Page 5 of Secondhand Smoke
She knew him. He was recognizable in a way a lot of Gemsburg’s residents weren’t. His brown hair was as long as it’d been in high school, but his wavy bangs had grown out a bit. Some hung in his eyes, and others were pushed to the side, showing off his smirk.
He’d always been tall, but she remembered him lankier. Now, his arms had filled out some, a little muscle hidden under a maze of dark tattoos. Even his face looked more defined, fitting with his strong, curved nose.
However, the main thing that came to mind when she thought about Scott Barrett was the warnings her parents had given her about the satanic cult members who ran through town, spewing their evil rock music and wicked ways.
Barrett, as everyone called him, was the poster child for the kind of guy parents warn their young daughters from.
So, naturally, Nell yelped.
He grinned brighter, mischievous.
She had no idea he worked here. She had no idea he worked at all, aside from the rumors that he’d sold drugs in high school.
It made sense, though. A wannabe rock star working in a music store.
She didn’t know if it made it better or worse thathewas the one to find her. But it did make her one thing.
Terrified.
If he called the police . . .
Her voice stuck in her throat, and she knew she was done for. She managed to squeak out a quick, “I dunno what you’re talking about.”
He raised a brow and pointed to her arm. “What’s that then?”
She looked down at the corner of the beginner’s book sticking out.
Nell lifted her arms and dropped the book before sprinting from the store.
2 - Barrett
Barrett stared at the book on the ground.
He picked it up.
Beginner, huh?
Out the window, the girl grabbed a bike, but instead of getting on it and riding away as fast as she could, like a normal person would, she just walked by its side and rushed out into the rain.
Barrett raised a brow.
He might have let it slide in any other situation if he thought it were any other person, but . . . he just wanted to check. He just wanted to make sure his mind wasn’t playing weird tricks on him because he could have sworn . . .
He ran out of the shop and ignored the annoying doorbell as he swung out into the humid rainstorm.
She wasn’t very far, just across the street, with her head down as she pushed the bike as fast as she could, absolutely drenched through.
Barrett pushed forward. The rain beat down on him, and he wondered where on earth she planned on going in a freak downpour like this. He was soaked within seconds, his hair sticking to his face as he caught up to her and stopped her lame attempt at an escape by grabbing the handlebar of her bike.
She jumped and stared up at him with wide blue eyes. She must not have thought he was crazy enough to chase her out into the rain, but anyone who knew Barrett knew he was crazier.
He took her in, better than he was able to inside before she’d made a break for it, but it answered his question.
ShewasJanelle Duncan.
He almost didn’t recognize her because of the black-dyed hair. Her face was sharper than before, sunken in at the cheeks, but those deep, striking blue eyes were unmistakable. They’d entranced many a boy in high school before Barrett left that damn place in ’86.
The dress she wore was the only other thing reminiscent of the popular Gemsburg high cheerleader, but even that was altered with the out-of-character jean jacket layered over it.
