Rising from the bed, she studied the rest of the room.It was small, with a single dresser and a nightstand.The only window looked out into the trees behind the cabins.She appreciated the natural light that filtered through the open slats of wooden blinds, and the fully functional air-conditioning unit, which rattled slightly as it worked.
Yes, this was better than camping.Far better.
She went in search of Emily, who’d settled into the beanbag chair with Penelope.She’d found the remote control.The television screen glowed with life as she pushed random buttons.“I want Disney Plus.”
Vanessa took the controller from her and experimented with it until she located a streaming service.She let Emily choose an animated movie.Then she grabbed her keys and walked toward the door.
“I’m going to unpack the car.Stay here.”
“Yes, Mommy.”
Vanessa smiled at Emily’s dutiful manner, which came and went like the wind blowing.She was strong-willed and stubborn one minute, sweet as sugar the next.Vanessa would never understand Bennett’s lack of interest in his own daughter.The dollar signs in his eyes had obliterated his ability to see anything else.
She brought in all of their belongings, including the mesh laundry bag.
“Do you mind if I wash Penelope?”Vanessa asked.
Emily, who was watching her movie with sleepy eyes, handed the doll over.She stuck two fingers in her mouth.
Vanessa hauled the laundry bag toward the washer and dryer at the end of the hallway.It was a cramped space with a bare lightbulb and a string hanging from the ceiling.Vanessa opened the lid of the washing machine and found it half full of washed clothes.She removed Paul’s items and tossed them into the dryer before starting her own load.
She ducked into the restroom, where there was more evidence of Paul in the form of a damp towel.She’d speculated about him sleeping in the nude, but that was just conjecture.Here, it was a given.Everyone showered naked.Paul had showered within the hour.He’d used this towel to dry off.She pictured the white terrycloth draped around his waist as he shaved.She imagined him dragging the fabric over his hot, wet body.
“Stop it,” she told her reflection in the mirror.“You’re obsessing.”
She didn’t touch the towel, but she wanted to.She also wanted to touch herself, to take the edge off her arousal.Her own words floated back to her, the boast she’d made to Paul about vibrators.They did give a reliable experience.Pleasure was practically guaranteed.But there was no substitute for a real man with a rock-hard body and a wicked mouth.She bit down on her lower lip as she studied her reflection.
She looked as wild as she felt.Her mascara was smudged, her ponytail was off-center, and her eyes glittered with desperation.She yanked the towel off the rack, stormed out of the bathroom, and threw it down the hall at the washing machine.
“Don’t you dare,” she said to the towel, as if the thing might come to life and fly back into the bathroom to taunt her.
“Who are you talking to, Mommy?”Emily asked from the living room.
“No one,” Vanessa replied.Then: “Penelope.”
Emily accepted this answer without argument.Vanessa curled up on the couch with her laptop and tried to study for her PT exams.Memories of the Scrabble game with Paul floated back to her.She remembered the naughty words he’d played, and her lips curved into a smile.Then she reminded herself about his cutting remarks and standoffish behavior.He’d been unforgivably rude.He’d lied about the Wi-Fi.
Despite multiple offenses, she wasn’t angry with him.She’d won the cabin, and that made a big difference.The score between them was settled.She would be polite to him.Could she overlook his flaws in order to use him for sex?Maybe.
Was it a good idea?Definitely not.
Vanessa heard the dryer stop tumbling, so she gave up on studying and rose to her feet.Emily had fallen asleep on the beanbag chair.Vanessa removed Paul’s warm clothes and folded them quickly, including his boxer shorts.His jeans were a bit damp, and had something in the back pocket.Vanessa slipped her hand inside and found a business card.
Kyle McPherson, Criminal Investigations.Houston PD.
On the opposite side, a phone number was scrawled in blue ink.The number had faded in the wash.She returned the card to the pocket of the jeans carefully.Maybe she should tell Jackson.If Paul was being investigated, that was another compelling reason to steer clear of him.She’d had her fill of shady men.
Vanessa transferred her own laundry into the dryer, sans Penelope.She put the doll out in the sun to dry.Then she inspected the kitchen, which was clean and well stocked.The fridge had a variety of drinks and food items.She was looking for spices when she heard the rumble of Paul’s truck engine.
She walked toward the screen door and watched him unload his truck.He strode back and forth from the cabin next door with armfuls of bedding and supplies.He was wearing faded blue jeans, a green T-shirt with a fishing logo, and the well-worn cowboy hat.She thought about his gunshot wound and the way he evaded personal questions.Something niggled at the edge of her mind, like a puzzle piece that didn’t fit.
On his third trip from the cabin, he reached across the bed of the truck and stopped short.He winced, rotating his left shoulder in a futile attempt at relief.The repetitive, grating action would only cause him more discomfort.Vanessa wasn’t aware she was moving until she heard the screen door slap against the doorframe behind her.
When he noticed her presence, he let his arm drop to his side and leaned his forearms against his truck in a casual gesture that didn’t fool her.His hat disguised the glint of his ash-brown hair and dimmed the signature blue of his eyes.
“I know you’re in pain,” she said.“I can show you an exercise that will help you increase your range of motion and reduce soreness.”
His jaw tightened as he considered her offer.Instead of accepting, he continued unpacking.She followed him into Cabin7.He’d stacked his purchases against the far wall, on a dusty section of tile floor.
