Page 70

Henry trotted over to stand in front of her, taking up a guard position.She spared him a glance.Glad someone finally decided to get on my side.Would barking at Eb have been too much to ask?Maybe even a bite on the leg?
“I am trying to keep you safe,” Eb gritted out.“You walk away alone, and I’m afraid of what could happen to you.”
Uh, huh.“Right.Because you care so much about what happens to your dead partner’s wife.”
“I care about you!Damn straight, I do!”
If she hadn’t discovered what a phenomenal liar he was, Naomi would have believed those words.They actually sounded truthful.
“She doesn’t have to leave alone,” the stranger offered.“She can leave with me.”
Her head whipped toward him.“Who in the hell are you?”
He extended his hand toward her.“Hunter McQueen.You can call me Hunter.You can call me Mac.You can call me?—”
“The jerk who juststood thereand didn’t help me?”
A nod.“That will work, too.”He cleared his throat.“But I am actually offering help now.I’ve got a safe place lined up for you to stay.One that isn’t bugged by cops or CIA asshats.You can decompress there.Come up with a plan of attack.”
“My current plan is to get the hell out of this town.”Because nothing good happened there.At least, not to her.The dream she’d had—Naomi knew it had gone up in smoke.There wasn’t going to be some bed and breakfast.She wasn’t going to own her own place and welcome her own guests.She needed to get back to Vegas.To the lights that hid every sin.To the visitors who tumbled in—one after the other—looking for adventure and magic.The perfect escape.
She needed to escape.To get far, far away from Eb.
“Running will make you look guilty,” Eb warned her.
Her hands flew into the air.“Everyone already thinks I’m guilty!Including you.”
Since she hadn’t taken Hunter’s offered hand, he dropped it.But mostly just so he could let Henry sniff his fingers.“Hi, there, fellow.Aren’t you gorgeous?”
“I don’t need a ride from either of you.I can call a driver and get the hell out of here on my own.”She didn’t look at Eb.Couldn’t.She was too angry.Too hurt.Staring directly into his eyes—no.Don’t do it.
“Ma’am…”
At that drawl, her gaze did whip toward Hunter.
“I get that you don’t know me.But I am not here to hurt you.Eb asked me to find a safe house for you, and I did.You don’t want to stay in this parking lot, you don’t want the reporters—uh, they are just minutes from here, by the way—you don’t want them closing in while you’re standing on the corner waiting for a driver to appear.”
“How do you know the reporters are close?”Her head whipped toward the road.She didn’t see them.Her head snapped back toward him.
He smiled at her.“I have my ways, I’m resourceful like that.They’re coming.You’re going to be standing out here like the perfect prey, and they will surround you.”A pause.“Unless you let me give you and your dog that ride I offered.”
“She can ride with me,” Eb growled.
“In your dreams.”She turned fully toward Hunter.“How do I know you aren’t some crazed killer?After all, you appear to be friends with Eb.Hardly a ringing endorsement.”
“Oh, I am a killer.”He nodded.“Guilty.”
Her gaze darted over him in a fast assessment.
“Former Army Ranger,” Hunter murmured.“Current troublemaker.It’s what I am and what I do.Not gonna pretend I’m some good guy.I won’t ever be.But I’m also not going to slice you into pieces and wear your leftover skin, so, there’s that.”
Stunned, her gaze came right back to his face.
“Hunter…” Eb’s voice deepened even more in warning.
“What?I’m being honest with her.Maybe it’s time someone tries that tactic.”
Her chest burned.