Chapter 6

Phoenix growled deep in his throat. Tracey slipped past him, and a burst of her natural fragrance invaded his nostrils. Her scent was heavenly. Like freshly laundered cotton and blossoming fields of daisies.

Natural. Unique. Untainted.

He sucked in air greedily, but she was already gone. Whatever of her scent that lingered nearby, it wasn’t enough. The beast went into hunter mode, and Phoenix took the stairs two at a time. Where had she gone? How long had he stood there, immobile, and frozen in place?

Fuck.

Summer afternoons were notoriously long on the East Coast. The sun was still shining brightly in the sky, but the beach was nearly empty. Afternoon crowds were headed to the pier for more of the local festivities, carnival rides, and boardwalk snacks.