Read Online Haze of Heat by Jennifer Dellerman - Free Book Online

took the job here when my cheating ex-bastard boyfriend became my boss.” Gwen made a gagging sound that had Maddie giggling. “An intolerable situation. Ria came here for work as well, only her past was hunting her. Literally.”
    Rachel opened her mouth, shut it. It wasn’t her business, though she couldn’t fault wanting to know more. People were generally nosy by nature and Rachel was about the nosiest of all. Probably came from being an only child. Or her colorful imagination.
    More like a combination of both.
    “All is well now, though?”
    “It is.” Gwen halted in front of a bush brimming with white flowers. The scent was one Rachel knew.
    “Gardenia.” She took an appreciative sniff.
    Gwen plucked one open flower and ran it down Maddie’s nose, who smiled in delight. “Melinda told us you’d had some concerns about staying here because of Maddie?”
    Rachel shrugged. “I don’t know how dangerous this guy is, and if he found me twice, he could do so again. I didn’t want to put a baby in a potentially hazardous situation.”
    “I can understand. Just know that Katie considers this place safe enough for her and her daughter.”
    Rachel nosiness reared its ugly head again. “Oh?”
    “Hmm. Katie’s divorced. Married too damn young, in my opinion, but that’s neither here nor there.” Gwen glanced at Rachel. “High school sweethearts. Married when Josh, her ex, got back from boot camp right after graduation. At first things were really good. Then he was shipped overseas. It changed him.”
    “Oh?” She definitely didn’t have the same snappy and scintillating conversational skills as the heroine in her book.
    Gwen pressed Maddie’s head to her shoulder, cupping the little girl’s free ear as if keeping her from hearing what she was about to say. “Josh was diagnosed with PTSD. Things got bad. Then really bad and Katie had no other option except to leave.”
    Gwen dropped her hand. “A few months ago, Katie received a threatening e-mail from her ex. I won’t go into detail, but suffice it to say we added extra security measures around here.” Her voice dropped into an almost growl. “No one, but no one is going to touch this child.”
    Rachel’s gaze dropped down to the lovely bundle in Gwen’s arms, currently stroking the gardenia. “I’ll second that.”
    “And since you might be staying here a while, and you possess super senses, you can help.”
    Maddie reached up with the white flower and ran it down Gwen’s nose, mirroring Gwen’s move from moments before. Gwen grinned. “Isn’t she adorable?”
    Rachel agreed, at least that the little girl was definitely a cutie pie. “I’m not sure how I could be of any use.” Not in a place brimming with individuals stronger and faster than herself.
    Gwen stepped from the garden onto the soft grass. “Just keep your senses open to anything, well, sinister. The guys pass through the house more often of late, but their work keeps them mostly outside. Except Rome, who’s taken to helping Annie in the kitchen or Melinda with the guests whenever possible.” She rolled her eyes. “I’m sure by now you know Rome checks out all the guests.”
    “Hmm.” A noncommittal response because Rachel still wasn’t sure what she thought of that kind of intrusion.
    Maddie started to fuss and Gwen abruptly swung in a circle, sending Maggie into peals of rapture. “However, that doesn’t include the drop-ins, or at least not all of them. People come by on occasion asking for guac, especially if the local stores are out, or seeking rooms without a reservation. Melinda, of course, won’t turn anyone away if we have availability. Others want to check out the cave.”
    Rachel almost tripped as the terrain under her footing changed from grass to dirt. “The cave?” She vaguely remembered something about a cavern from her conversation with Melinda, but a lot of that was a bit fuzzy, considering how tired and nervous she’d been.
    Gwen glanced over.