Imperfect Justice by Olivia Jaymes

places.
    “I guess I should be going.”
    Jared picked up his coat and shrugged it on, his expression giving nothing away. Was he happy to leave or did he wish he could stay? She was confused herself so she wouldn’t blame him if he didn’t know. Part of her wanted him to leave so she could be alone with her thoughts but another part of her wanted him to stay and continue the sensual exploration they’d started the night before.
    “I made tea.” She pointed to the mug but he shook his head. “Sorry I don’t have any coffee.”
    “I need to get on the road. I have to get back to my place, shower, and change for work today.” He paused and smiled. “Listen, I hope you don’t regret what we did. I know I don’t. But you’re still planning to leave, right?”
    She placed the mug on the counter. “Yes, that hasn’t changed. I guess our timing sucks.”
    “Yeah, it kind of does, doesn’t it? If you weren’t leaving…”
    “But I am,” she said quickly. Making love to him was amazing but she wouldn’t be deterred from her plans. “So you know more about this than I do. What happens now?”
    “Usually one night stands don’t end well because one of the parties wants more. But this is different.” He held out his hand. “How about we shake and be friends? I like you, Misty, whether we sleep together or not. I think you’re a good person. I’d like to be able to call you my friend.”
    She placed her hand in his larger one, the skin warm and comforting. “I’d like that. I think you’re a good person too. So we’re friends now?”
    His hand fell away and she felt a sense of loss. “We are. If you ever need anything you just let me know.”
    “You too,” she replied as he stuck his hat on his head and fished in his pocket for car keys. “Drive careful.”
    “I will. Let me know if you need a ride back to the garage.”
    It was sweet of him to offer but it was better if she didn’t see much of him from here on out. He made her normally logical thoughts fuzzy. She’d ask Rayne for a ride.
    “I’ll be fine. Thank you. I mean…for the ride home last night.”
    He smiled a little wider at her stammer. She didn’t want him to think she was thanking him for the terrific sex although she probably should. He’d shown her a side of herself she hadn’t even known existed.
    Or maybe she did and that’s why she’d worked so hard to suppress it.
    He leaned forward and dropped a kiss on her forehead. His male scent surrounded her and she had to force her arms to stay at her side instead of wrapping around his waist.
    “Take care, Misty.”
    “Bye, Jared.”
    Then he was gone. She watched from the window as he drove away, his taillights finally disappearing in the distance. Sitting down on the rumpled bed that still smelled like sex she lifted a pillow to her nose and breathed in deeply of the woodsy citrus scent that would always remind her of Jared. She wrapped her arms around it and pulled it close to her chest.
    It was one night and it was over. She needed to concentrate on her future. Outside of Fielding. And away from Jared Monroe.

Chapter Seven

    “A re you coming down with something?” Rayne asked Misty as they sat in the diner. Misty had been busy with preparations for moving – packing, turning utilities on in Seattle, among other things.
    She and Jared had kept to their bargain. Neither of them had called the other since that night. She’d seen him once at the pizza place but they’d simply smiled and nodded. Just as casual friends might.
    Misty didn’t want to think about how she’d reacted. Her pulse had sped up and her palms started to sweat. Even her stomach had gone fluttery when he was near.
    She couldn’t get their night together out of her mind. She thought about it constantly, torturing herself in the middle of the night. She needed to move on and packing her apartment was a good start.
    “I think I might be,” Misty admitted. “All I do in the evenings is lie on the