Page 27 of The Scent of Salt & Sand

Chapter Ten

It’d been almost a month since he’d started dating Melody, and Dean hadn’t been by Siren Tours since he’d met up with her for their picnic. Melody had alluded to some intense family drama, and instructed him not to speak to Harmony or even come near the store, so he hadn’t. Not because he didn’t want to—he was itching to find out what Harmony’s issue was with him and his relationship with her cousin—but because he wouldn’t betray her trust—something Melody didn’t seem to give out freely.

But now he had an excuse.

He pulled out one of the flyers his sergeant had passed out at the beginning of his shift and marched toward Siren Tours.

“Melody can’t get mad at me for doing my job.” He swallowed hard. “At least, I hope not.”

He entered the shop, relieved when he saw that it was free of customers. “Harmony!” he boomed a little too enthusiastically as he headed for the tall blonde. “You’re just the Siren I wanted to see.”

“Dean?” Shock shook her voice. “I didn’t think I’d see you here again. And in your uniform. Melody didn’t mention you worked for the police.”

“Yes, ma’am.” He tapped the shield fastened above his left breast pocket. “I’m one of the good guys.”

“I can see that.” She left her paperwork and circled the cashier’s counter. “So, what brought you in this evening?”

“There was an attack not too far from here about one month ago. We still haven’t caught the perpetrator. We don’t want you to be alarmed, just aware.” He handed her the flyer containing the SFPD tip line number, a few notes about the suspect, and a bulleted list of ways to stay safe in the city.

“An attack by someone in a costume? That sounds horrible.” She read the rest of the page before setting it on the countertop. “Was anyone injured?”

“I’m afraid the victim lost his life.” He shook away visions of the bloody scene and masked assailant. “But I’m not here just to give you that.”

“Oh?” She set the paper on the countertop and crossed her arms over her chest.

“Do you have a problem with me?” He rushed through the sentence, making it sound curter than he’d planned. “Wait, don’t answer that. Let me start again.” He sighed. “I want to let you know that you don’t have to worry about Melody.”

“Worry about her?” Harmony smirked, the lines around her mouth deeper than he remembered. “She’s a strong girl. I know she’s able to take care of herself.”

“Yes, she’s very strong, and smart, and talented, and funny. I wouldn’t do anything to risk losing her.”

“Ah, I see,” she said, slowly closing the gap between them.

“I know there’s family stuff going on. She even told me not to come here, but I knew if I could just talk to you and show you that I’m a good guy, we could figure this out. Harmony, I won’t hurt her.”

“Oh, I know you won’t hurt her.”

Dean’s stomach clenched instinctively. “What do you mean by that?”

“Hmm?” Harmony brushed past him, switching the front sign from OPEN to CLOSED.

“What are you not telling me?” His breath quickened as he moved his hand to hover above his baton.

“Dean.”

Harmony’s voice was buttery and warm, and his ears throbbed with the beat of imagined music as he waited for her to say something more, anything more.

“You don’t need your weapons.”

The world around him melted, and he knew nothing but her. “I don’t need my weapons.” His hand relaxed next to his side, and he let the illusory tune take hold.

“Good. Now, let’s go into my office.”

• • •

It was only a little past eight, but the neon light hanging above the door to Siren Tours read CLOSED in glowing red letters.

“Huh,” Melody mused as she pulled open the door. “Harm, you closing early? I came to grab my phone. I think I left it here.” The only answer was the hum of fluorescent lights. “Harmony? Hello?”