Page 65 of Scent of Home

As always, we’re on the same page.

I swear there is something spiritual about our connection. Something deeper.

I might go the rest of my life and never see her again.

That thought leaves me weak.

Live an entire lifetime and never see Erin? No, there has to be some way around it. Something…the familiar vice around my ribs clamps down, stealing my ability to breathe, but then I feel warmth against my back, a hard hand on my thighs, and mint fills my senses.

“Breathe, you sexy little thing,” Bray whispers in my ear.

I inhale.

“Good boy. Now, do it again.”

I inhale again and exhale roughly.

His hands stroke in circles, getting closer and closer to where I suddenly have a very hard problem.

Erin’s sitting beside me, so when she lifts her thick shake, pausing to stir it with a spoon while she’s listening intently to Shane, she’s not paying attention. But I am.

I get a whiff of banana and frown.

She moves the glass and the straw towards her lips. I frown. Something is bugging me, but I can’t think properly.

And then I remember.

I lunge forward and snatch the drink out of her hands. She whirls, her eyes wide and shocked as I growl and dump the contents on the ground.

“Locke?”

“You’re allergic to bananas!”

She nods. “I am aware of that.”

“Did you order a banana thick shake?”

Her mouth opens, and she looks at the glass like it’s a snake. “No, I ordered vanilla.”

“What the fuck!” Bray snaps. His aggression feeds mine, and I bounce up and turn to him, leaning into him.

“They could have killed her,” I snarl.

“I’ll-” Brays starts, but Finn cuts him off.

“I’ll take care of it, Bray.” Finn stands up and straightens his shirt.

“Nah, we’ve played your way. Let me handle it,” Bray growls and takes two steps when Finn stops him with a hand to his chest.

“No!” Finn snaps. “I’ll talk to her. I know Holly. She would never have done this on purpose.”

“Finn,” Bray growls and steps around him.

Finn jumps back in front and holds up his hand. “I’ll deal with it.” His voice is firm and unmovable.

I hold out the empty glass to him. He hesitates and then shakes his head. “I’ve never seen this happen before. I didn’t even know we sold banana thick shakes.”

I lean against Bray, feeling the rigid anger that has made all those hard muscles tight. I turn and bury my face in his shoulder. Second by second, he relaxes, and his arms wrap around me.

---