"Danger at every corner in this new series from Lori Foster"
Reviewed by Kim Roller
Posted February 21, 2023
Romance Suspense | Small Town
Hunter Osborn moved to Triple Creek to be alone and face his demons. He’s living the life he wants and fixing classic cars, but he is about to be pulled out of his imposed exile. Jodi Bentley’s life was a nightmare. She did what was needed to survive. Jodi’s mantra is "Everyday life for an Everyday woman." When these two meet, they immediately see the same emotional survival instinct in each other... But secrets from their past may put them in danger.
Lori Foster's new romantic suspense series, Osborn Brothers, begins with THE DANGEROUS ONE. Hunter Osborn is a man trying to deal with the idea of the man he’s become. Jodi Bentley is trying to show the people who have become her family that she can take care of herself. Similarly, they both just want to be left alone to deal with their pasts. Moving to Triple Creek is their way of trying to have an ordinary life.
As these neighbors get to know each other and their secrets are revealed they’ll learn to trust each other. THE DANGEROUS ONE has several layers of danger coming at the main characters, from emotional to physical. Jodi's past informs her present, and she knows how bad people think. Hunter wants to protect the woman who has unexpectedly opened him up to the world again. Jodi will have to learn to trust someone new, along with learning how a family is supposed to treat one another.
THE DANGEROUS ONE by Lori Foster takes the reader on a journey of two people who thought their pasts defined them and brings them the happily ever after they didn’t know they needed. This reader was a little disappointed that there wasn’t more conflict between the main bad guy and the main characters. Still, this is an interesting romance between people whose traumas are slowly revealed as they realize they are falling in love. Lori Foster takes the secondary character from her McKenzies of Ridge Trail series and brings her to the forefront as the lead heroine in this book, giving a fan-favorite character her story. A must-read for Lori Foster fans and readers of romantic suspense. Looking forward to more stories in the future about this great group of characters.
SUMMARY
Being alone is what he wanted…
All he needed was her.
Hunter Osborn left his family, his friends and his job as a park ranger after uncovering a disturbing crime scene. Haunted by nightmares and harrowing memories, Hunter relocated to an isolated property near Triple Creek, Colorado, where he lives alone and keeps his interactions with people to a minimum.
Still, Hunter can spot trouble from a mile away, and when he encounters Jodi Bentley, he knows she’s trouble of the most tempting kind—even more tempting when she moves into the run-down cabin next door. Jodi is tough as nails, sexy as hell—and clearly struggles with her own traumatic past. Hunter tries to keep his distance, but when Jodi’s life is threatened, he can’t help being drawn out of his own darkness and into hers.
ExcerptCHAPTER ONE
Years, that’s how long it had been since the sight of a woman stopped him in his tracks, but… Wow. He’d feel bad about staring at her, except that this woman was noticed by every- one who happened to be out and about on this sunny, early- June Saturday, male and female alike. Triple Creek, Colorado, was small, but they were in the center of town, with a grocery, restaurant, barbershop and bank on one side, and a gas station, post office and car dealership on the other.
Plenty of people around to watch her with interest, so he wasn’t alone in that.
It wasn’t just about her looks either. Petite, trim and with a long ponytail swishing between her shoulder blades, she looked better than fine. That long tail of hair, a light brown highlighted with blonder streaks, seemed to point to cutoff shorts that hugged an incredible little ass and displayed slim thighs. Didn’t matter that she also wore black lace-up boots over gray socks. Even they looked cute on her.
Yet it was about more.
She kept her narrow back straight, her legs braced apart and her hips slightly forward as she stood at the back of a gigantic stand-on commercial lawn mower. From business to business, she’d cleared the grassy areas, steering around landscaping and walkways effortlessly and in record time. Every so often, she paused to do trim work and use a blower to clean up.
Not staring at her had been almost impossible, she was such a mighty distraction. Hunter Osborn had tried, but no one else seemed to put up much effort.
Figured she’d be wrapping up at the car dealership…which put her very nearby.
To many, she might seem oblivious to the attention she drew. Not to Hunter.
Just as noticeable as her appearance—at least to him—was her charged awareness. She hid her eyes behind ref lective sun- glasses and gave the impression of focusing on her job, but he knew better. He felt her keen awareness of her surroundings, of every person in view and maybe even of things not visible. “What a sight,” the guy next to him murmured with a lot
of innuendo.
That immediately drew Hunter’s attention away from her.
Disgusted with himself, he asked, “New landscaper?”
“First time here.” Worth Linlow gave a sleazy smile. “Can’t look away, though. Wish I’d known she was replacing Trent. I’d have cleared my calendar.”
