Cindi Myers - Danger On Dakota Ridge

She switched on her computer and prepared to focus on balancing her books and updating her financial records—a task guaranteed to require all her attention. She was deep into the frustration of trying to make her numbers agree with the bank’s when the doorbell rang. She started and glanced at the clock, surprised to see she had been working for almost an hour. She closed her laptop and hurried to the door, fixing a smile in place, prepared to play the gracious hostess.

A check of the security peephole wiped the smile from her face. She unlocked the door and swept it open. “What do you think you’re doing, following me around like this?” she demanded of a startled Rob Allerton.

He settled his features into his usual inscrutable expression. “I have a reservation,” he said. “What are you doing here?”

“I own this place.”

He glanced up at the neat white Victorian home, with its black shutters, and neatly mulched flower beds filled with lilacs and peonies fading into winter dormancy. “Nice,” he said.

“You’re Robert Allen?” she asked.

He had the grace to wince. “The assistant who made the reservation must have automatically used my cover name,” he said. “Sorry about that.”

He made a move to walk past her into the house, but she stepped forward to join him on the front porch and shut the door behind her. “You can’t stay here,” she said.

“Why not?”

“Parker lives here now.”

“I’m not interested in your brother,” he said.

“I don’t want to upset him.” Parker had enough to deal with without having to face over the breakfast table every morning the man who had arrested him.

“We’re all adults here,” Rob said. “I don’t see why there should be a problem.”

“It’s a problem for me. You’ll have to find somewhere else to stay.”

“Eagle Mountain doesn’t have that many choices for accommodations,” he said. “I spent plenty of time at the only motel while I was part of DEA’s investigation into that underground lab.”

“The motel is very nice,” she said.

“It’s adequate, but everyone there knows I’m a DEA agent. I prefer to keep this visit separate from that investigation. This is a personal visit and I’d like to keep to the appearance of a relaxing vacation as much as possible. When my assistant suggested a B and B I liked the idea.”

Paige crossed her arms and scowled at him. She had the right to refuse service to anyone, but he could make a big stink if he wanted to. And turning away a paying customer at this slow time of year would be foolish, wouldn’t it? But to have this man, who had almost ruined Parker’s life, in her home—well, Rob had helped to almost ruin Parker’s life, since she couldn’t deny that Parker was the one who was mostly to blame. Still, it galled her to think of having Rob living here for the next week.

“What are you afraid of?” Rob asked. “If you’re that worried, you can lock your door. Or should I lock mine?”

She wanted to slap the wolfish smile off his face, but before she could raise her hand, he grabbed her by the shoulders and shoved her to the ground. For the second time that day she found herself fighting him as he held her down. Then gunfire exploded very near her ear and tore into the door where she had been standing only seconds before.

Chapter Five

Paige’s scream merged with the screech of tires and the roar of an engine as the black sedan raced down the street in front of the Bear’s Den B and B. Rob, his weapon drawn, straightened and peered at the retreating car. There was no license plate, and the darkly tinted windows prevented him from seeing the occupants. Though there had been at least two people inside—the driver and the person who had fired the gun out the passenger window.

“What happened?” Paige asked, her voice shaky. She tried to sit up and this time he let her. He returned the gun to the holster at his hip, then reached down and pulled her to her feet.

“Was someone shooting at us?” she asked.

“Yes.” He turned his attention from the street to look at her more closely. “Are you all right?” he asked.

“I’m okay.” She rubbed her elbow. “Just a little banged up.”

“Sorry if I was a little rough,” he said. “I glimpsed the gun and had to move fast.” He had acted on pure instinct, pushing her out of danger, shielding her with his own body.

“I’m okay,” she said again. She straightened her blouse. “Who was it? Was it the men from the resort property? The ones who shot at me before?”

Rob shook his head. “I don’t know. I didn’t get a good look at them. I saw their silhouettes and the gun.” He pulled his phone from his pocket and dialed the sheriff’s office—Travis’s direct number.

Travis answered on the second ring. “Hello?”

“This is Rob Allerton. I’m at Paige Riddell’s place. A black sedan, tinted windows, no plates, two men inside, just drove by and fired on us.”

“Dwight is already on his way over,” Travis said. “We had a report of gunfire in the area. Is anyone hurt?”

“No. Some damage to the front door.” He surveyed the line of bullet holes across the bright red door, like a row of stitches. His roller bag sat inches from the door, but was unscathed.

“I think I need to sit down.” Paige sank onto the bench beside the door, her head between her knees. Rob walked out to the street and studied the angle of the shot. He had parked his truck in the paved area between the B and B and the house to the left—which meant anyone driving by had a clear view of the front porch where he and Paige had been standing. The house was only about a hundred feet from the street, making for an easy target.

As he stood at the curb, a Rayford County Sheriff’s Department SUV pulled up. Dwight rolled down the passenger window and leaned toward Rob. “I just heard from Travis. You and Paige okay?”

He glanced over his shoulder to where Paige sat, upright now, hands gripping the edge of the bench, staring at the floor between her feet. “She’s a little shaken up,” he said. “But she’ll be okay.”

“We’ve got a BOLO on the car you described,” Dwight said. “Can you show me where the bullets hit?”

The two men walked up on the porch. “Hello, Paige,” Dwight said. “You okay?”

She nodded.

“Did you get a look at the shooter?” Dwight asked.

“I never saw them. Rob pushed me out of the way before I even knew they were there.”

Dwight nodded, then bent to examine the damaged door. He took some photos. “At least some of the bullets are embedded in the door,” he said. “We’ll get someone out here to collect them. Is there anything else you can tell me—about the car or the shooters?”

“I’m sorry,” Paige said. “I can’t think of anything.”

“We’ll do our best to patrol here more frequently,” Dwight said. “But you might want to think about staying somewhere else for a while.”

She stared at him. “I can’t do that. I have guests. And Parker is here.”

Dwight’s eyes met Rob’s. “It would be better if you went somewhere safer,” Dwight repeated.

“How do you know I was even the target?” Paige asked, with more strength in her voice. “I imagine a DEA agent has made all kinds of enemies.”

Rob looked at the door again. “Maybe so,” he said. “But the shots were fired where you were standing.”

Her face paled, but she set her jaw. “I’m not leaving my home and my business,” she said.

“I can’t force you,” Dwight said.

“I’m staying here,” Rob said. “I’ll keep an eye on things.”

“Let us know if you see anything suspicious.” Dwight nodded to Paige, then left.

When they were alone again, Rob turned to Paige. “Where’s Parker?” he asked.