Above all, one more male on my property left Stella that much safer.
“No,” I countered. “You want to. But it's not going that well, is it?”
Benjamin hesitated, and in those three seconds, I saw everything I needed to know before he closed back down. Something wasn't right in his world. His sponsors should be paying for this, but they must not be. Or maybe something personal had come up and he was ducking the limelight.
Why else would he be here of all places?
“There's space for mats, a separate gym, a kitchen that could feed as many as you need,” I continued because I sensed the opportunity to press it. “And so many mountains to climb. We live at 8,000 feet elevation, so there's a definite lack of oxygen. You can have an entire cabin for just your team, if you want. There is plenty of space at Adventura.”
Benjamin's head tilted back slightly.
“What's in it for you?”
Time to be brutally honest, because if I wasn't, Maverick would be later. “Mortgage payments,” I said easily. “Summer camps are terrible investments in the winter.”
A hint of amusement flickered through his eyes. “The media are a problem these days,” he said slowly. “So why should I trust you?”
“Because Maverick trusts me.”
Benjamin glanced to Maverick, who immediately nodded. The lack of reticence in his response gave me intense relief. For several long moments, no one said a word. I waited and willed myself to hold still for the first freaking time in my life.
Benjamin's sharp gaze had narrowed. “What kind of equipment can you support?”
“All of it. I have a cement-floored dining hall bigger than the closest gym in Jackson City and already have all my own weight stuff in a large shed that I use. You could bring whatever you want. Or whoever you want,” I added.
“How long is it available?”
“Long enough to get you to your fight and then some.”
“Can you guarantee privacy?”
Could I? I wasn't sure what guarantee meant in his world. People could still find Adventura if they learned where he was. But there was only one road in and out and we could gate it if we had to.
“Yes.”
Another interminable silence reigned until he loosed his arms and said, “I'll come to look at it this weekend. Saturday at noon.”
With a confident smile, I held out my hand, thankful it stayed steady when Ben clasped it. “See you then,” I said. “Maverick can give you my number. I'll text you directions.”
“No need. I'll find it.”
Maverick sent me a knowing smirk as he, too, shook my hand. Then his expression dropped.
“Meant to tell you that some guy swung by today.”
“Oh?”
“Yeah. He was asking about you. We were the only ones here when he stopped by. Didn't tell him anything but thought you'd want to know.”
Something cold settled in my stomach. Stella had given me descriptions of Joshua before, but not enough that I'd ever recognize him if I saw him. He sounded perfectly normal enough.
“Tell me about him,” I said.
“Baseball hat. Normal height.” He tilted his head back and forth, as if uncertain. “5'9” I'd bet. Blonde hair. Hazel eyes. Not overly muscular or impressive. Seemed nice, but asked enough questions that it turned my radar on. Questions about where you lived. If you took tenants in your camp. How often you came to town, that kind of thing.”
“Ask about a woman named Stella or Marie?”
“No. Just you.”
Could be anyone, technically, but I had a crawling suspicion it wasn't an accident. As irrational as Stella said she felt, something told me that this situation wasn't as innocent as she wished it were.
Benjamin had clued in now, listening to Mav with an eyebrow raised. “The guy that came earlier?” Ben asked him.
Mav nodded.
“Got a problem you need some help with, Mark?” Ben asked with a low drawl. There was a wicked glint in his eye that told me he wanted a fight. I knew the feeling.
“Not yet,” I murmured. “But maybe soon enough.”
Ben eyed me. “You could take that guy.”
“It's not Mark that needs to worry,” Mav murmured. “It's his lady. Lizbeth mentioned her to me last night.”
The words his lady ran through my mind like a reverberating echo, and I let them roll. Yeah, Benjamin needed to know she was mine. Because she was. Benjamin made a disgusted sound in his throat.
“Take that guy out hard, Bailey.”
My knuckles cracked when I squeezed my fist too hard. “It's going to be my pleasure once we can find him.”
While Benjamin turned back to the wall that still needed primer, Mav caught my attention again. “Not sure if it was anything,” he said, but I could tell something with it didn't sit right for him. “Just thought I'd let you know.”
“Thanks, brother.”
When I turned to go with one final head jerk, Mav stopped me.
“You got this handled?” he asked. He meant Adventura. He meant the mortgage. He meant everything that was, most definitely, not handled and would be due someday soon. I couldn't remember when.
“You know it!” I called over my shoulder with my usual, laissez-faire verve. He must have bought it because neither of them said a word as I descended the stairs, my thoughts a storm.
The Zombie Mobile creaked and groaned as I lumbered out of Pineville and into the canyon. Most likely, I imagined the feeling of being watched but felt even greater concern and sympathy for Stella now. Was this unsettled feeling what she'd been living in for weeks now?
Bastard.
With JJ and Megan at the camp with Stella, I took a detour off the highway and onto a familiar dirt road. By the time I made it back to Dad's property, the sun was overhead and my stomach grumbling. Dad would probably have tuna, egg salad, and old bread. His weird favorites, for some reason. When I skidded to a stop, a figure in a broad hat slowly looked up from where it sat near the creek. I chuckled.
The old man had fallen asleep fishing.
When the truck door slammed, Dad straightened up and waved
