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

When one isn’t forthcoming, Alan winces.


He looks up, only to find Jim staring at him. The expression on Jim’s face is unreadable.


Anxious, Alan asks, “What are you thinking?”


“Did you put him up to this?” Jim wants to know.


“This disappearance,” Jim explains. “Leaving the back door open, making it look like a break-in. This.”


“No! No.” Alan shakes his head to emphasize the point. “I swear. I’d never—”


“No,” Alan says again. “I mean yes, the curfew thing, yes. But not this. To be honest, it was Brooks’ idea for me to ask you out. Then we started talking on the phone every night, and we really seemed to hit it off—”


“So there’s no reason to keep it up. I was just trying to get your attention before.” Alan sighs. “Brooks was just trying to help.”


“Hmm.” Jim’s lips are pressed together in a thin slit. He’s still staring at Alan, his hand on Alan’s knee as if he forgot he put it there.


Chapter 45