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And now this stranger was poking around. Intheirtown.
North ran a hand through his thick hair. It stood on end, making him look like a little boy.
Not that she was fooled. Former friend, or not, Bridger North represented a threat. She didn’t know how, or why, exactly, but she trusted her gut.
He grabbed a paper bag from the end of the counter and took a pen from the cup, scrawling his name and number in big, bold strokes. “I’ve taken up enough of your time. I’m staying at the Redemption Creek Inn. I’ll be in town a couple more days.”
He slid the note in front of her and backed away from the counter. “Call any time.”
She stared down at the note, willing the man to leave, refusing to look up until she heard the scrape of the ill-hung door digging into the old pine threshold. His wide back receded across the parking lot.
She would not be calling Bridger North. Not before she did some sleuthing of her own.
3
When Bridger got backto the motel, Tai was already there, his long legs stretched out, feet hanging over the edge of the bed, hand in a bag of potato chips. Barbecue, judging from the smell.
He tossed Bridger a bag of chips. “So?”
“I got nothing.”
Tai narrowed his eyes. “You know what I meant. What’s Jane Reilly like? I can’t picture a guy as tough as Jason having a sister. Is she burly?”
Bridger concentrated on opening the chips, inhaling the sweet, tangy scent of artificial smoke and spices.
A pillow, rifled at high speed, hit him in the shoulder. He glared. “Watch the chips.”
Tai sat up. “What’s Jay’s sister like? I need deets.”
Bridger stuffed a chip in his mouth, buying himself time to formulate a response. “Impressive,” he said after swallowing.
“That’s a nice way of saying ugly.”
Bridger laughed silently. If only. Dark-haired like her brother, but with more delicate features, and a smattering of freckles dusting her cheeks, Jane Reilly was stunning. Earthy and practical and not easily intimidated. The woman radiated the strangest combination of energies, as if the sweetest den mother in the neighborhood had a black belt in Karate.
Not that it made any difference. His teammate’s sister was off limits. Period.
Besides, she’d barely given him the time of day.
Not that he blamed her. If she and Jason were at all close, she knew something was off. Him asking around only cemented that belief.
Tai groaned. “You did that thing.”
“I didn’t do a thing.”
“Yeah, you did. You went in all aggro. You scared her, didn’t you?”
“Possibly.” He hadn’t meant to, exactly…
Tai groaned. “I told you not to dial this up.”
Bridger shoveled another handful of chips into his mouth. Tai had warned him. But the situation was too volatile for tact. Whoever had Jason on the run might try to locate him through the people he knew best. It happened all the time.
He tossed the empty bag in the trash and wiped his hands on his jeans. “I may have gotten her attention.” He’d certainly come close to getting whatever tool she had hidden under that counter upside the head.
Not a handgun. Her movements had been too jerky and imprecise. Nope. She had a mallet or a crowbar or a hammer stashed under there.
He bet she knew how to use it.
