Lock looked at his barely touched beer as someone sat on the stool beside him. “Where the hell have you been?”
Eastern lifted his brows. “Hello to you too.”
“I’ve been calling you for days.”
“And I’ve been calling you back.”
It was true. They kept missing each other. “I need your help with something.”
“Anything.”
He turned away from his beer to face his brother. “Callie has a stalker.”
The easygoing expression disappeared from Eastern’s face. All his brothers were the same. Protectors first. Their father had raised them that way. “What do you mean, a stalker?”
“She got a note from some asshole complimenting her on her eyes.” Fuck, even saying the words out loud made him angry. “And apparently it wasn’t the first. She was getting them before she left Misty Peak, and they started up again when she got back to town.”
“Did she tell anyone?”
“Yeah, she said she went to the sheriff, but he didn’t do shit.”
“I’m guessing there wasn’t much to track the guy. So they stopped when she left.”
“Yeah.” Two goddamn years and the asshole was still interested in her.
“So he’s likely a local if he knows she’s back.” Eastern frowned. “Why areyoutelling me, and not her?”
“Because I don’t think she will.” Which was stupid. Just because the last sheriff hadn’t done anything didn’t mean Eastern wouldn’t.
“Lock…if she doesn’t want to report it, there’s nothing I can do.”
He knew that. But he also knew he couldn’t sit around and do nothing. “Talk to her.”
“Lock—”
“Please. For me. She may not want anything to do with me right now”—every part of him rebelled against the statement—“but I need her safe.”
Eastern was silent for a moment, hard gaze boring into Lock, before finally sighing. “If I see her, I’ll talk to her.”
“Thank you.”
Lock’s phone vibrated in front of him, and for some reason, he almost thought it would be her. Which was ridiculous. She’d made it clear she wanted nothing to do with him. Hell, he didn’t even know if she’d kept his number after she’d disconnected hers.
But since getting back to town, he’d developed this reckless hope that she’d come to him. Want him. Need him as much as he needed her.
It wasn’t Callie. It was a local, texting to book a job.
Lock had just texted back when Cody returned, setting a beer in front of Eastern. “You guys still coming to my party next Monday night?”
Lock lifted a brow. “What are we celebrating again?”
Cody’s eyes searched for Harper, then his voice lowered. “Well, if you ask Harper, it’s a housewarming.”
“A little late for that—you’ve been there for ages.” Eastern lifted the beer to his mouth.
Cody nodded. “Correct. Which is why I’m surprised she went for the idea. But it’s actually a chance to ask her to marry me in front of our family and friends.”
Eastern choked on his beer, and Lock leaned forward. “You’re proposing?”
