�Thank you,� Justin said.
�I almost forgot what a wonderful cook you were,� Jenai said and Justin smiled. �If he wasn�t a cop he could be a cook.�
�Thanks,� Justin said.
�This was good,� Jakob said. �Better than my spaghetti. �They laughed.
�You make good spaghetti,� Dannika replied.
�Thanks, Babe,� Jakob said.
�I�ll take care of the dishes,� Jenai said getting up.
�I�ll do it,� Justin said getting up also and Jenai looked at him. �You relax.�
�I can do it,� Jenai said.
�Why don�t you both do it,� Dannika suggested and they looked at her.
�I guess we could,� Jenai agreed. �What harm will it do?� Justin grinned and they both started clearing off the table. Jenai looked at him and then went inside. Justin followed her a couple seconds later and Jenai looked at him again, as he put the dishes in the sink. Justin looked at her and she looked away.
�What is it?� Justin asked.
�Nothing,� Jenai replied.
�Don�t lie,� Justin said. �When you look at me closely there�s usually something on your mind.� She grinned. �So what is it?�
�Like I said �nothing�.� He sighed and she opened the refrigerator. She got out the strawberries and looked at him again.
�What?�
�I was just thinking about the last time you made spaghetti.�
�That was the last time we had dinner together.�
�Well we didn�t actually eat it; we had it all over the kitchen.� She chuckled and so did he.
�And all over each other.� They continued laughing. �We had some good times, JJ.�
�Yeah we did.� They both smiled.
Justin sighed and said, �I�m sorry I screwed it up though.�
�So am I.� She took a bite of a strawberry. �Although those good times are in the past I�ll always cherish them.�
�So will I.� They looked at each other. �I wish I got the chance to do it over.�
�Why?�
�Because then I�d pick you over Terri.� She didn�t say anything and just looked at him. �I know I�m never going to get that chance, but its wishful thinking.�
�Yeah.� She sighed. �If it makes ya feel any better I sometimes wish the same thing.� He looked at her surprised. �When I�m thinking about all the nice things you did for me.� She grinned. �But then I remember the ass you were when you ended it and I hate you all over again.�
�I wasn�t trying to be an ass.�
�But you were.�
�I�m sorry.�
�Let�s not get into this right now. Let�s continue getting along like we have been the past few months. We never brought up the past so let�s not do it now. We�re friends, Justin, and we seem to get along better when not mentioning our past. Yes I brought it up and I�m sorry I did.�
She went to walk away, but Justin stopped her saying, �Josie.�
�It�s Jocelyne not Josie or Josephine. And don�t say it like that.�
�Like what?� She looked at him.
�All sweet and sexy.�
�You never had a problem before.�
�Times change and I wish you wouldn�t call me �Josie� anymore. It�s �Jenai� or �JJ�.�
�Gotcha.�
Jenai walked back out on the porch just as Kendra asked, �So what�s the story between JJ and Justin?�
�None of your damn business,� Jenai snapped. �Just because we all know what you really are doesn�t mean you have to have the 4-1-1 on the rest of us. Our personal lives are none of your business.� Kendra glared at her, as there were footsteps. They all looked and saw one of the guards with someone else.
�Officer Fitzgerald,� Nickolas said, as they all got up. �What�s going on?�
�I found this man snooping around,� Fitzgerald said. �He claims he�s here hunting and any local knows there�s no hunting on this mountain, because of all the cabins.�
�There�s signs posted everywhere as well,� Jenai added.
�What�s your name?� Jakob asked.
�I�m not saying anything without my lawyer,� the guy said.
�It�s just your name,� Jakob stated and the guy just looked at him.
�It�s Vin Davis,� Fitzgerald replied. �I checked his wallet.�
�What are you doing here?� Nickolas demanded.
�I want my lawyer,� Vin said.
�You�re not under arrest, Mr. Davis,� Kendra replied. �But if you refuse to cooperate with the police we can make it happen.�
�I want him arrested anyway,� Jenai said. �He trespassed on the property.�
�I did no such thing,� Vin said.
