“A party?”
She glanced at Eagan, but then went ahead with the details. “Nothing official or anything. Just some of the staff decided to meet up in the kitchen and do a drink exchange.”
“What’s a drink exchange?”
“You bring your coolest holiday drink recipe and make some up for everyone. Then you can exchange recipes. Think holiday cookie exchange but way more badass.”
Magic raised an eyebrow. “Huh.” It sounded… fun. They’d never done something like that before. “Who’s idea was this?”
“Josie’s,” Eagan said.
Magic’s mouth turned up on the side, and an ironic laugh snuck out. Of course his female came up with that idea. Who else?
“I’ll be there.”
Clara smiled. “Great! Do you need anything for your recipe? Me and Eagan were just about to hit up a liquor store.” She stopped suddenly, her mouth clamping shut. Her gaze flew to Eagan who busted out a laugh. “I didn’t mean hit it up, like rob it. I meant—”
Magic felt his chest tighten with his own laugh, and then before he could realize what he was doing, it found its way out his mouth. The sound was so foreign, but he was helpless to contain it. The more he heard it, the harder he laughed, the harder Eagan laughed.
Clara covered her face with her hands, but she was laughing right along with them.
“FireBall and RumChata,” he managed. “Better get two bottles of each.”
Chapter Eleven
Josie downed another shot of Agavero Orange and held her glass in the air triumphantly. Being a shifter rocked. She was six shots in and not even buzzing. Someone had turned the Christmas music on even though Thanksgiving was still a couple weeks off and she could just hug them. Christmas music made her want to drink more.
She slammed the glass down on the counter.
“Again.”
Bailey eyed her, holding the bottle of Orange captive. “You sure about that, Jos? Maybe let your cat get used to the alcohol first?”
“Nahhh. I’m good.”
Bailey quirked a dark eyebrow. “If you say so.”
“Jingle Bell, Jingle Bell, Jingle Bell rock!” Ryan’s slurred voice boomed from the middle of the kitchen making everyone laugh.
They were all there. Renner and Beth, Eagan and Clara, Ryan, Mason, Layna, Owyn, Doc, Bailey, and Gash. The entire clan, except Magic. She didn’t expect him to come. Hadn’t invited him, but she figured he knew. Just like he knew she was still hanging around the lodge. She’d asked Layna to move her to the guest wing to limit the chances of seeing him. So far it had worked.
Josie hit her next shot, laughing and pretending to have fun like a champ, when the hairs on her arms stood like little soldiers at attention. The whole air of the room changed, and she turned to see him standing just inside the kitchen door.
In unison all attention turned to him, and it was like the needle scratching on a record.
“Uh. Oh. The law’s here.” She couldn’t help it. Seeing him walk into the party… Mr. Party Pooper himself, he might as well be wearing a police uniform and busting down a kegger at the local college.
His dark gaze found her, and like a real rebel without a cause… she looked away. Oh, who was she kidding. He owned her to the moon and back. One damn look and she was already shaking.
Two days since she’d seen him. Two whole days since he’d kissed her. Two whole days since he’d refused her.
The conversation started back up and her sadness was drown out by laughter.
“Here ya go. Try this.” Bailey set her caramel apple martini on the counter in front of Josie.
“I was hoping for something harder, but if you insist.”
Bailey rolled her amber eyes and cocked her head to the side. “I got a rock. That hard enough? I can toss it at that crazy little head of yours. Snap out of it, girl.”
“Yeah, yeah.” Josie sipped at the sweet apple concoction. “Hold on to that rock though. I might need it later. This is delicious by the way.”
“You like?” Bailey tossed her a card with the recipe on it.
“I do.”
Josie tested three more drinks and listened to Ryan’s hilarious rendition of Feliz Navidad. Clara tried and tried to convince him otherwise, but he still insisted the words were fleas on your dog.
Josie had done a good job avoiding her mate, so when he sidled up to the counter beside her, the instinct to bolt hit her hard. He set two bottles on the counter before turning to watch Ryan and Clara argue.
“What’s that for?” she blurted.
He glanced at her and his breath caught. Slowly, he exhaled before answering. “I was going to let you try my drink but it looks like you’ve had too many already.”