Cindy Kirk - A Jackson Hole Homecoming

“I remember.” Betsy had been devastated when Keenan had refused to take her savings to hire a better attorney when he was originally brought up on charges. “What changed?”

“I don’t want to say he found religion—that’s a bit too clichéd.” Betsy’s lips twisted in a wry smile. “But one of the prison chaplains somehow convinced him there’s no shame in accepting assistance.”

“I’m so glad.” Adrianna reached over and squeezed her friend’s hand.

“Ryan is now in charge of the legal team. Cole insisted on hiring—and paying for—a private investigator.”

Cole Lassiter had also been Keenan’s friend growing up. He’d come from a similar home situation as Betsy and Keenan, but had turned his frustration into determination and now was the head of Hill of Beans, with over twenty-five coffee shops west of the Mississippi, including one in Jackson Hole.

“Have they unearthed any new evidence?” Adrianna asked.

“It’s looking that way,” Betsy said cautiously. “I’m trying not to get my hopes up.”

“I’ll say a little prayer for him.”

“I’d appreciate it.” A truck turned the corner and Betsy gave Adrianna a curious look. “Have you decided what you’re going to do about Tripp?”

“You mean since we last spoke about him a minute ago?” Adrianna’s lips twisted upward. “I still have time to make up my mind.”

The barbecue wasn’t until tomorrow night. Once she left Betsy’s house, Adrianna had a full schedule of appointments at the clinic where she practiced with two female ob-gyns. After her last appointment, she planned to do a pro–con list and then make her decision. If she decided to opt out, that would still give Tripp twenty-four hours to find someone else.

Even though she told herself she didn’t care, the thought of Tripp attending the party with another woman made Adrianna reach for a cookie. And she didn’t even like snickerdoodles.

“I’d say you have about sixty seconds.”

Confused, Adrianna followed her friend’s gaze to the street where two men were getting out of a pickup.

Her traitorous heart skipped a beat. When Tripp saw her and lifted a hand, she had little choice but to smile and wave.

“What’s he doing here?” she asked Betsy, keeping the smile firmly on her lips.

“No idea.” Betsy rose to her feet. “Ryan called earlier and said he’d be stopping by to pick up the laptop he’d forgotten. He didn’t mention bringing Tripp with him.”

Of course he didn’t , Adrianna thought with a sigh.

She glanced down at her stylish paisley dress and heels. At least she looked presentable. Not that it mattered. After all, Tripp was just a friend.

Betsy greeted her husband on the steps to the porch, wrapping her arms around his neck and ardently kissing him.

Inside the house, a Pomeranian barked a welcome.

“Maybe we should have someone around to hold the baby more often.” Ryan stepped back with obvious reluctance, keeping his arm around his wife’s shoulders.

“Looking good, Betsy.” Tripp’s words made the new mom blush.

Adrianna knew the compliment was sincere. Even though Betsy often referred to herself as a “Plain Jane,” nothing could be further from the truth. Her friend looked adorable in a flirty blue print skirt and cotton sweater.

Tripp shifted his gaze to Adrianna. “You look lovely, too, Ms. Lee.”

“As do you, Mr. Randall.” Actually, Tripp looked positively yummy in a dark suit and gray shirt. And as he stepped close, Adrianna discovered he smelled just as good as he looked. A thousand times more appetizing than the cookie in her hand. Adrianna dropped it to her plate and cocked her head. “Isn’t this a workday for you?”

“I might ask you the same question,” he responded with a raised brow.

“It’s my morning off,” she informed him. “I have clinic this afternoon.”

“I’m taking an early lunch,” Tripp explained.

She smiled. “Pays to be the boss.”

Out of the corner of her eye, Adrianna saw that Ryan had pulled Betsy close once again. They were speaking so softly she couldn’t hear what they were saying.

“He seems to be a good baby.” Tripp crouched down beside Adrianna, a curved finger caressing the baby’s soft cheek.

His gaze took on a distant look and Adrianna wondered if he was thinking of the baby he’d lost. Her heart clenched. Sometimes life simply wasn’t fair.

“I confirmed the barbecue tomorrow night starts at seven.” Tripp’s blue eyes met hers. “I thought I’d pick you up around six-thirty?”

Something has come up and I’m not able to make it after all . The words, poised on the tip of her tongue, morphed as they hit her lips.

“Sounds good,” she heard herself say. Nonono . “I mean—”

“Tripp—” Ryan motioned to him “—do you have a second to look at the notes on Keenan’s case?”

“You’re in on the effort to get Keenan released?” Adrianna didn’t know why she was so surprised. Tripp had been part of that close-knit group of athletes and friends.

“Not yet.” Tripp pulled to his feet. “But when I heard what was going on, I told Ryan I wanted to help.”

Tell him you can’t go with him to the party , Adrianna’s inner voice nagged. Tell him now .

“I—”

Before she could get another word out, Tripp smiled at her. “I’m really looking forward to tomorrow night.”

“You are?” Sounding like a frog was definitely not Adrianna’s style. She cleared her throat, prepared to try again.

“Tripp,” Ryan called out, “I have a client coming at two, so I don’t have long.”

“Coming.” But before Tripp headed into the house, he surprised Adrianna by reaching over and squeezing her shoulder. “See you tomorrow.”

“I’ll be ready,” Adrianna murmured.

The flash of his smile sent desire coursing through her veins like honey and red flags popping up.

When the screen door closed behind the two men, Betsy turned to Adrianna. “Sounds like you made your decision.”

“It appears so.”

Yes, she’d made a decision. The trouble was, Adrianna was gripped with the sinking feeling it was the wrong one.

When Adrianna opened her front door the next day and saw Tripp wearing jeans and a twill shirt that made his eyes look extra blue, her heart skipped a beat. She tried to ignore the flutter as she motioned him inside.

Although Adrianna rarely wore denim, for a Jackson Hole outdoor barbecue she’d made an exception. She’d coupled her skinny jeans with a double V-neck lattice-back top in a rich emerald-green.

After glancing longingly at the stilettos in her closet, she’d settled for a pointy-toed pair of kitten heels. Walking over uneven terrain made anything over an inch impractical.

“I’ve never seen someone look so pretty in denim,” Tripp said, his gaze lingering on the tight-fitting jeans.

Adrianna couldn’t help herself. A shiver raced up her spine. “I could say the same about you.”

“Pretty? Good Gawd, I hope not.” Tripp laughed aloud, then grinned. “I can never predict what’s going to come out of your mouth, Ms. Lee.”

“It’d be boring if you could,” she said with a wink.

They walked to Tripp’s truck side by side but not touching. Which was exactly what she wanted, Adrianna told herself.

Tripp pulled the door open for her and Adrianna climbed into the vehicle without assistance. The way he made her feel, the less they touched the better.

“Do you know who’s going to be at this event?” she asked after he’d slid behind the wheel and the truck pulled away from the curb. “Will there be anyone we know?”

We know. Sheesh. Adrianna flushed. Anyone hearing her would think they were a couple. Which was not how she meant it at all. Thankfully, Tripp’s lack of reaction told her he hadn’t noticed her faux pas.