Page 36 of Passion in Bloom

Chapter 12

Roarke

I didn’t get in manyfights. There was never any reason to. When I found out about Veronica’s deception and all the events that led up to our inevitable divorce, I didn’t fight that man she had an affair with. I saw no point in fighting for something that wasn’t mine to care about anymore. She’d shown her true colors. She’ given me a clear sign that she wasn’t concerned about our relationship, so I checked out too.

Heather and I weren’t in anything of a relationship, but I was triggered—instantly—to defend her name and confront the jerk who had no business hanging around here in Burton just to bother her.

And that had to be it. The smug asshole couldn’t be planning to stay here for good.

Since I’d already asked for a day off from work, just for the hell of it since I had vacation time to burn through, I made the most of my time by running to the store and stocking up on what I could. Nevaeh had burned through most of my groceries. She could. I bought things I was willing to share with her, but it rubbed me the wrong way that she broke in, helped herself to whatever she wanted, left stuff out to spoil instead of putting it back in the fridge, and didn’t clean a damn thing. I was no Mr. Perfect, but that was just rude. Irresponsible.

After I loaded up a cart, I stood in line to check out. Jerry, the town’s conman, happened to be standing in front of me, talking on his phone.

“Well, yeah. I do have a couple of places. And I know of an apartment that’ll be open soon.” He listened to whoever was on the other end, then huffed. “No. It’s a fact. David said he wouldn’t want to be staying around here for long.”

David? I perked up at the mention of that fucker’s name. He had to be renting something close.

Once he hung up, I got his attention. “What was that all about?”

He rolled his eyes. “Nothing.”

“Are you trying to hook David Kenning up with a place to stay?”

He looked me up and down, smirking. “Maybe I am, maybe I’m not.” Then with a wicked smile, he taunted me further, saying, “Why? Are you spoiling for another fight already?”

I shook my head, not interested in talking to him about that. All I cared about was how poorly David was listening to me. I wanted him gone. I wanted Heather to be comfortable and not harassed. If the asshole was looking for a place to rent in town, then he must have gotten it into his head to plan on staying as long as it took to make her bend to his will.

I didn’t need him to be digging his heels in and really sticking around to bother her. With the holidays coming up, I hoped he’d be going soon enough, traveling for celebrating with family or whatnot. That didn’t seem likely now.

After I paid for my things, I dropped my stuff off at my cabin. Then I drove to Todd’s house. I wasn’t sure if his property was a rental or something he owned. It may or may not have been included within the ranch’s property lines. Since Todd had worked for the Grand River for almost sixty years, I was sure they gave him plenty of benefits and perks, maybe including this house on the other side of the land.

He was always off on alternating Tuesdays during these slower months of the fall and winter, and I was in luck to see him at home.

He tipped his chin in greeting as he rocked on a chair set to the corner of his front porch. “Well, lookie who it is. The champion fighter.” He made a couple of fists, pretending to box.

I shrugged.

“What’d he say?”

“It was the principle of it,” I replied, climbing the steps.

He nodded. “Yeah. I hear you. If I was a few years younger, I woulda done the same thing. Assholes like him need to be put in their place.”

“About that,” I said. “I don’t like the idea of David staying around here for long. It sounds like he’s going to rent an apartment in town.”

He scowled. “All to get his girl back?”

“Heather insists that she’s not his girl.”

“All right.”

I sighed, shoving my hands into my pockets. “What can we do?”

“Do?”

“Yeah. What can we do about the security at the cabins?”

He exhaled a long breath. “We already put them trail cams up on the road.”