“Then we’re at a stalemate.”
Paul leaned in closer.“You look like you’ve hit a rough patch.You’re about to hit another one.”
“Are you threatening me?”
“I’m trying to help you stay out of trouble,” Paul said.“You’re scared and desperate, and that’s unfortunate, but coming here was a mistake.Don’t involve her in whatever mess you’re in.Just go.”
Bennett studied him with narrowed eyes.“You must be her latest conquest.Men always did fall at her feet.”
“Maybe you didn’t hear me.I said get the fuck out.”
“I heard you,” Bennett said, and strolled down the steps.“Au revoir.”
Paul wanted to kick his ass just for that pretentious goodbye, but he restrained himself.The best course of action was to warn Vanessa that her ex was in town.After coming all this way, Paul doubted the man would give up and go home.As soon as Bennett drove away, Paul walked inside to get his phone.His call to Vanessa went straight to voicemail, so he wrote a quick text.It didn’t go through.
“She blocked me,” he said, staring at his screen.Unbelievable.
Paul considered calling the local police department to get in touch with her father or brother.He had no idea if they were on duty, however, and Bennett hadn’t done anything illegal by attempting to contact her.He hadn’t issued a threat.Vanessa didn’t have a restraining order against him, as far as Paul knew.
After a moment’s indecision, Paul put his phone away, locked both cabins, and climbed into his truck.She wouldn’t accept his calls?Fine.He’d deliver the message in person.
Twenty minutes later, he was standing in front of her father’s house.Her SUV was parked in the driveway.Tension vibrated through him while he knocked on the door.She might have informed her family about his secret identity.He steeled himself for a confrontation with two protective, pissed-off cops.
Jackson opened the door with his usual, relaxed expression.Paul wasn’t fooled by it.“Murphy,” he said in greeting.“What can I do for you?”
“I need to talk to Vanessa.”
“She’s not available.”
Paul squinted at him.“Can you relay a message?”
“Why don’t you call her?”
“She blocked me.”
Jackson stepped outside and pulled the door shut behind him.He spoke in a low, conspiratorial tone.“When a woman blocks you, it means she doesn’t want to speak to you.If you’re confused about that, I can help straighten you out.”
Paul let out a humorless laugh.Jackson was offering to straighten him out with a tussle in the front yard.The veiled threat reminded him of the one Paul had issued to Bennett.Vanessa’s brother might not be an experienced officer, but he understood how to use intimidation tactics.“I just saw Bennett.”
Jackson’s brows rose.“Where?”
“He came to the cabin and asked for Vanessa.”
“Did you tell him anything?”
“Yeah.I told him to fuck off.”
Jackson scanned the street.“What’s he driving?”
Paul gave a description of the vehicle, including the license plate number.“He looked like he’d been roughed up a little.”
Jackson pulled his phone from his pocket and texted the information to someone, probably his father.Paul approved of this action.Local police should be on the lookout for Bennett, even if he hadn’t committed any crimes here.
“He knew she’d reserved the cabin,” Paul added.“He’s tracking her somehow.”
“He’s always been clever with technology,” Jackson said.
“Don’t let her go anywhere alone.”
