Page 34 of Fastlander Fighter

“Hey,” the blond guy said. “I resemble that.”

“I think the saying is ‘I resent that,’” a dark-haired man said before he took a swig of beer.

“Whatever. I’m Owen,” the blond man introduced himself to Sloane, offering a hand for a shake.

“I’m Sloane. I’m Captain’s friend.”

A soft, vibrating growl sounded from Captain beside her, and she could feel the growl through where their arms were touching. She looked up at him, questioning, but he just moved on to introducing her to the rest of the Crew.

She already knew his Alpha, and brother, Gunner, from when they were younger. He sure had changed. He was the most intimidating, with his glowing, bi-colored blue-and-silver eyes and quiet, heavy demeanor. Ace was the dark-haired man, and then she met Silver, Owen’s mate. Hallie, Gunner’s mate, and Corey, Ace’s mate, were familiar from Moosey’s.

The girls were watchful, but polite enough as they formally introduced themselves.

“I’m sorry to crash,” Sloane said. “I think Captain was pitying me. My kiddo went to his dad’s house for the week today, and I am burned out on frozen microwave dinners.”

“You have a kid?” Silver asked, pulling out a chair next to her for Sloane to sit in.

Sloane looked longingly at Captain as she made her way around the table and sat between Silver and Hallie. Captain took the seat right across the table from her, and being able to look right at him while they talked was kind of nice.

“Yeah.” She pulled up the lock screen on her phone, which was a picture of her and Ruger. “He’s fun.”

“And gonna be a good little baseball player,” Captain murmured.

“Baseball?” Gunner asked.

“Yep.” Sloane didn’t understand the look they exchanged, but Hallie explained. “The Walker family loves watching baseball. Both of them played in high school.”

“I remember. I watched some of their games. They were crazy good.”

“You went to school with Gunner and Captain?”

“Yeah, I even went on a date with Captain.”

“Whoa!” Hallie exclaimed. “Okay, this is awesome. Boys, we’re stealing Sloane for girl-talk. Captain, will you order her a drink?”

“I’m on it.” He gave her a wink as she stood with the girls and gave him an oh-my-gosh look. She was hanging out with shifters from Damon’s Mountains. And not just any shifters. They were the new Crew that had been splashed all over the news lately.

As she came around the table and passed Captain, he caught her by the front of her thighs and scooped her closer. Sloane instinctively slid her hands to his shoulders and leaned into him.

“What do you want to drink?” he asked.

“Ummm. Gosh, I haven’t done a night out in a long time.”

“Want me to surprise you?” he asked.

She grinned. “Yes! No rum.”

“Why no rum?” he asked curiously.

“Too many strawberry daiquiris on my twenty-first birthday. I still can’t drink it.”

He snorted. “I’ve got you.”

“That is the hottest word combination a man can say.”

“Yeah? I’ll remember that.” He patted her leg and told her, “Have fun.”

“Okay. I’m going to go hang out with some she-werebears.”

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