Close Contact

by Lori Foster

  There at the far edge of her property was a person...watching them with binoculars.

  * * *

  DAMN, BUT HE’D gotten sidetracked there. He’d planned to sneak to the barn and was only checking to make sure he wouldn’t get busted, but he hadn’t expected his own personal porno.

  So the lady was not only bullheaded, she was a wild little thing, too. He’d tried not to notice her looks. It didn’t make any difference if she was pretty or a dog. He wasn’t a bastard to take advantage of a woman that way either way. But after seeing that show today, it’d be hard to put it out of his mind.

  He’d gotten so involved in watching, he’d damn near gotten caught—and he’d never made it to the barn. From now on he’d have to be more careful.

  And somehow he’d have to block those sexual images from his brain.

  * * *

  MIDWAY THROUGH THE next day, Miles continued to stew. Last night, he’d almost charged out buck naked. Only Maxi’s panicked grasping on his arm had slowed him enough to pull on his shorts and detour into the bedroom for his gun.

  Of course, by then whoever had been spying on them was gone.

  Maxi had been understandably shaken. After a thorough search of the grounds, he’d returned to find her redressed and frantic. The second he stepped in she’d grabbed him—almost as if he mattered to her—and held him tight, her face against his chest.

  He’d checked the surveillance cameras and found nothing more than a shadowy figure dressed in black. With the bright kitchen light on, they’d probably been easy to spot.

  He’d done what he could to reassure her, but what could he say? The fucker plaguing her might not have seen her body, or at least not more than her upper torso, but there would have been no mistaking what they’d been doing.

  On a gut level, it disturbed him to know he’d been watched—and it had to be far worse for her.

  Now, on the way to town, it bothered him that Maxi remained so quiet. He reached across the seat and took her hand.

  Flashing a quick, barely there smile, she squeezed his fingers. “I can’t help worrying. What if someone comes in while we’re gone?”

  “We’ll see it on the cameras.” But her reasoning was why he’d insisted on going early. He wanted to be back by the afternoon.

  When she suddenly looked around, finally paying attention to their direction, she frowned. “I thought we were going to shop.”

  “We are.” He brushed his thumb over her knuckles. “We’re sticking to the area, though.” He’d deliberately decided to use the small store in town rather than making the trip out of the area. “They have a Walmart or something, right? We can get some blinds there.” That would be their number one purchase—privacy blinds for all the windows.

  “My grandmother rarely bothered to close the curtains.”

  “I’m glad she didn’t have to.”

  She thought about that, then nodded. “You’re right. Now, do you want to tell me why we’re using the limited options in this Podunk town instead of going where there’s more shopping?”

  “Information.”

  “Meaning?”

  Last night, while he’d held her close to him and listened to her slow breathing, he’d known she couldn’t sleep any more than he could. That was when he’d made up his mind.

  Waiting to catch the bastard in the act wasn’t working. He needed to go after him instead.

  “In a small town, everyone knows everyone. If we visit a few shops, someone might tell us something we don’t already know.”

  “Heck, no one even knows I’m here.”

  “That cop knew. Mr. Barstow knows. Maybe they’ve talked to others, maybe not.”

  “What in the world could they have said that would make any difference?”

  “No idea.” He knew not to make assumptions about anything. After all, he had assumed he’d still be a fighter. He’d assumed he’d have a title fight coming up. Making assumptions just set you up for surprises—and disappointment. “But the best way to find out is to visit town and introduce ourselves.”

  She rolled in her lips. “You know people are going to think we’re living together.”

  “We are living together.”

  “Not like that we aren’t.” Clearly trying not to offend him, she said, “I hired you.”

  “I’m glad you did.” He grinned to let her know she didn’t have to tiptoe around him.

  She started to smile, too, when the roar of engines caught them both by surprise. Seconds later an ATV raced out of a field directly in front of them, followed by two more.

  Miles damn near collided with them. He braked, holding the wheel tight when his tires skidded across the gravel road, almost putting him in a ditch.

  The lead ATV driver spun around on the other side of the road and came to a stop. His two cohorts did the same.

  Furious, Miles turned to Maxi. “Are you okay?”

  She nodded. “Good Lord, that was close.”

  He jammed the gear shift into Park and reached for the door handle.

  “Miles.” She placed her hand on his arm. “They’re boys.”

  He looked up to see that the lead driver was off his vehicle and, expression stunned, was walking toward them.

  “So they are.” He patted her thigh. “Stay put.” He was out of the SUV before she could say anything more.

  Miles stepped toward the boys. “Everyone okay?”

  The kid in front, probably fifteen or so, ran a hand over messy brown hair. “Yeah, you?”

  Miles nodded.

  “I’m sorry. No one is ever on this road.”

  “Hard to believe there’s a road for no reason.”

  The boy flushed. “I meant that we ride here all the time and there’s never anyone around.” He looked beyond Miles to see Maxi. “She okay?”

  “Thankfully, yes. You boys should be more careful.”

  “Yes, sir.”

  That sign of respect went a long way. Miles asked, “What’s your name?”

  “I’m Lee. That’s Hull and Billy.”

