Page 99 of Hunters and Prey

Chapter 4

“Are you sure you’re okay?” Tessa watched Cailyn as she stepped out of her afternoon shift at the bookshop.

Cailyn nodded, offering a half-hearted smile to her best friend. They met up every Friday after her shift for coffee.

“I’m fine. Thanks for asking.”

“Crazy that he just died in his holding cell. From a freaking spider bite! How does that even happen?”

Cailyn shrugged.

You’d be surprised what could happen when you’re on my family’s bad side.

Tessa adjusted her red-rimmed glasses as she gazed at the gray sky. “It’s about to storm.”

Cailyn smoothed her wavy black hair down. “Well, let’s hurry over to the coffee shop.”

“Sure. I can’t stay out late tonight. I have to study for my Physics test.”

“Okay. I can’t stay late either,” Cailyn said as they made their way down the main road.

Tessa shook her head with an annoyed grunt. “You’re so lucky you chose English instead of biology. My physics class is killing me.”

“You’re right. I’m a writer. I’ll stick to the words.”

“How about you write me an excuse from my exam,” Tessa said with a sigh.

“I wish I could.”

Another wind brushed her hair across her face. A cool droplet of rain splashed on her nose. “Let’s hurry. I just felt a drop!”

Cailyn was glad she wore her ankle boots as they ran the rest of the way. A man held the door to Kate’s Coffee open for them, and they hurried inside.

“Thanks,” Tessa said as she pulled her blonde hair back into a ponytail. A loud crash of thunder made her jump. “Whew. Close one.”

Cailyn’s eyes scanned the coffee shop for a seat somewhere discreet.

Kittie’s Coffee was one of the coolest places in town. Inside it felt like they weren’t in Haven Cove. Appropriately named, all of her fellow geeks could hang out in a judgment free zone. With colorful tables that didn’t quite match, hanging plants, colorful artwork, and everyone with their tablets and laptops, it felt as if they were in a quaint coffee shop in Paris or something.

One day Cailyn would see Paris. She’d see the world and would forget this small town.

“What are you wearing to the Halloween party?”

Cailyn shrugged. “I haven’t thought about it yet. What about you?”

She breathed in the room’s delightful scent of roasted coffee beans, cinnamon, and apples. The low hum of chatter mixed with the sound of a guitar playing.

“Naughty nurse. Get it? Since I’m going to be a registered nurse,” Tessa said, nudging her.

Cailyn nodding, only half listening. She turned to see who was playing. Her eyes locked with the musician the moment she found him. It was as if he’d been watching her.

“Whoa,” Cailyn said under her breath. She couldn’t look away.

Something about him left her frozen in place. He had a familiar face, but she couldn’t place where she’d seen him before.

He strummed the guitar strings with grace. His voice made the hairs on her skin rise as he sang along to the guitar. She couldn’t look away. It was as if he held her captive in a spell.

With striking green eyes, tanned skin, and hair cut low on both sides and long on the top he looked like a model from a magazine. Within seconds, she imagined herself running her hands through his rich red colored hair while they kissed in the rain.

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