Page 6 of Scent of Home

We fall into a deep conversation and only share the most trivial pieces of information about ourselves.

He tells me about his obsession with guitar picks, chocolate shakes, and fries with gravy. I tell him about my love of clothes, especially dresses, coffee, and pizza.

The conversation is easy, full of teasing and laughter, and before I know it, hours have passed, and I let out a huge yawn.

“You look tired.”

“I am,” I murmur. “I don’t sleep very well most of the time.”

He murmurs something and then pats his arm. “Lean here. I’ll be your pillow for the night.”

“You don’t move slowly, do you?” I tease and smile when he laughs.

I put my seat back, so it’s reclining a little, and he does the same.

“This isn’t weird?” Locke asks me. “I don’t normally do this.”

“What, sleep next to a stranger?”

“Fucking, yes, sleeping, no.” His voice sounds weird when he says that, though.

“Ditto.” I say and roll my head towards him. If we weren’t on a bus with old people, I’d show him how Erin Bradley says hello. “I promise I won’t take advantage of you.”

Locke chuckles. “I’m a little sad about that.”

I inhale sharply and my smile fades. “So am I. But there’s always tomorrow.”

He wheezes. “Well, there’s a thought, come on, sunrise! Goodnight, Erin.”

“Sleep well, Locke.”

I force myself to close my eyes and stop fighting the need to stare at him. A faint hint of vanilla curls around me, soothing me while it stirs something deeper inside.

I hear my boss’s voice growling in my memory.“How far are you going to go, Erin? What are you prepared to do?”

Nothing. I’m just here for fun,I say back in my head.

Eventually, I fall asleep. The warmth of the man beside me and the rocking of the bus takes me under. It’s the most peaceful sleep I’ve had in years.

Chapter three

Locke

I didn’t sleep much.That’s a lie. I didn’t sleep at all. Most of the night was spent trying not to look at her, not to stare at her. Fear, paranoia, and a yearning chased themselves around my head all night. The bus traveled endlessly onwards, taking me away from the danger that stalks me. Away from the reality of my existence, but leaving me haunted by memories.

It was a cop car parked on the side of the road that had me backtracking. A miracle? A helping hand thrown by fate? I found the bus terminal by pure chance. I had just enough cash to pay for my ticket and slink on board. I’ve never not had money before. I’m more scared of that than being found right now. But anything is better than going back, even poverty.

Jason Wood, my manager, is going to kill me if he finds me. He’s a high-strung furious little man, whose attention to detail keeps our lives revolving like clock work. The band, Emma, Wiley, Paige, and Delilah, will be even worse.

I shudder, thinking about the venom they will spew at me when I’m caught. No, if I’m caught.

I look down at the rings on my fingers. I slide the one on my index finger off and then put it on again. My father left it to me when he died. I miss him so much. I miss all my dads, but Lane and I were closer. Cassidy is the one who left me the guitar. I don’t have anything from Lloyd. My mother purged all their belongings from our existence. Lia kept these safe for me until I was old enough to come get them. I can never thank her enough for that.

I close my eyes. Lia and Ryn are going to kick my ass for not going home to them. Guilt chases the fear and is swallowed by exhaustion.

Lia, Ryn, and I are the only children of three sisters who were pop royalty in their day. Our mothers are close, almost raising us together. Well, that’s not true, the nanny’s did most of the work, but we were often dumped at the Raines mansion, which is where Lia lives. I was brought up in a pack until I was five. My mother Cara is an omega and was deeply loved by her alphas, though I can’t understand why. She’s a cruel and bitter woman. Ryn’s mother married a man who hates her, and Lia never knew her father.

Our uncle is a freaking legend, and he’s one of Kelly, Raider and Bethany’s fathers. We don’t see much of him. The sisters dislike him because he calls them on their crap.

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