  He glanced at the helmet Lee held under one arm. “You three old enough to be driving those things?”

  Hedging now, the boy said, “You gotta be sixteen unless you have an adult supervising.”

  “Are any of you adults?”

  Guilt flooded his face. “No, sir. But no one around here really cares.”

  Miles managed a smile. “Guess it’s a little different here in the country.”

  Jumping on that, Lee said, “Right. There’s no harm.” His eyes widened. “I mean, usually.”

  “So you boys are out here often?”

  He nodded fast. “Mrs. Nevar never minded. She’d let us ride through her property near the woods.”

  “Is that right? Any of you boys hunt?”

  “Yeah, but that’s something we only do when one of our dads is with us.”

  Insane. Miles kept his smile in place. “You hunt around here?”

  “Sometimes. Mrs. Nevar said having hunters prowl through the woods out back of her house helped to keep the coyotes away from her cats.”

  “That makes sense. But you know Mrs. Nevar passed away, right?”

  Lee nodded, his gaze back on Maxi. “Is she the granddaughter who moved in?”

  Miles lifted a brow. “Where’d you hear that?”

  “Everyone knows it. Most people figured she’d put it up for sale. Some had already been talking about buying it. But she moved in instead. It was a surprise.”

  “I bet. You boys been hunting around here lately?”

  “No.”

  The other two finally worked up the nerve to join their buddy instead of hanging back. Hull, a taller, blond-haired kid, said, “I did a few weeks back but
haven’t been here since.”

  “Who’d you hunt with?”

  “My brother.” In a hurry, he added, “He’s twenty-two. But there are so many cats now, we were afraid we’d spook them.” He rubbed his ear. “Everyone liked Mrs. Nevar. No one wants to bother her cats. Donny and me even went by there a few times to give them food.”

  “That was nice of you, thanks.” Miles wondered how many other people felt comfortable just showing up on the property. “And I agree, shots would probably spook them.” Eyeing the boys, Miles said, “The cats were important to Mrs. Nevar just as they’re important to her granddaughter.”

  From behind him, Miles heard Maxi say, “They’re like my pets now.”

  All three boys gawked at her. You’d think they’d never seen a woman before. Granted, she looked extra fine today in tan shorts that showed off her beautiful legs and a white tank that hugged her torso. Her fair hair hung in loose waves and her smile was damn near enough to level him, so he could imagine what it’d do to boys.

  “We’d appreciate it if you guys didn’t hunt around the property anymore,” Miles said, attempting—and failing—to draw their attention back to him.

  “Actually,” Maxi said, “the loud ATVs could scare the cats, too. I hate to be a stick in the mud—”

  They all three tried to reassure her at the same time, making Miles almost roll his eyes.

  “—but do you think you could ride the vehicles away from my property?”

  “Sure thing.”

  “Not a problem.”

  “Wouldn’t want to scare the cats.”

  That last one made Miles laugh. “You boys ever do any yard work? Ms. Nevar has plenty of grass to cut, weeds to clear out from around the pond, stuff like that.”

  Maxi smiled. “That’s a wonderful idea, Miles. If you boys are interested, why don’t you come by in the morning and we can work out an hourly wage.”

  Billy elbowed Hull hard, prompting him to ask, “Are you Miles Dartman?”

  “I am.”

  “The fighter?” Lee asked for clarification.

  “MMA, yeah. Or used to be. I’m retired now.”

  The three looked at each other, and Lee said, “Shoot, I’d work for you for free!”

  * * *

  A FEW MINUTES LATER, back in the SUV, Miles said, “That went well.”

  She looked a little stunned. “Does everyone recognize you?”

  “Not usually, no. But you heard the kid. Your buddy Fletcher is telling everyone who’ll listen that you’re living at the property now, and that you have an MMA fighter staying with you.”

  “Those boys seemed to think it’s your property.”

  “I explained. You heard me.”

  “Not that they believed you.” She fussed with the hem of her shorts. “They think we’re a couple.”

  “Might not be a bad thing to let people assume.” If he got his way, it could turn true. Every day, in a dozen different ways, he liked Maxi more. He’d wanted an opportunity to let that relationship grow without her putting limits on it, and without the threat encouraging her to a false closeness.

  Always, in the back of his mind, he couldn’t help but wonder if she’d have ever come back to him if she hadn’t needed his help.

  As to that, if things were miraculously resolved, would she send him packing again?

  “You know,” she said, “I was already thinking about asking them if they wanted to do some work.”

  “So I didn’t overstep too badly?” Because she might not give him the answer he wanted, he continued smoothly with “They seemed more than eager to chat. I figured it couldn’t hurt to have them around. We could get in some subtle questions and maybe find out more about the town than we’ll accomplish with this visit.”

  “And,” she added, “I really could use some help.”

  Since she didn’t plan to let him do her tasks? He’d disabuse her of that—soon. But he saw no reason to start a fuss right before they reached their destination.

  The town, if you could call it that, came into view with an antiques shop...next to a used car dealership, a printing store and a post office.

