Page 73 of Into the Lion's Den (Secrets of the Northland Shifters)

“No problem.”

Tires squelched up the muddy dirt road, diverting my attention. I pulled up the hood of my raincoat and went outside to meet the Maddoxes’ private chef.

With the lodge’s dining room roof in question, I hadn’t wanted to take any chances. So last week I’d arranged for him to use a local caterer’s kitchen, and I’d employed the local waitstaff.

The whole crew got out of their van, carrying extension cords and chafing dishes.

“Where do you want the serving stations set up?” the chef asked.

“On the long tables on the right-hand wall,” I said.

“Got it. We’ll take it from here if you have other things to attend to.”

I did. This rain was an unexpected pothole in a long parade of disasters. But I did have one idea for getting all the guests up to the barn without ruining anyone’s dress or hair.

I pulled my phone from my pocket and—hesitating for a few anxious seconds—texted Angel:

Hey. It’s Sarah. Do you think you could set up some of the large camping tents on top of those hay wagons?

His response was immediate:Are you okay?

The question suggested that Reese had told him about our run-in that morning, and the memory of those shocking images sent another shot adrenaline straight through my heart.

Still trying to pretend it wasn’t real, my hand shook as I typed out:Fine. Why?

Angel’s next response took longer to come, as if he were carefully choosing his words:I can set up tents on the wagons. But what for?

I let out a sigh of relief when he didn’t force me into having that one brain-twisting conversation I did not want to have. I wondered if maybe Reese hadn’t told him after all.

For a second, I allowed myself to believe I’d imagined the whole thing.

But I knew that was only wishful thinking. I held my breath as I texted:

For rain cover. Once the covers are up, put bales of hay around the sides of the wagon beds for seating. Drape them in white bed sheets. You’ll find more sheets in my office. There’s also X-tra boxes of white lights. Do what you can to decorate the wagons with those.

Angel:Will do. But about this morning and Reese…

Okay. So he did know. Shit. It was real. It was all real. My thumbs moved quickly over the keyboard:

I don’t want to think about that right now. Just, please, tell the Maddox party to dress for dinner, then get them to the old barn by 6:00.

30

REESE

It was four o’clock by the time I left James Caldwell’s satellite office in Thunder Bay. I stormed outside and onto the pavement with his official purchase offer in hand. I’d review it with my siblings tomorrow, sign, and return it to Caldwell by Monday.

I tore open the buttons of my suit jacket, itching to get into more comfortable clothes, then slipped behind the wheel of my Jeep. The rain had lightened up. It would make the ninety-minute drive back to the lodge a little easier, though nothing would ease the thoughts that had plagued me since that morning, or tortured my thoughts for weeks.

My phone pinged with a text from Angel:Where The Hell Are You?

I texted back a quick -Back Soon- then tossed my phone onto the passenger seat.

It pinged again, right after I pulled onto the county road. This time I didn’t look to see who it was. I’d discuss everything with them once I got back. Before then, I needed time to gather my thoughts.

Something didn't feel right with me. I hadn't felt right in days and punching the wall this morning was just a symptom of a much larger problem—a problem I refused to face.

A problem that hadSarah'sface.

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