Like Worth would have a shot? Not likely. In his midsix- ties and with one of the more lucrative businesses around, Worth should have been more responsible, definitely more respectable. Instead, he was the opposite. He made inappro- priate jokes constantly, lorded his position over others and tried to cheat everyone.
Currently he was trying to cheat Hunter.
“This isn’t the price we agreed on.” With Worth’s ’73 Cor- vette still on the trailer, Hunter folded his arms.
“Sure it is,” Worth said, while lewdly gawking at the land- scaper.
It took all Hunter’s concentration not to look as well, espe- cially when the sound of the mower drew closer. “You’re short.”
Worth spared him a quick, impatient glance. “That’s the amount we discussed.”
“No, it isn’t.” The buzzing sound of the mower died so that Hunter could almost hear the collective breath-holding of the twenty or so people still in the commercial area.
When Worth’s faded blue eyes widened, Hunter couldn’t resist glancing back.
As if she owned the town and even the mountains around it, the woman strode forward. Never mind that she couldn’t be more than a few inches over five feet tall, she kept her chin elevated. Shoulders back. Her mouth deliberately void of a smile.
She stepped up to them, saying nothing as she pulled off thick utility gloves and tucked them partially in her back pocket.
Hunter breathed in the scents of sun-warmed peachy skin and subtle f lowery shampoo.
When everyone stayed mum, she tipped her head toward Hunter. “Well?”
He saw himself ref lected in the lenses of her sunglasses. “Well what?”
“You settled your business with him yet or are you still working on that, because I have one more job before I finish for the day and it’s hot as Hades out here. I’d like to get to it but I don’t want to be rude by jumping in line.”
Amused, especially by Worth’s surprise, and maybe a little entranced by her forthright manner, Hunter gestured. “Be my guest.”
“Thanks. That’s big of ya.” She pushed the sunglasses to the top of her head, taking wisps of damp hair back, too, then pinned Worth to the spot with a direct stare of her light hazel eyes.
Worth’s jaw loosened. Understandable. Hell, those eyes were pretty enough, but paired with that lethal directness? She might be petite, but she could level just about anyone with that gaze.
“So,” she said. “Job’s done.”
“Yes,” Worth breathed, his attention drifting to places it shouldn’t travel. He even smoothed back his hair. For his age, Worth still had a very thick head of graying blond hair. Hunter waited, curious about how she’d react to the rude-
ness.
When Worth said nothing else, she asked, “Ya got my money? Everyone else paid up front.”
Jowls moving, Worth struggled and finally managed a smarmy smile. “Of course I do.” He held out his hand. “I’m Worth Linlow, owner of the—”
“I know who you are.” She pulled a folded paper from her front right pocket, shook it out and thrust it into his extended hand. “Your share of the contracted amount?”
Floundering, Worth glanced at the paper. “Right. Of course.” Expression strained, he pulled out his wallet, freed some cash and offered it to her.
“You’re short,” she said without bothering to count it. “I need the full amount.”
“Short?” Falling into his confused routine meant to cheat, Worth pretended to read the paper more closely. “Oh, there’s some misunderstanding. I never agreed to—”
“Yeah,” she said, “you did, though I was warned you wouldn’t want to pay.”
The smile slipped. “Who warned you?”
“Who didn’t?” Cocking out a hip, her expression bored, she heaved a sigh. “Ticktock, time’s a wastin’ and I have other places to be.”
No longer quite so friendly, Worth asked, “Who did you say you are?”
“Didn’t, but it’s there on the contract that you signed, along with your agreed-upon amount.”
Worth skimmed down the contract. “Jodi Bentley,” he said in a suggestive purr. “I have to say, Jodi, you’re a sight pret- tier than Trent.”
Making a sound of disgust, Hunter weighed his need for detachment with the natural inclination to defend. Turned out he didn’t need to do anything at all.
“Huh-uh,” Jodi murmured, stepping closer, taking Worth by surprise and putting Hunter on alert. “I’m not prettier, definitely not nicer, because Trent put up with this sh…” She stopped herself, then corrected with, “Baloney, and I won’t.”
Trying not to curse? Amused, Hunter silently wished her luck. Dealing with Worth could test anyone’s resolve.
Taking a step back, Worth scowled. “I have no idea what you—”
“Trent and everyone else in town—” she glanced at Hunter “—might let you bully them, but that’s not in my DNA.”
Now, wait a minute. She thought he’d put up with Worth? Not likely. “If you recall,” Hunter pointed out, “I only al- lowed you to go first.”
She smiled, and damn, that smile had a kick. “So you would’ve done some insisting of your own?”
“Notice his car is still on my trailer.”
