The Tourist Attraction (Moose Springs, Alaska #1)(7)

Nope. Nope nope nope. Theirs was a friendship with long-established rules. Shaking her head, Zoey leaned in. “I don’t make you listen to stories about my job, and you don’t introduce me to your other friends, remember? Everyone always thinks I’m your assistant.”

Lana rolled her eyes. “One day, you will be less of a stick-in-the-mud. I will break you.”

Taking a sip of her moose pee, Zoey shot her friend a sassy look. “You’re welcome to try.”

Theirs was a strange friendship, but somehow it worked. They had next to nothing in common, but they complemented each other well. Zoey didn’t want to be the center of attention, and Lana had that covered. Lana needed someone she could trust, someone she could talk to with impunity, no matter what she’d gotten herself into this time. Zoey was good at listening without judging too much…or calling the cops.

Another rattle of ice—this time in a glass—was equally hard to ignore.

“Try not to let your eyes fall out of your head, love,” Lana murmured.

“Shut up.” Hiking her book higher up, Zoey glanced guiltily over the top. Sexy T-shirt guy’s attention was locked right on them even as he worked.

“How’s your water, Zoey?”

“Don’t tease her, Graham.” Lana tsked, a tease-me-instead tsk if there ever was one. “Zoey won’t fall for your tricks.”

“I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

Lana rolled her eyes. “Don’t trust him, Zoey. Graham might look like a sweet thing, but he’s a snob through and through. To him, we’re the enemy.”

Instead of being offended, Graham just dribbled a splash of red-colored liquor over the brightest, bluest cocktail Zoey had ever seen. “Hey, Zoey. Have you ever read Where the Red Fern Grows?”

Zoey blinked at him. “I’m sorry, what was that?”

“So, this kid wants to earn some money, and he decides to do it by catching raccoons for their pelts. He figures out the raccoons will stick their hands in a coffee can to grab a piece of shiny tin and get stuck. Mean, right?”

She tilted her head, confused at the randomness of his comments, then squeaked in alarm as Graham abandoned his counter and headed for their table. “He’s coming over here, Lana,” she hissed.

“I know.” Even her jet-setting friend seemed impressed. “I’m not sure anyone’s ever seen his feet before.”

Setting down the drink and some unknown kind of bratwurst in front of her, Graham gave them a sexy smile. “My motto has always been not to grab the sparkly stuff. Lana’s sparkly, and I’m liable to lose my pelt when she’s done with me.”

“If Lana lets you get a paw on her, just let go before you get bonked in the head.” Zoey returned his smile with a shy one of her own.

“Hey!” Lana protested, but not with nearly enough vigor, her attention already straying across the room. In all their years of friendship, Zoey could count on her fingers how often Lana had managed to sit still for more than a couple of minutes.

Sexy T-shirt guy must have known Lana well. “I’m too lazy to keep up with her anyway. Enjoy your Growly Bear. This one’s on me. Just drink it slow.”

Mesmerized by how bright and blue it was, Zoey picked up her drink with a murmured thanks. Why were there blue gummy bears swimming in the liquid? Or were they drowning? Currently, Zoey was drowning in the cuteness of her dinner. It looked like a normal bratwurst, but he’d slipped a pair of paper antlers over one end and added two eyes and a toothy grin with ketchup.

“This smells delicious, but it’s too freaking cute to eat.”

Arching an eyebrow at his generosity, Lana waited until Graham was headed back to the grill before leaning in, her voice lowered conspiratorially. “He only gives kids the antlers. And he never gives anyone anything for free.” Lana’s eyes sparkled with mischief. “He likes you. I’ll ask what he’s doing later.”

“No.” Her face flushing, Zoey gave her a warning look. “Lana, don’t you dare.”

“I’m doing it.”

Just as Lana started to open her mouth in Graham’s direction, Zoey squeaked out one of her best threats. “I know your natural hair color.”

Lana paused, considering it. “Fine. But you’re no fun.”

No one should look that good walking across a room or ignoring the customers vying for his attention. Zoey took a bite of the dog as she watched Graham, then immediately spat it out. It tasted awful, the meat filled with a heavy combination of spices that made Zoey gag. In a panic to get the taste out of her mouth, Zoey grabbed for the drink, taking a slug of the bright blue liquid. She was drinking fire. Sugary fire.

Lana dissolved into laughter at the expression on her face.

“What’s in this?” Choking and sputtering, Zoey took refuge in her pee water.

“It’s better not to ask,” Graham replied at the same time as Lana patted her hand and said, “Don’t worry. Reindeer is an acquired taste. By the time we leave, you’ll love them.”

“I’m eating a reindeer?” A sweet, cuddly, pulls Santa’s sleigh at Christmastime reindeer? Zoey stared at them in horror. She was eating Rudolph. She had just swallowed Rudolph by-product.

Graham said to her from behind his grill, “Welcome to Alaska, Zoey.”