Free Untamed: Duty Bound Book 3 by J.S. Marlo

trust. Then and only then could he hope for truthful answers. “If you let me take a few practice swings, I’m pretty sure I could manage to split a few logs.”
    “Practice swings? I may be deaf, but that doesn’t sound too safe.” Mischievousness trickled through her smile—a smile as vibrant as the untamed wilderness surrounding them. “If you help me carry the wood inside, I’ll make you a mug of hot chocolate for your trouble.”
    “That’s the best offer I got all week.” He already worked for peanuts, he might as well accept the pay raise to chocolate. “You take Rory inside before he resembles Frosty the snowman and let me take care of the wood. If you argue, I’ll arrest you for disobedience.”
    Her renewed laughter floated in the air long after she disappeared around the shed.
    ***
    Meet me. Arena. 2 pm.
    Matt preferred the text messages requesting his presence in her bed, but if she wanted to meet him at the indoor skating rink, he would happily oblige. Everyone in town knew they’d been friends forever. No one raised a brow when they hung out together.
    A folding sign sat on the concrete floor in the lobby of the recreation center near the admission booth. FREE PUBLIC SKATING FROM 1 TO 3 PM was written in white letters against a navy blue background.
    He strolled by the curling rink where Vic’s team competed against the guys from Garnet Financial Services. After four ends, his friend’s team trailed 3-1. Vic wasn’t as handy with a stone as he was with an icicle. That was too bad for his team.
    The skating rink was located at the other extremity of the rec center, next to a snack bar that sold greasy French fries and bad coffee at exorbitant price. Matt walked past the empty, ketchup stained tables and through a set of thick doors. The temperature dropped by several degrees despite the heaters hanging from the ceiling.
    Kids and adults alike skated counter-clockwise on the ice surface. He spotted her in the stands, high up on the last row. Alone.
    Her attention focused on the ice, she didn’t acknowledge his presence until he sat by her side. “You’re late.”
    “Sorry, babe, but I was on a job.” In private, he would have greeted her with a long kiss, but she disliked public affection. “The shitty pipes were so rusted I had to retrofit the entire line.”
    “You were supposed to chase her away.” Hatred pervaded each word. She didn’t need to name her for Matt to know who she referred to. “Vic saw her nosing around the bridge with her bastard. He said she looked anything but scared.”
    The deaf woman was more stupid than he thought. By now, she should have gotten the hint that she wasn’t welcomed in this town. “What do you suggest I do, babe? Point a gun in her face?”
    The donuts in uniforms weren’t taking the threats against Parker seriously, but if Matt pushed too far, the scale might tip against him.
    “Of course not. That’d be too obvious.” She leaned closer to him, and her breath teased his ear. “But a hunting accident would be nice.”
    ***
    “Why don’t we sit at the kitchen table?”
    Rory had fallen asleep on the couch watching Avery stack the wood under the window, and Hannah didn’t want to disturb her son’s peaceful rest.
    To avoid an accident while he worked, Avery had removed his gun and stored it on top of the fridge, out of reach for children. That he trusted her with his weapon brought back bittersweet memories.
    He accepted the mug of hot chocolate she presented him, then sat in Rory’s place. The tip of his tongue licked his upper lip when he took a sip, drawing a quizzical smile.
    “It’s better than I remember.”
    The soft glow in his dark brown eyes warmed her insides more effectively than any hot cocoa. “Glad you like it.”
    It’d been many years—too many years—since she’d welcomed a man in her cabin and let him take his boots off. She found herself wishing she could let her guards down.
    “Will Rory wake up asking for a