blue eyes. Her lips were full, her bust fuller, and her waist was tiny beneath a white tank top. The next photo showed that she wore blue leather pants and black, spike–heeled ankle boots.
“They’re just walking,” said Crista.
She’d allow that Gracie didn’t look like your average commercial real estate client, but looks could be deceiving. One thing was for certain, she was a polar opposite of Crista.
“Wait for it,” said Mac. He scrolled to another picture.
Here they were holding hands, then cuddling, then Vern was kissing her on the cheek. It was persuasive, but Crista had played with Photoshop software. She knew that pictures could be manipulated. There were also other logical problems.
“Why would he marry me?” she asked.
Gracie was drop-dead, glamour-magazine, movie star–material stunning.
“What do you mean?” asked Jackson, looking genuinely puzzled.
Crista gestured to the photo. “If there’s really something romantic between them, why not marry her? She’s a knockout. And he seems to like her well enough.” The two were smiling and laughing in most of the pictures.
Both Mac and Jackson were frowning at her.
“What?” she asked, looking from one to the other.
“He wants you,” said Jackson.
“Which means he isn’t involved with her,” Crista said slowly, making sure he could understand each of her words.
“Look at this,” said Mac.
He produced a picture where the two were embracing. It was nighttime, and they were dressed differently. It had been taken in front of a hotel.
“April of this year,” said Mac. “It’s date stamped.”
Crista would admit it looked damning. If she believed it hadn’t been altered, and if she believed the date stamp was valid. She was about to mount another argument in Vern’s defense when she realized this was her ticket home. If Jackson thought he’d won, he’d let her go.
She gave herself a moment. She had to deliver this just right.
She took the phone from Mac’s hand. She stared at the photo for a long time, pretending she was having an emotional reaction. Then she gripped the back of the bench seat that curved around the table. She lowered herself down.
“It looks bad,” she said in a hushed voice.
“It is what it seems,” said Mac. “I also have some emails.”
Crista gave what she hoped was a shaky nod, still playacting. As if emails weren’t even easier to fake than photos.
She made a show of swallowing, then she set the phone down on the table. She tried to put a catch into her voice. “I guess you were right.”
“I wish I could say I was sorry.”
“Don’t you start lying.”
To her surprise, Jackson put a comforting hand on her shoulder. “He doesn’t deserve you, Crista.”
“I never would have believed it,” she said. “He cheated on me. He’s been cheating on me the entire time. I’m such an idiot.” For good measure, she pulled off her engagement ring and squeezed it in her palm.
“It’s not your fault,” said Jackson.
She didn’t answer. If she had Jackson convinced that she’d bought his story, it was time to shut up and let it lay. It was also time to get herself out of here and back to Vern. He had to be frantic. She’d reassure him she was safe, and then she’d tell him everything. Jackson and Mac deserved whatever they got.
“Will you let me go now?” she asked.
She could feel their hesitation, but she was afraid to look up and gauge their expressions. Had she seemed too easy to convince? She hoped she hadn’t overplayed her hand.
It was Jackson who spoke. “I’ll drive you home.”
CHAPTER FOUR
C rista had asked to be taken directly to the Gerhard mansion. Fine by Jackson. He looked forward to seeing the expression on Gerhard’s face when she dumped him.
Once she’d broken it off, he’d report the success to Colin and Trent and go back to his regular life. At least, he ought to go directly back to his regular life. But he wasn’t sure how quickly he wanted to
“They’re just walking,” said Crista.
She’d allow that Gracie didn’t look like your average commercial real estate client, but looks could be deceiving. One thing was for certain, she was a polar opposite of Crista.
“Wait for it,” said Mac. He scrolled to another picture.
Here they were holding hands, then cuddling, then Vern was kissing her on the cheek. It was persuasive, but Crista had played with Photoshop software. She knew that pictures could be manipulated. There were also other logical problems.
“Why would he marry me?” she asked.
Gracie was drop-dead, glamour-magazine, movie star–material stunning.
“What do you mean?” asked Jackson, looking genuinely puzzled.
Crista gestured to the photo. “If there’s really something romantic between them, why not marry her? She’s a knockout. And he seems to like her well enough.” The two were smiling and laughing in most of the pictures.
Both Mac and Jackson were frowning at her.
“What?” she asked, looking from one to the other.
“He wants you,” said Jackson.
“Which means he isn’t involved with her,” Crista said slowly, making sure he could understand each of her words.
“Look at this,” said Mac.
He produced a picture where the two were embracing. It was nighttime, and they were dressed differently. It had been taken in front of a hotel.
“April of this year,” said Mac. “It’s date stamped.”
Crista would admit it looked damning. If she believed it hadn’t been altered, and if she believed the date stamp was valid. She was about to mount another argument in Vern’s defense when she realized this was her ticket home. If Jackson thought he’d won, he’d let her go.
She gave herself a moment. She had to deliver this just right.
She took the phone from Mac’s hand. She stared at the photo for a long time, pretending she was having an emotional reaction. Then she gripped the back of the bench seat that curved around the table. She lowered herself down.
“It looks bad,” she said in a hushed voice.
“It is what it seems,” said Mac. “I also have some emails.”
Crista gave what she hoped was a shaky nod, still playacting. As if emails weren’t even easier to fake than photos.
She made a show of swallowing, then she set the phone down on the table. She tried to put a catch into her voice. “I guess you were right.”
“I wish I could say I was sorry.”
“Don’t you start lying.”
To her surprise, Jackson put a comforting hand on her shoulder. “He doesn’t deserve you, Crista.”
“I never would have believed it,” she said. “He cheated on me. He’s been cheating on me the entire time. I’m such an idiot.” For good measure, she pulled off her engagement ring and squeezed it in her palm.
“It’s not your fault,” said Jackson.
She didn’t answer. If she had Jackson convinced that she’d bought his story, it was time to shut up and let it lay. It was also time to get herself out of here and back to Vern. He had to be frantic. She’d reassure him she was safe, and then she’d tell him everything. Jackson and Mac deserved whatever they got.
“Will you let me go now?” she asked.
She could feel their hesitation, but she was afraid to look up and gauge their expressions. Had she seemed too easy to convince? She hoped she hadn’t overplayed her hand.
It was Jackson who spoke. “I’ll drive you home.”
CHAPTER FOUR
C rista had asked to be taken directly to the Gerhard mansion. Fine by Jackson. He looked forward to seeing the expression on Gerhard’s face when she dumped him.
Once she’d broken it off, he’d report the success to Colin and Trent and go back to his regular life. At least, he ought to go directly back to his regular life. But he wasn’t sure how quickly he wanted to
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