Page 63 of Mountain Man Officer

“Stick around for a bit, and we’ll go home together,” I urged.

“What am I gonna do for a couple hours?” She sighed.

“Here.” I pulled out my wallet and handed over a credit card. “Go grab Ava before she leaves and get some coffee at the diner. I’m sure she needs you right now.”

She looked at the card, thinking it over.

“Please,” I said. “It’s important. I don’t want you to go back to the cabin alone until I can talk to you.”

She inhaled, finally smiling. She took the card and walked out the door, flagging down Ava’s car before her friend drove away. I felt some tension wash out of my chest, knowing that Lindsey would be safe. I turned back to the policemen I worked with and began issuing orders.

Ipicked Lindsey up at the diner when I was all through. It had been a long but productive day. I slid into the booth beside my girlfriend, putting my head down on her shoulder.

“Aww,” Ava crooned from across the table.

Lindsey patted my head like a puppy. I slid an arm around her middle and squeezed. She removed my hand with a surprised squeak, placating me with a platonic kiss on the cheek. What was going on with her? I helped myself to leftovers from her plate before pulling her to her feet. I walked her to her car, promising to be right behind her as she sped off toward home.

Fifteen minutes later, we were both pulling up to the cabin. I had spent a good deal of time cleaning, and the interior looked presentable. I had flipped the slashed couch cushions, righted the love seat, and repotted Lindsey’s plant. We put new sheets and blankets on the beds, rescued what we could from the toilet and the sinks and picked up all the loose clothes. It seemed like Lindsey’s stuff had been targeted more than mine, for obvious reasons. I had to tell Lindsey the truth, and I wasn’t looking forward to it.

When we got inside, she looked around with aching eyes. The memory of the mess was still fresh in her mind, and the pain of infiltration haunted her. I grabbed two beers from the fridge and handed one over.

“My wife is in town,” I said without preamble.

Lindsey surprised me by nodding. “I think I might know who she is.”

“Really?” I tossed my beer cap on the kitchen island and took a sip.

“I was in the grocery store looking for cake ingredients, and there was this strange woman who came up to me out of nowhere. She said I shouldn’t bake you a cake because, quote, ‘men don’t appreciate that shit.’”

I nodded. That had probably been Angie.

“Then I saw her again in the salon,” Lindsey said.

“She came to your salon?” This was worse than I thought. Not only had Angie trashed my house, but she was stalking my girlfriend.

Lindsey nodded. “I thought there was something off about her. She kept staring at me.”

I walked over to the kitchen and set my beer down.

“She’s a brunette now, just so you know.” Lindsey followed me, not bothering to uncap her own drink. “I dyed her hair.”

“Why didn’t you tell me about this?” I asked.

“I’m supposed to tell you about every strange customer I get?” she retorted.

“There are more?”

“No,” she said, clearly annoyed. “Do you think she’s the one who trashed our cabin?”

I nodded my confirmation. “I’m sorry.”

“Why didn’t you tell me that yesterday?”

“I didn’t want to upset you,” I said.

“Well it’s too late for that, because I’m upset,” she snapped. “Don’t call me out for keeping secrets when you do the same.”

I opened my mouth to apologize again, but she set her drink down, unopened, and pivoted toward her room. I watched her go, watched that lovely backside disappear down the hallway. We wouldn’t be sleeping together tonight. I heard the loud thump of her bedroom door swinging shut and sighed. Love was the spice of life, but things would certainly be easier without it. Instead of pushing the issue, I decided to give Lindsey her space. I finished off my beer, grabbed hers, and headed for my own room to watch TV.

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