“Yeah? That’s his?” Her gaze slanted back to Worth, and now she was so close, she nearly bumped into Worth’s gut. “Guess you’ll have to meet all obligations today, huh?”
“I’ll have you know, I—”
Again she interrupted Worth, saying, “I’m not budging without my pay. Is this really how you want to spend your day?”
Hunter turned to Worth. “What’s it to be?”
Blustering, Worth again tried to give her the money. “This is what I have. Now take it and go before things get ugly.”
Unperturbed, she asked curiously, “What do you know about ugly?”
“I know little girls shouldn’t go around issuing half-baked threats.”
Damn it, Hunter did not want to get involved, but if Worth didn’t let up, he’d—
“Little girls?” Her lips twitched, like she just might smile. “This little girl did her part, exactly as described. This little girl isn’t going anywhere until she’s paid. This little girl never gives in to bullies. Now, be a good boy—can’t say the ‘little’ part, can I?—and pay up before we draw more attention from the masses. Won’t bother me, but I have a feeling your repu- tation is already on the dirty, dingy side.”
Furious, Worth glared at the onlookers, more of them than Hunter had realized. No one budged.
Hell, it was all pretty entertaining.
Jerking a few more bills from his wallet, Worth handed the money to her.
Now she counted it, gave a nod of satisfaction and shoved the money into a small pack strapped around her hips. With all signs of animus gone, she said, “Thanks. Enjoy the rest of your day.” She turned to go, but hesitated, then glanced at Hunter again. “You gonna need any help?”
Amazing. Deadpan, he said, “I think I can handle it.” Her distrusting gaze went to Worth for three heart-stop-
ping seconds. Then she rolled one shoulder and dipped her chin in a barely there nod. “I bet you can.” She replaced her sunglasses. “Later, gator.”
Without her standing so close, Worth growled, “You just lost this job, girl!”
Hunter watched her freeze, saw her shoulders stiffen and then her neck. Predictably enough, she pivoted back around.
Funny, but despite the lack of expression, anger emanated off her in dangerous waves.
“Damn, Worth, you don’t know when to leave well enough alone.” Hunter found himself anticipating what she would do. The sleepy little town had never been this exciting.
Unfortunately, Worth had found his gumption and he stepped toward her. “You’re rude and I don’t want you back.” Unmoved by his statement, she ambled closer. “Here, you mean, because everyone else was pleased with my work. But no problem. I’ll just cut around this area and leave your part to grow. I’ll even have the contract adjusted to take you off
it—since I’ve been hired for the whole season.” “I’ll see you’re fired.”
As if in pity, she gently smiled. “Nah, you won’t. I mean, you would if you could, I get that. The thing is, I know how to set up a contract, so you’re pretty much screwed on the whole firing threat. But why don’t you go ahead and try? Won’t bother me.”
Too dumb to quit, Worth growled, “I’ll make you mis- erable. When I’m done, you won’t want this job. You won’t even want to be in Triple Creek!”
Up went the sunglasses again, and holy shit, unmistakable fury lit her eyes.
“Hey,” Hunter said, concerned with the way she stared at Worth, as if sizing him up for demolition.
Jodi ignored him, but she did take a breath, then whispered calmly, “Do your worst. I don’t care, and it won’t run me off. If anything, it’s going to make me dig in.” Her smile was slow and mean. “But you might want to keep in mind that if you mess with me, I have the nasty habit of messing back.” Done with all the theatrics, Hunter pointed at Worth, who stood there blustering. “Don’t disappear. I’ll be back to get my pay in ten minutes.” Then he strode to Jodi. “I’ll walk
you to your truck.”
“Is that code for something?” Without any sign of that im- pressive anger, she fell into step with him. “Because, see, my legs work just fine and I know how to walk. I’m not a dog on a leash and I—”
“Yes,” he said, thoughts churning. “It’s code.” Hunter didn’t touch her. He didn’t even look at her, and still he felt the en- ergy all but bouncing off every small, dynamic inch of her.
She had presence big-time.
Who is she? Not a mere landscaper. Not by a long shot.
He had a nose for danger. Right now that danger was about five foot three inches, midtwenties and full of brass. Just what he didn’t want or need in the backward town where he’d set- tled to get his fill of mundane, normal life.
Glancing at him, she said, “It’s not a long walk, so if you have something to say, you might want to get to it.”
“Who are you?” Not what he’d meant to say, but damn. He shook his head. “Not just your name—is that your name?” Somehow he doubted it.
Openly grinning now, she shared her amusement. “I had a feeling, you know? That you’d be something different, too.” Ah, hell. That was an admission if he’d ever heard one. He was different. Too different. That was his secret, though, one he’d planned to bury here, where no one would ever find out.
