Page 49 of Scent of Home

We? I look around and spot a half-naked Locke leaning against the bedroom door. His jeans are undone, and he’s sporting some interesting bruises.

I walk in and wiggle my fingers at him. He laughs and walks into the kitchen, high-fiving me as I flip on the kettle.

“Good night?”

I nod and turn so I’m leaning against the counter. “Yup. You?”

“Great night.”

“Excuse me, I exist. I am a person.”

“A very hot person with a very talented tongue,” Locke purrs down at me. “You need to do a test drive of this one.”

I tilt my head, looking over Finn with interest.

“Where’s our bad boy?”

“Went home.”

I don’t let it show how much I dislike that answer. I make three coffees and hand them out. Finn checks the time and yawns.

There is something adorable about his disheveled appearance. He’s relaxed, I think with a soft pang in my chest. He has his shirt on, but it’s open, and he only has boxers on. I like this look for him.

“Have you decided to ask me age appropriate questions?” I purr over my coffee cup.

Finn grumbles. “We were worried. Were you okay?”

I wait three seconds, drawing it out. “You were worried, and I was fine. I was with Shane.”

Finn, who was halfway across the room, stumbles. “Shane? Shane as in my Shane, Shane?”

My humour fades as I study him. “Why is that so hard to believe?”

Finn doesn’t even think to lie, he just blurts out what’s on his mind. “He hates everyone.”

“He doesn’t hate everyone. He’s just an introvert. There are millions of those living everywhere.”

Locke pulls himself up on the cabinet beside me. “Was it good?”

I smile up at him. “So good.”

“I’m jealous.”

I snort a laugh. “Says the omega who fucked the town’s golden boy.”

“Oh, yeah, I did that.” Locke leans in and inhales deeply. “You do smell extra good now. Mocha in the forest.”

Finn finally gets to his coffee and takes a mouthful. “I have to go. I’m supervising the kids’ games today.”

I peer at him. “You work all day doing town stuff, run the bar at night. When do you take a day off for you?”

He blinks at me. “I can’t. There is always work and things. They need me. Come on, Karma.”

I throw a hand up between us. “You have an unhealthy relationship with this town. Your codependency will send you to an early grave.”

Locke growls. I shoot him a considering look. He just smiles apologetically.

“It’s not codependency…its-”

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