Carl must’ve picked up on Tobias’s movement in his peripheral vision, because he looked over, but he didn’t try to say anything. Fortunately, they were too far away from each other.

Ignoring the slimy bastard, Tobias climbed into the cab of his truck. He wondered how it had gone when Carl had spilled the “secret” about his record—how Uriah had responded. Uriah knew about the past, of course. He’d known all along, so Tobias wasn’t worried about how he’d react. But the fact that Uriah knew and hadn’t let on to Carl might only have increased the jealousy Carl seemed to feel where he was concerned.

And jealousy was such an ugly emotion. There was no telling what it might cause Carl to do.

19

“Wow. You clean up well,” Karoline said. “I really like the haircut.”

Tobias had secretly hoped he wouldn’t have to face Harper’s sister. So, of course, she’d been the one to answer the door. But at least he was prepared. Jada had helped him pick out a new shirt, slacks and shoes. No one he’d known in prison would recognize him. He looked as much like a doctor as Terrance did. “Thank you.”

She waved him past her and into the living room, which was empty even though the television was on. “Have a seat. I’ll let Harper know you’re here.”

He’d put on some cologne. Since he typically didn’t wear cologne, he hoped he’d been conservative enough with it. He’d fought Jada on that purchase, had been afraid it would be interpreted as trying too hard, given the haircut and all. But Jada had fallen in love with the scent, so he’d decided to accept her advice all the way around—the wisdom of which he began to question when Karoline noticed it right away.

“And you smell great,” she added.

Tobias sent her a smile. He was pretending to be as comfortable in his own skin as he was when he was in more familiar surroundings, but he was fighting the urge to stretch his collar.

Who was he trying to kid? What was he even doing here? he wondered while he waited. He was an ex-con trying to date a woman who’d recently been married to one of the most popular singers in America. If Harper knew who he really was, she wouldn’t have accepted his invitation. And even if he hadn’t made the mistake he’d made at seventeen and gone to prison for it, they came from separate worlds. He’d never lived in a home remotely as nice as Karoline and Terrance’s. He could only imagine what kind of place Harper could afford…