Free Cowboy Cool: Book 5 (Cowboy Justice Association) by Olivia Jaymes

doing his fucking job.
    “Sorry,” Reed shook his head. “The government doesn’t like us talking about our missions.”
    It was as good a reason as any and wouldn’t scare the bejesus out of the civilians.
    “Let’s continue,” Kaylee cut in. “Does anyone else have any comments for Brent?”
    The group seemed to have lost its enthusiasm for discussing his work so they moved on. They were wrapping up at the end when Cheryl raised her hand.
    “Kaylee, when is your new book coming out? I want to make sure I download it right away.”
    Kaylee’s entire face lit up and she looked so damn beautiful it was like a punch to Reed’s solar plexus, robbing him temporarily of oxygen. “On Tuesday. I’m so excited about this one. It’s the last in the series so I’m sad to leave the world behind but looking forward to starting something new. It’s actually out on pre-order.”
    The group moved slowly toward the door as if they didn’t want to leave, but eventually one by one they got in their cars and left. Linda and Cheryl were the last, hanging around to help clean up the food. Cheryl pressed a slip of paper into the palm of his hand when it was time for her to go.
    “Call me if you need help with your work in progress. Or if you need…anything.”
    There was promise in her words but Reed wasn’t interested. She was the type of woman who wanted to possess him for no other reason than his looks. She didn’t care if he was a good person or kicked puppies. It was all about the exterior packaging. That was something he’d never been able to understand. Eventually you had to get out of bed and talk to someone.
    When the door was finally shut for the last time Kaylee leaned against it and heaved a big sigh.
    “That was different.”
    “Different how?” Reed crossed his arms over his chest and grinned at her discomfiture. “Better or worse?”
    “I have no idea,” she declared, straightening up and heading for the kitchen where leftover cookies were piled on the island. “I’m not used to people coming into my home and propositioning my houseguest. Are you going to take Cheryl up on it?”
    “No, Cheryl’s not my type. Too obvious. I prefer to be the aggressor.” Reed snatched up one of the snickerdoodles Kaylee had made this morning.
    “I’m sure she’d let you if you were so inclined,” she said but she wasn’t looking him in the eye. “What you do is your own business. What should we have for dinner?”
    She was gazing into the refrigerator as if it had the secrets to the universe. They both knew damn well that something was simmering between them but Reed didn’t think it was a good idea to muck things up with emotions. Protecting her had to be his number one priority.
    “We just had a huge lunch. Come talk to me. I need some information to help with my investigation.”
    She swung the door closed and sat on a stool while he took the one opposite. “Did you find out where the emails are coming from?”
    “Not yet but I’m working on it. Whoever is doing this knows enough to cover their tracks. Right now I’ve traced the first email to a server in the Ukraine.”
    “I don’t think I’ve sold any books there.”
    “That’s not where the emails are coming from. That’s just a stop along the way. I’ll have the real origin by dinnertime. Now, let’s talk about the people you come into contact with. The ones in the writing group, for example. In fact, let’s make a list of everyone you see or talk to regularly.”
    Kaylee’s mouth fell open in shock. “Are you kidding? Everyone? They’re all suspects? My friends would never send me nasty letters and threaten me, Reed.”
    “Good, then it won’t take long to clear them,” he replied. He wasn’t backing down an inch about this. “And yes, I am serious. I know you think this is a stranger but the statistics don’t bear that out. Sixty-six percent of female stalking victims know their stalker. That means we need to look at everyone who