“With every ounce of myself, I believe that. God’s there even when we think we can’t feel Him or hear Him. Sometimes it may just be a whisper in the wind or a beautiful sunrise, and that’s all it takes to remind me that the Lord is so much bigger than us. Than this earth. Than our lives. He is everything and everywhere, while at the same time He cares about each of us.”

He looked over at her before focusing back on the road in front of him. “I do not doubt your conviction for a moment.”

“What do you doubt, then?” she asked.

“God’s ability to care about a man like me.”

“Hunter, you’re a good man,” she responded quickly.

He laughed. “You wouldn’t have said that a few weeks ago, would you?”

She sat silently for a minute. “Actually, I would have. I thought you did something awful and that it never made sense, but that’s different. If you had done it, then it would’ve been a bad mistake, to say the least, but that doesn’t change who you are—and that’s a good man.”

“Then, once again, Layla, you’re a better person than I’ll ever be. And maybe in that is where I find my answer.”

She shook her head. “No, Hunter. God’s grace doesn’t work like that. It’s not a game board where He’s keeping score.”

“I hope you’re right, because I’d be losing big-time right now.”

“We all would be.” She struggled to find the right words to say to him and didn’t push the topic any further, but she couldn’t help but believe that this conversation was far from over.

CHAPTER
FIFTEEN

Izzy sat next to Aiden on the couch while Jay sat across from them in one of the large chairs. She wanted to talk to both of them even though Piper told her she probably shouldn’t. But Izzy wasn’t focused on just the legal case. She wanted to make sure she was doing everything she could to protect the two men who meant so much to her.

Jay had changed her life in immeasurable ways, and she’d never loved anyone like she loved Aiden. She didn’t know if it would be possible to love anyone else like that again.

She had to get them up to speed. “Thanks for getting together tonight. Both of you know I had my second interview this morning with Arlington PD.”

Aiden took her hand. “I’m sorry I couldn’t be there with you.”

“It wouldn’t have worked, given the circumstances, but I know you always have my back. Both of you.” She breathed in deeply, considering her next words very carefully.

“You know we do,” Jay added.