Page 48 of Cold Case, Warm Hearts

“He would never, though. Nobody would believe?—”

“To make it look like you did it? To get custody of his daughter? To prove you were unfit? It’s not about what he woulddo. It’s about the story we can spin. It’s about what we can get people to believe.”

Hurt filled her eyes. “He would never betray me like that.”

The Planner tamped down a surge of irritation. “You and I know that, but the authorities don’t.”

The Crusader agreed, but he could see the reluctance in her expression. “I don’t want him to go to prison. The baby needs him.”

The baby.

It always came back to the baby.

Other words hovered between them, but the Crusader wouldn’t admit them. Thatsheneeded her husband, or thought she did. That she’d chosen him for a reason.

The Planner leaned closer and lowered his voice so that only she could hear. “We’re not trying to frame him. We just need him to believe we will. He won’t risk going to prison, being separated from his daughter. He’ll cover for you to protect himself.”

The truth dawned, and the Crusader smiled. “I see. I’ll do it.”

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

Garrett took a big bite of his cheesesteak slider, hoping the guys would get distracted while he chewed and swallowed.

But they were watching him, waiting for him to respond to Braden’s question about Aspen. Garrett and his friends got together every Monday night at Braden and Carly’s place to watch whatever sporting event was on. It had started with Monday Night Football the year before, but when the regular season ended, they’d kept meeting. Tonight, they were watching a hockey game, not that Garrett was paying much attention.

After he sipped his soda, he took his time setting it down and wiping his mouth before saying, for at least the third time, “She’s just a client.”

“Awfully pretty client.” Braden was seated in one of the club chairs, his baby girl tucked against his chest.

Andrew, who’d been the focus of similar teasing just a few months before, showed about as much mercy as Garrett had shown him when Grace first came into the picture. “Makes sense. I always take my clients to church with me.” He turned to Fitz, seated in one of the chairs behind the sofa. “Don’t you?”

“In my case,” Fitz said, “my ‘clients’”—he actually made air quotes around the word—“are criminals who mostly end up in jail, but otherwise?—”

“I’m choosing to believe him.” Thomas had pulled his chair to the end of the couch, so Garrett had a good view of his face when he added, “Aspen’s hot. I think I’ll ask her out.”

Garrett wasn’t sure exactly what his face did, but his thoughts on that remark must’ve shown.

His friends laughed.

Thomas gestured toward Garrett. “And we have our answer.”

“You have nothing,” Garrett snapped, trying hard not to give in. It was a matter of principle. “I can be friends with a woman without it turning romantic, even if the rest of you idiots can’t. I mean, she’s smart and funny and I enjoy her company. What’s wrong with that?”

“Sure,” Reid said. “Why would you want to date a woman like her? She sounds awful.”

James added, “And let’s not forget Thomas’s observation, not that I noticed, but I hear she’s attractive.”

“The word was ‘hot.’” Braden snuggled little Desiree in his arms. “Not anywhere near as pretty as your mommy, sweet girl. I’m just quoting Tommy over there.” He looked up from the wide-eyed baby to Thomas. “I say go for it, man.”

Garrett did his best to keep his expression neutral this time, but the thought of Thomas asking Aspen out…

It grated. More than that. It filled him with equal parts dread and fury. Maybe he and Aspen were just friends at the moment, but Garrett wouldn’t mind if it were something more.

If she were going to date any of them, it should be him.

He would ask her out, too, if she weren’t moving to Florida.

If he weren’t supposed to be spying on her.

---