Free Justice Reborn (Cowboy Justice Association Book 8) by Olivia Jaymes Page A

class just as I suspected he would. She burst into tears and complained to the dean, which of course didn’t change anything. The instructor might have been an asshole but he was brilliant and knew what the hell he was doing. Once she realized that public critiques happened on a regular basis she changed her major to marketing. I’m told they’re much more civilized and polite.”
    “This is a whole new side of you I didn’t even know existed. Kind of cruel and really happy about it.”
    It didn’t look like it bothered him much though. If anything, he was regarding her with a grudging respect which almost made her laugh.
    “I’m not a Disney princess, boss. I’m a human being and I’m not perfect. Boy, am I not perfect. I’ll even let you in on a little secret.” She leaned forward and he did the same. “When the signs tell you to merge over to one lane there’s always that one person who doesn’t and then tries to cut in at the last minute. I’ll admit this to you…I never let them in. I think they’re selfish and they piss me off so I ride the bumper of the car in front of me so they can’t get in. That probably makes me a real bitch.”
    A wide smile appeared on Evan’s handsome face and then he threw back his head and laughed. “Honey, I do exactly the same thing. They should have merged over earlier instead of the last minute. I applaud your tenacity in showing them the error of their ways.”
    “I thought I was the only one. Everyone else seems to let them in,” she admitted, her awareness of their proximity suddenly rising. There were mere single digit inches between them and she could feel the heat from his skin as well as the scent of clean sweat teasing her nostrils. “I guess we should go downstairs, huh?”
    Danger. Danger. Get out of the bedroom now.
    It was too intimate. Too…everything. She liked being with him way too much. She had to fight the urge to reach out the short distance and place her palm on his chest just to see if it felt as good as she thought it would. Or better.
    From his smiling expression she could tell that he clearly saw her inner turmoil and was enjoying it. He was the first man who had turned her into a muddled, addlebrained idiot but he didn’t have to be so damn smug about it.
    “That’s not an attractive quality.” Josie’s sharp words tumbled out before she could stop them.
    His brows pulled down but he didn’t stop smiling. “What’s not? I’m not sure I follow you.”
    “You know what I’m talking about.”
    Now she felt stupid. Blurting things out was a nasty habit she needed to curb but it was too late.
    “I honestly don’t but that’s okay. I’m guessing there are many things about me that aren’t attractive but I’m not sure I want a comprehensive list, so I’ll just shut the hell up. How does that sound?”
    Like a reprieve from heaven.
    “I should go.”
    She regretted her words instantly when a hurt looked crossed Evan’s face. It was gone as quickly as it had come but she hadn’t imagined it.
    “I’ll take you home then.”
    Evan stepped back so she could pass and she walked by him, careful not to let their bodies brush. If he touched her she might possibly give in to the raging hormones dancing inside of her making her say and do things that would make her cringe later.
    Nothing good could come from starting a relationship with Evan. There wasn’t any future for two of them. Heck, she wasn’t even sure she had a future at all. She was simply trying to stay alive.
    *   *   *   *
    Evan felt like a first-class ass. He’d been too forward, too pushy and now Lisa had retreated inside herself so deeply it would be a wonder if she ever looked him in the eye again. His attraction to this tiny auburn-haired woman was strong but that didn’t mean his feelings were reciprocated. He thought he’d seen a kindred spark in her eyes but every time they moved closer…she’d run.
    She was now sitting next to him as he drove her