that. Sometimes, Taffeta, the truth sounds more incredible than a whopper.”
“Are you saying you believe me now?”
He nodded. “I’d like to say that I just took it on faith, but the truth is, I did some investigating and called an old friend who’s now a lawyer to help me get my hands on the trial records. So yes, I believe you now, not because I’m a good guy with a kind streak, but because the files back up your story. I saw not a lick of solid evidence against you. Theprosecutor’s whole case rested on Phillip’s testimony. The cops didn’t even go to the condo to examine the crime scene—or should I say
accident
scene? To be sure I wasn’t missing something, I asked my lawyer friend, Bryan Vorch, to review the case.
“He completely agrees with me, and to say that he has a low opinion of Phillip Gentry would be an understatement. He backed up everything you told me about your ex-husband, he doesn’t believe you’re guilty, and he has offered to file an appeal for you at a discounted rate.”
He lifted his hat and ran the brim through his hands. “I’m very sorry that I so quickly discounted everything you told me, Taffeta. And I’m sorry I refused to help you without at least giving it some thought. My parents raised me to believe in the sanctity of marriage. They’re wonderful people, but they’re old-fashioned and frown upon divorce unless there’s no way to avoid it. I couldn’t enter into a short-term marriage and then blindside them with a dissolution.”
“You don’t need to explain yourself, Barney. I should never have asked that of you. After I heard from my investigator about Sarah’s plight, I went into desperate mode. I’m glad you believe me now, though.”
“What you shifted into was protective mode. Your little girl is in a precarious situation, and her father is an irresponsible jerk. Bryan Vorch says Phillip is keeping company with women who are meth heads, and he’s leaving Sarah with them so hecan party. If there’s any way possible for you to get your daughter away from him, you need to do it.”
Taffeta’s heart twisted. Barney had said nothing that she hadn’t thought herself. “The deck is stacked against me.”
“Bryan feels that you’ll possibly have a better shot if you’re married . . . to me.”
Taffeta stared at him, uncertain what to say. That had been her idea, but he hadn’t reacted favorably last night when she broached the subject.
“I talked with my folks,” he went on. “They’re both very concerned about Sarah. They adore kids. When I told them your story, they both gave me their blessing to marry you. They understand it will be temporary, but in this case, they’re okay with that.”
Taffeta blinked. “What are you saying, Barney?”
“That I’ll help you,” he replied. “But it won’t be a marriage with benefits, with you giving me sex in exchange for my support. That isn’t how I operate.”
Her heart started to pound. “But what will be in it for you, then?”
He tossed his hat back onto the cushion. “Knowing that I’ve done my damnedest to help a little girl will be a nice perk, and that’s nothing to sneeze at.”
Taffeta placed a hand over her heart. It felt as if it might pound through her rib cage. “Last night when I suggested marriage, it sounded like a good idea to me, but now—well, it just sounds nuts.”
A twinkle started to dance in his eyes.
“We barely know each other,” she added. “We’vetalked over coffee a few mornings. Otherwise we’re practically strangers.”
He leaned slightly closer to search her gaze. “What more would you like to know about me?”
The air in her apartment felt suddenly thin. “Barney, you’ve knocked the breath right out of me. I haven’t a clue.”
He laughed. “I hate my first name. Let’s start with that. Do you have any idea how many times I’ve had to endure Deputy Barney Fife jokes?”
She gave a startled laugh. Then she confessed, “I hate my
“Are you saying you believe me now?”
He nodded. “I’d like to say that I just took it on faith, but the truth is, I did some investigating and called an old friend who’s now a lawyer to help me get my hands on the trial records. So yes, I believe you now, not because I’m a good guy with a kind streak, but because the files back up your story. I saw not a lick of solid evidence against you. Theprosecutor’s whole case rested on Phillip’s testimony. The cops didn’t even go to the condo to examine the crime scene—or should I say
accident
scene? To be sure I wasn’t missing something, I asked my lawyer friend, Bryan Vorch, to review the case.
“He completely agrees with me, and to say that he has a low opinion of Phillip Gentry would be an understatement. He backed up everything you told me about your ex-husband, he doesn’t believe you’re guilty, and he has offered to file an appeal for you at a discounted rate.”
He lifted his hat and ran the brim through his hands. “I’m very sorry that I so quickly discounted everything you told me, Taffeta. And I’m sorry I refused to help you without at least giving it some thought. My parents raised me to believe in the sanctity of marriage. They’re wonderful people, but they’re old-fashioned and frown upon divorce unless there’s no way to avoid it. I couldn’t enter into a short-term marriage and then blindside them with a dissolution.”
“You don’t need to explain yourself, Barney. I should never have asked that of you. After I heard from my investigator about Sarah’s plight, I went into desperate mode. I’m glad you believe me now, though.”
“What you shifted into was protective mode. Your little girl is in a precarious situation, and her father is an irresponsible jerk. Bryan Vorch says Phillip is keeping company with women who are meth heads, and he’s leaving Sarah with them so hecan party. If there’s any way possible for you to get your daughter away from him, you need to do it.”
Taffeta’s heart twisted. Barney had said nothing that she hadn’t thought herself. “The deck is stacked against me.”
“Bryan feels that you’ll possibly have a better shot if you’re married . . . to me.”
Taffeta stared at him, uncertain what to say. That had been her idea, but he hadn’t reacted favorably last night when she broached the subject.
“I talked with my folks,” he went on. “They’re both very concerned about Sarah. They adore kids. When I told them your story, they both gave me their blessing to marry you. They understand it will be temporary, but in this case, they’re okay with that.”
Taffeta blinked. “What are you saying, Barney?”
“That I’ll help you,” he replied. “But it won’t be a marriage with benefits, with you giving me sex in exchange for my support. That isn’t how I operate.”
Her heart started to pound. “But what will be in it for you, then?”
He tossed his hat back onto the cushion. “Knowing that I’ve done my damnedest to help a little girl will be a nice perk, and that’s nothing to sneeze at.”
Taffeta placed a hand over her heart. It felt as if it might pound through her rib cage. “Last night when I suggested marriage, it sounded like a good idea to me, but now—well, it just sounds nuts.”
A twinkle started to dance in his eyes.
“We barely know each other,” she added. “We’vetalked over coffee a few mornings. Otherwise we’re practically strangers.”
He leaned slightly closer to search her gaze. “What more would you like to know about me?”
The air in her apartment felt suddenly thin. “Barney, you’ve knocked the breath right out of me. I haven’t a clue.”
He laughed. “I hate my first name. Let’s start with that. Do you have any idea how many times I’ve had to endure Deputy Barney Fife jokes?”
She gave a startled laugh. Then she confessed, “I hate my
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