LITMIR.BIZ

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behind the tree, she studied the vehicle and its driver. Male. The cowboy hat prevented her from making out his profile or his face.

      As if he’d picked up on the thought, he removed his hat and placed it on the passenger seat. He leaned the seat back and appeared to be settling in for the night.

      Strange.

      He checked the screen of his cell phone and the glow highlighted his face.

       Joel Hayden.

      What the heck was he doing here?

      Before her brain assimilated the best course of action, she pushed to her feet and strode toward him.

      When he glanced her way, she demanded an answer. “What’re you doing out here?”

      He hopped out of the Jeep. The doors had been removed, leaving nothing between him and making that cocky move.

      Her right hand rested on the butt of her Smith and Wesson. She kind of liked this guy, but the truth was he was a stranger and she had to be smart.

      “I guess I should’ve knocked on the door and let you know I was here.”

      “I guess you should’ve.” A frown nagged at her. “What’re you doing?” How was it that her eyes couldn’t stop surveying him from head to toe? The guy looked even better in the moonlight, but that was no excuse to go stupid.

      He shrugged, set those big hands on his lean hips. “I was worried that guy might show up at your house after I kicked him out of the saloon.”

      Laney beat back the smile that tickled her lips. She did not know this man or his motives. As much as she wanted to be flattered by his chivalry, she couldn’t ever be a fool again, especially when her son’s safety was at stake. Still, she was flattered.

      “That’s very noble of you, Hayden, but your pay ends when you walk out the door of the High Noon.”

      “This isn’t about getting paid overtime,” he assured her.

      “What’s it about, then?” Her hand still rested on the weapon he could plainly see. “I warned you about those pickup lines. Persistence doesn’t add any points.”

      “I have no patience for men like the one who gave you a hard time tonight,” he explained in a firm tone that still reeked of charm. “Maybe I was a little rougher on him than I should have been. I don’t want him taking out his frustration with me on you.”

      Wow, that really was sweet. “Nice of you to care, but honestly, you being out here now is kind of strange unless there’s a hidden agenda. I don’t know very many men—actually I don’t know any—who would go so far out of their way just to be nice. So, what’s the hitch?” Her cynicism was showing. That was never attractive.

      He took a couple of steps toward her.

      Her pulse reacted, but not in fear. She was attracted to this guy and that was dangerous.

       You don’t know him, Laney!

      “I like you.” He didn’t stop until he was standing right in front of her in the grass that marked her property from the gravel road the state owned. “I don’t have anything else to do and this felt like the right thing.”

      Before she could respond with something intelligent, he added, “I can leave if that’s what you want.”

      “That’d probably be best.”

      She gave him her back and marched toward the house. In those few minutes in the moonlight she understood one very important thing about Hayden. He was trouble.

      “Are you certain he won’t come back?”

      She hesitated. She shouldn’t have. But he had a legitimate question.

      Laney turned to face him. “He might but I doubt it.”

      He’d been damned drunk. Terry was probably sleeping it off at some dive motel with a honky-tonk honey who didn’t have any better sense.

      “Are you prepared to use that weapon if he does?”

      That was none of his business. “If I have to.”

      “Do you know how to use it?”

      No. “Of course. Why would I carry a weapon I can’t use?”

      “Because it makes you feel safe even when you have no idea how to use it.”

      Heat scorched her cheeks. “I said I know how to use it.”

      “You don’t need to be afraid of me, Laney. I’m only here to help. No hidden agenda.”

      Okay, so maybe the guy was bored. As much as she felt sure providing him with entertainment would be equally entertaining to her as well, that wasn’t happening.

      The last time she’d been in bed with a man was three years ago when she’d been stupid enough to believe more of Terry’s lies. As much as she recognized her own needs—needs that she had ignored for far too long—she had a son to protect.

      “Good night, Hayden.”

      “I’ll be out of your way at sunup.”

      “Suit yourself.”

      To her amazement, she made it all the way to the house without looking back. A repeat of her nightly rounds in the house proved the doors and window were secure.

      In her room, curtains and shades drawn, door closed, she stripped off her clothes. A shower would just have to wait until morning. She was way too tired. Besides, the washing machine was still running and that meant the water pressure in the shower would suck.

      No, thanks.

      She dragged on her favorite T-shirt, the one with that silly sponge character her son loved. Tucking her .32 on the shelf above her bed—way out of Buddy’s reach even if he climbed up on the iron headboard—she realized she was sore from unloading that supply truck this afternoon.

      She crawled into bed and her whole body sighed.

      Her bed was the most awesome piece of furniture she owned besides the lumpy sofa.

      Lying on her back, she stared at the slow turn of the ceiling fan blades in hopes that sleep would come quickly.

      Didn’t happen.

      How could she hope to sleep with him out there watching?

      Instead, her brain started throwing out scenarios that had nothing to do with a good working relationship with the cowboy.

       Not smart, Laney.

      The folks who liked her called her hardworking, nice, friendly … but not a one had ever accused her of being savvy when it came to spotting the devil behind a nice smile and good manners.

      She had a feeling it was going to take her savviest maneuvers to head off this collision course.

      Joel Hayden was going to be way, way more than she could handle.

       Chapter Three

       6:30 a.m.

      The sun was up and the promise of an early summer scorcher was in the air.

      Joel walked back toward his Jeep. The need to stretch his legs had awoken him before sunup. All remained quiet. The last of the lights had gone out in Laney’s house around two. He doubted she and the boy would be up any time soon.

      The past five nights had been spent like last night, only without Laney’s knowledge. Parked out of her line of sight, Joel had slept in his Jeep—what sleep he’d gotten—in order to keep watch on her.

      It wasn’t the most comfortable assignment he’d had as far as getting any shut-eye but there was no way around it. For now, he couldn’t ensure her safety via any other means.

      Clare

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