�The whole property has a fence around it with no trespassing signs posted,� Jenai began, �so don�t stand there and tell me you didn�t trespass.�
�It�s your call, Fitzgerald,� Nickolas said. �None of us have jurisdiction here to make an arrest unless it involves the case.�
�Do you want me to arrest him, Miss Richardson?� Fitzgerald asked.
�Yes I do,� Jenai said. �He trespassed on my family�s property and I want him prosecuted.
�You heard her,� Nickolas said. Fitzgerald nodded and got out his hand cuffs.
�Wait a minute,� Jakob said.
�For what?� Jenai asked.
�Let�s find out what he�s doing here first,� Jakob said. �If it�s nothing involving the case then you can have him arrested for trespassing.� She just looked at him and sighed. She shook her head and went inside. �Alright, Mr. Davis, what are you doing here?�
�Like I told the good officer,� Vin began, �I was hunting.�
�And I can arrest you for that,� Fitzgerald stated.
�What were you doing snooping around?� Nickolas questioned.
�I wasn�t,� Vin lied. �I got lost.�
�You want us to believe that?� Kendra asked. �I�m not buying that.�
�I want my lawyer,� Vin said.
�Are you refusing to cooperate?� Nickolas wanted to know. �Are you hiding something? Something as in the real reason why you�re here?�
�I want my lawyer,� Vin repeated.
�Ok,� Nickolas said disgustedly. �Cuff him.�
�You have no right,� Vin said.
�We have every right since you�re not cooperating,� Kendra said, as Fitzgerald cuffed him.
�You have no idea who you�re messing with,� Vin rebutted. �I want my lawyer.�
�We�ll give him a call,� Nickolas said. �But you�ll be stuck with us for awhile. The next shift won�t be here for another 3 � hours and that�s when your lawyer can hitch a ride.�
�What are you going to do with him until then?� Dannika asked.
�Cuff him to something until his lawyer gets here so we can question him,� Jakob replied. �He does have the right to remain silent.�
�And I�m using that right,� Vin said.
�So use it,� Nickolas said going inside and they all looked at each other.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
�Hey, Detective,� Jenai said walking into Nickolas� room. Nickolas looked up from his work and she walked over to the bed.
�Hey, JJ,� Nickolas said.
�Is this all you do?� Jenai asked sitting beside him.
�When there�s a big case,� Nickolas replied.
�No wonder you�re single.� She smiled.
�What�s your excuse?�
�I don�t like cops.� He looked at her. �Don�t look at me like that. This is one reason why I don�t get involved with your kind; you�re always working.�
�Not always.�
�Whatever.� They sat in silence a moment, as Nickolas worked and Jenai watched him. �I wanted to thank you for helping me out with Kendra.�
�What are you talking about?�
�When I was looking at those papers and you said I was allowed to even though we all know that ain�t true.�
�Oh right. You�re welcome.� They sat in silence a few more minutes and Jenai laid down at the bottom of the bed and watched Nickolas.
�So when is this Davis guy leaving?�
Nickolas looked at his watch and said, �Probably in thirty minutes to an hour.� She nodded. �Is he making you uncomfortable?�
�Just a little. There�s something about him I don�t like.�
�Anything I can help with?�
�Not really.� She sighed. �It�s probably just remembering being raped and then some guy I don�t know being around. I was feeling the same way around the ground guards earlier.�
�Are you all right though?�
�Yeah; you�re here so I have no reason not to be fine. You haven�t given me a reason yet to feel unsafe around you. You saved my life God knows how many times.�
�I do my best, JJ, plus it�s my job.�
�Right.� She sighed again and continued looking at him. �You seem tense, Detective, is everything all right?� He looked at her.
�Why don�t you stick with �Nick�; that is my name after all.�
�And this is professional after all.�
�Then should I call you �Miss Richardson�?�
�Let me think about that a second�no.�
�Alright then.�
�What�s bothering you tonight?�
�Nothing.� He looked away from her.
�Liar.� She got up and walked to him. She knelt behind him on the bed and put her hands on his shoulders.
