Page 5 of Fastlander Fealty

“Are you with him?” Captain asked.

“I met him in line.”

He glanced at the other guy again, then back. “So, you’re single?”

“Uhhh.” Right, this was why she was here. Captain was her ticket into the Fastlanders. He was single and from the research Rook had done, he dated around a lot. “I’m not with anyone,” she said. Not technically, and not anymore. Her rank in the Pride had been stripped from her.

“Sounds complicated. What’s your number?” Captain asked, oozing with the confidence of a man who often got his way.

“Dude,” the other guy said, his eyes flashing a brighter blue at Captain.

“Want to fight?” Captain asked, and why did he sound so hopeful?

Oh no, this was not part of the plan. “I should be going. I’m sorry if I’ve caused any tension,” she murmured, grasping her tray, and turning to leave.

This is your chance.

She closed her eyes tightly, and then turned back around, and recited her phone number. “My name is Silver,” she offered.

Captain’s grin grew bigger and bigger, and then he nodded. “I’ll text you after I’m off work tonight, Silver.”

The blond guy was walking off in the opposite direction as her now, shaking his head.

She felt so grimy, but she couldn’t understand why. She was here for a job. No more, no less.

Captain was the job, and now he had her number. Oh, he didn’t need to write it down. He would remember it. Shifters remembered a helluva lot, and easily.

Still, she couldn’t shake that unsettled feeling. That man had bought her dinner and been kind to her in line, and she felt like she’d done something to cause some tension between him and Captain that she didn’t understand.

The inside dining tables were full, so she meandered out to the side porch, and for a moment was stunned as she took it in. It was covered by a dark-wood roof, with exposed rafters and strands of lights hanging everywhere. Only a few tables were occupied out here, so she picked one on the very edge, where she could still see Captain working through the open doors.

The food was absolutely delicious. She couldn’t believe how tender all the meat was, and the jalapeño mac and cheese was possibly the best thing she’d ever put into her mouth. The baked potato was savory and buttery, and had a cheese-pull under that freshly chopped brisket that made her wish this meal would never end.

She lost track of watching Captain, and was startled out of her food trance by her phone vibrating in her purse with a text.

She checked it and her heart sank as she saw who it was. Rook had messaged, Have you met him yet?

She inhaled deeply and texted back, Just did. Send.

She put her phone away and looked up to see if Captain was still by the indoor smokers, but the other man was sitting directly in front of her, at her table, watching her.

She startled hard. “What the hell,” she whispered, stifling the growl in her throat. Her lioness hadn’t even sensed his approach.

“Jumpy little thing, aren’t you?” he asked.

“Where’s…” She blew out a breath and tried to calm down. “Where’s your food?”

“I ate it already. I made it to the parking lot before I realized I forgot something.”

“Oh, you want me to pay you back? I have cash.”

“What? No. Why would I want you to pay me back?”

“I don’t know. Because men keep tabs?”

“Whoa,” he drawled out, leaning back on the bench seat like she’d taken a swing at him. “I don’t know what kind of men you’ve been around, but no. A man isn’t supposed to keep tabs. Can I see your notepad?”

“Oh. Uh, sure.” Silver dug into her oversize purse and pulled it out.

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