Robyn Carr - Hidden Summit

Sometimes romance is hiding in plain sight

When Connor Danson becomes an unwitting witness to a violent crime, he is forced to leave Sacramento and keep a low profile until the trial is over. He arrives in the tiny mountain town of Virgin River with a chip on his shoulder and an ache in his heart.

Leslie Petruso didnt want to leave her hometown either. But she cant stand another minute of listening to her ex-husband tell everyone that his new wife and impending fatherhood are the best things that ever happened to him. Virgin River may not be home, but its a place where she can be anonymous.

Neither Connor nor Leslie is remotely interested in starting a new relationshipuntil they meet one another. Even they cant deny they have a lot in commonbroken hearts notwithstanding. And in Virgin River, no one can stay hidden away from life and love for very long.

Carr pulls out all the emotional stopsin her popular contemporary-romance saga featuring the drama-rich Northern California mountain community.
Booklist on Paradise Valley

Praise for New York Times and USA TODAY
bestselling author

This book is an utter delight.
RT Book Reviews on Moonlight Road

Strong conflict, humor and well-written characters are Carrs calling cards, and theyre all present here.You wont want to put this one down.
RT Book Reviews on Angels Peak

This story has everything: a courageous,
outspoken heroine, a to-die-for hero
and a plot that will touch readers hearts
on several different levels. Truly excellent.
RT Book Reviews on Forbidden Falls

An intensely satisfying read.
By turns humorous and gut-wrenchingly emotional, it wont soon be forgotten.
RT Book Reviews on Paradise Valley

Carr has hit her stride with this captivating series.
Library Journal on the Virgin River series

The Virgin River books are so compelling
I connected instantly with the characters
and just wanted more and more and more.
#1 New York Times bestselling author
Debbie Macomber

Also available from
ROBYN CARR and MIRA Books

The Virgin River Series

BRING ME HOME FOR CHRISTMAS
HARVEST MOON
WILD MAN CREEK
PROMISE CANYON
MOONLIGHT ROAD
ANGELS PEAK
FORBIDDEN FALLS
PARADISE VALLEY
TEMPTATION RIDGE
SECOND CHANCE PASS
A VIRGIN RIVER CHRISTMAS
WHISPERING ROCK
SHELTER MOUNTAIN
VIRGIN RIVER

The Grace Valley Series

DEEP IN THE VALLEY
JUST OVER THE MOUNTAIN
DOWN BY THE RIVER

Novels

A SUMMER IN SONOMA
NEVER TOO LATE
RUNAWAY MISTRESS
BLUE SKIES
THE WEDDING PARTY
THE HOUSE ON OLIVE STREET

Dont miss Robyns next book,

REDWOOD BEND

Available March 2012

Contents

One

B rie Valenzuela finished her large latte and looked into the empty cup. Shed been waiting in this coffee shop for over an hour, trying to look engrossed in her newspaper, but as the time ticked by, she only grew more concerned. The man she was meeting was a witness to a murder and needed a place to hide out. Shed be hooking him up with a place to stay and a job in Virgin River as a favor to one of her colleagues from the Sacramento District Attorneys office, and when a witness was late in meeting his contact, there was reason to be concerned.

Brie wanted to make a phone call to Sacramento but didnt want to alarm anyone. Instead, she asked the barista for another latte.

This witness, now known as Conner Danson, had seen a very well-known, high-profile Sacramento businessman shoot another man. Danson had been taking trash out behind his hardware store when it had happened and had seen everything. Hed called the police and become the sole witness to the crime. Thanks to his prompt report, theyd found evidence of blood in the mans car, though it had been cleaned, but no weapon. DNA tests had proved the blood belonged to the victim. But, shortly after an arrest had been made, Dansons hardware store had burned to the ground, and a threat had been left on his home phone voice mail: You stayed out of the heat this time, but you wont slip by us again.

Clearly the suspect, Regis Mathis, a very distinguished pillar of the community, was connected.

Brie had served as an Assistant District Attorney with Max, officially Ray Maxwell, some years ago. Max was now the D.A. Hed suspected some trouble with other witnesses anonymity and wasnt sure whether the leak was in his office or the Federal Marshals unit. A cautious man, hed set up his own program. He wasnt about to take any chances on losing the only witness to a high-profile murder. Virgin River was an excellent option.

It was another twenty minutes before the door opened and a man entered, but her first thought was that he couldnt possibly be her witness. First of all, he was too young to own a prosperous hardware store that catered to custom buildersthis guy was no more than thirty-five. And he was, for lack of a more refined description, hot. At about six-two, he was built like a warhorse, his muscles popping into prominence beneath the white T-shirt under his opened leather jacket. Wide shoulders, narrow hips, low-slung jeans, long legs. Although he wore a very unhappy expression at the moment, his face was perfectly symmetricalsquare jaw, straight nose, thick brows and deep, dark blue eyes. He sported a very handsome, sculptured and tightly trimmed mustache and goatee.

He lifted his chin in her direction. She stood and he walked toward her. She opened her arms. Give me a hug, Conner. Like were old friends. Im Brie Valenzuela.

He complied a little reluctantly, nearly swallowing her small frame in his embrace. Nice to meet you, he said quietly.

Sit down. Ill get you a coffee. Whats your pleasure?

Just plain old coffee. Black.

Got it. She went to the counter, ordered, collected the coffee and returned. So, she said. Were about the same age. We could pass for friends from college.

I didnt really go to college, he said. One semester.

That works. How old are you?

Thirty-five.

Arent you kind of young to own a successful business?

Used to own, he said, his expression darkening. It was my fathers. He died a dozen years ago but I was raised in that store. I took over.

I see, she said. So, were friends from college. Youre up here looking for something a little different after the builder you worked for in Colorado Springs shut downtheres a complete script of your history in this envelope, though Im sure Max went over all of it with you.

He gave a nod. And gave me my new ID. I picked up the truck this morning in Vacaville.

I reserved you a small cabin. Very small, but comfortable. Its going to be temporary, and thats fine to say to people. And a friend of mine, Paul Haggerty, is a builder. Hell give you a jobhe can keep you on through summer if necessary. Its his busy building season. That gives you six months, but you wont need that much time. I hope.