, don’t play with me,” she deadpanned.

He tossed her a fiery gaze and she held it, pursing her lips against a baiting smile.

He forced a laugh and shook his head. “Capital T.”

“You know,” she said, facing him as she settled her phone in his cupholder. “I was kind of dreading being the third wheel today with Gunner and Hallie, but now I think the brunch will be fun! She’s picking up her ring from the jeweler today, and I get to see it.”

“So they’re engaged like humans get engaged?” he asked.

“Yep, and next week they are doing a courthouse wedding, and I get to be Hallie’s maid of honor. We are going dress shopping later.”

“So that’s why you’re all dressed up,” he said, the lightbulb going off above his head. “You’re an adventure, aren’t you?”

“Not usually. Usually my life is really boring and every day looks like the one before it, but this week, yep. Adventuress. I like it. It’s exciting.”

“I like it too,” he rumbled.

When she looked over at him, his eyes looked so bright blue, and she hadn’t missed the growly tone to his voice.

“Hey,” she said, resting her hand on the forearm that was draped on the console. “What’s wrong?”

“It’s a lot of being around other dominant shifters. I have to start staying at Gunner’s place tonight. They are supposed to have the tents all set up for us. I’ve got a duffel bag in the back. It’ll be weird staying away from my territory tonight.”

“Have you already said yes to the Fastlander invite?”

“No. I have to tell Gunner by the end of the week.”

“Turn here,” she said, pointing to the street they needed to take a right on. “Are you going to do it?”

“I have no idea yet. I’m fifty-fifty on it.”

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