If You Hear Her

SUN BEAT DOWN

R

two-by-four up

iserable hot, edging clos

et it slo

this damn deck built bef

l—assuming it cooled off—f

hile he contemplated the be

li

n carpentry,” he mu

amned, do-it-yourself hel

t least that was what he

s kind of cool, watching s

d with just a bare wisp of

it took to make tha

ppreciate the value of har

im well. Nothing worth ha

for it or pays for it. Ot

erve it. Th

ed it, he wanted it done

o it for him—he might hav

he had to be careful. So he

d be glad whe

pped, but only because h

the hammer. After a messy

outside and once more fel

od, fetching anot

time, his mind bl

of low-slung khaki sho

ld his sweat-dampened bro

sses hid g

ct he’d been told more tha

re than a few fights becaus

, with his mom

a curse and blessing, as f

as long as he could remem

and what flirting was. A

tle girls who flirted with

is grade and more than onc

ou

point where he enjoyed a

was directed his way. At

h school, he got into a f

eam. His nose was broken in

ter his folks got the call

oking back, he was glad h

oved him enough to enforce

u

d his own delight, his no

k to his nose made his fac

dn’t changed much. The

ved in the morning, but com

ppearance. He was still l

ht on in college, tha

warm and loose. Even t

a bullet in that leg six m

Ash, Kentucky. He’d walk

didn’t think he

like a bitch later once t

come nightfall. But

g up pretty damn go

eak around three when he

arrier had bills for him an

ills in his back pocke

of them was a book he’d

to trac

ugh. He was tempted, but

r now. If he started readi

he book today and damn it,

he d

the kitchen and refilling

tside, going thro

ngine and glanced up towa

f the long, black stre

s thermos and drinking, w

car disappeared

ing—Running Brook Inn.

had been run-down and just

he brilliant idea to turn it into a be

B&B. It had a small res

ngs—whatever in

airly steady amount of tra

out here seeking the peac

steady string of cars

y’re driving through the

ide. Pushing the limo out

op until he began

in his injured thigh wer

ding alo

h, then he’d crash, and

a realized he wasn’t in t

the other fast, cheap cra

r or f

choices in Ash, but he

h shit, that meant

café on Main Street would

rnkey Bar

to town, Ezra found himse

e bed-and

nearly ten by the

at the long, sleek spra

d some

sed. His jeans and T-shi

Dockers and

less. As long as

g mouthwatering. Garlic

n I get

friendly, apologetic smil

got bar food, if you’re int

ev

His stomach growled dem

e’d been drooling … what

t he wanted.

ry.” He glanced at hi

Ezra asked, “So wh

was cold. Five minutes l

when he caught a glimp

heard the oddly familiar

he turne

t coming from her,

as a

ds, Ezra didn’t notice the

e was too busy

mn

ses, despite the low light

der soft lights, was sho

ace and a wide mobile mout

E-

amy, the kind of skin tha

ust never saw the sun. Tal

t was pro

something worth looking a

’d looked at in quite a wh

g her during his infrequen

d, he hadn’t left the ho

take her

king again and glanced d

ellow retriever—wearing a r

oman, keeping pace with he

the hardwood floor. The r

ft, nor right, shou

in

ng her every step as

. How’s i

. You want a drink whi

rushed it against the bac

I guess.” With a slow, eas

ai

mself staring

wondering ho

ward him, cocked t

h …

him, grinned. “She’s go

ust felt somebody looking at me.” A faint smile curled

, scowling, a little disgu

like he wa

turning to face him. She

and cocked a brow. “Okay,

s P

uc

eet perked his ears and

on’t like seeing h

ur dog. Nice-looking ani

y food, I’m not worrie

oice, Lena thought. Sexie

g at h

l the warmth of his gaze. F

ody, leaving seductive war

hair, settled for petting P

t right now, she needed t

keep staring at me, then

rse

g. And yo

er hand. “Lena

against hers. Strong. Cal

ands. His skin didn’t have

etter. Her libido was goin

ecially if he ke

, why are you

you’re be

She rarely felt self-cons

blood to her cheeks and s

d on her sea

Behind her, she heard t

he could have heav

sistant chef, set down her lasagn

ks, M

u had th

ea

the kitchen, Ezra mutte

How come you co

t it aside until I was do

ion. “I’m one of the c

all

his voice murmured from

out here the next ti

“Hey, Paul, can yo

he counter, she pushed h

try some. I won’t e

mirked. “Come on, you w

na, so take some. And if yo

ore the kitchen

you put it

and Coke while she waite

nk when he asked, “So, t

uld have din

ing me fo

king another sip from her

to have din

kind of what

hy

was confused. But then ag

no matter what expression

guy when he asks y

sking me

ye, he could see the bar

barely looked old enough

sch

mind, he focused on Lena

ng to. It’s been awhile si

ybe I’m doi

since a guy asked me on

e the clues.” That pretty

w s

se he really, really want

n that dark red hair and

l of her breasts and nu

udge of people—he knew

ast, and he didn’t think

t, then she was feeling th

reached out and skimmed hi

ured out what we’re doing

ave dinner … with you.

I’ve ever had a guy ask m

he smile on her face too

glasses that shielded her

y’re either on the other

cut my foo

a on his plate. “I figure

your own. And you

thinking … hell. Screw i

ve dinner

he

ll enough for you, we can

ere’s no lasagna on the m

l make sure I save you a

e a

uld feel the weight of Car

ck or me would let h