Texas Hunt

Texas Hunt
Barb Han

She had a secret that could rock her hometown—and unleash a killerWhen Ryan Hunt receives a dead-of-night call for help from his childhood friend Lisa Moore, he knows the emergency is real. After barely surviving a brutal attack, Ryan is the only person Lisa trusts. Convinced the assault wasn’t random, he realises she is hiding a dark and potentially deadly secret.Ryan can’t ignore Lisa’s silence any more than he can resist the Texas heat between them. He risks his life—and heart—to protect her. But if he can’t get Lisa to confide in him, the secret could bring the town of Mason Ridge to its knees. And destroy the only woman he has ever loved.

“Stop!” he shouted.

She froze but didn’t turn around to face him.

“What in hell’s name is going on, Lisa?” Ryan caught up to her, put his hand on her arm to support her, and blew out a frustrated breath when she recoiled.

“I’m sorry. I need to go.”

“Not so fast. The only place you’re going is inside.” He urged her to turn around and he was surprised she did.

The look on her face, the resignation, should have made him feel bad. He didn’t want to go down this road with her. The one where he was basically forcing her to talk. But she was in danger and he couldn’t put up with this any longer.

“He’ll come back.” There came the fear in her eyes again.

“Not tonight, he won’t.”

Texas Hunt

Barb Han

www.millsandboon.co.uk (http://www.millsandboon.co.uk)

BARB HAN lives in north Texas with her very own hero-worthy husband, three beautiful children, a spunky golden retriever/standard poodle mix and too many books in her to-read pile. In her downtime, she plays video games and spends much of her time on or around a basketball court. She loves interacting with readers and is grateful for their support. You can reach her at www.barbhan.com (http://www.barbhan.com).

My deepest thanks go to Allison Lyons for the amazing talent she brings to make each story the absolute best it can be—I am beyond grateful. I’m incredibly blessed to work with Jill Marsal and I’m looking forward to many more years together.

There are three people who cheer me on through late nights and weekends, who are always quick to build me up if my spirits dip, and who inspire me to reach deeper every day so that I can be half the person I see reflected in their eyes. Brandon, Jacob and Tori—my three beautiful gifts!—my world is so much brighter because of you!

And to you, Babe, because the life we’ve built together is so much better than I ever thought possible—and you are at the center of it all. I love you!

Contents

Cover (#u3aab74e9-73d8-576c-a799-58f5a5f7f289)

Introduction (#u2c544ff3-2f87-5f99-b8c2-e6141e7bd4a2)

Title Page (#u60d7030a-f0dc-5b78-b629-d5db4e2c2b7d)

About the Author (#u4a176734-ecdd-51a2-81dc-c8f2441bb81a)

Dedication (#ud2a26df6-3160-5336-a635-e7642f81f0a0)

Chapter One (#u19ee78c5-ae59-514c-a354-6b24b36f9c31)

Chapter Two (#ufd5e429e-854f-5268-8ff3-0473493d3937)

Chapter Three (#u352d39d6-13d9-50db-b051-40168b892bcb)

Chapter Four (#uf8491be4-31bc-5938-a0ef-7e5c3eb0b061)

Chapter Five (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Six (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Seven (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Eight (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Nine (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Ten (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Eleven (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Twelve (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Thirteen (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Fourteen (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Fifteen (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Sixteen (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Seventeen (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Eighteen (#litres_trial_promo)

Epilogue (#litres_trial_promo)

Copyright (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter One (#ulink_083a782e-7e11-5f32-bfc7-7bba200b3e77)

Lisa Moore woke with a start. She tried to push up to a sitting position. Motion made a thousand nails drive through her skin and her head split four ways. Bright fluorescent lights blurred her vision. Her arms gave out and she landed hard on the firm mattress.

“Whoa, slow down there.” Before she could shift her position enough to try sitting up again, Ryan Hunt was kneeling at her side. She didn’t want to acknowledge just how much his presence calmed her rising pulse.

“What are you doing here?” she asked. Looking around, realizing she was in the hospital, she added, “What am I doing here?”

“I came as soon as I got the call,” Ryan said, his low, deep timbre wrapping around her. An emotion flickered behind his eyes that she couldn’t immediately pinpoint. At six foot two with the muscled body of an athlete, Ryan could take care of himself and anyone else around. She told herself that was the reason him being there comforted her...but comforted her from what?

Reality dawned on her as a full-body shiver rocked her. She’d been attacked by Beckett Alcorn, son of the most prominent man in town. His father had recently been named a person of interest in the fifteen-year-old kidnapping case that had rocked the small tight-knit community of Mason Ridge, Texas. News broke yesterday that Charles Alcorn had escaped before questioning and a manhunt was under way to find him.

Fear seized her, cramping her stomach. What if Beckett came back? No one would suspect him, the grieving and confused son. Too bad she couldn’t tell Ryan what had actually happened, what she really knew. She’d done her part. She hadn’t told a soul what Beckett Alcorn had done to her. So why was he trying to deliver on a fifteen-year-old threat now?