Dangerous Lies (Badge of Honor #2)

Chapter 28

A breeze rippled across the lake, sending gentle waves lapping against the dock and lifting strands of Megan’s hair. Ducks swam lazily past, gliding over the water’s shimmering surface. Sunshine warmed her shoulders. Across the yard, her grandparents’ voices drifted in easy conversation as they debated where to plant the tomatoes for their garden. She smiled at the sound of Nana’s laugh.

They were happy. The threats were over, the criminals locked up. All was right in the world.

Almost, anyway.

As she had so many times in the past week, Megan thought of Jax. They’d spoken a few times. She’d visited him in the hospital. But neither of them had brought up their future. She understood, without him telling her, that he needed space. Love didn’t fix everything. Their history was complicated, tangled up in grief and old wounds. And even if—and it was a big if—they pursued a relationship, it would affect Jax’s family.

They might never accept her.

Megan had made peace with that. If Jax walked away, she would be gracious. It would shatter her heart, but she would never come between him and the people he loved. The Taylors had endured enough loss.

The scrape of a boot against the dock cut through her thoughts. A long shadow fell over her, momentarily blocking out the sun. Megan’s heart skipped a beat. Any bravery she’d been building crumbled the second she met Jax’s gaze.

“Hey.” His lips curved into a devastating smile. “Mind if I join you?”

She nodded, not trusting herself to speak.

Jax lowered himself beside her, his long legs dangling over the edge. His nearness sent a riot of butterflies fluttering through her stomach. She tried to push them down, but it was impossible. He had an effect on her that couldn’t be wrangled.

Her gaze dropped to the sling cradling his arm. “How’s your shoulder?”

“It still hurts, but it’s healing.” He drew in a deep breath and nodded toward the scorched patch in her yard. “I see you hauled away the boathouse.”

“Pops took care of it.” Megan glanced behind her and nearly groaned. Her grandparents were not-so-subtly watching them from the porch. She scowled and waved behind Jax’s back, signaling them to stop staring. So embarrassing.

Jax chuckled, missing nothing. “Your grandparents are happy.” His lips quirked. “I dare say, I think your grandfather might like me now.”

Megan laughed. “You’ve come a long way with Pops, that’s true. I think it was the press conference that finally won him over. Chief Garcia announced I was officially cleared of any wrongdoing.” She nudged Jax lightly with her shoulder. “Thank you.”

“For what? Chief Garcia told the truth, that’s all.”

She arched a brow. “Dawson already ratted you out. He let it slip that you specifically asked the chief to include that in the announcement.”

Jax didn’t respond, just gave her a quiet, almost bashful look. Megan’s heart squeezed. Even now, even after everything, he was still protecting her.

“It means a lot,” she murmured.

His gaze lingered on her face before flickering out toward the lake. Tension rolled off him, subtle but unmistakable. Megan tensed in response.

“What is it?”

“I spoke to my family this afternoon.”

“Oh.” She winced, bracing herself for heartbreak.

“I told them I’m in love with you.” Megan’s breath stalled. Jax said it so casually, like it was something he’d been saying to her for years. Like it was the most natural thing in the world. “And that I want you to be a part of my life. A big part.”

She stared, unsure if she’d heard him right.

“They’d like you to come to Sunday lunch,” he continued. “In two weeks. So… I guess I’m asking if you’d like to.”

Megan blinked. “Your family wants me to come to Sunday lunch?” Her voice was laced with disbelief. “But what about?—”

“It was never your fault. And finally, my family is ready to heal.” His gaze searched hers, questioning. Then he swallowed hard. “But if your feelings have changed, that’s okay. Just say so. It was a crazy week, with a maniac trying to kill us, and—well, we can continue on as friends.”

She sucked in a breath, her pulse hammering. “No, Jax. We can never be friends.”

His face fell, just slightly, but before he could react, Megan reached up and cupped his cheek. “I could never be just your friend,” she whispered. “I love you too much for that.”

Relief crashed through his expression. “Oh, thank God. I was worried for a second that I was going to have to be your friend while being hopelessly in love with you.” His lips tilted. “Pretty sure that would be harder than being your enemy.”

“You were never my enemy. I didn’t like you much, but you weren’t my enemy.”

Jax threw his head back and laughed, the rich sound carrying on the wind, filling Megan’s chest with warmth. She could spend forever like this—sitting on a dock, next to Jax, listening to him laugh.

Then he looked at her, and all the air fled her lungs.

Megan’s heart tumbled over itself as he leaned in, his lips brushing against hers in a whisper-soft touch. The world faded, shrinking to nothing but him—this moment, this man. Jax kissed her like he had all the time in the world, like he was memorizing her. His good arm wrapped around her, pulling her close, anchoring her against him. The heat of his palm pressed into her lower back, sending shivers up her spine.

Megan melted into him, her hands sliding up his chest, feeling the steady thrum of his heartbeat beneath her fingertips.

No, she took it back.

She could spend the rest of her life like this.

Sitting on a dock.

Kissing the man she loved.

Dawson hit save on his report and scrubbed a hand over his tired eyes. It had been one exhausting day. He reached for the coffee mug sitting on a warmer and scowled at the empty bottom. Maybe it was for the best. He’d had enough caffeine to fuel a jet.

But they’d put a murderer away for life. Not too shabby.

“What are you still doing here?” Noah poked his head over the top of Dawson’s cubicle. “Weren’t you supposed to go home an hour ago?”

The chief had ordered him to clock out, but Dawson hated leaving without filing his reports. “Just finishing up.” His gaze swept over his fellow detective. Noah looked worse for wear after working around the clock for the last week. His hair stood up in spikes, and the bags under his eyes were deep enough to look permanent. “You aren’t on duty tomorrow, are you?”

Noah shook his head. “I’m spending the day with my wife.” He grimaced. “Provided she remembers we’re still married. I haven’t seen Felicity in days. Every time I popped home to check on Hope, she was gone. She’s been working a big case too.”

Noah’s wife was a Texas Ranger.

Dawson grinned. “Going through withdrawal?”

“Yep, and not ashamed to admit it.” Noah grinned. “There’s only two things in life I need. My daughter and my wife. Not necessarily in that order, mind you, but it’s hard when work takes me away from them.”

A pang ricocheted through Dawson’s chest. There had been a time he’d felt the same way—when going home at the end of a long shift meant seeing the woman he loved. But those days were long over. Tragedy had shattered his marriage. And his heart.

Noah tapped on the top of the cubicle, pulling Dawson from his thoughts. “Go home, man. You look ready to drop.”

“I will.” He had one more report to get through first. “Good work, by the way.”

“You too.” Noah fist-bumped him. “We make a good team.”

“Yes we do.”

They’d come perilously close to losing Megan and Jax. If they’d arrived at the barn even a minute later… Dawson didn’t let himself finish the thought.

“Night, Noah. Give my love to Felicity and Hope.”

Noah yawned and nodded, waving as he headed for the front door.

Silence settled over the station. Dawson liked it when things were quiet. It was so different from the constant chaos of the Dallas Police Department, where he’d worked for ten years before coming home to Knoxville. Scrubbing his hands down his face, he opened his eyes wide and set his jaw. “Okay. Last report, then I’m out.”

He clicked on the document and started typing. Just as he was about to finish, his cell phone rang.

He answered it absently. “This is Graham.”

“Dawson.”

He froze as the all-too-familiar voice spilled from the Bluetooth speaker in his ear.

Payton.

His ex-wife.

“I’m sure… I know this isn’t…” She muttered something under her breath and then inhaled sharply. “I need your help, Dawson. It’s a matter of life and death.”

Thank you for reading Dangerous Lies !