Page 117 of Scent of Home

There is something so erotic about Locke.

Shane must think so, too, because he lets out a low growl, and I notice a half a dozen people suddenly look away.

“Lets order!”

Bray is held upwith a car engine that’s not behaving itself, and by unanimous decision, we all decide to wait for him to finish.

Locke and Shane go to the library and then to the park. Benny brings Karma over, and we all go on a long, rambling walk, which ends up with us all sitting around talking. I have never done this in town before. People stop and chat with us, but they don’t ask me for help, they don’t harass me, it’s pleasant.

There’s no pressure. I’m not wondering who I’m going to be letting down or how I’ll find someone to fill in at Destiny’s.

I have to go back to work in two days, and I’m not looking forward to it. I hate Bray being so far away.

Still, we need to get back to normal.

Erin and I wander alone as the sun sets and then head back to the diner. It’s much busier than it was this morning.

We go in and find our usual table.

Shane stomps in, spots us, and frowns.

I want to say I feel something. That there is some warning. But I’m still laughing at something Erin was saying when Shane stops at our table but doesn’t sit.

“Is Locke here?”

Such an innocent question.

I frown. “No. Why?”

“He was supposed to be here.”

“He was here, love,” Eustice says with a smile. “But he got a note from Brayson saying to go meet him.”

I go cold. Icy cold. “That’s not possible.”

“Bray sent a note?” Erin asks, glancing at me, confused, no doubt by the fear on my face.

“No, Bray would never do that,” I say hoarsely. “He would come himself.”

Eustice looks confused. “No, Locke read it out loud. I was close enough to hear it. Brayson sent that message.”

My head is swimming, fear swirling inside me. I look up and meet Shane’s eyes.

“It’s not Bray,” he agrees. “Someone has been hurting people in town. I didn’t see the pattern before, but now that Locke is missing, I can see that everyone who has been hurt interacted with Locke. Jess flirted with him and got a broken leg. He hugged Holly after the thick shake debacle, and she ended up with a gas leak.”

I stare at him, my eyes getting wider. People were getting hurt in town? Why didn’t someone tell me?

“Jason?”

“I think the results will come back, and it will officially be car failure or mechanical. But with what’s happening here…I’m not convinced.”

I’m still staring at Shane, dumbfounded and processing, when Eustice breaks into our conversation. “The two old ladies who were talking to Locke at Destiny’s had their house burned down.”

I snap my head towards Eustice. “What? Catarina and Melonie?”

“Sophie, who runs the bookstore, had a break-in, all her books were destroyed, that’s why she’s gone out of town.”

I can’t believe what I’m hearing.

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