Jodi had to admit, it was sort of fun shocking the locals… and grabbing the attention of Mr. Quiet and Watchful. She’d uncovered the identities of most of the residents in the mi- nuscule town—a town that had seemed perfect for her to experiment with nice and normal, everyday life for the nice and normal, everyday woman.
Somehow this dude had slipped under her radar. Weird, because he wasn’t the kind of person she’d normally overlook. When he went silent and suspicious, she blew out a breath.
Seriously, was she that scary? Not that she’d mind… Scary was good in some situations. But now? Everyday life for the ev- eryday woman. She kept repeating it to herself. If she did that often enough, she felt sure she could reprogram her auto- matic responses.
After all, she hadn’t started out this way.
Casting him another look, she saw his set features, the grim mouth and blatant suspicion, and she almost laughed. “Okay, don’t choke. I won’t pry if you don’t.”
Oddly, that didn’t ease him at all.
Trying again, she said, “So, yeah, my name is Jodi.” She stuck out her hand, determined to be as normal as possible. “Nice to meet you.”
He looked at her as if she might be setting a trap. Pretty funny, considering he was so much bigger than her. Like, topping six-feet big. With linebacker shoulders and seriously nice biceps.
Definitely not a local, but hey, now that she’d decided to live an uneventful life, it was sort of fun to meet other people trying to do the same.
Trying…because this man might think he was managing it, but she’d picked up on his nuances right away. Nothing alarming. Nothing…sinister. Just cagey.
She knew some cagey guys. Really good guys, so she didn’t hold that against her new acquaintance.
Leaning a tiny bit closer, she said, “I won’t bite.” His dark blue eyes narrowed at her. “No? Maybe a high five, then?”
Finally loosening up in an effort to reclaim his manners, he clasped her hand. “I’m sorry.” He gave a congenial smile to go with the warm clasp of his large hand engulfing hers. “You just surprised me since you clearly didn’t want to touch Worth.”
Wrinkling her nose, she confided, “He’s oily, right? Not his skin, but his character. I don’t like him, and no, I don’t touch things I don’t like.”
Ending the handshake, and wearing another confounded expression, the big guy said, “Hunter Osborn, and yes, Worth is oily.”
Pointing back and forth between their chests, Jodi said, “We both know it, proving we’re both astute.” They had that in common.
“Anyone who has more than a thirty-second conversation with Worth knows it, so don’t think that you’re graduating at the top of the class.”
Jodi laughed. “You’re quick. And correct.” She glanced back at Worth, who watched them with ill intent. “He’s such a creep.”
“A dangerous creep, so maybe you shouldn’t provoke him.” Huh. He wanted to…protect her? Funny, but in the time she’d been here doing her best to fit in, she’d met a lot of nice people. People without a clue. She liked them. They fit her agenda for the status quo. No close friends, she couldn’t claim that yet, but casual acquaintances, people she’d waved to, maybe asked routine stuff. How’s it going? How’s your day?
That sort of thing.
But with this man, well, he felt like a kindred spirit. How weird was that? She’d come here so she wouldn’t be around people like her, so she could learn another way of life, but finding someone who’d really get it put her more at ease. Jodi knew that no one was ever really safe. She felt certain that Hunter did as well, and much as she’d wanted it otherwise, there was a measure of comfort in finding a like-minded soul. When she just stood there, lost in introspection, Hunter made another grab for conventional conversation. “Nice
mower.”
Right. She had to do her part if she really wanted any- thing to change—and she did. She wanted that a lot. It was her big, shining goal. It’d not only make her happy but it’d please others, too. Win-win.
Smiling, Jodi turned back to her pride and joy, the key to making the future work. “Isn’t it a beauty?” Once she’d shown an affinity for outdoor lawn work, the mower had been given to her as a gift, along with everything else she’d need to start up in a different place, as a different woman with a different outlook on life.
She was coming to grips with the generosity, but some- times it still leveled her. With happiness, gratitude and a zest to make the most of her opportunities.
“So this is what you do?” he asked. “Lawn work?”
“I’d accuse you of being nosy, but I guess that much is ob- vious, huh? Why else would I have the mower and all the lawn equipment in the truck?”
“So a safe assumption.” He smiled with her.
Such a nice smile he had, too, with straight white teeth and notable lips… That thought stalled in her brain. Why the heck was she noticing his lips? “Yeah.” She cleared her throat and glanced up at the bright blue sky. “I love the sunshine and fresh air.” From now until the end of her days, she’d pre- fer it to being cooped up inside. “It’s pretty much the perfect job for me.”
Idly, as if it didn’t matter, he asked, “Been at it long?”
