Now reformed and a self-made success, Aiden is tormented by regrets and secrets. He left Red River years ago filled with anger and resentment and a promise to never come back. But when his ill father needs help, Aiden knows it’s time to face the mess he left behind, and face the one woman he never got over. It doesn’t matter how beautiful or intriguing she is, though, because he’ll never be able to give her what she needs. As soon as his father is healthy, Aiden is leaving Red River… for good.

The tall figure in the distance, in perfect running form, was beginning to look horribly familiar. Tattered Blue Jays baseball cap, threadbare T-shirt hugging broad shoulders, shorts, tall, powerful…crap it was Aiden. Why was he here? This was her running space and time. Just look straight ahead. Look like you’re not about to die as you approach minute five. Maybe even smile…or trip over your own two feet and choke on your own saliva as you go head first into the river rock bed.

“Holy crap, I’ve never seen anyone do that before. Are you okay, Nat?”

She was going to die. Why couldn’t she have hit the rock bed with her head first? Then at least she might have been knocked unconscious and have been spared the humiliation. She was lying on her side, fetal position, holding her knees to her chest and glaring at him. “Totally fine.”

His brow was furrowed as though he was trying to figure out what the heck she’d just done. “What the hell happened?”
She sat up and tried to regain some dignity. “Nothing. It’s so cloudy and dark still, I lost my footing because I thought you were actually a giant troll coming toward me.”

He was hunched down, trying to pry her hands off her knees. His beautiful mouth twitched at her explanation. “You find giant trolls jogging in Red River?”

She swatted his hands, and he sighed roughly then firmly grasped her hands and moved them aside. He made a noise under his breath. “Come back to my dad’s car, and I’ll clean this up for you.”

“Clean what up?” She struggled into a seated position and cringed when she saw her knees. Seriously, she was like a child who’d scraped her knees on the playground.

“I’m fine. Thanks for your help.”

He stood and held out his hand. She looked at it.

“I don’t bite.”

Actually he did at one time. Delicious little bites.