Page 9 of Scent of Home

He laughs, and the deep chuckle melts my insides. He bypasses Erin and steps into my space, holding my eyes until he drops them to dip down my body and back up.

My body heats and turns molten. I lift my chin and taste his air. He smells like mint. It’s delicious.

“Oh, yeah, I know how to take care of all the things you could ever dream. Say yes!” he whispers with a grin that makes me want to throw everything and take this chance.

I’m so tempted. The word is there on my lips, but Erin elbows her way in between us and pushes him back.

He allows her to and glances down at her with an amused smirk.

“Who are you?” Erin barks out.

His grin widens. “Brayson Langley, resident bad boy, terrible influence, and good fucking time. Who are you, beautiful?”

“Erin Bradley, alpha, lawyer, and a woman who is not going to be your good time fuck.”

He grins wider. “Shame. What about him? Can I be his good time fuck?”

Erin bristles, and I love it as much as I love that he wants me.

“Locke Raines. Not interested.” I kinda am, a lot. I’ve never been more interested.

Brayson raises an eyebrow like he doesn’t believe me, and why would he? I don’t even believe it.

“No, you can’t be his good time fuck, either. Now, where is Finn?”

“Finn is…right behind you.” And to my shock, he moves in, grabs Erin’s jaw, and kisses her hard.

I’m a thousand shades of jealous and completely in awe of his audacity.

“For fuck’s sake, Brayson, will you stop being a dick!” A voice barks out behind us.

I barely get out a snarl, but Brayson is already walking away, one hand held up in goodbye, the other in his pocket. I don’t know whether the rush I’m feeling is heat or fury.

“Try to ignore Brayson. We do,” a man says with a pained tone. “He’s a rogue element in town. Does what he wants. Irresponsible.”

I turn around, and to my utter shock, it does it again. Finnegan Clearway has almost white blond hair, cut neatly, pale blue eyes, and a build that is solid and compact. He exudes trust and calm the way Bray exudes danger and chaos.

“I heard you were looking for me?”

Erin nods. “We’re trying to find a room for a few nights.”

Finn purses his lips, and why do I want to kiss him so hard? This is a stranger. Another one. I’m three for three. His eyes are the most pure of blue, and his skin is golden. Beta.

I feel off kilter and unsettled. Maybe the smoke did something to my head.

He smiles, and I don’t think I could speak if someone paid me. He’s gorgeous in a homey, guy-next-door kind of way.

“I’ve got one room left, but,” he glances at Erin and rubs the back of his head, “there’s a problem.”

I narrow my eyes as he takes me in in one quick, impersonal glance. I’m almost offended. No one looks at Locke Raines and dismisses me!

“What’s the problem?” I snap out.

He crooks his finger and gestures to us to follow him. Finn lifts his arm and waves at five people in the space it takes to walk twenty steps. He’s obviously well-respected and well-known. “The cabin is close to Shane’s.”

“What is Shane’s?” Erin asks.

“Shane is a who, not a what, and he scares most people. So, I rarely use that cabin as it’s on his hiking trail. He’s a great guy, but he’s big and grumpy as all getup.”

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