Eve Langlais by The Hunter Page B

for help, and for once, it feels nice to know that someone else just might be looking out for me and the kids.
    As she readied the kids for bed, she pasted on a smile for them. They’d already forgotten all about the afternoon’s drama at the park and were chattering away. If only Suzie could forget as easily.
    The kids tucked in for the night, Suzie double checked the locks on her doors and windows before she grabbed her baby monitor and went out back on her rear deck to sit down. Looking up at the sky, she tried to not let her paranoia and terror overwhelm her. Not an easy task, though. Her fear crept in like a spider, binding her tight in its cocooning thread, and it seemed the more she tried to fight it, the tighter she became caught.
    A thud startled her, and she looked up to see Hunter had come over the fence, and in some feat of dexterity she’d missed, managed to bring two open beers with him.
    “Here,” he said, handing her a sweating brown bottle. “Figured you could use one.”
    Suzie tipped the bottle and chugged half of it before saying, “Thanks.”
    He just arched a brow at her and then, as if not to be outdone, chugged his entire bottle.
    Men! Always have to one up a girl . But he did manage to make her smile.
    “Feeling better?” he asked.
    “Not really. I guess it’s stupid to be so scared, but dammit, you don’t know what their father was like.”
    “Are you sure it was him?”
    “No.” She sighed. “And the chances are that it was just some stranger looking to lure Jared, which is just as bad. What kind of world do we live in nowadays that we can’t even go to the park without fear?”
    “The world has become a scary place,” agreed Hunter. “But you know, you can’t always run from what you fear. Sometimes you need to stand your ground and face it down.”
    “What do you know about fear?” she scoffed. “You’re big and strong. Who the hell is going to tell you what to do, or threaten you?”
    “Only someone with a death wish,” he joked. Suzie almost smiled again. “And for your information, I know a lot about fear. I just don’t show it. In my line of work, I face things sometimes that best belong in nightmares. But I learned a long time ago that giving into my fear didn’t accomplish anything. And running never works.”
    “Worked so far,” muttered Suzie, taking a swig from her beer.
    “No it hasn’t or you wouldn’t be so terrified. I know your ex did some bad things to you, and I don’t expect you to tell me. But to always be running . . .” He sighed. “It’s not a life, Suzie, for you or the children. Maybe it’s time to stop hiding and face him, once and for all.”
    “I can’t,” she whispered dejectedly. She’d need to be courageous and strong to do that, something she’d never been around him.
    “You can, and if you need a friend to be the rock at your back, I’m available.”
    “Why would you offer that?” she said, turning to look at him, puzzled at his offer. “You’ve only known me for a couple of days.”
    “Long enough to know you’re a good mother and person. I also know that your children are very sweet and don’t deserve to be hurt. We might have only met a few days ago, but that doesn’t mean I don’t consider you to be my friend.”
    “We’re friends now, are we?” said Suzie. What an odd concept. Friends with a man that she wanted to jump so badly it made her kitty hurt.
    “Yes,” he said with a grin. “Whether you like it or not. So get used to me coming over.”
    35

    Suzie laughed. A friend. God, it had been so long since she’d had one. She’d spent so much time running and surviving, and just being a mom, that she hadn’t had the time.
    “Does this mean you’re going to start borrowing sugar and stuff?” she asked teasingly.
    “Yes, and probably milk too. I always forget to buy some.”
    “And you’ll babysit for me when I start dating?”
    “Dating?” Hunter sat up straight, brows arched high. “Who are