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
ne of them was a book he'
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
mouthwatering. Garlic.
n I get
friendly, apologetic smil
got bar food, if you're int
ev
His stomach growled dem
'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
d wondering ho
ward him, cocked t
...
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
ice, Lena thought. Sexiest
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
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
ve 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