Clean Lines (Cedar Tree #4) Read Online Free PDF Page A

in her hairline. "Really? Do I know him?"
    "Ha. Yes you do, in fact. Fox, you twit. Who else? You know I don't date."
    "Damn. I was hoping... I mean, of course I'd love for Fox to come if he wants to?"
    I roll my eyes at her, knowing full well she’d like nothing more than to have me find a man now that she’s found hers. I have my hands full with my son right now though. Don’t really feel the need to add more testosterone in the mix.
    "I'll check with him. Gotta run now, honey. Thanks again."
    I give her a little wave over my shoulder as I head down the hall toward the ED.

    "So how come you're not asking me to that party, Sheriff?"
    Fuck. I knew I made a mistake when I hooked up with Jenna. The woman grates on my nerves with her assumptions and her cutesy nicknames. It doesn't matter how often I tell her I'm not interested in any kind of relationship, it seems to go in one ear and out the other. She manages to zone in on me like some homing device whenever I'm within range of the hospital. It's creepy as shit. For the longest time, she'd been making eyes at me while I still had hopes to set things right with Naomi, but after she knocked me down once again, I turned around and found a willing Jenna ready to take me home. So I went. Not my proudest moment, nor were the moments that followed, when I went back to try and fuck away the frustration over a woman I couldn't have. Like a total moron I got sucked right in when guilt compelled me to take her out for a few meals. When she started spouting around that we were an 'item,' I called things off right away. Asshole move, I know, but I never promised anything more than that, and I've always been brutally clear about it. Today is no exception. I don't need that kind of bullshit and even though I was called away to help settle down an injured but unruly prisoner before I could set her straight, I waste no time when she corners me at the nurse's station the moment I walk back out.
    "Jenna, for fuck's sake, how many times do we have to go over this? I've been straight with you from the start; there is no relationship. There never was and it's not going to happen now. I've held back before, not wanting to cause a scene in public, but you're not letting up with the inappropriate behavior in public. You're leaving me no choice. Drop it already."
    I really feel like an absolute ass already, but I'm fed up from having to pry her off me every time she spots me. The look on her face is one of anger; surprisingly. I had expected maybe tears or hurt, but she's clearly pissed off. When she turns on her heels and marches down the hall, she almost knocks Naomi over. Fuck. I hadn't seen her there and she looks equally pissed. Isn't that great.
    "You seem to have a way with women, don't you, Sheriff?" she hisses as she walks by me.
    Fucking brilliant.
    The woman who's been stuck under my skin like some kind of festering splinter; the one I haven't been able to banish from my thoughts for longer than a few hours at most since the day I first set eyes on her, has to be witness to yet another one of my prouder moments. I should pack it up and move to Alaska. Start the fuck over again, 'cause it seems no matter what I do, however well I do professionally, I manage to screw up my personal life like nobody's business.
    Thank God I manage to avoid both angry women while I wait for my prisoner to get fixed up enough for me to take to jail. Next time I'll send a couple of deputies; be a long time before I set foot in this damn hospital again.

    Two weeks later I'm breaking my own vow.
    We've had some reports of vandalism near Crow Canyon Archeological Center come in over the last few weeks. Predominantly littering and a bit of damage at some of the excavation sites, which I suspect may be the work of teens. I've been checking around there after dark a few random nights without any luck, but tonight I can spot the unmistakable glow of a fire as soon as I pass the outer building of the center. Turning