So that was a little nosier, but hey, she rolled with it. “Not really.”
He waited for her to expound on that, she stayed silent just to see what he’d do, and after a few awkward seconds, he gave her a crooked grin. “You handle the mower like a pro, so you must be a natural.”
“Right? That’s what I figured.” Would he do a search? Try to figure out her background, what she’d done before lawn work, where she’d come from—and why she’d moved?
It’s what she would have done in his position, what she’d planned to do as soon as she had time to research him. Yet she realized that wasn’t the norm for everyone. Most people didn’t suspect every person they met. Most, she knew, went about their daily lives oblivious to danger and how easily things could change.
It wasn’t that she suspected Hunter of anything nefarious. Overall, he had a positive vibe. Still, it was good to be sus- picious… No. That’s why she’d moved here, right? To shake off those instincts?
Right. Might as well try to shake off her past, too. Not pos- sible.
She decided she could be cautious without going overboard, as any sensible woman would.
Leaning against the truck, she asked, “How about you?” “Sorry, you took so long thinking there, I’ve lost track of
the conversation. How about me what?”
Oh, he was a funny one. She barely repressed her grin. “What is it you do?”
He hitched his chin back toward Worth. “Classic cars.” “You fix them up or something?”
“Or something.”
Ha! He was playing her own game against her. “So, Hunter Osborn, do you live here in Triple Creek?” It was such a small town, she felt sure she would have seen or heard something about him already. A man like him didn’t blend in easily.
“Actually, I live out a ways, forty minutes north.”
No way. It took a second for her brain to absorb that. Tilt- ing her head, she asked, “Where it’s more remote?”
“Nothing but me, the foothills and one of the three creeks that gave the town its name.” His dark blue eyes took her measure and his brows crowded together. “What’s wrong? You look thunderstruck.”
Because she was. “How much land do you have?” “Now who’s digging?”
Giving a theatrical wince, she said, “Sorry, I’m just sur- prised. There’s only like two places out there, right? I was told each had something like twenty or thirty acres, with five acres between them.”
“There’s one house,” he corrected. “Mine. The other is a dump that’ll eventually fall down.”
“Well, I hope not.”
This time his brows lifted. “Why not?” “Because I’ll be living there.”
Son of a bitch. Hunter was so pissed that by the time he re- turned to Worth he wasn’t in the mood for diplomacy. “Are you paying me or not? If not, say so now so I can quit wast- ing my time. I have places to go.” Like home, before Jodi Bentley started moving in!
“Looks like the girl put you in a shit mood.”
“She’s a woman, not a girl, and the mood is all on you.” Liar…but then, the rest wasn’t any of Worth’s business. Not that he wouldn’t know soon enough. Worth kept up on all the gossip, and always knew everyone in and around the town. “Now, pay up.”
“This ain’t right, damn it.”
Hunter rarely threw around his size and strength, but at the moment, he used what would be most expedient. Step- ping into Worth’s space, he growled, “You have ten seconds to give me the entirety of my money, and like Jodi, I have a contract. So what’s it to be?”
“That girl is a bad influence,” Worth grumbled as he grudgingly dug out his wallet yet again. “Mark my words— I’ll have her run out of town by the end of the day.”
“Yeah, good luck with that.” The girl had made mincemeat of Worth. Worse, she’d apparently settled in and planned to stay.
Who was she and what was she up to? And why the hell was she buying a shack that probably wasn’t livable? At least, it didn’t look livable. The one time he’d investigated the property, critters had scuttled under the collapsing front porch and along the roofline. He hadn’t been inside the place, but from the outside… Hunter scowled.
The main body of the small house was stone, and from what he remembered, that was largely intact, minus some crum- bling mortar. A few windows were broken and boarded up. The eaves were rotted in places, one side with gutters swing- ing loose. The last winter storm had torn away pieces of alu- minum siding from the addition, which Hunter thought had served as a sunroom.
Was there working plumbing? He didn’t know.
The house had already been empty when he moved to Triple Creek eighteen months ago, and empty it had stayed. Off the more-traveled, blacktop road, a narrow dirt lane led to his property. The place she’d bought was beyond that, so he had no reason to drive by it, and oftentimes, when the spring and summer foliage was thick, he could barely see it. By foot, he supposed it could be more directly accessible from the main road, but that’d mean cutting through brush
and trees and rocky terrain.
He could ask Worth about the place, about whether or not it was habitable…but damn it, that felt disloyal, so instead, he snatched up his money and then went about finishing his business.
Worth followed as he unloaded the car. “What did she say to you?”
