�Hi,� Paulina said, as they shook hands. �I heard so much about you.�
�I wish I could say the same,� Jenai said.
�It�s alright,� Paulina assured her and Jenai smiled, as Nickolas joined them.
�Paulina, this is JJ�s friend, Nick,� Marty said. �Nick, this is my girlfriend; Paulina.�
�Nice to meet you,� Nickolas said.
�Like wise,� Paulina said looking around the room. �This is a nice room. Someone staying here?�
�Uh�� Jenai began and looked at Nickolas.
�Sergeant Richardson is using it for police business,� Nickolas stated. �Nothing to be worried about though.�
�You seem so confident,� Paulina said.
�Excuse me,� Marty said walking away.
�Nick�s his partner,� Jenai started, �so he knows what�s going on.�
�A man of the law,� Paulina said. �How attractive.� Jenai looked at her. �I always found policemen attractive.�
�Really?� Jenai said.
�Yeah,� Paulina stated. �Ever since I was a little girl.� She looked at Nickolas. �But you�re too cute to be a man of the law.� Nickolas just gave a smirk. �You have that superstar look.�
�I get that a lot,� Nickolas replied. �But I love my job.�
�So how did you and Marty meet?� Jenai asked trying to change the subject.
�At work,� Paulina answered not taking her gaze from Nickolas. �I had to review his photos.�
�He takes great photos,� Jenai stated.
�So, Nick,� Paulina began, �how did a gorgeous guy like you get into the police work?�
�Um�my grandfather and uncle were cops and I really admired them,� Nickolas replied. �So here I am a detective at age twenty-four.�
�Wow,� Paulina said. �Impressive.�
�And a great detective he is,� Jenai added putting her arm in Nickolas� and he looked at her.
�I�m sure he is,� Paulina said, as her cell rang. �Excuse me.�
�No problem,� Nickolas said, as Paulina walked away.
�The nerve of her,� Jenai said.
�What?�
�She�s with my brother and was totally hitting on you.�
�No she wasn�t.�
�Yes she was.� Impersonating Marilyn Monroe Jenai said, �a man of the law, how attractive.�� Jenai shuddered. �I bet she doesn�t even find cops attractive.� She shook her head. �How did a gorgeous guy like you get into the police work?� Ugh! The nerve of some people.�
�Ya jealous?�
�Ha, no.�
�Well ya sound it.�
�Well I�m not.� She smiled.
�And you�re acting it.�
�How so, Detective?� He looked down at their arms.
�Oh�um�� She left him go. �Sorry.�
�You didn�t have to let go.�
�Well I don�t�you don�t�I was just...� He looked at her and raised an eyebrow. �We shouldn�t give people the wrong impression.�
�And what impression would that be exactly, Miss Richardson?�
�That we�re a couple�because we�re not.�
�Right.� He sighed. �We just share a couple kisses that Jakob happened to witness. Excuse me.� He walked away.
�Nick, wait a sec.� She watched him say something to Kevin and then go out the door. �Damn it.� She gave a disgusted grunt and then went back out to the terrace.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Jenai leaned on the balcony banister and thought about everything going on in her life. Nothing really positive going on in her life at the moment, besides Nickolas maybe. She sighed at the thought of him and grinned. Ever since she saw him there was not a moment that went by where she didn�t think of him. It wasn�t a bad thing completely; it kept her mind off of what was happening. She didn�t even think about what was going to happen. All she thought about was Nickolas and how safe she felt when he was around. She didn�t seem to worry about a thing. There was just one problem though; he wore a badge and she hated it. She sighed and the door opened. She looked hoping it was Nickolas, but saw Justin instead.
�You�ve been out here for awhile,� Justin began, �so Kris made me bring ya something to eat.� He walked over and put the plate on the banister.
�Thanks, but I really ain�t hungry,� Jenai said.
�Alright.� She looked away. �Everyone�s asking for ya.�
�I ain�t in the socializing mood right now.�
�Are you all right?�
�I�m fine; just trying to clear my head.�
�I�m here if ya want to talk.�
�The only thing you want to talk about, J, is us and us getting back together. It ain�t going to happen.�
�Why not? I love you.�
�But that�s not enough. You broke my heart and were going to go ahead and marry Terri.�
�But I didn�t, because I love you.�
�You didn�t realize it soon enough though and that�s where you screwed up on us.�
�I know that and I want to make it right between us.�
�And how are you going to do that, Justin?�
�Let�s get married.�
�Excuse me?�
�Let�s go to the Justice of the Peace right now and get married.�
�I don�t think so.�
�Why not? It�s what you wanted for us.�
�Yeah, like, ten months ago. Things change.�
�But not my love for you.�
�Mine did though and I think it was for the better for me.�
�You can�t forget what we shared, Josie, because it�s impossible.�
�Don�t do this now, Justin.� Her voice was a little louder. �You had your shot with me and you ruined it when you chose Terri over me. So don�t stand there and act like you didn�t do anything wrong, because you did.�
�But I love you.�
�Well I don�t love you anymore and you have to accept that.�
�And I don�t believe you.�
�Then that�s your problem.� He sighed and then grabbed her and kissed her. She pushed him away and they looked at each other. �You have some nerve. Quit obsessing over me and move on, Justin. I did.�
�Right.� He chuckled. �With the fine Detective Underwood. Or maybe it�s Detective Carter. Hell perhaps you�re screwing both. You can�t even go ten days without�� Jenai punched him in the face and knocked him off balance.
�I�m not sleeping with Jakob or with Nick. Even if I was it�d be none of your damn business. God, you�re�just stay the hell away from me, Timberlake.� She went inside and everyone looked. �What? Take a damn picture, because it lasts longer.� She started walking to the door, but stopped and took her knee brace off. She threw it on the floor and then went out the door.
�Go get her,� Kevin said to Nickolas, as Justin walked back in and they looked.
�No problem,� Nickolas said, as Justin watched him walk out.
�And you,� Kevin said to Justin. �Outside now.� Kevin pushed Justin back out onto the balcony, as Jakob and Marty followed behind.
CHAPTER 25
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