Cautious, she peered out of the peephole. She wouldn't open the door to strangers.
Knox. Here. At her home. She hadn't expected that. At all. In fact, as pissed off as he'd been Saturday night, she hadn't expected to see him ever again.
Jenna didn't know what had brought him to her front door but she was irrationally happy to see him. Sadly, she didn't hold out any hope that he'd changed his mind. He'd been more than adamant. No, he was probably here to tell her more ways she'd disappointed him, but that didn't stop her from opening the door.
Without a word, Knox brushed past her, striding into the middle of her bland home. Surrounded by nothing but beige and tan, he appeared to be the most vital thing in the living room. She couldn't stop herself from drinking in his presence, far too handsome and way cockier than any human being should have a right to be. But there he was, standing there in a casual pair of blue jeans and a black button-down shirt but somehow looking like a goddamn male movie star.
It ought to be illegal to be that good looking and sexy.
With all that looks and charisma, she wondered why he was here. Surely, he'd already replaced her with a newer model.
"Knox–"
"Let me say my piece," he said, cutting her off rudely. She would have told him off but he didn't let her get a word in edgewise. His expression was intent, focused and she had a feeling he might have rehearsed what he was going to say in the car so she just gave up and let him go. She'd tell him off afterward. "I've done a lot of thinking about this whole situation. A hell of a lot of thinking and I've come to a few conclusions."
He paused slightly and she thought this might be her chance to tell him where he could stick his thoughts but then he continued.
"First, I've decided that I'm going to help you with this investigation. But...you have to have an open mind. If the investigation points away from Cal, I don't want to hear any whining from you. We'll go where the case leads us."
Dumbfounded. That was the word she was looking for. She was dumbfounded. This was the last thing she'd expected tonight.
Knox was going to help her. He'd changed his mind.
But why? She didn't ask because he hadn't shut up yet.
"Second, if your sister is found safe and sound, I'm going to be an insufferable asshole about it."
I have no doubt about that.
"And third, there will be no romance or relationship between us. I'm only helping you with the investigation. We're not a couple. We're not even friends. We're just working together. That's it. If you can't accept those conditions then I'm out."
That hurt. She couldn't deny it but caring about her own feelings seemed petty at the moment. He was going to help them find out what happened to Lori. Finally, they were going to get some answers. This was what they'd been hoping and praying for.
"I accept your terms," she said when he stopped, waiting for her reply. "And if we find Lori safe and sound you can gloat all you like. I'll just be thrilled to find my sister alive and well."
"No relationship," he reminded her. "We're not friends."
He really wanted to twist the knife.
"As I said, I accept that. Although I think it's a mistake to act like enemies. We're going to be working together. We should at least try to get along with one another. Otherwise, this is going to be unpleasant."
"I see your point. Okay, we're friends, but we're not a couple. You need to keep your distance."
Jenna rolled her eyes. "Now you're just being ridiculous. I'm not going to assault you or try to seduce you. I don't want a man who is unwilling. I get it. You're not interested. Your virtue - what there is of it - is safe from me."
She didn't bring up the fact that it hadn't been that long ago that he'd been trying to get her into bed. Things had certainly changed since then.
He held up a file folder. "Then let's get to work. I want to hear your complete story. Every detail, even the ones you think aren't important. Then we'll go through the research my friend found today."
"I was just about to order in some dinner. Should I make it for two?"
"A working dinner, not a date."
She had to stop herself from rolling her eyes. Again.
"Got it. Now what do you want?"
It was happening. Knox was going to help.
They were going to find out what happened to Lori. Good or bad. There were answers out there, and they needed to find them.
Knox had argued with himself for over an hour before ending up at Jenna's place. After looking through the file that Chris had put together, he could no longer deny that the case intrigued him. Everything Jenna had told him was true. Her sister was supposed to show up for a date with Cal, she didn't show, and had never been heard from again except from a lone text from Lori's phone a few days later.
No other texts followed. No contact of any kind. Her phone and purse were gone, but her car wasn't. That was a red flag to Knox. There hadn't been any plane, bus, or railroad tickets found either. She'd been seen earlier in the day by her neighbors and then she was gone. She