“If you had questions for her, you should have asked her instead of running her off.” Edgy for reasons that didn’t make any sense, Hunter added, “And if your car ever needs work again, you’ll pay up front or find someone else to do it.”
“You know there isn’t anyone else around here! Why the hell do you want to crucify me for trying to get a bargain?” “It’s called reneging on a deal.” At the moment, Hunter wouldn’t mind saying a hell of a lot more—but he’d made a point of keeping his temper in check since moving here and he wouldn’t let Worth prod him into blowing his cool. He’d relocated to get a grip on the past, to put his life back in per- spective, and he couldn’t do that by overreacting to an idi- otic confrontation.
Once the car was out of his trailer, he let Worth look it over again, then made sure to have him sign the invoice, stating he was satisfied with the job. With that done, he handed the keys to Worth and said, “Word of advice—forget whatever harebrained plan you have for annoying Ms. Bentley. From what I could tell, people around here like her, and those same people are your customers.” Without giving him a chance to reply, Hunter stalked away and got into his truck. He had an urge to go straight home, but he made himself stop at the gro- cery to get a steak for his grill…and then, because he couldn’t resist, he got one for Jodi, too. Not that he planned to ask her to join him. He wouldn’t.
But just in case…
It was worse than she remembered from her one time there. Hunter hadn’t been around on that visit. She’d driven right past his place with no sight of him. If she had seen him, would he have factored into her decision to buy? Possibly. By appear- ance alone, she knew he wasn’t an average guy. That might’ve spooked her then. After all, she wasn’t looking for trouble— not anymore. These days, she hoped to take a different path. Since she’d met him, though, she figured he’d be a reliable neighbor. Not that she planned to lean on him or anything. That wasn’t what either of them wanted. No one looking for companionship—friendly or romantic—would move out to the edge of nowhere with only a rinky-dink town nearby. For a misfit like her, though? Seemed perfect. She had her solitude, and when the mood struck her, she could practice her social skills with friendly townsfolk.
Now, as the sun slowly sank behind the mountains, Jodi had misgivings. The plumbing was sound, the electricity, too; she’d ensured that before buying it. Unfortunately, many of the ceiling lights were missing bulbs. And seriously, she didn’t do the dark, just like she didn’t do confined spaces. Or base- ments. She definitely didn’t do basements.
So far she’d found a dim light over the kitchen sink, one in a hallway and, thankfully, one in the small room she planned to use as her bedroom. Tomorrow, she had to buy some fix- tures and bulbs. She’d take care of that before facing another evening. In the meantime, she also had a few battery-oper- ated lanterns she could use.
Arms crossed, she turned a full circle, looking around. Mostly the interior needed a few simple repairs and perhaps some paint. The wooden f loors were rough, but eventually, she’d have them refinished. Mentally, she added rugs to her list.
Some of the doors on the kitchen cabinets hung loose. No problem. She could fix those herself—but she decided new knobs would be great.
Draping cobwebs nestled in a few corners of the ceiling, and yeah, that creeped her out some, but she’d set off bug bombs right after buying the place. Once she got a ladder, she could get the webs cleaned out.
She’d already opened what windows she could to air it out. Luckily, new windows and a more secure front door would be installed tomorrow, along with some repairs to the eaves. The bathroom was sanitized and in working order, with fresh towels stacked on the open shelf over the toilet, and a blind hung over the window. Her bedroom, too, had been cleaned top to bottom, and she had a cot set up with fresh bedding. Eventually, she’d get real furniture of her own. She’d
make the house a home. She’d make herself normal.
You can do this.
Yes, she could, but first she needed to wear herself out. Cut- ting grass hadn’t done it. Cleaning parts of the house hadn’t done it. Setting up what she could only made her realize ev- erything that still had to be done.
She needed a long jog to wrap up her day.
Heading into the bedroom, she thought about the time. She probably had a few hours before the mountain would shield the sunlight and shadows would cover the land. Night came a little earlier when you lived in the woods. She wasn’t irresponsible enough to go tromping through unfamiliar ter- rain alone in the dark. Plus, there were animals. So far she’d seen deer and fox, but there were also snakes and the occa- sional black bear.
Shaking that off, she changed into loose shorts, an oversize T-shirt and running shoes. Her belly-band holster included utility hooks, so it not only held her Glock—mostly hidden beneath the shirt—but also made it easy to clip on a f lash- light and her keys. Those weren’t hidden, but who cared? She was out here alone anyway.
All her other weapons she stored in a locked closet in her bedroom. They’d stay there until she turned in for the night, and then she’d keep a few of them close at hand.
Some things were now ingrained—like the need to per- sonally ensure her own safety, not only with bolted doors and windows but with as many weapons as it took to let her rest easier.
