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 shoves open the door and slams it shut as Jim calls out his name. Once inside, Alan swoops down over the table, so fast and so close, Brooks jerks back in surprise. If nothing else, at least he wiped that insolent smirk off his nephew’s face. Alan’s voice rings off the walls around them when he demands, “Where in the bloodyhell have you been?”


A hint of uncertainty flickers across Brooks’ face. “I…I—”


“You what?” Alan demands, but he doesn’t give Brooks a chance to answer. “This is a royal load of shite you’ve gotten into here, son. Where in the blue blazes did you go? And Christ, what for? I wake up to find you gone this morning and don’t know what the hell to think, do I? You’d run away, or been kidnapped—been killed. For all I knew, you could’ve run off and got married. What the hell, son?”


Brooks snickers, a sound that seems to relax him a bit but which only sets Alan’s nerves on edge. “Married? I’m not old enough for that.”


Chapter 53