One morning before work, Alan Travers accidentally bumps into Detective Jim Garrison at a cafe where both men stop for coffee. The handsome younger man interests Alan, but he misses his chance to get to know the detective better and wonders if he'll get another.<br><br>With the help of his nephew Bryce, Alan concocts a plan to try and get Jim's attention "accidentally on purpose." It works, but as things heat up between them, Alan worries what Jim will think if he finds out their getting together was no accident.<br><br>Then Bryce goes missing, and Alan's going to have to come clean. But is he the only one not being truthful?

Accidentally On Purpose

He turns back as Jim comes out, dressed in a pair of dark pressed pants and a pale pink Oxford shirt tucked in at the waist. The sleeves are rolled up, thank God, Alan thinks. He’d feel as if he had to roll his back down, too, if Jim’s were. The detective’s usual tie is missing, and instead of wearing a suit jacket, he has a tan blazer slung over his shoulder, which gives him a more casual appearance than Alan is used to seeing.


“Hey, you look handsome,” Alan says, then hurries to add, “Not that you don’t normally, but—”


“Thanks.” Jim locks the door, then rattles the knob to make sure it’s locked. “You look really good, too.”


Alan shrugs. “Eh, I clean up nice.” Then he laughs, a little self-conscious. “I feel like I haven’t seen you in ages.”


That earns him a warm smile. “It’s been what, two days?” They last saw each other Wednesday morning at the Brew, where they shared cups of coffee before work.


Chapter 22