Her Lawman Protector. Patricia Johns
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about Evan?”
Her heart constricted a little at her ex’s name, and she frowned, disliking the reminder. “Jack, Evan’s in Denver. He married Officer Hot Pants. You should know. You were at the wedding, weren’t you?”
Officer Hot Pants was actually Detective Serena Michaels, now Serena Kornekewsky. Evan and Serena had been partners, and the affair had been going on for some time before Liv had clued in... Serena was short, slim and as blond as a Swedish maiden—Liv’s polar opposite. That was insult to injury, especially after all the work Liv had put into slimming down.
“But does he hold any grudges?” Jack asked, those dark eyes still fixed on her with uncomfortable directness. “Divorces get ugly.”
“Marriages can get ugly, too,” she quipped. “And yes, we have some tensions, but this isn’t Evan’s style. And why should he care that I’m in Eagle’s Rest? That doesn’t make sense. His life went on.”
Jack nodded. “Okay. I’m just checking all avenues here. The thing is, Liv, these kinds of threats can be hoaxes, but most times someone won’t go to this much trouble unless they have some personal grievance. The more personal someone’s issue with you, the more dangerous it is. I’d feel better if I could keep an eye on you.”
Great. So she had some vengeful enemy that she didn’t even know about. Liv tried to calm her rising anxiety. But this was Eagle’s Rest. She knew this town like the back of her hand. She was surrounded by friends and family here...and Jack had picked Evan’s side in their divorce. While it might be understandable considering they were colleagues, it didn’t make him her favorite person right now.
“I don’t mean to be petty, Jack,” she said after a moment. “But I think I’d be more comfortable with another officer.”
“Look, I’m just going to say this. I’m a Denver cop. I’m the one with experience in the nastier side of things. The cops here—they just haven’t seen what I have.”
“You’re connected to my ex-husband, and I’m trying to make a fresh start here.”
“I worked with him,” Jack said. “That’s all.”
“You were at his second wedding,” she replied blandly.
Jack shrugged, then met her gaze. “It’s up to you, Liv. But I’m the one with the experience, and they’re short-staffed right now. Just ask the police chief. That’s why he requested I take this one.”
“And you think the local cops can’t protect me?” she asked. “Eagle’s Rest might be small, but—”
“I think they might be blinded to their own neighbors,” Jack interrupted. “And while they are fine officers, I’m a cynical guy, and that’s what you need right now. Whoever wrote this meant business—I’m willing to bet on it.”
She needed him—that’s what he was telling her. But she’d never known Jack terribly well, and something wasn’t sitting right with her about this whole situation.
“How come you’re acting like this is personal for you?” she asked after a moment.
“Because it is,” he replied. “You’re one of my own—you were part of the Denver family.”
“So what are you saying?” she asked. “Cards on the table. Should I worry?”
“Nah.” Jack shot her a grin, the smile softening his chiseled features. “Not while I’m around. You’ll be fine.”
She felt a smile tickle the corners of her own lips. If he was so dead set on standing guard, she’d be stupid to turn him down. Even if these notes turned out to be an elaborate prank, she’d at least rest easier until that was confirmed.
But worry still nagged at the back of her mind. Was it possible that this was connected to Evan? He did owe her something...they just hadn’t included that little debt in their divorce agreement... But would he go to these lengths?
“Thanks,” she said with a nod. “Just until we figure out what’s going on.”
* * *
JACK HADN’T EXPECTED Liv to suddenly confess her involvement in her ex-husband’s scam, but he had noticed her eagerness to get another officer to protect her. She said it was because of his nominal friendship with Evan, but if she were involved in a scam, she’d want him as far away from her business as possible. He’d worked in the fraud division, after all, and he was up for a spot in internal investigations if he proved himself on this case. She may need police protection at the moment, but she’d probably prefer someone easier to manipulate.
Jack could see how easy it would be for one of the local guys to fall right into her trap, too. Liv was not only beautiful, but she had wide green eyes that showed old pain and fresh hope. Even her clothes were soft and feminine in a most disarming way. Snug jeans that accentuated those womanly hips, and a loose white blouse that showed just a hint of flesh tone through the gauzy fabric. If he didn’t have all the facts in a file on the police chief’s desk, he might fall for her charms, too.
Heck, he had before...
“Maybe we should clear the air about Evan’s wedding,” Jack said.
“I don’t think there is much else to say,” she retorted.
“He was my colleague, and he invited the whole department to the wedding. It was...basically, it was a schmooze-fest. How did you know I was there?”
“Social media pictures,” she said, and then color flushed her cheeks. “And no judging. With all the tags from people I knew, I couldn’t avoid it. I saw you in pictures, and I’m sorry, but it sure feels like you chose his side.”
“I wasn’t choosing sides. I was just...going through the motions. Look, Liv—I never approved of what Evan did to you. But I do aim to stay out of other people’s relationships. No good can come of sticking your nose in where it doesn’t belong.”
Frankly, a small and petty part of him had been thinking that he’d be glad to step in if Evan was going to walk away. He was still single at thirty-five, but not because he hadn’t been looking around at his options. But then they’d started investigating Evan and discovered that Liv had been delivering paperwork to the fraud victims. And he’d been disappointed in a way that stung and made him angry. She wasn’t supposed to be like her ex, but it looked like she was in this hip deep.
Liv picked up a book from a box on the counter and then headed for a shelf at the back of the store. She walked her fingers across the spines of the volumes already on the shelf. When she spoke, emotion choked her voice.
“Did you know he was cheating on me?”
She slid the book into place, then turned toward him. Some of the color had drained from her cheeks, and Jack heaved a sigh. Getting into this wasn’t going to help his cause here...but then again, if they could get this out of the way, she might trust him a little bit more.
“I did,” he confirmed.
She nodded briskly, then came back to the counter, reaching into the box again.
“The messenger gets shot in these sorts of situations,” he added. “You know that.”
“Everyone knew, didn’t they?” She tapped another book against her hand, and irritation snapped in those green eyes.
“A lot of people knew,” he confirmed. “And a lot of people told him he was making a mistake.”
“Did you?”
No, he hadn’t. He’d never been that close to Evan, and Jack didn’t like wasting his breath. Besides, he’d been afraid that his attraction for Liv would be obvious if he started in on Evan for his cheating ways, and he wasn’t exactly proud of the fact that he felt that way about someone else’s wife. Jack was the kind of guy who believed in right and wrong—it was why he’d become a cop to begin with. And lusting