Page 127 of Lethal Danger

“Did he offer any names? Who he thinks killed Sam?”

“I guess he mentioned Best Life, the cult, but I don’t really know what he said about that.”

“It’s really sad.”

Nev angled toward Jazz. “You sound like you don’t think he’s guilty of the sabotage. And Aunt Joan.”

“I don’t know. He could be.” Jazz ran her finger along the mug in her hands. “Aunt Joan said he was super angry after Sam’s death and blamed the fair.” Jazz blew out a breath. “Maybe he could’ve blamed Aunt Joan personally since she was General Manager at the time.”

Nev nodded. “He could’ve killed her on purpose because he thinks she let his son die.”

“Hard to imagine. But at least if he did it, the danger would be over now.”

“What does Hawthorne think about Gary as the culprit?”

Jazz shortened her sip of coffee and swallowed before answering. “I don’t know. I didn’t have a chance to talk to him after the arrest.” She grabbed her phone off the bedspread. “I’ll text him. He gets up early, too.” She smiled as her pulse pumped a little faster. “You know, we really have a lot in common.”

“I talked to him yesterday.”

Jazz glanced at Nev. “You mean after Freddie—I mean, Gary—was arrested?”

“No, earlier. About you.”

Jazz’s stomach clenched. Though she shouldn’t be surprised. Nev was protective in the extreme. And, for some reason, she’d decided Hawthorne wasn’t right for Jazz. So of course, she’d go poking her nose where it didn’t belong.

Nev folded her leg onto the bed to face Jazz more fully. “Do you love him?”

Good thing Jazz hadn’t been drinking her coffee at that moment. She might’ve spit it out. But the answer came quickly, shooting from her heart to her mouth. “Yes.” The realization of what she’d already, secretly, known to be true filled her with warmth from her belly to her chest and outward to all her extremities. She didn’t have to look into a mirror to know her smile was beaming. “Yes, I do love him.”

Nev looked away. “That’s what I was afraid of.”

The happiness spreading through Jazz halted as if it hit a hard wall. “I don’t understand why you don’t like him.”

“It’s not that I don’t like him.”

“Then why can’t you be happy for me? I was happy for you with Branson.”

“It isn’t the same.”

Jazz pushed off the bed and stalked a few steps away. “Yes, it is.”

“Jazz, Hawthorne isn’t right for you. He doesn’t want to commit to one person, let alone one location.”

Jazz jerked toward Nev, irritation sparking. “Did he tell you that?”

“He told me he’s never had a long-term relationship and that he doesn’t want to get married.”

Jazz crossed her arms and turned away. “Tons of men say that until they fall in love with the right woman.” She heard Nev approach her from behind.

Nev put her hand on Jazz’s bicep. “But he doesn’t even believe in marriage. At least not for him. He says a lifelong commitment is one of the most dangerous things. He called it being trapped.”

The words stung, even though Jazz refused to believe they were true. Nev was probably taking them out of context to make Hawthorne sound worse. She spun to face Nev. “Why were you even asking him about all that?”

Nev’s thick eyebrows lowered as her voice raised. “Because I’m worried about you. We watch out for each other. Always.”

“It doesn’t look like you’re watching out for me.” She glared down at Nev. “It sounds like you’re trying to ruin the one good thing that’s happened to me.”

“But it’s not what you think.” Nev lifted her hands out from her sides in a frustrated motion. “Did you know he’s a Christian? Even if he suddenly decided he wanted to get married, he wouldn’t marry you because you’re not a believer.”

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