He appeared skeptical of her answer, but he didn’t press for more information.With a polite nod, he turned on his heel and walked away.Vanessa stared after him in irritation.For some reason, his abrupt departure offended her.She hadn’t wanted their sparring session to end like this.She hadn’t wanted it to end at all.
Damn it.
On impulse, she raised her hand and flipped the bird at his back.He glanced over his shoulder at that exact moment and caught her in the act.Instead of taking offense, he laughed.As he ascended the steps to the cabin, she noted the play of muscles in his back, and the surprising grace of his large body.
She dropped her arm, flushing.
“What does that mean, Mommy?”
Vanessa turned her attention to Emily, who’d attempted to imitate the rude gesture.She didn’t have the manual dexterity for the task.“It means a bad word.It’s not nice.”
“You say bad words.”
“Yes.”
“Are you nice?”
Instead of answering, Vanessa climbed into the back seat.She was too tired for parenting paradoxes.She covered them both with Emily’s favorite blanket, a dark blue flannel adorned with stars.The little girl yawned and snuggled against her.Vanessa’s heart swelled with love for her daughter, who was truly the light of her life.She couldn’t regret her marriage to Bennett, disastrous as it had been, because Emily gave her so much joy and contentment.She gave Vanessa a reason to get up every morning.
Vanessa placed a kiss on her daughter’s sweet little head and tried to calm her mind.She was accustomed to less than eight hours of rest, and she doubted she could relax enough to sleep in the vehicle.It felt good to lie down, however.It felt good to be back in Lost Lake, where she could start over.
She anticipated a swarm of insects, or some other nuisance, to disturb her slumber.Instead, the ambiance was pleasant.The air was warm, with a light breeze that drifted through the open windows.The yoga mat beneath her back was high-quality and supportive.Her thoughts remained troubled, despite the relative comfort and peaceful setting.
The divorce from Bennett had left her strapped for cash.Although she’d been sensible with her money, his debts had drowned them both.She couldn’t afford another summer rental in this area, and it was too late in the season to find a decent alternative.If she didn’t get the cabin, they’d have to rough it at the campground, or go to some run-down hotel in a different city.Jackson would probably grill her about her finances until she admitted she was broke.Then he’d suggest that she come home and make amends with their father.
Vanessa sighed, closing her eyes.Ideas floated around in her mind like fireflies.She entertained a vague fantasy of taking Paul captive, shackling his wrists and removing him from her cabin.Then, half dreaming, she imagined doing other things with him.Pleasurable things she hadn’t done in far too long.
At last exhaustion overtook her, and she slept.
Chapter Four
Paul woke atdawn, his heart racing with panic.
He clutched at the center of his T-shirt and took steady breaths, willing himself to calm.A light coat of sweat dampened his skin.There was no nightmare, no flashback, no specific reason for his distress.The ache in his shoulder, while constant, had not worsened as he slept.He didn’t feel unsafe, just unsettled.
He’d had several mornings like this since his shoulder surgery.He’d bolted upright with his mind blank and his body locked in fight-or-flight mode.Once he’d jumped out of bed and started swinging at a nonexistent enemy.It was a natural reaction, he supposed, to a life-threatening injury.The orthopedic specialist had recommended physical therapy.Paul had made an appointment with a local office, but he wasn’t looking forward to getting poked and prodded or twisted into a pretzel.
He let go of his damp shirt and waited until his pulse returned to normal.Then he rose from the bed, pulled on a fresh set of clothes, and prepared to start his day.A glance out the window revealed that his unwanted guests hadn’t left.He dragged a hand down his face.No wonder he was on edge.He couldn’t believe Vanessa Nava had slept outdoors like a vagrant.The fact that she had a young child made her choice even more ineffable.
Paul scrambled eggs and made coffee, feeling surly.He hoped she wouldn’t ask to use his bathroom again.He’d been unforgivably rude last night, and she hadn’t batted an eyelash.She wasn’t intimidated by his bad attitude.
How did you get injured?
He wasn’t sure how she’d known.Maybe he moved stiffly, with unnatural gestures.He’d come here on strict orders to lay low and recuperate.He didn’t need any scrutiny from Deputy Nava or his friends in law enforcement.Paul also couldn’t afford to have his nerves shredded by a stunning brunette and her kid.These stray females had to go.He drank his coffee, paced the living room, and waited for her to clear out.
She didn’t clear out.About an hour into his surveillance, she exited the back of her vehicle and stretched her arms over her head.She was wearing the same clothes she’d arrived in last night—a basic tank top and black leggings.She did some yoga poses, bending sideways and forward.He couldn’t tear his gaze away from her curvy body.She was a knockout, to be sure, but he’d seen beautiful women before.He’d dated a few of them, and this one wasn’t his type.She had a ton of baggage, literally.Her SUV was packed full of stuff.Maybe she was planning to stay all summer.
While he watched, his jaw clenched, her daughter climbed from the cab and joined her.The little girl stood barefoot on the grass with a doll clutched under one arm and two fingers thrust in her mouth.When the mother gave her an instruction, she shook her head in refusal.Vanessa crossed her arms over her chest, her expression stern.After a brief exchange, the girl sat down on the ground.She allowed shoes to be placed on her restless feet.Then she rose and took her mother’s hand.
Paul braced himself for another knock at his door and request to use the bathroom.Instead they walked away from the cabin, toward the campground.
They were leaving.Finally.
He drained his coffee cup and rinsed it in the sink, feeling oddly empty.She hadn’t taken her car, which meant she planned to return to the area, but at least they hadn’t darkened his doorstep again.He made a grumbling sound, like a harrumph, and wondered when he’d turned into his grandpa.
This situation was his own fault.He shouldn’t have lied to her about the Wi-Fi.He’d assumed she would go away if inconvenienced.He hadn’t wanted to call the owner of the duplex at such a late hour.He paced the living room, frowning.She’d denied having car trouble.She could be out of gas, or out of funds.Annoyed by the thought, he waited for her to reappear.Twenty minutes later, she returned with her daughter.
Go, he silently implored them.Drive away.
