Free Erotic Deception by Karen Cote'

you?”
    “What are you talking about?” he asked in forced amusement, knowing exactly what she meant. He sat down on the couch and stretched out his long legs, putting his hands behind his head.
    “You know,” she grumbled in irritation. “For some reason you’re trying to help her.”
    He shrugged. “Helping people is my job.”
    “Are you just being sympathetic because she lost her brother?” She flushed at the blatant admission to a discussion with Denie.
    His mouth twitched, but he didn’t beleaguer the point. Denie didn’t know about Lily’s suspicions regarding her brother’s death or anything to do with the District Attorney.
    “Something like that.” He massaged the back of his neck and the action separated the buttons on his shirt. He caught the heat of her gaze and stood up. “I have to be at the office early tomorrow. Do you want me to follow you home?”
    Jet braced himself for an argument, but to his surprise, she acquiesced.
    He didn’t question his good fortune, but later, after stepping out of the shower, he pondered how he was going to keep Celeste at bay. She was deaf to his assertions that things between them were dead.
    He finished drying off and crawled naked into bed. His thoughts drifted over the past week and a more complicated situation and female.
    The incident in Lily’s kitchen today had shaken him on just how strong an impact she had over him.
    This weekend with Rachel should eliminate that problem. They’d do a little fishing, cook over a campfire, and have mind-blowing sex. When he returned, he’d find the attraction for Lily Delaney had been good old-fashioned deprived frustration.
    * * * *
    He was at the office the next morning when Mark strolled in.
    “I thought I was the one coming in early,” Mark commented looking at his watch.
    “I have some things I wanted to finish up before I left for the weekend,” Jet replied. “What’s your excuse?”
    “I’ve been asked to speak at the school for the summer delinquents.” He bobbed his brows up and down.
    Jet shot him a wry look. “I doubt Liza would’ve invited you knowing you had that attitude about her students.”
    “Probably not.” Mark grinned “But my being there does score brownie points with our fine school counselor.”
    “Why don’t you just ask her out?” Jet asked.
    Mark drew back in fake horror. “Courting is a delicate technique.”
    Jet rolled his eyes. “While I’m gone this weekend, I want you to keep an eye on Lily Delaney’s home.”
    “Is she still having problems?” Mark looked surprised, “I thought things had been pretty quiet.”
    “She called about an intruder yesterday.”
    Mark’s willowy body tensed. “An intruder?”
    Jet shook his head. “I’m not sure it was anyone.”
    Mark tilted his head. “Huh?”
    Jet explained, skirting over the details.
    “She doesn’t appear to be the type to make things up.” Mark’s words were a statement.
    “I don’t know,” Jet said and noted Denie sitting down at her desk. He rose from his chair.
    “Regardless, keep an eye on things over there.”
    “Sure enough, boss.” Mark assured and left.
    Jet perched on the corner of Denie’s desk and she looked up warily.
    “Before you say anything, I did not call her. She called me. And I didn’t tell her about the accident either. She heard it from somewhere else.”
    Jet didn’t press the issue. What’s done was done.
    “I’m going away for the weekend and won’t be back until noon on Monday,” he said. “Do you think you can handle things until then?”
    Expecting an affirmative response, Jet was surprised at the ensuing delay.
    Then she blurted out, “Does Celeste know about your planned lake rendezvous?”
    Shocked silence greeted her question and Denie shifted in discomfort as it lengthened. As Jet struggled to hold onto his temper, he surmised she’d heard him on the phone making the arrangements. Whereas he was tolerant of her loyalty to Celeste, he hated this