Read Busted: Promise Harbor, Book 3 for Free Online Page A

were working here.
    “Most guys would move on after last night,” Eric pointed out.
    “Hayley was just doing her job.” Jackson actually sounded like he meant it, and when he met Hayley’s eyes, those clear baby blues reflected only sincerity.
    Jackson Knight was a far better actor than she would have given him credit for. She knew popular hockey players like Jackson routinely had microphones shoved in their faces after a game and were expected to say all the right things regardless of a win or a loss. She hadn’t remembered Jackson being quite that good though.
    “Yeah, well, let’s hope everyone else forgives her as quickly as you have.”
    Eyes narrowed, Jackson moved a little closer to Hayley. The sharp, clean scent of his skin filled her senses. “She doesn’t need anyone’s forgiveness. She didn’t do anything wrong.”
    With a humoring smile firmly in place, Eric stepped back. “I guess I’ll see you two at the wedding.”
    Jackson waited until Eric was out of earshot. “ He’s going to Josh and Allie’s wedding?”
    She shrugged. “He’s a Thorton.” Eric’s family owned numerous businesses in Promise Harbor, including the fish plant and the newspaper. And like much of the country, the Thortons hadn’t escaped hard economic times.
    “You ready to go?” Jackson’s voice carried far enough for at least half the small police station to hear him.
    Preferring not to give her fellow officers anything else to talk about, she led the way outside and down the sidewalk to where her truck was parked.
    Jackson shoved his hands in his pockets and studied the street.
    Crossing her arms, Hayley gave him a once-over. “What was that about?”
    “Seemed like a good idea at the time.” He paused, watching two kids on bikes ride past. “I can’t believe you actually dated that asshole.”
    “That makes two of us.”
    “I forgot Matt had mentioned it until I saw you two talking. Given how red the tips of your ears were turning, it’s a wonder you didn’t arrest him instead of me last night.”
    She started to raise her hands, then let them drop back to her sides. “They do not turn red.”
    “Sure they do. Not nearly as noticeable now with the blonde hair though.” He leaned back against her truck, looking way too comfortable.
    “No offence, but I don’t think I can trust your judgment about my ears or anything else from high school after you confused me with Helen-basement-blowjob-Anderson.”
    Jackson laughed. “I thought that was just locker room talk.”
    “So her supposed skills weren’t the reason you borrowed my parents’ truck and took her up to Sunset Bluff?”
    “Those supposed skills were exactly why I took her. I just didn’t realize the whole school knew that about her.”
    “It’s kind of a small town,” she confided.
    “Yeah, it is.” The playfulness faded, replaced by something else. Regret?
    When his attention dropped to the pavement, she decided to change the subject. “Thanks for stepping in with Eric, but—”
    “You could have handled it yourself,” he finished for her.
    A smile tugged at her lips. “Maybe.” Jackson had certainly saved her from having to endure Eric’s presence. If she’d told her ex how she really felt, then she’d be just giving her captain more grief, seeing as Eric’s father was one of the town’s most influential patriarchs.
    God, why did it feel like Eric was still screwing her over?
    Jackson returned her grin, and the slow curve of his lips was far more potent when unleashed in person. Ignoring the warming sensation in her stomach that made her think long and hard about taking a step closer to him, she rounded her truck to the driver’s side. Jackson followed.
    “Guess that makes us even then.” She’d taken the blame for the truck incident years ago, and now he’d made up for it by diffusing an uncomfortable situation with Eric. She opened her door.
    “Sure, if we don’t count the fact that you arrested me last