Stranger in a Small Town

Stranger in a Small Town
Kerry Connor

The mysterious blue-eyed stranger who showed up in the middle of the night wasn't just looking for work. No, when "John Samuels" signed on with Maggie Harper to restore the decrepit old house, he was hoping for answers and a chance to face the demons of his past.But then strange happenings started threatening his beautiful new boss–and disrupting the passion that sparked between them. Someone didn't want them in that house. Someone who knew the truth about what had happened there thirty years before, about the brutal murder that destroyed John's family.John never expected redemption. But danger waited in the old house, haunting them both….

“When’s the last time you had somebody who cared about you?”

She asked gently, even as she was painfully afraid she knew the answer.

“It doesn’t matter. I don’t need anybody.”

“I don’t believe you. And it’s too bad, because you have me.”

His eyes tracked over her face, lingering at her mouth, his own working slightly. She knew what was about to happen. And this time she didn’t step away.

Stranger in a Small Town

Kerry Connor

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

For my grandfather

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

A lifelong mystery reader, Kerry Connor first discovered romantic suspense by reading Harlequin Intrigue books and is thrilled to be writing for the line. Kerry lives and writes in New York.

CAST OF CHARACTERS

Maggie Harper —Her determination to restore an infamous old house puts her at odds with an entire town—and a killer who would do anything to stop her.

John Samuels —The stranger in town offers Maggie his help—but not the truth about his identity or his motives.

Greg and Emily Ross —Their murders continue to cast a long shadow over the town where they lived—and died.

Annie Madsen —Maggie’s closest friend in town. Even she disapproves of Maggie’s plans for the house.

Irene Graham —Annie’s mother is full of answers. Are they the ones Maggie is looking for?

Dalton Sterling —The builder wants Maggie’s house. How far will he go to get it?

Clay Howell —He doesn’t like people who ask questions about the Rosses.

Janet Howell —A woman who seems to be keeping secrets. Her own or someone else’s?

Paul Winslow —A man whose temper hasn’t calmed in thirty years.

Teri Winslow —The babysitter was close to the Rosses. Does she possess information that could lead Maggie to the truth?

Contents

Prologue

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Thirteen

Chapter Fourteen

Chapter Fifteen

Chapter Sixteen

Chapter Seventeen

Chapter Eighteen

Epilogue

Prologue

In the dark of night, the house appeared no different from the others on the street. The lack of lights masked its details, making it nothing more than another shapeless silhouette on the block. The trees bracketing the property provided concealing shadows that hid the rest of the lot from view.

It was only when the clouds briefly parted, allowing the pale moonlight to shine down upon it, that it became clear just how different this house was. Several of its windows had cardboard covering jagged, gaping holes in the glass. The roof sagged in more than one place, as did the railing on the wide front porch. Its front lawn was patchy and choked with weeds. Without the sheltering darkness, it was obvious that unlike every other house on this quiet residential street, this one hadn’t been occupied for some time.

Nearly thirty years now. Ever since the murders.

No one wanted to live in a place where two people had been brutally killed. Few even wanted to look at it, preferring to ignore its existence entirely, as though it would be so easy to forget what had happened within its walls.