by Jordan Dane
Jess felt a sudden disconnect from Seth, as if meeting him had only been a strange dream, like none of it had been real. She flashed on the last time she’d seen him. The tall lanky kid didn’t look as if he’d slept in a while. And she recalled how he’d dismissed her concern by saying, “Not everything is rosy in Harperworld twenty-four/seven…but I’ll figure it out soon. No worries.”
Well, now she was worried. Why hadn’t she pressed him more…to find out what was going on with him? She vowed, when she got back to town, to look for him in earnest. After all, she still had the blue monster, his butt ugly van. When she found Seth, she’d uncover the truth even if it had to be at gunpoint. She hoped the kid would contact her, as he’d done before, but she wouldn’t wait for that.
Maybe he would need saving. And she wanted to be there, holding his lifeline.
With bittersweet memories of Harper on her mind, and a swell of darker recollections scratching beneath the surface of her skin, Jess discovered that she’d wandered into the rain. And oddly enough, she didn’t mind it. She had learned to appreciate the healing properties infused into each precious drop. Payton Archer had taught her that.
As if on cue, the man himself joined her, naked and under wraps the same as she was. Without hesitation, he joined her in the rain as if he did it every morning.
“Hey lady, this town might be small, but we do have a dress code.”
“Then it’s a good thing you live in the boonies, Archer, where people can run butt naked if they want.” She threw open her blanket and flashed him, long enough for him to pull her into his embrace, skin-to-skin.
After all they had been through together, she still didn’t know much about him—except for what really mattered in a man’s character. She hoped she’d have time to “discover” him, but out of the blue she asked Payton a strange question she’d been wondering about since meeting him. And being naked with him—standing outdoors in the rain—seemed the perfect time and place to chat.
“You ever wish you had your glory days back, Payton? I mean your time in the NFL? If you could do it all over, what would you change?”
“Looking back only stalls out your life. Living in the past is not really living at all,” he said, nuzzling her in a monster hug. “I know that now, more than ever. And I don’t wish for my time back with the pros, not half as much as I wish my parents’ plane hadn’t crashed. Or that this vile thing had never happened to Nikki. Football and all the money in the world doesn’t even take a close second to family…and the people we love. That’s what matters most to me, Jess.”
She pulled him closer and pressed a cheek to his bare chest. She liked a man who had his priorities straight. Two nights ago they had made love for the first time in his cabin in front of a cozy fire. In the light, her scars were clearly visible, but nothing felt more natural than making unabashed sweet love to Payton Archer.
That first night in his hotel room, she realized that her nervousness hadn’t been about sex or breaking in a first-time lover. It had been about letting him under her skin, letting him get to know her, scars and all. But Payton had burrowed into her heart when he gave her a front row seat to watch the rain. So when it came time for the physical part of their relationship—well, that came easy, so to speak.
“Joe Tanu has invited us over for breakfast. He just called.” Payton’s low voice rumbled through his chest and into her ear, sounding muffled and sweet. “You feel like going? If you don’t, I’m sure he’ll understand. Joe is a very patient man.”
“Patience runs in your family. I can see that.” She grinned and rubbed her hands along his muscled back. “Sure, I’d love to eat Joe’s cooking.”
“Yeah, the man owes me a couple of eggs anyway. I’ve cut him enough slack.”
When she looked up at him, she could tell there was a story behind Joe and those eggs. And from the quirky expression on Payton’s handsome face, Jess firmly believed everyone should have an egg story buried in the closet, suitable for sharing…between good friends.
With his arm around her, Jess walked back toward the warmth of his cabin, never feeling so alive. She might have resembled a drowned rodent at the moment, but later on maybe her changed luck would kick in and she’d have a good hair day. A girl could only hope.
“I promised to troll the main street of this little burg later today with Nikki,” she said. “She and Susannah are taking me shopping, apparently. For what, I don’t know. I’m not much of a girly girl, but I’d do just about anything with your niece. And I’m looking forward to getting to know Susannah.”
“Nikki hasn’t wanted out of the house since we’ve brought her home. I’m glad she and Susannah are taking that first step…with you.”
“Yeah, me too.”
Until now, Jess didn’t know much about first steps. But with Payton Archer, she’d be willing to learn.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
I used to live in Anchorage, Alaska (ten years), and I love that Evil Without a Face weaves in and out of that setting. Alaska will always hold a special place in my heart. And as is usually the case, the plot was influenced by a real crime that happened 2004 in Florida. This is my take on it. I’m particularly fond of the main character in this book, my Fugitive Recovery Agent Jessica Beckett. She’s scarred both physically and mentally by her past, yet her inner strength is resilient. Her scars are the imperfections in us all. But one of her most endearing traits is that she’s a real smart-ass. Normally, I fall in love with my male characters, but this woman has stolen my heart on many levels. I hope you take her under your wing and show her some love.
