Deceptive Truth: Cowboy Justice Association (Serials and Stalkers Book 4) by Olivia Jaymes (psychology books to read .TXT) 📗

with her legs, arms, and upper torso sticking out but covering all the delicious parts. A stubborn cluster of bubbles stuck to her pink cheek.

"Uh..."

Knox couldn't remember the last time he'd been this tongue-tied around a woman. Maybe when he was a teenager? His normally smooth demeanor was gone, and he was acting like he'd never seen the female form when he most certainly had. More times than he could count, although for the life of him he couldn't even begin to conjure up the face of even one of those other women at the moment. They'd all faded away until there was only Jenna.

"You can come in and sit down. I'm guessing you want to talk. I'm really okay. I'm not going to cry or anything, I promise."

He didn't even make a conscious decision. His legs just walked into the bathroom all on their own. Settling on the edge of the tub, he trained his gaze on a spot just to the left of her head. Not down where the bubbles were beginning to dissolve in the heat.

"I was just worried about you. I don't think that Lori is at Hedgcock's home, but we have to check every box. I'd be remiss in my job if I didn't make sure."

"I know. It's just the reality of this is hitting home. I let it get to me."

"You shouldn't beat yourself up about it. It would get to anyone. You're only human."

Her fingers played with a mound of bubbles. "I know. I guess I thought that this investigation would make me happy somehow. Michelle, Tom, and I have been living in this sort of limbo-like state where nothing seemed real. Now everything is almost...too real. I don't know if I'm explaining it right."

"You are. I see it a lot in my line of work. You think that finding the truth and getting to a conclusion will solve all your problems. It does solve some, but then it creates other issues that you'll have to deal with."

He didn't say out loud that she'd need to mourn her sister. He had a feeling that she and her family had been delaying, holding on to hope that Lori was alive. He had hope too, but not much. Sadly, the odds were stacked against them.

She moved around in the bathtub, bubbles and water sloshing the sides. "Give me a minute and I'll get out and get dressed. I think I could use that drink right about now. Care to join me?"

"I'll pour two shots."

He left the steamy bathroom and went into the kitchen, retrieving the whiskey bottle from the top shelf. By the time he'd poured their drinks, Jenna had joined him. Her hair was still piled on top of her head in a messy bun, and she'd put on a pair of baggy pajama pants and an oversized t-shirt.

She was absolutely the most gorgeous woman he'd ever seen in his entire life. It wasn't even close. She was a knockout. Naturally beautiful and sexy, and she almost brought him to his knees just standing there. She had no idea, either.

He was falling and for the first time in his life, he welcomed it. He was ready. If she was the one, then bring it on.

He handed her one of the glasses filled with the amber liquid. "Maybe this will help."

"At this point, it can't hurt." She lifted the glass as if in toast. "Should we drink to something? I'm not sure what, though."

Lifting his own glass, he said, "I had a friend in basic that always used this one. May you be in heaven half an hour before the devil knows you're dead."

"I'll drink to that."

The both knocked back their shots and then placed the glasses on the countertop. Jenna sighed, her shoulders slumped.

"That didn't make me feel any better. But my guts are on fire."

"Give it time. Whiskey doesn't work in seconds."

Knox's phone beeped and he pulled it from his pocket, reading the text message.

"It's Eli. There's no sign of any additional heat signatures anywhere on Hedgcock's property."

Jenna didn't respond at once, but then her eyes closed and she leaned her elbow on the countertop. He immediately moved forward, wrapping his arms around her in case her legs gave way. She was shaking and a few silvery tears had made their way down her cheeks.

"I'm relieved and sad at the same time."

He didn't say anything, simply held her more tightly, running his hand up and down her back in what he hoped was a soothing way. He wanted so desperately to take away the pain she was feeling inside. If only he could lift it from her slim shoulders, he'd gladly bear it. She was too good of a person for this. But hadn't he seen horrible things done to decent people in his career? So often he'd met a person on the worst day of their lives. They were victims but he knew if he said that word to Jenna, she'd deny it vehemently. She didn't think of herself that way and she wouldn't want him to think that, either.

Leaning her cheeks against his chest, she snuggled closer, close enough that he could smell the scent of the bubbles she'd used in the bath. Lavender, maybe? He wasn't an expert.

"So what happens now? What do we do?"

"We get a good night's sleep," Knox replied. "One of my co-workers is digging deeply into Hedgcock's background. We should know more before morning. They're also working on getting a warrant for the property."

He didn't say out loud that a warrant was a long shot. They didn't have much evidence. But