Beauty and the Beastmaster by Linda Winstead Jones

For Gabi Lawson, Mystic Springs has been the perfect hiding place for her and her daughter. For the past year she’s kept her head down and made a decent living cutting and styling hair. Even though she’s becoming comfortable in her new home, she’s always behind locked doors when the sun goes down. The last thing she wants or needs is a man in her well-structured life.

Silas Hollister is the town critter guy. If your pet is sick or you have bats in your attic, he’s the one to call. Like many in Mystic Springs, his career is shaped by his gift. He communicates with animals in a way others can’t even dream of. When he’s approached about helping along a spell that will isolate the town once and for all, he’s on board. His assignment seems easy enough. All he has to do is make sure Non-Springer Gabi is out of town when the spell goes down.

When Silas’s bloodhound Judge connects with Gabi and her daughter in a special way, it’s clear he’s determined to protect them. Is Judge protecting the woman and her baby from some unknown danger, or from Silas himself?