Page 9 of Fastlander Fealty

Owen pursed his lips against the smile at how easy it was to get to both Ace and Captain. “I’m lonely.”

He’d expected Ace’s hit, so he ducked his closed fist easily and laughed as he walked away. “So testy.”

“Tell your girlfriend she has terrible taste in men,” Ace called.

“Oh, she absolutely does. She likes Captain.”

“Wait!”

Owen gave a private grin, and then composed his face before he turned around. Ace was leaned all the way to the left of the counter, looking around the line. “You like someone who likes Captain?”

Owen shrugged. “I tried to confide in you.”

Ace narrowed his eyes at him. “Are you messing with me right now?”

“Probably. Later masterbater.”

Owen pushed open the exit and something hit him in the back of the head. He winced and looked at the ground. A beef jerky stick laid there by his feet.

“This doesn’t make us friends,” Ace barked out.

If Owen liked people, he would feel touched by the jerky stick. As it stood, he was just proud he’d annoyed it out of Ace. He wasn’t even hungry. He’d just inhaled six to seven pounds of barbecue while he’d watched Silver eat. It wasn’t creepy. It was recon.

He stooped and grabbed the beef stick, careful to balance the beers. “Thanks, bestie.”

He heard an annoyed groan as he left the building. He was in the best mood today. He should come here on his days off and annoy Ace and Captain more often.

His phone vibrated and he checked the text. The blood drained a little from his face as he realized who had messaged. Wreck had texted the loop. I’m not going to this Crew meeting or any other.

Eee, well good. That shifter was a little heavy to be around and brought out the worst of his inner boar. When had he been added to the Fastlander’s loop? Probably Corey or Hallie had done it. None of the guys wanted to even mess with him.

Owen was lost in thoughts of Wreck when he sensed something standing in his way. He looked up to find Silver there, her hands clasped in front of her, pretty beach waves hanging down and covering half of her face. She looked timid. Why? He knew what she was, and never in his life had he met a timid lioness. They were monsters—in the hottest way.

She cleared her throat delicately. “I thought you left, but I just saw you walking out to your car, and I wanted to say I’m sorry.” Truth.

Owen frowned. “Sorry for what?”

“For back there when I gave someone else my number right after you bought me food.”

Owen looked around, thinking. He had planned on texting her later, once he’d had some time to see how he really felt about everything. When he looked back at her, she wore this cute little hopeful look in her doe-brown eyes.

His heart pounded a little harder at how pretty she was. Five-six, maybe five-seven. Curves in all the right places. High cheek bones and long eyelashes and full lips. Skinny jeans that hugged a perfect ass and a tank top with a low neckline that showed off the top curves of her perky tits. Gorgeous.

Oh, she was good. Good bait.

He shook his head, and walked past her. “Don’t worry about it. Captain is rough though, just so you know. He loves himself too much to ever treat a woman right. He goes through them like candy.”

He opened the back door of his truck and shoved the drinks onto the floorboard.

When he turned back around, she was still standing in the same place, looking awkward and clinging to her purse as the wind blew her blonde streaks across her face. So damn pretty.

“I made a reservation online,” she said, as if she was reaching for conversation.

“For what?”

“For that floating-the-river adventure you recommended. I have to be there to pick up my innertube and catch my bus at ten-ten in the morning.”

A smile took his face without intention. “You’ll have fun.”

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