Page 30 of Alpha Rising (Secrets of the Northland Shifters)

“Oh. I’dplannedto decorate the dining room a lot more than it is. I’ve only got balloons.”

His green eyes twinkled. “Sounds festive enough.”

“Did Angel show you the drink menus?” I asked.

“No.” His gaze dropped to my lips.

“I came up with three specialty cocktails for the night. The menus are on the bar, and he’s been practicing making them this afternoon.”

“Who’s been sampling his experiments?” Reese asked.

I could tell by the way he asked the question that he already knew the answer. “Me, mostly.”

“So you’re tipsy?” He dragged his thumb across my bottom lip.

“Somewhere between stage one and two.”

His eyebrows shot up. “How many stages are there?”

“Seven. After tipsy, there comes buzzed, then the stage where you tell everybody how much you love them.”

Reese chuckled.

“That’s followed by the ever popular drunk-dialing-exes stage. Stage five is shitfaced. Then comes bullet proof, followed by blotto.”

“So you’re already between tipsy and buzzed?” He gripped my waist, and I realized I’d started to lean toward him.

I let out a breath. “Thought it might help with the nerves.”

“What are you nervous about?” He slipped his hands from my waist, down over my ass, squeezing tight. Yep. Reese Fitzpatrick was definitely an ass man.

“You,” I admitted, feeling heated.

He grinned wickedly, then leaned down to nip my earlobe. “Be nervous, kitten. I want you completelyriledby the time I have you alone tonight.”

Um…yikes.

Regretfully, we left my room—Reese holding my elbow to keep me steady, even though I was usually good on my feet until at least stage four—and headed straight for the dining room.

I’d decorated the entrance with an arch of blue and green balloons and so far all but one had stayed inflated. Inside, the employees were already gathered—nearly forty young men and women dressed in clothes they never had reason to wear during their normal activities as trail guides, dock attendants, horse groomers, housekeepers, and kitchen staff.

The lights were off and the heavy curtains were drawn, darkening the room except for the small disco ball that Toby had hung from the ceiling.

Because I didn’t stay in the bunkhouse or work outside, I hadn’t had the chance to get to know many of the employees. But I’d overheard one of the boat dock attendants’ music playing the other day and liked it, so I’d roped her into putting together the playlist. Her selections were pumping through the speakers and, from the looks of things, everyone approved.

A few heads turned as I entered with Reese. He glanced around the crowded room and sighed. “Dad always made sure to talk to every single employee, so that’s what I’ll be doing tonight.”

Someone called his name from across the room, and at the same time, I spotted Angel waving me over to where he was tending bar.

“Go see what he wants,” Reese said. “I’ll catch up with you later.”

I headed for the bar and was halfway there when a hand reached out of the sea of bodies and touched my arm.

It was Abby, one of the housekeepers. She was dressed in a slinky silver number with matching scrappy sandals, and her wavy auburn hair was swept into a loose but tidy up-do.

“Hey, Sarah,” she said. “You look great!”

“Thanks. So do you.”

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