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The sense of relief that comes over me is immense. Surely the mayor won’t kill me. It would be bad for tourism. My knees actually go weak…from being saved not because the mayor is such a hottie. That’s my story and I’m sticking to it. “Yes, I’m…I got turned around looking for the inn.”
“Come on, I’ll give you a ride there.” It’s only after he tells me that he’ll give me a ride that I notice his truck sitting on the opposite side of the road.
I’m naturally curious and ask a shit-ton of questions. It’s kinda my job after all. So, the questions filling my head aren’t necessarily because this man comes off as untrustworthy or hinkey. Was he here the entire time? Did he just happen upon me because he’s…what? Driving home? Going to visit a girlfriend? Did he see the thing in the woods?
A crack of thunder causes me to jump a mile high and fight the urge to run to this man for comfort and safety. I automatically hate the feeling. I don’t like being the dumb bimbo who has to depend on someone to get by. I want to be the smart last girl, the one who survives. Not that life is a scary movie or anything. But if it was, I already have something going for me to that end…
“Let’s get out of this storm. They can be pretty rough on the island at times.”
Right. Don’t stand out in the middle of a thunderstorm or the killer won’t have to do the job of getting rid of you. He takes me by the elbow and walks with me across the road. I would normally bristle at the movement, but he doesn’t do it in a high-handed way or as a demeaning gesture. Instead, it’s more of a helping hand. One I don’t so much mind given the circumstances.
Once inside the cab of his truck, the attraction I feel towards the hot mayor only get stronger. The man smells amazing. I wonder what cologne he wears. It has the scent of something sandlewoody and musky and…really fucking good.
“So what brings you to our island, Ms…?”
Oh shit. I never told this man my name. It’s like I’ve never been around people and don’t know how to act. “Oh, I’m…my name is Nova. Nova Newman.”
I hold out my hand for him to shake but he just looks at me with an odd expression on his face. I’m about to put my hand down and give an awkward laugh when he finally reaches out to take my hand…again since he already technically shook my hand when he introduced himself. Maybe that is why he is looking at me like I might have a hidden agenda for wanting to touch him. Or maybe he’s used to women throwing themselves at him and wanting to touch him at every opportunity.
When our hands touch an odd static electric shock goes through me, and the air in the cab gets thick and heavy like right before a storm. It’s like a storm is brewing inside the cab with us. Can he feel it too or is it just me?
Probably not since he gives me this half smile and takes his hand from mine. I reprimand myself to stop being weird and letting the night get to me. “I, um, came to the island to find someone.”
“Yeah? Maybe I can help you out. I'm acquainted with just about everyone on the island.”
“Well…really it’s kind of embarrassing. You see, I’m a reporter for the Daily Centennial and my boss sent me here to write an article on this witch the whole island thinks takes care of them. I guess since you’re the mayor you know all about it, huh?”
“I’ve heard of it a couple of times.” I wait for him to tell me he knows the person I’m speaking about, but he doesn’t say anything else. Or offer the name of the said witch.
“Anyway, it’s not breaking news or anything. I basically got sent here as punishment.”
“Punishment for what?”
Stepped in it there, didn’t I?
“Me and my boss had a difference of opinion.” He shoots me a side look like he can tell there’s more to it than what I'm telling him. “He thought I should sleep with him, and I disagreed. Loudly. And quite vocally.”
Yeah, it doesn’t sound any better now than it did the first time I explained it to my sister. “Anyway, here I am. Witch hunting?” I say the last as more of a question than an actual statement. Is that what I’m doing? Witch hunting? I have to find a better job.
“Um, is my car going to be alright back there?”
“Oh yeah, I’ll send someone to take it to the town garage for you.”
“Oh, um, thank you?” Why would he do that for me? “Oh shit! I forgot my suitcase.”
“I’ll drop that off at the Inn when Howard comes to pick up the car.”
Well, doesn’t he just have an answer for everything. “Did you see something in the woods before you came and scared the he… um, helped me?”
He takes his eyes off the road for just a few seconds, turning those stunning electric blue jewels my way. I wish it wasn’t to give me a look that says he clearly thinks I’m unhinged. Before I can say anything else he’s pulling up to the curb beside a huge Victorian house that looks more like a home than an actual inn. Not that I’m very experienced since I usually don’t freakin’ travel.
“We’re here.” He doesn’t really have to tell me since an ornate sign outside proclaims it to be the Witch of the Sea Inn. It’s not on the main road but set back closer to the residential areas but still just a street away from everything downtown.
“Thanks for the ride. And the…everything else.”
“No problem. But I will give you a word of warning. If you’re going to ask the townspeople about their witch, you should be prepared for some pushback from some of the people here. They can be…protective of their witch.”
“I’m not trying to burn her. I just want to talk to her.”
