“No need for that. It’s my job. But you do know that the special already comes with an order of those meats, right?”
“I see that, but I am famished.” His eyes sparkled like he was trying to be flirty, but once again, Lila ignored him.
The women of Half Moon Key knew that there was one rule to survive in the secluded small town: keep your heart to yourself when strangers roll in.
They were always temporary, and everything about Mason screamed temporary.
THREE
MASON
After polishing off two more cups of coffee and his entire breakfast special at Moony’s, Mason started down the main street of Half Moon Key. It was a quaint little spot with everything the locals could possibly want. There were even some shops that wouldn’t have been strange to see in an urban downtown as tourist traps.
One store that caught his eye was Wixx. The storefront was full of candles and magical paraphernalia. The kind you would see in a fortune teller’s workspace. How Half Moon Key could garner enough business for a place like that was a mystery.
Actually, all of Half Moon Key was a bit more than mysterious. His cell phone didn’t work, the radios were always one second away from exploding into white static, and even his car wasn’t working too well.
There was something in the air here.
That was probably why his big brother had chosen this spot to live in. It was far from everything, secluded, and Cohen would have full authority as the local Sheriff.
The surprising part was that the locals already seemed to respect him, although he had only been in town for a few months. The exception was the woman Mason had seen with Cohen in the restaurant booth.
There wasalwaysan exception. Mason knew that. He spent his whole life with people fawning over him, but for some reason, the beautiful Lila was completely immune to his charm. Who knew it would take a small-town waitress to turn his head and make him rethink his whole debonair attitude?
Mason walked on the narrow but clean sidewalk, browsing the shops of the main street with their big windows and beautiful decor. All the buildings were the same pale red brick with bright white trimming. The signs were all fresh and clean, as if some kind of cleaning elf dusted them every night. There was a whole cohesive look about the main strip. It was almost as if it had sprung up from the ground at the same time with the same architect and building crew.
He made a note to ask Cohen about that as soon as he got to the Sheriff’s station. That particular building was across the street, right in front of a little white church. The two structures were in the center of the town square, but there was no real religious symbol on the church. It was impossible for Mason to decipher what denomination it was.
He opened the door to the Sheriff’s station, and his senses were immediately overtaken by the smell of coffee. A young man behind the counter jumped to his feet, looking more than a little nervous.
“May I help you?”
Mason smiled. “At ease. I’m looking for your boss.” He read the name tag pinned to the pristine pale brown sheriff’s outfit. “Sheriff Deputy Cameron.”
“Sorry, but Sheriff Pierce doesn’t take walk-ins. If you would like to file a report, I can do that for you right here.”
“That won’t be necessary, Cameron,” a deep voice called out from the hallway.
Mason grinned, spotting his big brother rounding the corner. “Well, hello there, Sheriff.”
“Mason. You’ve come to tell me what you’re doing in my town?”
“Can’t a little brother come and visit?”
Cohen pursed his lips, giving him a very severe look reminiscent of their father. “You never do anythingjustfor anything. What happened to the big high-flying life in the city?”
Mason shrugged. “Wasn’t for me anymore.”
“You mean you fucked up.”
Mason pretended that he was shot through the heart. “Oh, how little faith in me you have. I really just came here to check on you. You’re the one who …”
“Enough, Mason. If you’re gonna be in Half Moon Key, you should know I appreciate the fact that I have privacy.”
“Privacy in a town this small?”
“Half Moon Key is a special kind of place.”