Page 26 of Home Town Knight

Aiden and Jessi exchanged a skeptical glance.

I forged ahead, eager to move on from their prying insights. “The best thing for all of us is if Gen stays here a few days, keeps out of sight, then heads back to Denver. Now that you know she’s a reporter, you can keep her away from the other protectees or anything else that’s sensitive. But if you truly don’t feel comfortable, I’ll find another place for her to go.”

Jessi stood up, arms crossed over her middle. “No. That’s not how we do things here. Last Refuge is supposed to have an open door to anyone in trouble. Right now, that’s Genevieve. We have to give her the benefit of the doubt. Not turn her away based on our fears.”

Aiden grunted an affirmative. “But we’re going to keep an eye on her all the same. If she poses a threat, it’s better to keep her close. We’ve got your back, Owen.”

“I appreciate that.” Keeping her close did make sense. Easier to monitor her. If the woman didn’t tempt me so much, then maybe I’d put her up at my own house instead.

But whenever I was near her, I got the irresistible urge to put my mouth all over her.

“I’ll talk to Trace and River,” Aiden added. “Let them know the situation. One of us is always here, but I’ll try to double up while Genevieve is around. If we could get a description of the murder suspect, that would help. We need to know who we’re watching for.”

I nodded. “Will do. I’ll send you what I have, as well as the composite sketch Genevieve made with the artist. I really appreciate this.”

“Lucky it’s off season. We don’t expect any more overnight guests for a few days,” Jessi said. “We’ll keep your girl safe.”

“Not my girl,” I grumbled.

“Not yet. You still have to win her over. But I have faith in you.”

Shaking my head, I left the office and went back out to my SUV in the parking lot. I had a ton of work waiting back at the station. But as I started up my engine, my eyes strayed over to the row of cabins. Gen was staying in number five.

Relief settled over me, knowing she was safe. Aiden and the Protectors would see to that. But was she feeling all right? She’d witnessed a murder last night. Sometimes the shock didn’t hit until later.

I felt a ridiculous compulsion to go knock on her door. She’d probably glare at me again and make more sarcastic quips at my expense.

What was wrong with me that I kind of liked that?

CHAPTER NINE

Genevieve

I unlockedmy cabin and pushed inside, dumping my bag and purse onto the rug. Then I went straight to the bed and collapsed face-first onto it.

It was only lunchtime, but already this day had beenwaytoo much.

I’d spent a lot of time in police stations in my life. Not just as a reporter. No, a lot of those visits had been far more personal, and they’d come during happier times.Here to see your dad?the old sergeant would say.Don’t get into any mischief.

Mischief indeed. I’d never been the key witness to a murder before, and let me tell you, I wouldn’t recommend it. Of course, being the victim of a violent crime would be infinitely more difficult, and I was grateful not to be in that kind of spot.

While Owen’s protectiveness annoyed me since I didn’t want anything from the man except the truth, I did plan to listen to his advice. I had no interest in running into that shooter again. As a reporter, I’d faced down people who were angry about my articles. Some had even threatened violence. I would never be silenced by intimidation, but this was different.

I thought of the killer’s face. The icy indifference in his eyes, even when he saw me there. A sudden jolt of cold went down my spine, and I grabbed the quilt to wrap it around me. If my video had recorded a clear image of him, there would be less reason for the killer to go after me. The urge to rewind time and justlift the dang camerawas overpowering. But I’d been too shocked and terrified in the moment.

That same terror edged closer to me now.

Incredibly, I wished Owen hadn’t gone back to town. Before I’d shown up in Hartley, I would’ve assumed Owen was the kind of corrupt official to do the harassing in order to protect the guilty. But while my source had shown me evidence of corruption here, I had no proof it was Owen. Since the moment I’d met him, I hadn’t once felt unsafe with him.

Sometimes, Sheriff Douglas really seemed like the upstanding man he claimed to be.

And that kiss in his office…yikes. Second time we’d kissed, and it had been even hotter than the first. I couldn’t believe I’d asked him for it. That man had a way of scrambling my brain cells. Thank goodness his deputy Keira had interrupted us before I’d done something even more foolish. Like getting naked with a man I was investigating. In his office.

But if I was so wrong about him, then why had he continued to dodge my questions? Why did he still seem like he was hiding things? My source had shown me reliable, if top secret, evidence that a corrupt official was greasing the wheels for criminal enterprises in Hartley. If Owen was the good guy he’d claimed, then he would help me uncover the truth instead of throwing up obstacles.

I didn’t know what to think, and right now, I was too exhausted to keep obsessing over it.

I rolled over and looked at the ceiling. I was going to bestuck here for the next few days, but at least this place was as cute as the website had promised. Heat pumped from the wood stove, with a pail of pellets nearby to keep it fed. I’d spotted a welcome basket on the table by the small kitchenette.

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