Page 59 of Shattered By the Currents

“Alert. Controlled. Calm under pressure.”

“You can tell all that from one minute in my company?”

Alex lifted a shoulder. “I’m good at reading people.”

“What doyoudo?”

“I’m a business owner.”

Which told Connor all of nothing.

“You like it here?” Alex asked.

“I like my job. I like the people here. Why, you thinking of moving here?”

Another laugh. “Don’t think so, but hell, I could be convinced.”

“This town has a way of pulling people in.”

“You said you like the people. You mean your team?”

“Amongst others.”

“They also former military?”

He shot the guy a look. “Why do you ask?”

“Just taking an interest.”

There was something about the guy that wasn’t sitting well with Connor. His answers to questions were too vague, and there was almost something that felt…dishonest about him. Maybe it was his eyes. They were too assessing. “Yeah. They are.”

“That’s a pretty elite SAR team.”

“It’s new.”

“Huh.”

When they reached the parking lot, Connor stopped at a black Jeep Compass, the only car in the lot. “Guess this is you?”

“Yeah, thanks. Before you go, anywhere good to hang out around town? Any good activities or events? It’s been a while since I’ve been here. A lot has changed.”

There were a few events that Raven was organizing, but no part of him wanted this guy anywhere near her. Though he still wasn’t sure why. “Just good pancakes at The Pancake Bar.” He didn’t even want to send this guy to Bloom, because Polly was there.

Alex nodded. “I’ll check it out. Thanks for your help, man.” He held out a hand.

Connor shook it, noticing the shake was a bit firmer than necessary. He waited until the guy pulled away, and as he did, he took note of the license plate just in case he ran into him again.

When he hit the trail, his phone vibrated with a text.

Joel: Just saw something in town.

Zac: Bigfoot?

Ryan: Ward in a tutu?

Ethan: Maureen giving Anika a reading about the end of her dysfunctional relationship with Mark?

Zac: I thought they broke up.