Free Cowboy Famous: Book 4 (Cowboy Justice Association) by Olivia Jaymes

way.”
    Jazz exhaled slowly, trying not to show her disappointment. He was right of course, and if she’d learned anything about him in the last thirty six hours or so was that he was as solid and honest as a summer day. Pretending anything wasn’t his style.
    “It’s okay. I understand. It wouldn’t be right.”
    “I hope you’re not upset.” Griffin had leaned forward in his chair and wore an earnest expression. She wasn’t upset because she’d never really truly believed he would do it. But deep down she was kind of disappointed that she wouldn’t be spending any extra time with him. She was attracted to the sheriff.
    A whole hell of a lot.
    “I’m fine. Honest. It never occurred to me that you would do it. I was shocked when Tony and Gordon brought it up. Tony will do anything for ratings.”
    “It wouldn’t be the right thing to do,” Griffin replied. “What kind of man would I be if I pretended something that wasn’t true?”
    Normal? Like everyone else?
    “Most people wouldn’t have been as honest as you are. They would have done it.” It was all she could think of to say and it sounded pretty awful. Maybe she needed to re-think the people she surrounded herself with.
    “Hell of a way to live,” he said briskly, picking up the file and holding it out for her. Apparently their conversation was at an end. “I’ll talk to Tony and Gordon again and make it clear. Will you be around later this evening? We can go through the evidence if you have time.”
    It seemed sort of surreal. She’d just had an honest conversation with a man and he didn’t get all bent out of shape or anything. Griffin Sawyer had acted like a bona fide adult. A real man. She could get used to this. Apparently she’d dated way too many baby-men in Hollywood. Griffin was setting a brand new standard and he wasn’t even her boyfriend.
    “Th–Thank you, that would be great,” she stuttered, still overcome by his straight shooting honest attitude.
    She took the file and stood ready to make her getaway. She didn’t need him to see how much he affected her. It would only make them both uncomfortable. “I’ll be at the hotel studying my handbook later. Do you want to call me there and I can come here? Wait. They took the phone out of my room.”
    “I know the manager of the hotel. I’ll call the office and they’ll knock on your door. How does that sound?”
    “Sounds perfect. I’ll see you then.”
    Griffin nodded, his attention already moved from her to the paperwork on his desk. She slipped out of the door and headed back to the interrogation room.
    She would look through the evidence with Griffin tonight and get a feel for this new case. And it wasn’t a date. He wasn’t interested in the least.
    All she had to do was keep telling herself that over and over again.

Chapter Eight

    G riffin was almost out of the door to head to his meeting with the other nearby sheriffs when Dare flagged him down.
    “Got a minute?”
    Griffin took a quick look at his watch and nodded. “If it doesn’t go much longer. I’ve got a meeting with the guys at the roadhouse. What’s up?”
    For the first time since he’d known Dare the deputy didn’t look pissed off. Instead he looked lost, as if he didn’t know where to go or what to do. He had Griffin’s full attention. He’d never seen Dare look that way and honestly it worried him.
    “It’s…well…shit, Griffin. It’s a family thing. I got a call this morning and my dad had a heart attack. He remarried after he and my mom divorced and she passed away from cancer a few years ago. He doesn’t have much family.”
    Dare paused as if he’d run out of words. Griffin remembered when Dare’s stepmother had died. He also remembered that Dare had some tension with his father which might explain why Dare wasn’t at the man’s bedside. Either way it was none of Griffin’s business how his deputy dealt with his family and Dare sure as hell wasn’t coming to Griffin for