Page 60 of Hannah's Truth

“Thanks.” That small thing would ensure Hannah wouldn’t take the fall for something she hadn’t done. “That girl has always been my favorite analyst.”

As they mingled with the other guests, Bart discovered no one expected him to give all the romantic gushy answers. Everyone looked to Hannah for that side of the story. She wove a believable tale for them and he just had to stand there and smile adoringly.

It was easier than it should have been. Before long even he was starting to buy into the idea that their professional friendship had sparked this romantic outcome.

Since her story never wavered, he was soon telling an abbreviated version when the crowd pulled them in different directions. He’d never thought he could be this at ease, this comfortable, with a woman again, much less a wife.

After Beth the only personal relationship he’d wanted was with his son. Not an easy task for a Special Forces soldier, and while he’d been planning his next step, getting injured during training had only accelerated the inevitable.

Maybe Hannah had a point about his abilities as a father. Listening to her now, she sure as hell convinced the room he was the perfect husband. Maria was right, his son should have been here. The kid would have loved it despite the cheesy wedding décor.

Except this wasn’t real. Bart scrubbed at his face. He hadn’t taken vows with a woman he wanted to spend his life with. No, they’d leaped into bed and out again nearly as fast.

He jumped when Maria gave him a nudge and knowing wink. “You’re staring.”

Staring in Hannah’s direction, sure, but he was really keeping an eye on the windows for any sign of the mobile meth lab. “Hard not to.”

His ‘bride’ was also watching for the cartel to arrive, though no one would know it from the way she seemed fully committed to each guest and conversation. The effective multi-tasking was a skill he admired.

“She is lovely. The two of you will be so happy together. And it will be good for you to get away from this place.”

“What do you mean?” He shot Maria a dark look. “I’m not leaving the truck stop.”

“Living on the premises is fine for a bachelor. Even fine for Kyle’s visits with everything you’ve done for that boy. But I figured even you would prefer something more conventional when the time came.”

“When the time came?” he parroted, frowning at her. “M-ma—” He cleared his throat and tried again. “You think a wedding makes it that time?”

Maria reached up and patted his cheek just like his grandmother had done when he was a child. “A wedding is certainly the time to start thinking about the future. Now fetch your bride and let’s dig into this cake.”

He was being unreasonable and this wasn’t the place for that. He had a role to play and botching it might still cost Hannah her job. At best.

“Thanks for inviting Ross. Not sure how you managed that one.”

“He’s your friend.”

“Well, yeah, but they had a few hours on the road.”

Maria squared her shoulders. “Take that up with them.”

Bart chuckled and raised his hands in surrender. “Just trying to find out when you decided to throw this shindig.”

“The minute I saw you together and realized it wasn’t some stunt for a case.”

Shocked, Bart felt his chin drop as the hair lifted on the back of his neck. A stunt for the case was exactly what they had here. Maria, normally so astute, had completely misread the signals when Hannah arrived.

Here they were, not quite thirty-six hours later, and Bart found himself wishing Maria was right. “I don’t do much morethan point the local law enforcement in the right direction,” he protested. It was far more comfortable to keep the conversation away from his personal romantic troubles.

She rolled her eyes and motioned him to the cake table and the classic three tier cake decorated in white roses and topped with a bride and groom.

“Where did you come up with this on short notice?”

“You aren’t the only one with connections around here.”

“Uh-huh.” He scanned the parking lot again and a cold fist of dread landed in his stomach. The truck Tim had been watching all this time had pulled up to the pump furthest from the storefront. If the pattern held, a civilian vehicle would arrive any minute. “I’ll just get Hannah.”

He crossed the room in quick strides, smiling and dodging any involved questions until he was beside her.

“Maria wants us at the cake table,” he said, wondering how to tell her about the truck. But when she met his gaze, he recognized the expression in her eyes. She’d spotted the truck as well.

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