Coop’s gaze snapped to hers. Suddenly he knew they were thinking the same thing—David.
Her ex visits, and right after that someone decides to terrorize her? He figured that was one hell of a coincidence, and apparently she felt the same. He should have realized that she wouldn’t shy away from it. “I wondered the same.”
She shrugged. “I’d have a hard time believing it.”
“I know.”
“I don’t want to believe it.”
He could understand that, especially since the visit had ended well, and she’d felt so good about it.
“But I also don’t want your property further damaged, so I think I should share everything.”
Though he agreed, her motivation pissed him off. “Daron already repaired the doors.”
Gibb added, “The place is locked up again.” He finished his tea. “What other possibility are we talking about?”
Coop continued to watch, silently encouraging. Now that she’d brought it up, he’d prefer to let her share what she wanted about her ex and their backstory.
She looked away first, her entire demeanor composed.
His pride expanded.
“David is my ex. Before I moved here, we were engaged.” She paused. “But I ended things.”
“And he’s bitter?” Gibb guessed.
“Actually, no. He has every reason to be, but he came by this morning and he was super nice.”
It was subtle, but Coop saw Gibb go on alert. “He came here?”
“Yes.”
“So he knew where you were?”
She shook her head. “I’ve posted photos on social media and he saw them.”
Gibb considered that, then nodded. “Go on.”
“David said he’s found someone else and moved on. He’s happy now and he hopes I’m happy, too.”
“That’s why he came? To tell you that?”
“Yes.” Phoenix traced the top of her tea glass, her gaze averted a moment before she turned to Gibb again. “But it seems a little convenient that he was here, that he was so incredibly nice about everything...” She bit her lip. “It could seem surprising to most that he’d care enough for me that he wouldn’t want me to feel guilty, even though he’s in love with another woman now.”
Damn right it was “surprising,” Coop thought, but he didn’t say it aloud.
“Hmm,” Gibb said, being noncommittal. “Does he live in the same place?”
“He said he moved out of the house we chose together. He has it up for sale.” She frowned. “I’m not sure where he’s living now, though. Maybe with his new girlfriend.”
“Is his phone number the same?” Gibb asked.
“Should be.”
“Why don’t you try calling him? You can tell him what happened today, ask him if he saw anyone hanging around—we’ll see how he reacts.”
Looking very unconvinced, but still agreeable, Phoenix got out her phone and dialed David.
Coop noticed that, while she didn’t have him in her contacts, she still knew the number by heart.
“Hi,” she said, a small frown in place, and then uncertainly, “Is David there? Oh. Oh, I’m sorry.” After disconnecting, she checked the number she’d called. “That’s weird. I had the right number...”
“So it’s changed?” Coop asked.
“Apparently.” She seemed to think about it, then shook her head. “But I still find it hard to believe David would try to scare me. He’s not that way.”
“Is he the type to seek you out, just to tell you to move on and be happy?” Gibb asked.
She gave him a wry smile. “Let’s just say I believed him when he said it. He was—is—a nice guy. Everyone likes him.”
They were all silent a moment, then Gibb stood. “Thank you for dinner.” He grinned at Coop. “You’re a good cook.”
“He really is,” Phoenix agreed with her own smile.
Coop stood too, his frustration extreme.
At the door, Gibb paused. “If you’re interested, I have an idea.”
“Let’s hear it.” At this point, Coop was willing to try just about anything.
Gibb turned his hat in his hands, then gave all his attention to Phoenix. “You say your ex found you because of social media. That goes both ways, right? You could try looking him up, see if you can figure out where he’s staying, who he might be staying with.”
“Oh, absolutely,” she said. “I should be able to find him on Facebook, Instagram, maybe even SnapChat.”
Unless he’d canceled everything, Coop thought, and that would be telling.
“I need to get back to work. But reach out to him and let me know how it goes.”
Phoenix agreed, but reiterated again that she wasn’t accusing David of anything.
While she talked with Gibb, Coop was thinking of another way social media might help.
He had the perfect trap in mind—but it’d be better if he didn’t mention it yet.
*
Baxter stared down at Ridley while she slept. It amused him that she hadn’t removed her makeup, and now she looked like a raccoon. And her hair, all that glorious mink streaked with red, looked like a rat’s nest and yet somehow it made her even sexier.
Even asleep, she had attitude, her brows slightly pinched, her hand beside her face curled into a fist as if she might battle someone in her dreams.
If she’d let him, he’d do that for her.
She turned to her back, stretching with a low groan, one rosy nipple peeking out from beneath the sheet before she settled again with a sigh.
Baxter didn’t move, content to just look at her, remembering how she’d snuggled next to him last night, surprising him.
And then they’d both passed out.
So much for his plans of having her again and again, of impressing her with his stamina and expertise. He silently snorted to himself.
She’d impressed him.
It was a neat trick, how she balanced her abrasive manner with the unconditional love of a devoted sister, the wildness of her passion with her cuddly nature.
And she was afraid of bugs.
He smiled, liking that human weakness.
Unable to resist, he caught the sheet in two fingers and very slowly drew it down until both her breasts showed, then her smooth belly, over her hips and the neatly trimmed triangle of hair, down to her knees.
She had a beautiful body.
A challenging demeanor.
A sexual drive that rivaled his own.
Mentally listing her assets meant he was already too involved, but he couldn’t make himself care. Ridley Rose was the type of woman who’d make a long-term sexual relationship worthwhile—emphasis on the sexual. Today he’d explain things to her. With any luck, she’d agree with him.
Just then, her bluer-than-blue eyes popped open. She stared blankly at the ceiling, almost with dread, before letting her gaze slide over to him.
Baxter smiled and cupped the breast closest to him. “You could patent this look.”
She swallowed.
“Sleep-rumpled sexy. That’s what I’d call it. Thing is, I’m not sure any other woman could pull it off the way you do.”
Her mouth flattened, then a glittering look of retribution entered those amazing eyes. “What,” she growled in a grumpy morning voice, “are you still doing in my bed?”
“Enjoying the view, naturally.”
Her face went blank, her head lifted to see her naked body, and he expected her to scramble.
Of course, she surprised him.
She dropped back to the pillow and said in vague complaint, “Perv.”
“Come again?”
“I might.” She glanced at him, then stretched luxuriously—no doubt to make him react.
Which he did.
“First, though, I have to pee.”
He grinned. “Yeah, me, too.”
She came up on one elbow, leg bent in a classic pose as old as time. “And I’d prefer to brush my teeth.”
He liked this playful side of her. No surprise there. He pretty much liked everything about her. “If you insist.”
She leaned over him...but only to see the clock. “I have half an hour. How good are you at quickies?”
Baxter caught her hips. “You’ve yet to see my long game. Now hustle it up.”
The way she climbed over him was enough to stop his heart. He watched the sensual sway of her hips as she disappeared into the hall bath through the connecting door in the bedroom. While she was gone, he found his shorts and removed the small, clip-on sprayer he had attached to the belt.