Page 76 of Extended Bridge

For his part, Bennett’s mouth drops open as he watches me from the chair

“Michelle did the graffiti. I’m sure of it.” I resume pacing. “She always was great at art, even went to college for it. I remember her trying to make a splash in the New York City art scene when we were in school. Her failure brought her back to Aroostook?—”

Court completes my sentence. “Where she’s the receptionist for a doctor.”

“Your mother mentioned something about this to me.” Bennett runs his hand through his hair. “Shit. She’s crazier than I had pegged her.”

Nerves inside my body chase each other. How can we leverage this truth against her? “Too bad we can’t do the same against her.”

“She’s not the owner of her business,” Court reminds me.

“I know.” Think, Jenna, there has to be a way to trap her . . . I have to get her back somehow. “Hey, Court, do the police have any leads?”

“No. I handed over our alarm footage, but whoever did this—I mean, Michelle—was careful to stay out of the camera’s range.”

Bennett asks, “How about the graffiti itself?”

His question forces me to bring up the ugly photo again. Sitting next to him, we both examine every square inch. “It would’ve been too easy,” he chuckles, “If she put her initials by the spider, huh?”

Both Court and I laugh. Bennett managed to break the tense standoff from a few minutes ago. Grin still across my cheeks, I face the man in front of me. I mouth, “Thank you.”

He blows me a kiss.

“Oh rats,” Court says. “The police are coming up the walk. I better run. I’ll keep you posted.”

“You better.” The line goes dead.

Green eyes bore into me. “I don’t want you doing that again.”

“What? Talking with Court?”

He waves his hand. “No, of course you have to keep on top of your business. I mean, don’t ever leave me alone in my bed. I turned over to find your side cold and empty.” He crosses his arms.

“I woke up and couldn’t fall back asleep.” Honestly, I didn’t try. “I didn’t want to disturb you. You looked so peaceful.”

“You know what didn’t look peaceful?” His finger circles his face. “Waking up solo.”

My head tilts. “So you’d want me to stay in bed, while fully awake mind you, so that you don’t wake up alone? You know that makes you sound like a child. Or a serial killer.”

“Or someone desperately in love with a woman who seems to be slipping through my fingers.”

“Oh.”

He hooks his fingers into my waistband and drags me against his bare chest. My heart screams at me to admit how I’m feeling, but I can’t quiet my thoughts about how Lissa’s trying to torpedo Bennett’s career. And Michelle’s putting a wrecking ball to my business.

Into my neck, Bennett says, “I have to do my PT before meetingwith the band to hammer out the details about our speech to tonight’s audience.”

“During your meeting, I need to work up a press release for At Your Service PT.” My fingers run down his back. “I’m ready to start when you are.”

“Sweetheart, I’m always ready to start.”

I giggle. “I meant your physical therapy, Rock Star.”

“Can’t blame a guy for trying!”

I smack his chest, enjoying the banter. Still, my worries about Michelle and Lissa are never far from my mind.

Chapter Nineteen

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