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

he'd seen warrants issued for far less many times. It simply depended on the judge. Would this go in their favor?

"And the texts?"

"Jared will try and get the phone's location. It was a mistake for them to use it. They must be getting desperate."

Straightening, she blew out a breath. Jenna was wearing a frown. No, scratch that. She was wearing a frown directed at him.

"Can I say that I'm getting a little tired of you constantly saying how scared and desperate they are and how they're making all of these mistakes? So far, I haven't seen it. When do we get that big break in the case from one of those supposed mistakes?"

It was good that she was still feisty, still pushing forward.

"It's not like on television, babe. It often happens slowly. It's like we're untangling a knot and we pull a string here, and another there, and we keep pulling strings and unwrapping them until finally we find one that loosens it all. Then we follow it."

"Are you saying Brett Hedgcock is a loose string?"

"For want of a better analogy? Yes."

She held up her glass. "I think I'm going to need another drink."

"You've got it."

He poured each of them another shot, but not a full one. Although she might want to get drunk, he didn't think it was a good idea. Not for her, and definitely not for him, although two shots weren't enough for him to even get tipsy. He could hold his liquor.

"What about Eli? Is he coming back?"

Knox threw back the shot and slapped the glass down on the counter, enjoying the burn all the way to his belly.

"He says that he's wide awake so he's taking the night shift watching the house."

"I'm not sure what that means."

"It means he's in the garage, watching all the camera feeds from around the home. From there he can also see if there are any cars driving by, maybe slowing down to take a look."

"Should we take him a snack?"

"I will definitely take him drinks and food before we go to bed. He's not the only one out there, by the way. We have a few guys patrolling the neighborhood. No one is going to get close to you."

"I didn't mean for all of this to blow up so seriously. I didn't want to put anyone in danger."

"You didn't do this. The person that's responsible for Lori's disappearance did this. It's on them."

"I still don't want anyone to get hurt."

"We're not planning to get ourselves - or you - hurt. Trust us."

"I do trust you."

His chest squeezed tightly at her words, far more powerful than she knew. It meant for more than it should to hear that she trusted him.

She rinsed out their glasses and placed them next to the sink. "I'm going to be honest. I don't think I'm going to be able to sleep."

"We can watch television," he suggested. "I think I saw some board games and a few jigsaw puzzles in the entertainment center."

"I haven't done a jigsaw puzzle since I was a kid."

"It's been about that long for me too. Want to give it a go?"

"Why not? It's better than lying in bed staring at the ceiling."

He had one mission tonight. Distract Jenna.

Tomorrow they'd dig deeper into Brett Hedgcock.

23

Jenna tapped at Knox's knuckles. "You have to do the border first. You don't get to do the fun part until the hard work of separating the border is done. Don't you know the rules?"

Knox snickered and popped another fluffy piece of buttered popcorn in his mouth. They'd settled in at the coffee table to work on the puzzle. Knox had pulled the cushions from the couch down to the floor so they could be comfortable. They lounged next to one another their backs against the sofa, the table in front of them, and a giant bowl of popcorn in between their bodies.

"There are jigsaw puzzle rules? I didn't see any rules in the box."

"They're unwritten rules but everyone knows them. You do the border first. That's how it's done."

"Yes, ma'am. I didn't realize that putting together this hot air balloon could involve such a faux pas."

"You separate the border, put it together, and then you separate the pieces by color family. Then maybe by shape, if you want to."

Knox's brows were almost at his hairline. "For someone that hasn't done a puzzle in years, you certainly take this seriously. You're one of those list makers, aren't you?"

Guilty as charged. She liked her lists. And her planner. Her job was often hectic and it helped her keep everything straight.

"So what if I am? You might want to try it. It's very freeing."

"It's freeing to write up a list?"

"Yes, then you can sit back and relax by not having to worry about remembering things."

Knox grinned, his blue eyes twinkling mischievously. "I like to challenge myself by making grocery lists, leaving them on the counter, and then trying to remember what was on them while I'm at the store."

"Then make them on your phone. I know you always have it."

She'd reached over to tap his phone and he placed his hand over hers, rubbing his thumb against the palm.

Yikes.

He'd barely touched her and yet he'd sent a lightning bolt of energy down her spine, settling in her lower abdomen. Their gazes clashed and if she didn't know better, she would have thought the temperature in the room climbed about twenty degrees in ten seconds.

It couldn't do that. Could it?

His thumb continued to stroke her palm while his other hand reached up and caught a stray strand of her hair, tucking it behind her ear. His fingertips tickled her cheek softly, barely glancing