Erotic Deception by Karen Cote'

emotions now seem in jeopardy? Did Lily Delaney’s cry for help threaten his self-preservation? It shouldn’t, but it did.
    Hell, he wasn’t sure she needed protection. It wasn’t that he didn’t believe her, exactly. But how far would Capriccio go in light of the evidence against him? There was no proof of foul play outside of a kid who couldn’t be identified. What if the kid hadn’t been telling the truth? Better yet, who’d believe a kid with a previous drug problem over an elected official such as the District Attorney?
    “If you don’t need me for anything else, I’m going out on patrol.”
    Mark stood in the doorway and Jet welcomed the distraction and straightened in his chair.
    “I need you to add Dr. Delaney’s house to your route for the next few days.”
    Mark raised his brows. “Someone bothering Lily?”
    The familiarity struck a nerve. “Dr. Delaney,” Jet emphasized the more formal address, “thought she saw a light of some sort behind her house last night. I doubt it’s anything, but include her on your watch just in case.”
    Mark nodded, his eyes twinkling. “And just when I thought the night was going to be boring.”
    A zing of jealousy ricocheted in his abdomen, but the buzzing of his phone waylaid his response.
    “Better get that, boss,” Mark winked and with an infuriating wave, sauntered out.
    Jet’s tone was curt when he answered the phone.
    “So you’re not dead?” The phone leaked sarcasm from his brother-in-law and best friend.
    “No, Don,” Jet let out a breath, still stinging with irritation caused by his deputy. “Just a little banged up.”
    “A little banged up?” Don challenged. “Cheryl came home last night upset at having to stitch you up.”
    Jet’s sister was a tough nurse. She’d been mildly perturbed the night before, but had been fine when he’d left the hospital. It was obvious where the root of this concern stemmed from.
    “Calm down, Donna ,” Jet teased. “Take a bubble bath, grab some Bon Bons and turn on your favorite soap opera. I’ll be over later with some tissues.”
    “Asshole,” Don muttered.
    Jet relented and cut his friend some slack. In a reversed role, he’d be just as concerned.
    “I’m fine, Don,” Jet reassured. “So stop acting like a mother hen.”
    “Can’t I at least get the right gender here?” Don growled although his tone was less tense. “As a matter of fact there’s another reason I’m calling. Apparently, Rachel asked Cheryl about another get-together at the cabin next weekend.”
    A smile inched across Jet’s face at the memory of the last get-together. “Nice girl.”
    “Nice, huh?” Don’s snicker widened Jet’s grin. “If your sister suspected half of what y’all did in the room next to us, she wouldn’t be as eager to get you two back together.”
    It would serve Cheryl right. She’d tried her hand at a little matchmaking. At first, Jet had been resistant. But far from the intended serious hook-up, the time with Rachel had been casual, hot and most of all, uncomplicated. It also reminded him how long it’d been since he’d enjoyed that particular pleasure. He pulled her features to mind, but instead of the perky brown-haired woman he remembered, a blonde thick mane with green eyes clouded the vision. He cursed under his breath.
    “Let’s do it,” Jet said, making a decision. He’d handle the Delaney situation and if nothing else, keep her whereabouts under the radar until she could stabilize her life and get out of his.
    * * * *
    The light barely lit up the large basement and Lily descended the stairs and mentally rolled up her sleeves.
    On the last step, an unmistakable sticky substance latched onto her hair and she squealed, her arms going up in protective dismay. Her efforts vibrated the large brown spider in what was once a perfect octagonal web. Lily sprinted forward and shuddered in disgust while slapping her hands over her face and hair. She glanced up just in time to see the