Deadly Revenge (Pearl River #3)

Chapter 50

50

Jenna checked her watch. “It’s almost ten.”

“Yeah, it’s getting late.”

They both stood.

“After you.” Max bowed slightly and held his hand out.

She hesitated. Sitting out here with him, bathed in the moonlight, sharing stories she’d never told anyone, not even Phillip ... she didn’t want the evening to end.

“You don’t mind if I walk you to your back door, do you?”

His husky voice sent chills over her and drew her gaze to his dark brown eyes. Eyes she could get lost in. Walking her to the door was not a good idea. She agreed to it anyway. “Not at all.”

Max used the flashlight on his phone to illuminate their way, but she stumbled anyway. He caught her before she fell. What was wrong with her? She wasn’t the clumsy sort. “I can make it from here.”

“I don’t know ... you might stumble again.”

She stared at the ground, her feet unwilling to move. He tilted her chin until she was looking into his eyes once more, the intensity searing her heart.

Max traced his finger along her jaw, his touch awakening every nerve in her body. “You are so beautiful. Inside and out.”

No one had ever told her that before. She closed her eyes and relished the moment. Jenna sensed him bending down as he cupped her face in his hands. She leaned into him, slipping her arms around his neck.

Max kissed her lips lightly. No ... don’t stop there. She pulled his head closer, and he responded with a deeper kiss.

Rockets went off in her head. Jenna lost herself in his kiss. When they broke apart, she had trouble focusing, not to mention breathing ... Maybe once her heart slowed to normal.

Max rested his forehead on hers. He seemed to be breathing faster as well.

“Wow,” he murmured as he gazed into her eyes. “I, ah, didn’t—”

She touched his lips with her fingers. “Don’t mess it up by apologizing.”

“Apologizing wasn’t on my mind.” He brushed a strand of her hair back and rested his palm on her cheek. “That was amazing.”

“I agree.” She leaned into his touch.

Her cell phone rang, and they both jumped.

“Ignore it,” he said.

She’d like to. “It may be my grandmother—she could need something.”

He reluctantly stepped away. “You’re right.”

Jenna pulled her phone from her back pocket. “Alex. I better answer it.”

She slid the answer button. “Hart.”

“I hope I haven’t called too late,” Alex said.

Jenna glanced at Max and smiled. She motioned for him to follow her inside the house, then she locked the door behind them. “You haven’t.”

“Good. I wanted to let you know Dylan and Taylor worked late tonight and found a letter like the others at Paul Nelson’s office.”

“Hold on a second. Max is here. Let me put the call on speaker.”

Alex repeated what she’d said.

“It’s beginning to look like we have a home-grown threat,” Jenna said.

“I’m afraid so,” Alex replied. “Someone has a grudge against the three men, and he’s carried it out against two of them.”

“Did you turn Slater’s journals over to the forensic accountant in the Inspector General’s office?” Max asked.

“I had a deputy hand deliver them to Nashville yesterday afternoon. Problem is, even if it’s discovered that Slater had taken some sort of kickback, we need more to tie it to Carter.”

“We’ll just have to keep digging,” Max said.

“Just wanted to let you know,” Alex said. “See you in the morning.”

Jenna hung up. “Carter and the other two were up to their eyeballs in something illegal when they were in office. I hate knowing that and not having the proof.”

“And I’d bet my last cookie it had to do with the dam and reservoir.”

“I agree.” She sighed. “And the evening was going so nicely.”

“Yeah,” he said and then looked toward the front door. “Are you sure you don’t want me to stay?”

“After that kiss earlier, you probably shouldn’t.” A kiss that changed everything, at least for her. Where did they go from here?

“Then I better leave so you can get some sleep.”

“Yeah.” She made no move toward the door. Why did things suddenly seem awkward? Because he was already regretting kissing her?

“Can I kiss you again?”

“You have to ask?” Maybe he wasn’t regretting it ...

He grinned and took her in his arms. “This changes things, as I’m pretty sure you already know.”

“It does seem a little awkward.”

“Maybe this will help.” Max drew her close and gently pressed his lips against hers. When he pulled back, he said, “That was a goodnight kiss.”

“I liked the other one better.”

“Me too, but if we’d repeated it, it would be hard to leave you.”

“You’re right. See you in the morning.”

“Sure I can’t stay?”

“Definitely not.”

With a laugh, he kissed her on the cheek. “I’ll wait until I hear the deadbolt engage,” he said.

She followed him to the back door and locked it after him.

“See you in the morning,” he called through the closed door.

Jenna leaned her head against the wood. She never thought she’d feel this way about a man again ... especially a cop.