I roll my eyes so goddamn hard they nearly drop out of my skull and roll across the scratched wooden floor. The manager rings up her purchases and carries them out to her car, the bell tinkling as they go outside.
Her scent is hanging in the air and I take another lungful like I’m storing up oxygen. She’s driving a little blue sedan that’s not going to cope with Snowflake winter. Maybe she’s only here for the summer. But why would she fix up a place if she wasn’t planning to stay? To sell it on?
I’m clutching onto the bow saw blade packet so hard that I’ve dented the plastic. The manager comes back inside, whistling. My heavy boots thud as I march up to the counter. The manager’s Adam’s apple bobs in his skinny neck as he spots me.
“Mr. Connor. How can I help you?” His voice doesn’t have an oily tone anymore.
“Bear spray? Yousureabout that?”
He swallows again. His throat must be dry. “It has a high capsaicin content and I’m told it–”
“You were told shit. And that price? Daylight robbery.”
“Look, Declan–”
“Don’t you use my first name, you oily fuck. You may not have been in Snowflake Falls for long, but you know bears aren’t a problem on that side of the mountain. And even if they were, that stuff is meant to be used during an attack, not to keep them off your property.”
“There’s no need to be insulting. I’m told there are bears all over the mountain.”
I rub my hand over my beard. “You’retold? Surely your uncle must havetoldyou we have a friendly grizzly and his pack that haven’t harmed anyone or come near any property since they’ve been living in the woods.”
He shakes his head. “Bears are dangerous.”
“Some say the bears have even helped lost hikers.”
“You’re teasing me now. I don’t appreciate it.”
I lean over the counter, getting into his space. He cranes his neck back, trying to get away. “And writing her address down? Discounts? What thefuckwere you planning?”
“Are you accusing me of something?”
I slam my hand down on the counter. “How come I’ve been coming to this store for fifteen years and never once written my address down?Discount?”
He breaks eye contact. “You can’t deny she was pretty. Big girl, but pretty.”
“And that gives you the right to swindle her and take her address on false pretenses? Give me that fucking paper.”
The weasel’s hand is shaky as he hands me the piece of paper. “I don’t want to get in trouble. My uncle’s back next month and then I’m gone. Let’s keep this between us, okay? I’ll throw in that blade for free, okay?”
“I’m paying for this and I’m not taking a bribe. You’ll also need to refund Mrs Tremolo for the stuff you overcharged her for last week. And the girl?Stay. Away. From. Her.I’ll be watching you.” I stare down at him as I hand him my credit card.
He nods and I take the blade once the sale’s gone through. Once I’m in my truck, I get out the piece of paper.
Georgia Brooks. Her name sounds like it should be up in lights. She’s in a cabin maybe a ten-minute drive from my place. Inside the store, the manager is staring warily at me through the window. I don’t trust him to stay away from her.
Starting up the engine, I come up with a plan. I’m going to run the groceries I bought earlier back to the house and then I’m going over to Georgia’s cabin. I’ll pick up that bogus spray and get her a refund, then warn her to stay away from the weasel.
I don’t know why, but I want to keep her safe.
Chapter Two
GEORGIA
A clunking noise disturbs me as I’m painting the porch.
Oh no.
Is it the bear the store manager warned me about? I haven’t had time to put the spray around the property. I freeze, senses on high alert.
