Page 44 of Feverburn

“Thank you,”I said shyly.

“She was working as a ranger, loved being outside rock climbing, you know, outdoorsy. I was thrilled to see Carson with someone for the summer. A few months passed, and Harley came in with the same woman on his arm.”

My jaw dropped. “No!”

She put her tiny fists on her hips,“And I thought, well, Viv, you’re getting old. Maybe it was Harley you saw last time and thought it was Carson. They look a lot alike. I let it slide, thinking I was senile. Then, a few weeks passed, and Carson came in with her again. I made sure it was him toruleout any possiblemistake. Now, I dated in wartime. In my day, you were single until you were married. Even if you were going steady with someone, it wasn’t serious unless a ring was involved.”

I tilted my head. “So you figured she was playing the field?”

“Exactly! She had two handsome fellas to keep her entertained. Surely, she knew they were brothers. How could she not? The front of Carson’s store says Kouris Hardware and Harley’s uniform says Ranger Kouris right on it.”

I leaned against the counter,“Makes sense. And you didn’t dare say anything right in front of her.”

Viv nodded, the skin under her chin wiggling. “Then it was too late. Harley disappeared into the forest. I know finding Whitney traumatized him. Carson went damn near mute, refusing to talk because when he did, people would harp on it. They never let him off the hook after Jamie.”

I searched my memory, drawing a blank. “Jamie?”

“You might know her brother Dane?”

I nodded, dread seeping into my nerves.“Yeah, I know, Dane.”

“His sister Jamie loved Carson. They were high school sweethearts. It was so cute, but thepoorthinglosther mom to cancer and started boozing it up to cope. She was drinking and driving one night and died in a car wreck.”

“Wait, wait, hold up. Dane’s sister Jamie dated Carson. And she died too?”

“Yep, horrendous. She was young, barely twenty. She crashed on a bridge.PoorDane had to bury his mom and sister in the same year. He blamed Carson because she was on her way to visit him. They were so young that I thought things would improve, but then Whitney died, and it got worse. Two women, dying young, tied to Carson.” She leaned in with a whisper, “People think he’s bad luck. They call him Cursed Carson around town.”

A heaviness coiled in my stomach as a flush spread on my skin. This was all too much. Too tragic, too twisted.

I swallowed, wetting my suddenly dry mouth. “So he uses silence as a shield?”

“He was neverthat quiet growing up. A little reserved, sure, but never silent.”

“And he wasn’t quiet with me because I was the ignorant new girl.”It was all registering in my brain.

“Don’t overthink it. He doesn’t like you just because you’re new. You’ve seen how busy this place gets with tourists. If he wanted new, he could’ve found it. Rosie, you’rewild. I can see it. You have afiercespirit. It takes afiercewoman tolovea Kouris man. Especially Carson. I shouldn’t meddle, but you should explore things with him. It would be good for both of you.”

I sucked in a breath.“I almost burnt his store down. He thinks I did it on purpose, but I didn’t.”

Viviane rolled her eyes.“Oh heavens! What’s your plan? You’re just going to taunt each other until the end of time?”

“I don’t know. We had such a connection, and now we act like wehateeach other.”

“Well, you said it.”

“Said what?”

“Youactlike youhateeach other. That’s misguided passion. You probably want to tear each other’s clothes off, but youtortureyourself instead.”She slowly blinked, shrugging as if her point wasbulletproof. It was.“Welcome to a small town, m’dear. No traffic, but some bumpy roads regarding yourlovelife.”She held up her drink as if to toast.

“He said he couldn’t be with me, that it was for thebest.”

She scoffed, losing patience.“Can you blame him? He’swounded! Let him come around to the idea. Keep taunting him. Focus on yourself and live yourbestlife to show him what he’s missing.”

“Right…”A pool of innocentlongingfilled my mind andheart. I wanted to see Carson playing with Kiszka outside his cabin. I wanted to watch him paint more and slow dance with him. I needed to do something normal with him, like going on a regular date, notlurkingin dark hallways.

I pulled myself out of my reverie, blinking to find Viviane’s sapphire gaze set on me with a knowing smile. With one shared glance, I knew she knew what I was feeling. The newfound intimacy put even more emotions in my body. She felt like a grandmother I never had.

A bell mounted above the door chimed, announcing another customer’s arrival. Viviane stroked a pendant on her neck. It was a milky gray moonstone surrounded by Celtic knots."South of town, you’ll find three lakes. The middle one hasincredibleenergy. Go for a swim sometime, and maybe you’ll find your answers there,” she advised.

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