Paul wasn’t sure how to respond to this pronouncement.“Okay.”
She lifted her phone in one shaking hand.“I’m going to call him right now.”
Paul didn’t argue, though he doubted she had service.This area was a dead zone for cellular roaming.
The kid in the car seat peered at him.“Are you a monster?”
“No,” he said easily.“I’m Paul Murphy.”
The woman made an attempt to call her brother.Even in the dim light, he could see how beautiful she was.She had an oval-shaped face, luminous brown eyes, and delicate features.Although she appeared frightened, she stood her ground.Her figure was even better from the front.He stayed quiet and tried not to stare.Unable to connect her call, she dropped her arm and regarded him warily.
“I’m Vanessa Nava,” she said.“I have a reservation for Cabin8.”
“Cabin 8?”
“Yes.”
Paul touched the center of his chest.“I’m in Cabin8.”
“Were you in the shower just now?”
“I was.”
She studied him with trepidation, perhaps wondering why he’d gone from showering to prowling around in the dark in the space of two minutes.He offered no explanation.What reasonable excuse was there?
“I paid a deposit,” she said.“It’s non-refundable.”
Paul fumbled for relevant details.“The property changed hands recently.It also sustained tornado damage.I’m remodeling both cabins.”
“You’re kidding.”
“No.”
The child kicked restlessly.“I have to go potty!”
Paul fell silent again.He felt self-conscious and on edge, seething with negative energy.This pretty brunette was no threat to him, and neither was her kid.Even so, he needed them to go away as soon as possible.
Vanessa plucked the toddler from the car seat.Her body language communicated annoyance now, rather than fear.“Can my daughter use your bathroom?”
“It’s a ’mergency,” the girl said.
He wanted to say no.This was an emergency for him, too—a mental health emergency.Since the incident in Houston, he couldn’t be around kids without panicking.Motherswith kids were even worse.Vanessa Nava gave him an impatient look that warned of trouble to come.He considered telling her the toilet didn’t work, but she’d just heard him in the shower.She knew he had a functional bathroom, and she was determined to use it.In his agitated state, he couldn’t think of a polite way to refuse.
“Please,” Vanessa said.“We’ve been in the car all day.”
Paul waved a hand toward the cabin.He could endure the presence of two harmless strangers for five minutes.“Go on in.”
She nodded her thanks and hurried forward with the child in her arms.She glanced at his bare feet as she passed by him.It was an off-hand perusal, and she didn’t wrinkle her nose in disgust, but he felt awkward and uncouth.Bits of grass and dirt covered his toes.He’d dressed in haste, without drying off after his shower.The cargo shorts and T-shirt clung to his damp skin.His neck heated with discomfort.
“I’ll stay out here,” he said gruffly.
Vanessa opened the screen door and headed inside.Paul sat down on the front step, his heart still racing.Another Bob Marley song started playing.The chill vibe he’d been chasing remained elusive.Maybe he should have taken those edibles his brother recommended.Clearly, he couldn’t relax without assistance.
He considered retrieving his firearm from its hiding place, and transferring it to a more secure location, but he didn’t move.He didn’t want to get caught with the gun in his hand again.The last time he’d drawn the weapon, he’d used it with deadly force.Renewed tension crept into his muscles as he blocked out the memories.It was a chore to stay calm, to keep his mind clear.The ghosts of Houston lurked in every corner.
Paul counted down from ten, and focused on the present.It dawned on him that the voice he’d heard earlier belonged to her.He’d left the door open, and she’d walked right in.He was lucky she hadn’t startled him while he was armed.His blood ran cold at the thought.
What if he’dfiredat her?Jesus Christ.