�What are you doing?�
�I�m going to give you a massage. You�re working on a tough case and you�re tense. I�m going to help you get rid of it.�
�Thanks, but no.�
�Oh c�mon, Detective, it�ll do ya good. You�ll thank me afterwards.�
�JJ, I think��
�Don�t argue, because you�re not going to win. Just do your work and I�ll do this.� He went to protest, but stopped himself as Jenai started massaging his shoulders. �Now doesn�t this feel good?�
�Yeah�too good.� She smiled and continued, as she leaned down to his ear.
�Maybe if you�re a good boy and let me finish I�ll give you a sensual massage next.�
�The shoulders are fine, JJ.�
�Are ya sure?�
�Yeah I�m sure.� She continued smiling.
�You�re really tense, Detective, you have a lot of knots.�
�Well works just stressing me out lately.�
�Are you sure it�s work and not something else?�
�What else could it be?�
�Not being able to be with me and not being able to peel the clothes off my fine wet silky sculpted body and making love to me all night�perhaps.� She grinned, as Nickolas became tenser.
Nickolas took a deep breath and said, �Um, maybe I should get back to work.�
�I was told I have a nice soft touch that men can�t resist. What do you think? Do you agree?�
�I can�t believe you�re seducing me.�
�Excuse me? I am not seducing you.� She got up. �I�m appalled by your accusations, Detective Carter. You just wish I was seducing you.�
�Maybe so, but you were.� He got up also.
�Whatever.�
�Don�t try denying it, because I know what I felt and heard.� He stood in front of her. �You do know that you don�t have to seduce me, right?�
�You men are all alike. You think every woman wants you.�
�No, but I know you want me.� She rolled her eyes. �Ok, then what are you doing in here if it�s not to seduce me?�
�It was a lot more fun without you mentioning it.� She turned and walked out. Nickolas smiled and went to sit back down when he heard, �You men really know how to ruin things. I don�t know what it is we females see in you. I think the whole world would be better off if everyone was gay. I mean you men are all the same and would have longer lasting relationships. You�re all conceited and pig-headed and perverted and arrogant and�and�and�self-righteous bastards and disrespectful and so many other things. I just don�t understand why we�re into you.�
�Because we�re��
�I can�t wait until this case is over because then I won�t have to see you anymore. I can go on living my life happy and free like I�ve been doing.�
�JJ, if you want me then just say so. You don�t have to get pissed at me or seduce me.�
�Ugh! You�re�you�re�ugh!� She walked out again, slamming the door shut and Nickolas stood there waiting a moment. He watched the door fly open and Jenai asked. �So was it working?�
�Really well.�
�Good.� She walked over and kissed him. She put her arms around him, as he kissed her in return.
Nickolas started kissing her neck before they heard, �Hey, Nick, Jakob needs you.� Jenai and Nickolas stopped kissing and looked to see Dannika. She smiled and Jenai and Nickolas looked at each other.
�You�re right,� Nickolas began, �that lotion does smell good.�
Dannika raised an eyebrow, as Jenai said, �I�m, uh, going to�� She pointed to the door and walked out. Dannika watched her and then looked back at Nickolas.
�Jake actually needs the Fatone file,� Dannika stated.
�Right,� Nickolas said going through the files on the bed.
�So,� Dannika said smiling. �What�s the story with you two?�
�No story,� Nickolas lied.
�Don�t give me that shit. I saw that kiss.� He gave a little grin and picked up a folder. �Don�t tell me it was just a friendly kiss, because friends don�t use tongues like you two were. Nor do they suck on each others necks.�
�I was checking out her body lotion.�
�I saw the whole thing, Nickolas, so don�t give me that shit.� He grinned and shrugged and walked out with Dannika behind him. �It�s ok, because I think you two are the cutest couple I�ve seen.�
�Thanks for the encouragement, Dani.�
�I ain�t going to say anything though, because I know the rules.�
�That�s good.�
�And I respect your privacy.�
�Thank you.� He handed the file to Jakob.
�Thanks, man,� Jakob said.
�Does Kevin know?� Dannika asked and Nickolas looked at her.
�Everyone knows he�s interested in Jenai,� Jakob stated and Nickolas sighed. �Ok maybe not everyone, but just the important ones.�
�Right,� Nickolas said looking out the patio door. �What�s JJ doing?�
�Huh?� Justin asked, as they all got up and looked out, as Jenai stared at Vin.
CHAPTER 16
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