“Great,” he lied.
She made a skeptical sound.The fact that she saw right through him didn’t speak well for his deception skills.The funny thing was, he’d always had a strong poker face.He was as expressionless as stone.
She scanned his face, his torso, and the breadth of his shoulders.She didn’t find him lacking on a physical level.He could tell when a woman wanted him.The way she’d responded to his kiss proved the attraction between them wasn’t one-sided.But that didn’t mean she would let him get close to her again.They weren’t destined for a passionate summer fling, and that was a damned shame, because she was the only thing he’d cared about in months.She made him feel alive.He wanted to channel that feeling, to put his arms around her and savor every moment in her presence.
Unfortunately, he didn’t have much to offer.He didn’t even have a bed.Now who was the vagrant?
He choked back a sardonic laugh and removed the key from his pocket.She held out her palm to accept it.Their eyes met during the exchange, and a stupid thrill traveled through him, as if they’d just arranged a secret rendezvous.
Paul dragged his gaze away.
“Do you want some time to gather your things?”she asked.
“I have one bag,” he said.“It’s already packed.”
“Are you trying to guilt-trip me?”
“I wouldn’t dream of it.”
“Good, because you’ve had no qualms about letting us rough it out here.”
Paul didn’t argue, though he’d had plenty of qualms, and she’d roughed it bychoice.“The Wi-Fi code is next to the coffeemaker.”
Her mouth dropped open.“What?”
“The code—”
“You lied about not having Wi-Fi?”
“Yes.”
“Wow.You are unbelievable.”
“I’ll be around if you need anything else.”
“I won’t,” she said in a scathing tone.
He gave her a jaunty salute and strolled away.He heard Emily chattering to her mother about Penelope’s adventures with the lemon pirates.Vanessa probably didn’t appreciate him filling her daughter’s head with more nonsense.The little girl was fanciful enough without encouragement from strangers.
Paul smiled to himself as he returned to his truck.His chest ached pleasantly, and it wasn’t from muscle tenderness or healing tissue.It was affection.
Making a sound of disbelief, he wrenched open the door and slid into the driver’s seat.Instead of starting the engine, he rested his forearms on the wheel and hung his head.He couldn’t torture himself by imagining a future with Vanessa.He was in limbo, personally and professionally.It wasn’t a good time to develop a schoolboy crush.And yet, here he was, getting all tied up in knots over a single mom with a sassy mouth and a ton of baggage.Kyle had told him to stop torturing himself.Easier said than done.
The next few weeks were going to be hell.She would probably wear that skimpy bikini all day, every day.She’d swim and sunbathe and eat hot dogs without a hint of self-consciousness.
Paul lifted his head, sighing.He’d survived worse trials than wanting a woman he couldn’t have.So what if she flaunted her beautiful body?He would enjoy the view, as Kyle had instructed.
His brother’s good news had positive repercussions.The threat from Houston was greatly reduced now that one of the victims was expected to live.This meant the suspect could avoid a murder charge, and would be less inclined to eliminate witnesses—like Paul.He wasn’t going to move back to the city yet, but things were looking up.He wouldn’t be stuck in this limbo forever.Just for the summer.
Instead of moping around the cabin, he fired up his truck and headed toward Lost Lake.He needed to buy some supplies for the cabin.There were a number of shopping centers downtown.He pulled into the parking lot at the nearest mega-mart and tugged his cowboy hat low on his forehead.
Kyle was coming to visit him in a few days.They would both have to sleep on the unfinished floor in Cabin7, so he went in search of bedding.He found camping mats, pillows and light blankets.While he was there, he selected a set of new sheets for Cabin8.Then he moved on to the sporting goods section, where he loaded up on fishing gear.He’d bought a boat for a reason.He had a vast lake to explore and an entire summer to do it.He didn’t need to stay near the cabin, mooning over Vanessa Nava or telling stories to her kid.Why hang out with a couple of females who turned every moment into high drama?
He would cruise the lake and enjoy his solitude.
Chapter Thirteen
As soon asPaul left, Vanessa drove to the cabin with Emily.