  Each business practically sat on the road, separated only by the width of a sidewalk, proof that the two-lane road didn’t start out that way. It was probably widened as the town grew.

  “Every building is different,” he marveled. “And look at all those details.” Typical of older architecture, the facades had intricate scalloping, carved porch posts, eave brackets and bay windows, each trimmed in a complementary color so that on one house there might be three or four colors, not counting the slate shingles.

  Maxi, having been to the town before, enjoyed watching his amazement. “It’s like a step back in time, isn’t it? Wait until you see the funeral home. It’s amazing.”

  The only semi-modern buildings were a gas station/quick mart and a liquor store that shared the same roof as an accountant.

  They passed a general store, but no Walmart. The town ended abruptly on one side with a bar, and on the other with residential houses.

  “Huh.”

  “Told you it was tiny.”

  No exaggeration there. “Where’s the vet?”

  “Farther down, with homes on either side of it. You wouldn’t know it was the location of the veterinarian’s office if it wasn’t for the Dr. Miller’s shingle hanging out front.”

  “So the general store is it, I guess.”

  “I’ve been in there once before. They have just about everything, and anything they don’t have in stock they can order.”

  “Then we’ll head there first.” Miles parked in a small lot opposite of the building along with six other cars. Together they crossed the street, and damned if people didn’t come to gawk, some staring out of a quaint pharmacy window, others through a beauty salon window and some from a small grocery. He waved with a smile and kept walking.

  Maxi snickered.

  “They’re bizarrely curious about outsiders.”

  “Right.” She gave him a look. “I’m betting they know who you are and that’s why you’re drawing so much attention. You’ll be like a local celebrity or something.”

  Snorting at that, he opened the chiming door for her and waited until she’d entered. They didn’t have far to go before a petite, trim woman in her sixties greeted them. Given her name badge, she worked there. “Hello. Beautiful day, isn’t it?”

  Maxi said, “Hot, but I love the sunshine.” Holding out her hand, she read the name badge. “Joan? I don’t think I met you last time I was in. I’m Maxi Nevar. I moved into my grandmother’s farm.”

  Joan clasped her hand in both of hers. “It’s a pleasure, Maxi. What a pretty name! Very unusual.”

  “Thank you.”

  “You probably met my husband if you were in once before. We take turns running the place.”

  Miles stepped forward. “So you own the general store?”

  “Yes, and my parents before me.” She looked him over, smiled and held out her hand. “I’m Joan.”

  Miles took the small, thin hand in his. “Miles Dartman. I’m a friend of Maxi’s.”

  “Helping her to get the place in shape, I bet.”

  Relieved that she didn’t ask him about MMA—or worse, about being a bodyguard—he smiled and said, “Exactly.”

  She turned back to Maxi. “Meryl had her hands full, that’s for sure.” As if sharing a confidence, she lowered her voice and leaned in. “We all figured she and Woody were sweet on each other. Nothing ever did come of that, though. Guess they were just friends after all.”

  “Woody is very kind,” Maxi said in a noncommittal way.

  “He’d have done just about anything for Meryl.” She shook her head in apparent sympathy, then perked up and asked, “W
hat can I help you with?”

  “I wanted some blinds for my windows.”

  “Right over here.”

  Amazingly enough, Joan had exactly what they needed for four of the five windows. Nothing fashionable, but the functional white mini blinds would do the job. For the fifth, bigger window in the kitchen, they chose a roll blind.

  And by God, Miles would ensure the house was sealed up before dark.

  They purchased other supplies while they were there, taking the time to meet and visit with various locals.

  They’d just finished grocery shopping and were heading across the hot blacktop parking lot when Fletcher Bowman, his head down as he spoke on his cell phone, left his patrol car. Dark sunglasses in place, he headed toward them, still involved in a heated discussion.

  “I haven’t seen her, so how the hell should I know? No, I can’t do that. Because he made it clear—”

  Not until he almost collided with Miles did Fletcher realize they were waiting on him.

  When he did, he pulled up short, started to automatically apologize, then realized who stood before him. He went still, saying into the phone, “I’ll call you back.”

  Beneath the broiling afternoon sun, heat wafted off the blacktop in suffocating waves.

  “Fletcher,” Miles said and, indicating the phone he held, asked, “Problem?”

  “What? No.” He shoved the phone in his pocket and turned to Maxi. “Here, let me help you with that.” Without giving her a chance to deny him, Fletcher took the bag she carried.

  Miles resisted the urge to roll his eyes.

  Maxi, nonplussed, fashioned a smile and said, “We’re right here.” She headed toward the SUV.

  Fletcher, the bastard, watched her. The sunglasses hid his eyes, but Miles knew damn good and well that the officer was eyeing her ass.

  He rudely pressed past Fletcher, bumping him hard on the wall.

  Maxi had the back of the SUV open and waiting on them. They’d bought so much that not a lot of room remained. Shifting everything into one arm, Miles pushed the new boxed blinds into a pile and set down his groceries.

  Fletcher took in their haul. “Looks like you hit up the town.”

  “Close,” Maxi said. “Most of that is from the general store, but I also needed some new tools from the hardware store.”