Home to Stay — Jane Leopold Quinn

Nickie Grace moved to Parkersburg to rehab an old house and forget a disastrous marriage, but a prowler threatens her newfound peace. The vandalism gets more personal and creepier with every instance. It's a small town, and the investigating deputy, Hank Crossman, is everywhere. Nickie's not ready to get involved but she can't resist the hunk's seductive moves -- or the adorable stray dog he adopted. A summer affair might be fun, not to mention that with a sheriff's deputy guarding her body, how much safer could she be? Deputy Hank Crossman loves to play the field. He's a commitment-phobe, who keeps everyone at arm's length, including his alcoholic father and the stray he's named simply 'Dog.' Now, he's determined to seduce Nickie Grace. Fortunately for Parkersburg, he takes his job much more seriously than he does his affairs. His frustration at not being able to solve the perverted and dangerous crimes against Nickie grows along with his attraction to her, and despite the dangers they become immersed in an intense lust-affair. Then Nickie almost loses her life, and Hank discovers that everything that's been happening is because of his past. He wants to bolt, get out of her life, but this time he just might come home to stay.