A Splash of Hope by Charity Parkerson Page A

claims she used to be Serenity’s neighbor found it lying on the ground after she spoke with you. She didn’t know where to find you, so she brought it to me.”
    “Thanks,” Faith muttered, trying not to show how relieved she was to see her phone. The last thing she needed was Tristan knowing how desperately she couldn’t afford a new one. It was bad enough her car was broken down thirty miles away.
    “I also wanted to apologize for yesterday. My behavior was uncalled for and I shouldn’t have added to the stress of your day.”
    When Faith remained stubbornly quiet, he shifted nervously from foot to foot. He crammed his hands into his jeans pockets. “So, have you had any luck finding Serenity?”
    Faith was beginning to feel like a bitch in the face of his obvious effort to make peace. She let out a heavy sigh. “No. I went to her apartment. The one where I lost my phone. The locks had been changed and the girl who found my phone said Serenity hadn’t lived there in at least four months. Adam then gave me a different address, but it was a bust as well.”
    Tristan spent a moment looking thoughtful. “How strange,” he said finally. “You would think Adam would know where his own fiancé lived.”
    “That’s what I said!” Faith cried, thankful to finally have someone else on the same thought level.
    “But then again,” he added, ruining the moment. “Most people would think it was odd her own sister doesn’t know where she lives either.” She returned to wanting to unman him, but he immediately redeemed himself. “However, I’m not most people. I can understand why you would never want to return there.”
    Faith glanced away from his knowing eyes and concentrated on the pear tree growing next to her tiny white house. This was such a peaceful place. No one in this neighborhood knew her. They didn’t know about her wild parents or the things she’d done to survive. They didn’t know about the personal cost. No one judged her here. “I’m not ashamed,” she heard herself say. She half-expected Tristan to call her on the statement, but instead he surprised her.
    “You should go see Carter Monroe,” he suggested.
    “Why?”
    Tristan shrugged. “There isn’t much that goes on in town he doesn’t know about. Not to mention, he owns almost every piece of property around. It’s very possible he holds the lease on wherever Serenity is living.”
    Faith had to admit it was a great idea, one she would pursue. That is, as soon as she had a car. “Thanks. I’ll look him up.”
    Tristan nodded and started walking toward his truck. “Thanks again for bringing me the cell phone,” she called at his back. He flashed a smile at her over his shoulder but didn’t pause in his retreat. She couldn’t really blame him for not wanting to stay too long in her company. She knew she would have to find a way to fix things between them eventually, but she didn’t have the strength to face it today.
    ***
    No way in hell would Adam allow Tristan to have Faith. That pretty boy had already fucked up one Hope sister. Adam let Faith slip away once, because she’d been unprepared for his intensity, but now he had her back in his sights. She wouldn’t be slipping away again. He felt sure Tristan’s angelic smiles and ways wouldn’t sway Faith in the least, but Tristan did possess a human side that might draw her in. It wasn’t a trait Adam suffered from, since everything he did was carefully calculated in order to gain him the most, except when it came to Faith. She was the first thing he’d ever coveted simply because he did. They were exactly alike. They both understood the real world and how harsh it could be. No, he reassured himself, she wouldn’t be swayed by Tristan.
    Fuck, he really needed to pick up the pace before Tristan did something stupid, like steal Faith out from underneath him. First, he needed to get her car back. He could turn around and hand her the money to get it fixed, but he’d made that