Page 70 of Out on a Limb
I was not.
Now that we were away from the temptation and seclusion of my bed, I was feeling a little better about my willpower. Good enough to give Collette back some of what she’d given me in the past twenty-four hours.
Her blue eyes widened and her lips barely parted as she held my gaze.
I’d definitely surprised her, and maybe that was the key to turning this around.
Keeping her on her toes.
She was going to be on her toes today.
I unlocked the gate, barely pulling it open. “Uh-oh. Someone left the gate open last night.”
Collette blinked. “What?”
I pointed to the open gate. “Someone left the gate open last night. Anyone could have gotten in.” I pulled it wider. “We should go make sure nothing’s been taken.”
Her confusion cleared and a wide smile spread across her face. “Oh no. We’ve been robbed.”
I stood to one side, letting her go in first, before giving the parking lot one last glance and following her inside the garden we both loved for completely different reasons.
Completely different reasons that somehow both came back to the same place.
And the same person.
Chapter Fifteen
Collette
“SO THE GATE was open when you got here?” The cop had his notepad out, writing down everything as I explained what we’d found.
“Yes.” I rested one hand over my mouth, blinking a few times as I shook my head. “I just can’t believe this happened.”
I really couldn’t.
Mostly because it didn’t.
Andrew wrapped one arm around my shoulders and pulled me into his side. “It’s okay.”
I should feel guilty about lying to the police.
I’d never really lied to anyone. Definitely not the authorities.
But this was a matter of life and death.
Either I lied and all these plants might get to keep living, or I let Alan realize I was the one who went through his desk, and the garden lost the only person actively trying to keep it alive.
Except for Andrew.
But he couldn’t save it on his own, and honestly maybe I couldn’t either.
I tucked my head into his chest, sniffing. “It’s so scary to think that someone would do this.”
“Have you ever considered putting cameras in?” The cop’s dry tone made it clear he thought we were idiots for not having them already.
I used to think the same thing. Now I was super happy my granddad refused them.
“I’ll mention it to my grandfather.” I kept one hand in front of my face, just in case my expression didn’t look broken and scared enough. “He’s the one in charge.”
