Page 66 of Beautiful Harmony

He laughed. “I’m pretty sure Nix is a complete badass, and I can hold my own in a fight.”

Alarm washed over her face. “Fight?”

“We’re not going to fight with anyone,” he said. “I’m just saying that it’s highly doubtful anyone will fuck with us. Not with the way Nix looks.”

She sat back but didn’t look any less worried. “Just promise me you’ll be careful, and text me when you’re done so….”

“So you know I escaped the big bad South Falls?” he said with a grin.

“Not a joke, Lucas,” she said solemnly. “Every murder in this town has happened in South Falls. And the meth problem is getting so bad. Sheriff Walker keeps asking the mayor for more deputies, solely because of South Falls and their drug problem.”

“How do you know that?” Lucas asked.

“Small town gossip,” she said, giving him a, why are you being so fucking clueless, look.

Fuck, did it turn him on.

“Anyway, just be careful, okay?” she said.

“I will,” he said. “What are you doing tomorrow night?”

“Rayna and Wren and a few other volunteers are trying to trap a colony of feral cats in Evansdale for spay, neuter, release. I’m helping them.”

“Fun,” he said.

“Probably not,” she said with a grin. “But it still beats what I’m doing before that.”

“Which is?”

“Meeting with my accountant about having the business assessed.”

He froze with a slice of pizza near his mouth. “You’re getting Twisted Stitches assessed?”

“Yes. It’s a part of the conditions attached to selling it.”

Something that felt a little like panic shot through him. “You’ve made your decision? You’re selling the store and moving to New Cassel?”

She shook her head. “No, I haven’t made any final decisions, but I’ve talked to Caroline a few times now, and her offer is solid. She’s been very patient with me, and I feel like I owe it to her to at least have the business assessed. But she knows that doesn’t guarantee I’m selling to her.”

His heartbeat only slowed a minimal amount. “But you’re seriously considering it.”

“I am,” she said simply.

“New Cassel is much different than Harmony Falls,” he said. “You’ve lived here your entire life, Em. Are you sure you want to move to a big city?”

“It’s not that big,” she said. “It’s not like I’m moving to New York City.”

“It’s bigger than here,” he said. “And it may not be the size of New York City, but it has the same vibe. People don’t look out for each other there like they do here. They’re not as… invested in their neighbour’s lives.”

Her fingers traced over her birthmark as she stared somewhere over his shoulder. Considering how often she tried to hide or minimize her birthmark around him, he was confident it was a subconscious reaction on her part.

“That’s part of the appeal,” she said softly.

They sat in silence for a few seconds before Emma blinked and yanked her hand away from her face. “Nothing is for certain,” she said briskly. “But if I decide to sell and move to New Cassel, expect that I’ll be grilling you for tips about living there.”

“Sure,” he said. He set his slice down, his appetite completely gone and not returning any time soon.

“Lucas, are you okay?” Emma asked.

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