“Well …” Betsy stared at the tea in her hands. She cleared her throat, then lifted her gaze. “Keenan may be getting a new trial.”
Adrianna had known Betsy’s older brother since childhood. Keenan McGregor had been a fearless risk taker, brilliant but angry. Angry at his mother for being a drunk, angry at watching his little sister go without food, angry at the lousy cards he’d been dealt in life.
Still, as volatile as Keenan had been, Adrianna believed—as Betsy did—that he was innocent of the crime that had sent him to the penitentiary in Rawlins two years ago.
“That’s wonderful news,” Adrianna said cautiously, knowing that it would be an uphill battle for someone already convicted to get a new trial. “Is his public defender spearheading the effort?”
“As if that would ever happen,” Betsy snorted, a look of disgust on her face. “No, Keenan has finally agreed to let Cole and Ryan help him. You know how resistant my brother has been about accepting assistance from family or friends.”
“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.