Stepping outside the house, she secured the entry door, stepped carefully off the deck that needed repairs and took another look around. With a deeply indrawn breath, she filled her lungs with the scents of pine and earth and clean fresh air. Trees grew everywhere, concealing a lot—but not her view of Hunter’s house some distance away.
He’d cleared parts of his land so that his trees looked more like deliberate landscaping rather than overgrowth. Whereas her property was steeply sloping in places, with rocky out- croppings all around, his was gently rolling.
Behind the houses, the wide creek cut a swath across the land. Even now, standing in the front, she could detect the sound of rippling water. During heavy rains, it’d probably f lood. Luckily, it was lower than the houses, framed by foot- hills that circled the mountain.
For only a moment, she resisted, then decided, why not? After a few brief stretches, she started loping in the direc- tion of Hunter’s property. She wouldn’t intrude. Wouldn’t get close enough to bother him, but in her bones, it felt safer than going the other way into heavier trees and rockier land.
Putting aside the binoculars, Hunter muttered a low curse. What are you up to, Jodi? He hadn’t exactly meant to snoop. Mostly he’d wanted to take a closer look at the house with- out her knowing. He had a feeling she wouldn’t appreciate his worry on her behalf.
The binoculars were always accessible because he enjoyed catching sight of eagles, elk and even a mountain cat or two. He’d been studying one boarded-up window when she’d suddenly stepped out wearing different clothes—loose clothes that showcased just how small and slender she was. The visual was enough, but then she’d looked around as if uncertain of
her surroundings.
“Yes,” he’d muttered low, as if she could hear him. “It’s more isolated than you realized, isn’t it?” Maybe that’d be incentive enough for her to change her mind.
Yet it hadn’t changed his. Isolation was exactly what he’d wanted—what he still wanted.
Perhaps Jodi was the same.
It didn’t surprise him when, instead of going back inside, she’d turned to stare at his place…and then started toward him.
Did she feel the same keen curiosity that plagued him? If so, that wouldn’t do.
The whole point of the house and property he’d purchased was privacy. He didn’t want to be around other people. He didn’t want anyone else to suffer his foul moods as he dealt with unsettling nightmares.
He didn’t want to deal with their optimism either. Their mundane complaints about shit that didn’t matter. Their care- free chatter.
For eighteen months, he’d had what he wanted. Even his mail got delivered to the post office in town. No one came out this way—but now he had a quirky, somehow fierce and unpredictable woman literally jogging his way.
Hunter had no idea how to deal with her.
His body had a few suggestions… Eighteen months of seclusion meant he’d been a long time without the relief of sex. Too long, given the heat spreading through his bloodstream at the sight of Jodi in her too-big clothes drawing nearer. Odd, but until now, until her, he hadn’t missed sex all that much. He’d been too lost in his own disturbing thoughts.
Now hot, grinding need interrupted his darkness. Locking his jaw, Hunter wondered if he should just ignore her. For his own peace of mind, that seemed the way to go…until Turbo suddenly became aware of her. Rolling off the couch in awkward haste, the basset-beagle mix tipped his head, scenting or listening, Hunter couldn’t tell, but the dog went nuts.
And the croaking began.
Running a hand over his face, Hunter accepted that he was probably the only man alive who would adopt a starving bag of bones with heartworms and a skin condition…who didn’t know how to properly bark. As usual, that thought ended with a laugh.
“Why do you pretend to be vicious, bud? You know you’re not, and that odd noise isn’t going to convince anyone otherwise.” He bent to stroke Turbo’s head, reassuring the dog. That only wound Turbo up more, until he issued mixed howls and croaks, each time propelling his big front paws off the f loor but unable to get his heavy back end to coordinate. Speaking over the hideous noise, Hunter said, “I don’t think she’s a threat, but how about I let you decide on your own?” Of course, Turbo didn’t understand any of that. All the dog knew was that someone was out there. He knew, just as he seemed to know when fox were near the chickens. Hunter had never quite figured out if Turbo had superior hearing or if his sense of smell was just that good. Maybe a combo of both. “C’mon.” Turning toward the door got Turbo’s attention real quick. No longer making a ruckus, he scrabbled along and shot out the second Hunter opened it.
And there she was on the dirt road that connected the prop- erties, near where it turned into the long drive to his four-bay garage. She stood poised as if alert to danger, but she wasn’t close enough for him to read her expression. He sensed her confusion as Turbo gracelessly lumbered toward her, pausing every so often for his weird rendition of a howl, accompanied by the front-legged hop, then taking off again, his ears f low- ing back and his heavy butt wiggling.
