Garrett was still eyeing her with suspicion. He was also blocking her way to the exit. Allison tightened her grip on the catalog and took an evasive move to one side. “Thanks, by the way, for offering to lend Brianna the company car. That’ll save me from having to play chauffeur.”

“Brianna was the one who brought it up,” he said. “She wanted the freedom to come and go as she pleased. I’ll say this for the girl—she knows how to get what she wants.”

Whatever he’d meant by that last remark, Allison didn’t like the sound of it. All she really wanted was to leave, but she knew that if she didn’t speak up now, she might regret it later.

“Garrett,” she said, “Brianna’s going through a difficult time right now. She’s very vulnerable. No matter what she says or how she might behave, she needs to be protected. I hope you’ll respect that need. If you take advantage of her in any way, you’ll answer to me.”

Garrett sucked in a breath. He looked as if she’d slapped him. “I know you’re concerned. But give me a break, Allison! What kind of predatory jerk do you think I am? Brianna’s like my kid sister, and that’s the way I treat her—the only way, always.” His gaze narrowed. “Do you understand? Are we good?”

Allison sighed. “We’re good. I just had to say it. I had to be sure.”

“Fine. Then let’s forget it. Tell Brianna I’ll be bringing the car around a little later.”

“I will. Right now I need to be getting back to the hospital.”

Before he could ask her any more questions, she dodged around him and hurried outside to her car. Her hand shook as she laid the catalog on the seat, thrust the key into the ignition, shifted into reverse, and backed out of the parking space.

Was Garrett less innocent than his protests proclaimed him to be? Had he really switched the keys to the file cabinet? Had he bought her story about needing the catalog, or had her own nervousness given her away?

Maybe her imagination was working overtime. But Allison had learned to trust her instincts—and unless those instincts were wrong, she had just made a ruthless and unprincipled enemy.

CHAPTER 7

CHAPTER 7

Allison parked in the visitor’s lot and hid the catalog under the seat before getting out and locking the car. The sun, setting above the hills, cast long shadows across the asphalt. Overhead, a V of migrating ducks glided low, to settle on the placid waters of Lake Taneycomo.

She returned to her husband’s hospital room to find Burke asleep in bed and Brianna in the armchair, playing with her phone and looking bored. She glanced up as Allison walked in.

“It’s about time you got back,” she said.