Page 20 of Scent of Home

I bite my lip, watching Shane’s jean-clad ass as he bends over and puts wood in the fireplace. I know I’m not the only one. My body heats, and the urge to stalk this alpha grows.

He starts the fire, then stands up and just stares at it. Locke and I are silent, watching him.

“Lock the door after I leave. If you need help, I’m just up the trail.”

It’s the most he’s spoken, but it may as well have been dragged out of him. You can tell he’s not used to being nice or considerate.

“Shane,” I say, he pauses in his quick move to the door, looking at the wall and refusing to look at me. “Thank you.”

He huffs and all but runs out of the cabin. I watch as he goes, tracking the trail he takes.

“Okay, there is something in the water up here. Like a hundred and one hot alphas,” I mutter. “I work with a lot of alphas, but none of them, not a one, looks like that.”

Locke hums as I shut the door; I hesitate and lock it. He slips his arms around my waist and kisses my shoulder.

“You sounded so edible tonight, Erin. It was very mean.”

I whirl and lean in close, then pause. “What designation are you?”

Locke, whose eyes were full of desire, chill instantly. He steps back and shakes his head.

“That’s my business.”

I raise my eyebrows at the angry tone. Locke leaves me standing by the front door and stomps into the bedroom. I’m damn confused by the sudden change of his emotions.

I wander around a bit before I end up back at the window, looking out over the river.

“If I tell you, will it matter?”

I watch him in the reflection. “I don’t know. I hope not.”

“Why risk it, then?”

“Because I’m not a stupid woman, Locke, and I don’t walk blindly into situations that might bite me on the ass. And you have a lot of secrets, starting with why you were on that bus.”

Locke growls and paces back and forth. “I can’t.”

“Then, sadly, I can’t, either.”

Locke rumbles in frustration and spins away from me.

“Where are you going?”

“I’m going to have a cold shower!”

I smile at my reflection, but it fades as soon as he’s gone. I don’t like secrets, and I don’t like lies. My thoughts flicker to my last boyfriend and the insanity that caused my forced exile from the company.

Why am I thinking about that asshole now? Because he did lie, all the time, about everything. Some of the lies were senseless and just left me baffled. Others, like his wife, hurt and damaged my ability to trust my instincts. It was unfortunate that he stole my promotion and clients at the same time. Three months of dating suckered me into a false lull. Just like his office when it tried to pretend it could swim.

They have no proof, nothing to sack me over, but everyone knows I’m the one who did it. It still stings. The trust I broke with myself, the fool I was made to appear, the trust thrown back in my face.

I’ve worked too hard to get into bed with someone with as many secrets in his eyes as Locke Raines has. I learned my lessons.

I think I did.

There’s no couch in this cabin. I’m going to have to share the bed with him, but I’m not concerned. I can handle a man like Locke.

I can handle those alphas, too.

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