When Jodi started forward, he figured she was smiling. It was there in her long easy stride and her now-relaxed shoulders.
Before Turbo reached her, she knelt down and held out a hand.
Yeah, figured the dog would win her over. To entice her closer, Hunter sat on the bottom step of his deck and called out, “Hey, neighbor.”
Ignoring him, Jodi lavished all her attention on Turbo, who promptly sprawled out in the grass. No animal could sprawl quite like Turbo. He was nine years old now and his furry skin spread around him like a blanket.
Didn’t bother Jodi. She actually sat cross-legged in the prickly grass to pet more of him.
Well, damn. Guess he’d have to leave the deck after all. He shouldn’t.
He should call his dog and go back inside. Leave her sitting in the grass. Ignore her like she ignored him…
Of course, he didn’t. He wasn’t sure he could.
Annoyed with himself, Hunter strolled out to them. “Turbo will stay right there as long as you’re petting him.”
“Turbo,” she repeated with a quirky little smile. “You have a great sense of humor.”
Not really. Not for a long time had he indulged humor. Eighteen months… Hunter stared down at her, or more precisely, at the top of her head where her ponytail listed to the side. He noticed her ears weren’t pierced. No rings on her fingers. Short nails. Loose-fitting clothes.
Decent running shoes, though, so at least she’d changed out of the lace-up boots. His attention continued traveling over her…and his eyes narrowed. “You’re carrying a gun?” Surprise brought her hazel gaze up to clash with his. With the setting sun ref lected in her eyes, they looked like polished topaz.
She kept silent. Provoked, he said, “Guess I wasn’t supposed to notice? If that’s the case, you shouldn’t attach a f lashlight and keys to the wrap holster. It’s a dead giveaway. No one straps on a holster just for a f lashlight.” Did she think him unaware? Okay, sure, the average person might not have re- alized—but he wasn’t the average person. He often saw ev- erything in a single glance. It was a trait he’d always had, one he’d underutilized during his time as a park ranger, when that keen perception had led him straight to… No. He brutally slammed the door on that memory.
With Jodi, he saw other things he’d rather not notice. Like how smooth her open thighs looked in her current cross- legged position. How her shoulders and neck tensed just enough to convey awareness. How she breathed just a little deeper.
Her gaze sharpened until she almost looked accusing.
He wasn’t the one packing, so she had no reason for giving him the stink eye. “I hope you aren’t planning to rob me.” Nothing. “Or shoot me?”
Still no reaction.
So. Damn. Cocky. Her stubborn hush was starting to grate. “Yes? No?” His gaze moved over her face. “Still deciding?”
She gave a small shrug.
“FYI, I’m not armed, but that doesn’t mean I’m helpless.” Ruthless instincts were another of his natural attributes.
The corner of her mouth lifted…and she gave him a slow perusal head to toes and back again.
Screw it. “Fine. Silence it is. C’mon, Turbo.” He patted his thigh, but other than opening one eye, Turbo didn’t budge, the traitor. And why would he? Jodi continued to gently rub his f loppy ears. “Let’s let our neighbor get on her way.”
After dramatically sighing, Jodi pointed out, “You sneered
that.” With one last pat to Turbo’s rump, she gracefully rose to her feet and glanced at his house. “You took me by surprise, that’s all.”
By noticing her gun? “Was I supposed to be obtuse?” “Most people are. I should have remembered that you’re
different.”
Like she was different? He didn’t like that comparison at all. “So, yeah, I carry.” She tucked a loose tendril of hair be- hind her ear. “I’m not familiar with the area, you know? I
should have taken my run in the other direction—” “Away from me?”
“—but I’d rather try that in the morning, when the sun isn’t hugging the mountain.” Shading her eyes with a hand, she frowned at the sky. “What time does it get dark out here, anyway?”
Avoiding his gaze? Interesting, especially with the way she’d used her stare to intimidate Worth earlier. Hunter crossed his arms. “You’ve got time yet. The sun hides, and it gets shad- owy, but it’s not actually dark until nine or so.”
“What time is it?”
After giving her a long look, he said, “Dinnertime. Have you eaten?”
Something akin to consternation showed on her face be- fore she masked it. “I’ll eat later.”
“Got the kitchen all stocked today, did you?”
For two seconds, her thoughts seemed to visibly scramble, and then, with a laugh, she shook her head. “Honestly? I’d forgotten all about food, so no, nothing in the kitchen.” She gave another look at the sky. “Thanks for the reminder, though. I’ll grab some stuff tomorrow.”
And with that, she started to turn away.
Excerpted from The Dangerous One by Lori Foster. Copyright © 2023 by Lori Foster. Published by arrangement with Harlequin Books S.A.
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