Jessie had left. He couldn’t see her car anymore, just a trail of dust she’d left in her wake.
• • •
Jessie slipped the cell phone back into the holster at her waist. She’d just tried to call Phoebe again to tell her she was on her way, but no answer. For the time being she could take photographs of the outside.
She could have stayed at the ranch and taken more photos but she’d felt the need to get away from the place where she felt Zane's presence everywhere she went.
This was crazy. She couldn’t spend another night in the same house with him alone. Maybe if Danica made it back she’d stay. But not alone. Not again.
It had been a sleepless night as she’d thought of him and the time they’d spent together that evening. As chaste as it had been, there’d been a sexual undercurrent that was too dangerous to play with.
She glanced at a road sign and then at the map Zane had drawn and left on the breakfast bar for her along with a brief description of the house. The dirt road into Phoebe’s was graded and fairly smooth beneath her Mustang’s tires.
Jessie came over a rise and saw the woman’s home just below and she had a good view of the house. It would make an excellent shot from this elevation.
She pulled her car off to the side of the road and parked before grabbing her camera and tripod. Not too far from the car was a good place to set up.
It wasn’t long before she fell into a rhythm. Sun felt warm on the back of her neck and everything smelled fresh and clean. She hummed a country song to herself then paused as she saw movement in the backyard of the home on the patio. From the angle she was at now, she had a good view. It might be a good opportunity to get a few candid shots.
Phoebe looked beautiful through the zoom lens and Jessie could see what Zane saw in her as far as looks went. She had a sweet, almost innocent expression. Jessie had a strong feeling that the woman had cat’s claws that would come out any time she felt like her territory was being threatened, though—just like what had happened yesterday.
Jessie started to lower her camera when a man came into view. He was good-looking with light brown hair and a male model handsome face, and he wasn’t wearing a shirt. Maybe he was Phoebe’s brother or another relative who was visiting her.
But then the man grabbed Phoebe’s arm and drew her close and kissed her.
Jessie’s mouth dropped open. Zane’s fiancée was kissing another man. She automatically took one shot after another without really thinking about what she was doing.
When she lowered her camera she frowned. She raised the camera and looked through it again, wondering if maybe she had imagined that the kiss between Phoebe and the man had been a passionate one. When she looked through the lens, they were no longer on the patio.
Jaw set, Jessie stowed her camera equipment in her car before slipping into the driver’s seat and starting the vehicle. She drove along the road to Phoebe’s house. In moments she was parked in front of it, camera in hand, and walking up to the front door.
A few seconds later the front door opened and Phoebe’s hair was just as perfect as the last time Jessie had seen her and she was wearing a short set with a pink pinstriped blouse and white shorts.
Phoebe looked furious. “What the hell are you doing here?”
“I’m here to photograph your home,” Jessie said, doing her best to keep her expression calm. “Zane said you wanted it done today.”
“I said to call first.” Phoebe nearly snarled the words as she braced her hand on the doorframe with the door partially closed.
“I tried. There was no answer,” Jessie said.
Phoebe scowled. "This isn’t a good time.”
“I’m sorry.” Jessie tried to look over Phoebe’s shoulder without the woman realizing it. “Can I use your bathroom?” Jessie went for a pained expression. “I’m dying to go.”
Phoebe glared at her, indecisiveness flickering across her face.