Justice Burning (Hellfire #2) by Elle James Page A

take a step backward and reach for the doorknob. She twisted the handle, without taking her gaze off the man whose face she couldn’t make out in the shadow from the hat’s rim. “Who’s there?” she asked, her fingers turning the knob behind her back. It didn’t turn. The door had closed and locked automatically.
    Her pulse kicked up a notch, slamming blood through her veins in double-time.
    “It’s okay,” he said. “It’s me, Nash Grayson.”
    She let go of the breath she’d drawn in, and laughed shakily. “Don’t scare me like that.”
    Deputy Grayson nodded toward the door behind her. “It locked, didn’t it?”
    Phoebe grimaced. “Yeah. I’ll have to go around the front to get in.” She tilted her head to the side. “I thought you’d left a long time ago.”
    “I left when the saloon closed, but sat in my truck. Figured you might need a ride back to Hellfire. Most of the waitresses who work here live in or near Temptation. It’s the opposite direction from where you need to go.”
    She smiled. “Thanks. Jackson gave me a ride here and Audrey was going to take me home, but from the sound of it, I need to find alternate transportation. I don’t like being a burden on anyone.”
    “Rider should be able to get a tire on that rental car by tomorrow, if you give him the go ahead.”
    She pulled the wad of cash from her pocket and held it up. “Not bad, for my first night.” Phoebe pushed the money back into her pocket and descended the steps to the ground. “I’ll check with Charli and Libby. If they don’t need me anymore, I’m ready to leave.”
    Deputy Grayson nodded and accompanied her around the side of the saloon. The parking lot was empty except for the two vehicles in the back and a truck Phoebe assumed belonged to the deputy.
    Phoebe stopped at the front door and turned to face Nash. “You know, just because you rescued me from the side of the road today, doesn’t mean you’re responsible for me.”
    His brows rose and his lips quirked upward on the corners. “Do you want me to leave you to walk back to Hellfire?”
    The thought of running into the two men from earlier sent a chill slithering across the back of her neck. But she shook her head. “No, I don’t want you to leave me to walk. I didn’t want to ask Libby or Charli for a ride, because I know they live toward Temptation, and they’re as tired as I am.”
    “Then it’s settled.” He opened the door and held it. “I’m giving you a ride home. Not out of a sense of responsibility, but because I’m headed that direction anyway.”
    “Oh. Okay.” She found Charli and Libby in the storeroom. “Need me to stick around?”
    “We’re done here.” Charli gathered empty boxes in her arms and straightened. “See you tomorrow, then?”
    If she wasn’t in jail for murder. “You bet.” She turned to find Deputy Grayson behind her. How ironic to have him taking her back to Hellfire when he might be the one to haul her off to jail when someone stumbled on the body in the trunk of her rental car.
    Too tired to care and thinking the bed in the jail house sounded like heaven, Phoebe smiled. “I’m ready.” For whatever is thrown my way. After the day she’d had, her luck couldn’t get worse. And she still had to find a way to get Ryan’s body out of the trunk before someone discovered it.

    A s they left the saloon , Nash hooked his hand through Phoebe’s elbow and steered her toward his truck, the only vehicle left in the front parking area. “You never said where you’re from.”
    “No, I didn’t,” she responded.
    Shaking off the bolt of electricity inspired by touching Phoebe, Nash laughed. “I take it you still aren’t going to tell me.”
    “No. And if you’re going to question me all the way back to Hellfire, I’ll have to pass on the ride.” She pulled free of his grip and stepped away from truck. “Charli could give me a ride back.”
    Nash held up a hand. “Okay, okay. I promise not to grill