Page 8 of Scent of Home

I step off the bus and look around, and the sky does seem brighter here, the colours richer. It even smells fresher. Erin steps down and rests a hand on my forearm. I force myself not to react, even though my entire focus is on where we are connected. The town of Twin Rivers can go to hell. All I can see is the woman beside me.

“Do you know where we can find a room?”

Hero frowns but whips his head around, dreads flying out to wave at a kid that skips past. “No rooms in town. Everything’s booked up.”

“What?” Erin says in dismay. “How can everything be booked?”

“River Festival,” Hero says and steps around the front of the bus, spreading his arms wide and breathing deeply. He says it like it should explain everything!

She scowls, and Hero hesitates, waiting for our excitement that doesn’t come. He sighs, disappointed in our lack of enthusiasm.

“Try Finnegan Clearway, he runs a very expensive hotel, and he’s incredibly selective about who he lets in. He might have a room for you.”

“Thanks!” Erin says, but Hero has already turned and is jogging up the street.

“Where do we find this, Finnegan?” I mutter with a glare at a man who stumbles and giggles like a schoolgirl. He waves at us and then happily sidles into the throng of people and vanishes.

“Let's start with over there.” Erin points to a stage.

I’m distracted by Erin. She’s standing up, and I’m finally getting a real view of her. Erin’s dress is black and clings to the curves of her breasts, plump belly, and hips before flowing around her legs. It’s sexy but casual. I’ve never noticed a woman’s dress before. Her hips are wide, and her ass makes me bite the inside of my cheek just so I keep the noises I want to make inside. Her breasts aren’t huge, but I’d give anything to see her naked. She’s a venus.

I remember what she said and force my eyes away from her. There’s a stage, a crowd, and some weird small town ritual is about to begin. Six people are sitting in chairs with a table and a white tablecloth in front of them. Perhaps this is some sort of sacrifice.

Erin leads, and I follow. I rapidly look around, trying to work out what else this could be. It’s becoming clearer that it’s not a sacrifice, but I think, I mean, if I’m right, how damn delightful…but surely not?

As we cross towards them and join the crowd catcalling and shouting, plates of hot dogs are lowered to each person by a woman in a tiny little crop top and short jeans. She smiles and hoots at the crowd, stirring them up. She turns and smacks her ass, making it jiggle, while the crowd roars their approval.

“All right everyone. We've got our volunteers. Let’s see if we can find the Twin Rivers champion hot dog eating machine!” She screams into a microphone that has seen better decades.

I glance at Erin to see what she thinks of this because I’m having trouble hiding my mirth. Her eyes are shuttered, but she’s taking everything in, an impersonal mask plastered across her face. After a moment, she stills, alerting me to her alarm. I follow her gaze and find her staring at a hunk of a man leaning against a brick wall. I find I’m struck staring, too. Dark and broody just got a model.

I glance back at the table as the woman screams ‘go’ and watch six people shovel hot dogs into their mouths in a way that makes me feel ill.

Any thoughts of food vanish quickly.

Enough of that.

I trail after Erin as she meanders over and stops before the guy. The closer we get, the more I want to hide. He’s big, with huge muscles, a tight black t-shirt, jeans, and boots. His dark brown hair is long and thick, stopping around his jaw. He looks dangerous, but I’m not hiding because I’m scared. I’m hiding because my reaction to him is immediate. He is everything I know I’m attracted to. Everything I lust over.

He glances at Erin, and his eyes just stay on her, despite me being right here.

I let out a low growl, and those eyes switch to me, pinning me. I’m stuck, I’m frozen, there’s no way out. Light brown, almost gold, eyes pin me to the spot, reaching inside of me. His gaze is a caress, and this urge to press myself against him is so strong my knees almost buckle.

This is weird. I felt this when I first spotted Erin, too. It’s the first time I’ve ever felt it. And now I’ve felt it with two people?

“We’re looking for Finnegan?” Erin says and lifts her chin defiantly.

“Finn’s not here.” His deep, dark voice smiles at us mockingly. How can a voice smile? “But I am,” he says to me with a slow look down my body and back up.

He pushes off the wall, and holy hell, he’s tall. I’m breathless, completely and utterly without words. Erin tilts her head back and makes a deep sound that almost sounds like a suppressed growl.

This huge man glances back at her and smiles. “I can take care of anything you need.”

I don’t think the promises in his words are inflated ego, I think it’s the truth, but still, I want to both shove him away and throw myself into his arms.

What is wrong with me?

I roll my eyes. But there’s something like jealousy fluttering inside. “Sure, you can, big boy!” I snap.

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