And if my whiz kid Seth Harper had to rely on me for his computer savvy, he would have been assigned to a remedial class. But thanks to the Mystery Writers of America loop and Patrick Murray, Harper could fake it. And special thanks go to a real computer genius, Tom Radcliffe, who had the good sense to marry well.
For me, living in Alaska was the adventure of a lifetime. I’ve been to the charming town of Talkeetna many times for softball games, Moose Dropping Festivals (to honor the many uses of moose poop) and winter cross-country skiing. And Talkeetna’s Roadhouse is a special place to hang out and grab a great bite to eat. But two wonderful friends from Anchorage helped remind me that when you get out of your car in Alaska, you are fair game—just another part of the food chain. Special thanks to Alaskan residents David Boelens and Janet Rodgers for sharing their logistical expertise and sick humor. And for the fictional purposes of this book, I ignored the fact that the St. Lawrence Island has no trees and blessed it with evergreens near the NE Cape.
And for those who know me, you know that blowing up stuff on paper is a blast for me, especially with the help of my murder and mayhem buddy, weapons expert Joseph Francis Collins, a talented aspiring author. Joe, thanks for being my “tail-end Charlie.” And for the best friend a new author (or anyone) could ever have, I’d like to publicly declare my heartfelt thanks to Charlotte Worsham, owner of the Around the Corner Restaurant in Edmond, Oklahoma, for her unflinching support. When she says she cooks with love, she means it.
Finally, I’d like to thank some special folks in my life. To my husband and best friend, John—you never cease to amaze me. To my family circle—thanks for weathering my influence all these years and keeping me thoroughly entertained. To my agent, Meredith Bernstein—you are a savvy businesswoman with a classic sense of style. But it’s your never-ending appetite for life that I admire most. And to my editor, Lucia Macro, and everyone who contributed to this book from the talented staff at Avon Books/Harper Collins—thanks for your commitment to excellence in all things. You have touched my life and I’m so very grateful and blessed to know you.
About the Author
Avon Books/HarperCollins launched JORDAN DANE’s debut suspense series in a back-to-back publishing event in Spring 2008. Ripped from the headlines, Jordan’s gritty plots weave a tapestry of vivid settings, intrigue, and dark humor.
Publishers Weekly compared her intense pacing to L
isa Jackson, Lisa Gardner, and Tami Hoag—romantic suspense that “crosses over into plain thriller country.” Pursuing publication since 2003, she received awards in thirty-three national writing competitions, including her 2005 Golden Heart final.
Formerly an energy sales manager in the oil and gas industry, she is now following her passion to write full time. Jordan and her husband share their residence with an intelligent canine and two cats of highborn lineage. For more, visit www.jordandane.com.
Visit www.AuthorTracker.com for exclusive information on your favorite HarperCollins author.
Praise for NO ONE HEARD HER SCREAM
“A dynamite debut! Plain thriller country!”
Publishers Weekly
“A compelling page-turner! Pulling no punches with this exciting debut, Jordan Dane quickly establishes her credentials as a promising new star.”
Romantic Times magazine
“Terrific debut. Jordan Dane has got the goods and she delivers them with a knock-out ending. A great new author to watch.”
Crimespree magazine
“Jordan Dane has crafted a debut novel with thrills, chills, and emotions. She’s not to be missed!”
Heather Graham, New York Times bestselling author
“Jordan Dane’s debut romantic suspense sizzles. Intense and satisfying.”
Allison Brennan, New York Times bestselling author
“High stakes romance, riveting, gritty suspense, and engaging characters. A fabulous new voice!”
Cindy Gerard, New York Times bestselling author
“Jordan Dane is a brand-new star on the horizon of women’s fiction. Her style is gritty—her writing sharp and concise. A roller-coaster ride of nail-biting suspense and heart-stopping emotion.”
Sharon Sala, New York Times bestselling author
Praise for NO ONE LEFT TO TELL
“Rising star Dane really showcases her talents. The characters in this gritty tale are vivid and real, with emotions that range from love to twisted evil. Riveting reading!”
TOP PICK Romantic Times magazine
Praise for NO ONE LIVES FOREVER
“Rarely does an author make such an impact in such a short span of time.”
TOP PICK Romantic Times magazine
By Jordan Dane
EVIL WITHOUT A FACE
NO ONE LIVES FOREVER
NO ONE LEFT TO TELL
NO ONE HEARD HER SCREAM
Coming Soon
THE WRONG SIDE OF DEAD
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