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

back to the hotel, the folder containing his story clutched to her chest like a life preserver. She’d said little since they’d left his place and the silence had grown uncomfortable. Painfully awkward.
    “Maybe we should start later tomorrow.”
    Her head swiveled toward him but he couldn’t quite make out her expression in the dark, the only light from the dash. “Why? What’s different about tomorrow?”
    He should have known she’d object. She had a work ethic to be envied. “Nothing. But today was different. You’re going to be sore plus we had a late evening. I was just thinking that we could meet for breakfast a little later, that’s all.”
    She turned back so she was facing the windshield, her posture stiff. “I’ll be fine. I’ll take a couple of ibuprofen before bed.”
    More stubborn than a mule.
    “I wouldn’t mind sleeping in,” he said instead, pretending she hadn’t spoken. She’d argue with him until they were both blue in the face. They both liked to be right. “How about we meet an hour later?”
    Silence then a sigh. “Fine. You’re the boss.”
    Are we sure? Because I don’t always feel like it.
    “That I am. So it’s decided. We’ll meet an hour later tomorrow.”
    He pulled into a parking space in front of her motel room, the headlights shining on the plain white building. Hank had painted the old cedar siding a few years ago but it already needed touching up.
    Lisa sat for a moment, not moving. “Thank you for a lovely day. I had a nice time.”
    Evan slowly let out a breath, an attempt to alleviate some of the tension that had built up in the back of his neck during their silent drive. “I did too and you’re welcome. If you need anything call me.”
    He’d made the same offer every single night for the past week and she had yet to take him up on it. After the fiasco in the bedroom the chances of her ever doing that were basement-bottom low.
    “Thank you. Goodnight.”
    She climbed out of his SUV and hurried to her door, unlocking it and disappearing behind it. He waited until she peeked out of the curtain and gave him a little wave before he backed up and headed to his place. He’d upset her and he hadn’t meant to.
    But he was determined to make it up to her tomorrow. A good breakfast and some conversation could smooth all of this over and make it better. He’d back off for a little while and give her some space. He wanted to show her he was interested but not a pervert.
    He wanted her to know he was worth taking a chance on.

Chapter Ten

    J osie was coughing, each breath a searing pain in her chest. Her body almost folded in half as she strained to expel whatever foreign object or substance that had taken up residence in the back of her throat. Beginning to panic as sleep dissolved, her gritty eyes burned as she slowly lifted her lids only to find something much worse than a tickle in her throat. The room was filled with smoke and her skin felt prickly due to the heat.
    Fire.
    The bad guys had found her and were trying to either smoke her out or simply kill her and anyone else that happened to have the bad luck to be anywhere in her vicinity. Remembering Amy’s face in those last few moments, Josie knew she couldn’t allow her resolve to waver. She had to stay strong and this was a lousy way to die. No way was she going to become some sort of crispy critter in a plastic body bag when the sun came up. She had way too much to live for and high on that list was bringing Amy’s killers to justice and clearing her own name.
    Remembering what she’d been taught in grade school, Josie slid out of bed and straight to the floor where the air was slightly clearer. Her heart tripped in her chest before accelerating and she shifted into survival mode, letting her instincts rule over her emotions. Fear-induced adrenaline zipped through her veins but she shut out the panicked voices in her head, concentrating solely on escaping the fiery tomb of her motel room.
    A sliver of