“Right, now I know.” He sneered at her. “Are there any other surprises you have forme?”
“No. It’s all outnow.”
“How about when you stayed at my cabin—without my permission, I mightadd.”
“You’d given me a key, and you were away.” She tilted her head and curled her lip. “I needed a place to stay, and I was carrying your baby. I felt I wasjustified.”
“Maybe.” He ground his teeth as the knot in his stomach grew. “Did you also feel justified in burning my cabindown?”
“You think I burned it down?” Linx’s eyebrows shot up and she jabbed a finger at him. “See what I mean? You always think the worst of me. You think I’m evil, don’tyou?”
“I’m asking you a question. Just like you asked me about Salem and her baby.” Grady’s head throbbed with a splitting headache, but he couldn’t let her denials derail him. “Answer it without all the hysterics. Did you burn down mycabin?”
“No. I would never burn it down or hurtCedar.”
Despite his rage, relief swarmed over him. Of course, he didn’t believe she would have done such a heinous thing as to hurt adog.
“Right, I believe you,” he finallyadmitted.
“Then why did you accuse me?” She threw up her hands and made an exasperatednoise.
“Just clearing the decks. Anything else before Ileave?”
“You’re leaving?” Her voice stuttered, but she quickly regained control. “Nothing else. We’re even. I effed with you and you effed with me. We’re both psychopaths and we don’t even deserve eachother.”
“Right, so this is goodbye.” He gave her a mocksalute.
“Pretty much.” Linx pursed her lips so tight, her jaw wrinkled. “Thanks for leaving Cedar withme.”
The dog, who had been slinking around during their altercation, perked up and wagged her tail, looking at Grady with an unsureexpression.
“You’re a good girl.” He patted her, soothing the worry off her face. “Thebest.”
He opened the door, and Linx didn’t stophim.
His feet felt like they were mired in wet concrete, and his heart was crushed under asteamroller.
He was the lonely man, a rolling stone, stripped bare and clean—no moss and noentanglements.
Except he had a daughter, and he was going to fight for her with all hehad.
