Deceptive Truth: Cowboy Justice Association (Serials and Stalkers Book 4) by Olivia Jaymes (reading women .txt) 📕

and too long. Knox wasn't going to be a happy man. He'd probably be furious and she honestly couldn't blame him.

I'm to blame. Me.

Those words echoed in her head as she led Knox into her condo and switched on a few lights and the television. She couldn't seem to relax so instead she went into the kitchen to get them both a drink. She needed to move around. It was the only thing keeping her sane at the moment.

"Beer, wine, water, soda? I think I'm going to have soda," she said, keeping her hands busy by dumping ice into a glass. She was so distracted she didn't realize Knox had come up behind her until she felt his arms around her waist and his solid frame pressed up against her back.

His body heat immediately penetrated the thin cotton of her shirt and sinking into her skin.

"I'll take a soda too but why don't you let me fix them?" he said, his lips close to her ear. She could feel his breath against her cheek and her stomach did a full flip in her abdomen at his close proximity. "You go and relax."

This - right here - was her problem. When Knox was close like this she could barely think straight. How was she supposed to have a serious talk with him when she was a drooling, aroused mess? It wasn't fair. She was only human after all.

She opened her mouth to object and tell him that she couldn't relax, but that sounded dumb so instead she did as she asked, leaving him in her tiny kitchen while she tried to get settled on the couch. She grabbed the remote on the coffee table and began to surf through the channels, skipping over a steamy romance movie and landing on a comedy she'd never actually watched all the way through. The canned laugh track always grated on her nerves but she'd put up with it tonight.

"What are we watching?" Knox asked when he settled next to her on the couch. He placed two glasses on the coffee table in front of them and then leaned back against the cushions, his arm tucked around her shoulders. He felt warm and solid and reassuring at this moment. She wanted to lean on him and tell him all of her troubles. She wanted him to know the truth.

And then she wanted him to want to still see her even after he knew.

She was dreaming.

"Uh, I'm not sure of the name. It's supposed to be funny."

Except that she wasn't laughing. She was far too jumpy to enjoy the lighthearted banter of the actors. Any other day she would have probably loved it.

Knox leaned closer, his hand skimming down her arm and raising goosebumps on the flesh with the simple contact. "Jenna, are you okay? You seem a little off."

I am a little off. Or way off.

"I don't know what you mean."

She was lying through her teeth.

"Okay, I was just concerned, that's all."

He was being nice and she wasn't. Dammit. This wasn't what she wanted.

"That's sweet, but I swear I'm fine." She leaned forward and grabbed her soda, taking a drink. She'd managed to make it all awkward and weird between them. "Is there anything that you want to watch? I think there's a game on another channel."

"I'm not fussy."

He wasn't which she liked about him. He was definitely a man that picked his battles.

"I know you'd rather watch sports."

He shrugged. "I'm good either way. Did you have fun tonight?"

That was an easy question.

"I did. Your friends are a lot of fun." She paused and then took a deep breath, plunging forward. "It must be great working with them day to day."

"It is. They're great guys and I'm lucky to be a part of the team."

"I would...love to hear more about your work. It sounds so interesting."

So far Knox hadn't been all that forthcoming about his job. She hadn't tried to strong-arm him into talking but this time she'd just went for it and asked.

"It can be interesting and it can be boring as hell too. A lot of computer research and digging through old, dusty file folders. There are some weeks I barely leave the office."

"And when you do?"

His brows rose. "Are you thinking about becoming a cop? I swear I'm not holding anything back. It's just not that exciting like it is on television and in the movies."

"You mean you aren't Dirty Harry?"

"Not even close," he laughed. "Personally, I'm not fond of having a gun pointed at me. None of my friends enjoy it either."

"That sounds wise."

"I think we'll live longer."

"Are you working on anything interesting now?"

Rubbing the stubble on his chin, he grimaced. "I'm between major cases at the moment so I've been helping the other guys. When the next big one comes up, it's mine."

"Like a murder?"

"Like a murder," he confirmed with a nod. "And if that happens, I might have to be out of town for a bit. I do tend to travel a lot for my job."

Knox had mentioned that early on but so far, he'd only had to fly out once for a few days.

"So...how do you do it? I mean...what are the steps to solving a crime? Like murder, for example."

"You want to know how I would solve a murder?"

He seemed genuinely puzzled by her question.

"Yes, I'm intrigued. I've watched that crime channel a few times but I've never known any cops before. So what would you do first?"

His eyes narrowed suspiciously and her heart leaped into her throat. "Are you one of those crime junkies that find serial killers fascinating?"

"No, not at all. I'm just very interested in your job.