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

Jim comes into the room and closes the door. Suddenly they’re out of sight, alone for what seems like the first time in forever, and Alan’s emotions threaten to overwhelm him. When he blinks, his eyes sting, so he squeezes them shut and pinches the bridge of his nose.


Jim’s voice is soft in the darkness. “Alan.”


“It’s all my fault,” Alan says. There’s a quiver in his voice he struggles to suppress. “Brooks thought things hadn’t worked out between us—”


“What?” Jim sounds incredulous. “Why would he think that?”


With a sigh, Alan explains, “Because I came home. He thought when I said I’d be late that I really meant I’d spend the night. So he ran off this morning thinking I’d have to call you to come help me find him, and maybe we’d have a second chance.”


He turns away, embarrassed. He senses Jim come up behind him, and tries to brace himself for whatever might happen next.


Chapter 55