Page 18 of Jolene's Justice

Jolene’s skin crawled as she watched another cockroach skitter across the floor, causing her to grip Finch’s arm tightly. He chuckled. “And maybe a pest exterminator.”

“Most definitely,” she agreed. Jolene’s phone chimed. Absentmindedly, she took the device out of her pocket and glanced at the message. Every muscle in her body tightened at the threat.

YOU DESTROYED EVERYTHING. IT WILL BE EASY TO DESTROY YOU TOO.

“What’s the matter? Is it the hospital?” Finch asked, picking up on her reaction.

She shoved the phone back into her pocket and forced her body to relax. “Nothing. Just a sale notification,” she lied, stepping out of his embrace. She had no idea who kept texting her and tried to ignore the tremor of trepidation that hit her every time another message came through, even as she still tried to convince herself it was a wrong number.

“I’m too tired to deal with any of this tonight,” she continued before he could question her further. “Let me show you to one of the spare rooms so we can go to bed.” Her eyes widened at how suggestive her statement sounded, and she hastened to add, “Separately, of course.”

His low chuckle rumbled through the room. “Of course.”

She led him out of the kitchen and back into the family room. He grabbed their bags that she hadn’t realized he’d brought inside and followed her up the stairs. She pointed out the bathroom and where he could find the towels before leading him to the room across from hers. She felt a moment of trepidation, wondering if it was too close to her own, but she told herself they were both adults. They could handle sleeping across the hall from each other. The closed doors would be enough of a deterrent . . . she hoped. And she wasn’t talking about deterring him.

Taking her bag from his hand, she said, “Thanks for everything today. It meant a lot to me.”

“Happy I could help.” As she was preparing to say good night, he looked into her eyes and uttered, “I’d do anything for you.”

In the dim hallway, his gaze locked on hers, and everything else faded away. He studied her with a spark of some unknown emotion in his eyes. His closeness made her acutely aware of the warmth emanating from his body, and her focus shifted to his lips. He leaned in closer, and the scent of his cologne enveloped her. She held her breath, feeling her heart race, as he moved closer, and her face instinctively tilted toward his. At the last moment, his lips landed on her forehead. Even that simple touch had her knees—as well as her resolve—weakening.

His warm breath ghosted against her skin as he whispered, “Good night, Jolie,” before moving back and stepping into his room, closing the door behind him.

Chapter 9

Finchleanedagainstthekitchen counter, a mug of coffee in his hand as he stared at the empty sink. Unable to sleep, he’d gotten up and searched through the cabinets for coffee. He was going to need plenty of caffeine to combat the day ahead. After preparing and downing his first cup, he tackled the dishes moldering in the sink. The dried, caked-on food and gunk had been left to fester, emitting an unpleasant odor that made him cringe.

Now that the sink was clear—the dishwasher running quietly in the corner—and the overflowing trash had been taken to the cans outside, the smell had dissipated. The window he’d opened over the sink helped to clear the air as well.

The aroma of freshly brewed coffee wafted through the kitchen and filled his nostrils. A warm cup nestled between his palms provided a sense of comfort and relaxation. As he took a sip, the rich, bold flavor of his second cup of coffee danced on his tongue, and his mind wandered back to the night before.

He was making progress in breaking through Jolene’s walls. Or maybe it was just exhaustion that had her lowering her barriers. His hope was fueled by the way she leaned against him and let him wrap his arm around her.

He couldn’t forget the way she looked at him in the hall, her eyes lingering on his lips for a moment. When she tilted her face up as though anticipating his kiss, his heart had nearly pounded out of his chest. He struggled to control his desire to take what he believed she was unknowingly offering. He knew better than to take advantage of her emotional distress to win her back.

He yearned to break down the emotional barrier that had been built between them. Breaking down her walls was the only way he could see to bring them back to the way things were before. So he could have another chance to make things right. Building a future with her was his goal, but he knew they had to get through this crisis with her father first.

His phone trilled, shattering the silence and bringing him back to the present moment. He pulled his phone out and swiped to answer. “Hey, boss.”

“How’s Jolene’s dad?” Graham asked. Graham Whitaker owned and operated Nighthawk Search and Rescue with his brother David. After spending years traveling to every natural disaster to lend his assistance, Graham had decided to bring his knowledge home, opening facilities that offered training and certifications. The job offer came just in time for Finch, who was desperate to leave Maryland and get away from Angelica. He was indebted to Graham for all that he had unknowingly done for him.

“He’s in high spirits and stubborn. The heart attack was mild, but he broke his leg when he fell. He’ll need rehab for it but should make a full recovery.”

Graham sighed. “That’s good news. How’s Jolene holding up?”

“Exhausted but okay. You know how strong and tenacious she is. She’s determined to take care of everything her dad needs.”

Graham chuckled. “Sounds like her. Now I can tell Natalie to stop worrying.”

He glanced around the mess of the house, which he knew would be overwhelming for Jolene to handle alone, causing Finch to conclude that he would need to ask for an extension on his time off.

“Listen, boss. Mr. Pritchett’s house is in disarray and needs a bit of work to make it safe for him to return to. I don’t want to leave Jolene alone to handle it all.”

“Say no more,” Graham interjected, anticipating his request. “Take all the time you need. We can handle things without you for a few weeks. Jolene is family. Take care of her.”

“Thanks, and I will.”

“You ever gonna tell us what happened between the two of you?” Graham asked, taking him off guard.

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