When the Bough Breaks (Rose Gardner Investigations #6) - Denise Grover Swank Page 0,37

but from my understanding, the case has to meet certain criteria. Maybe it’s too soon.”

“Maybe…” Or maybe Joe was trying to keep it quiet for some reason. I’d call him after I left. “As far as I know, Joe doesn’t have any leads.”

Bruce Wayne started to say something, then stopped and pulled me into a hug. I couldn’t get over the fact that this was the same man I’d met in a private courthouse room toward the end of his murder trial. He’d been nervous, jumpy, and scared of his own shadow, and no wonder—anyone would likely feel that way if they were being tried for a murder they hadn’t committed. Months later, I’d offered him a job, little knowing he’d become not just my business partner, but the man I could count on to run our business when I was running around solving mysteries, taking care of my dying sister, and soon to have a baby. My boyfriends had come and gone, but Bruce Wayne had been my rock, the one man in my life whom I could count on without fail for the past year and a half. And now he was offering his support again, and that was what broke the wall I’d erected around my fears. It came tumbling down, and I found myself sobbing into his chest.

His arms tightened around me and he stood stock-still as I cried my heart out into his shirt. When I finally finished, he loosened his hold on me and I stepped back, wiping my face with the back of my hand.

“Thank you,” he said, his voice rough.

I glanced up at him in surprise. “What are you thanking me for? I’ve gone and ruined your shirt.”

“Ever since we first met, you’ve done nothing but give and give to me.” His Adam’s apple bobbed as he swallowed. “And I’ve never been able to give much back to you.”

“What are you talkin’ about?” I asked. “You end up carryin’ most of the load half the time when I’m off dealin’ with some kind of drama. Shoot, I’m about to take a few weeks off to have the baby.”

“You’re takin’ off longer than a few weeks,” he said firmly. “You need to stay home and heal and bond with that baby.”

“I’m havin’ this baby at the worst possible time,” I protested. “This is our landscaping business’s busiest time of the year.”

“Rose,” he said emphatically. “We need to focus on what’s really important. Your baby. Neely Kate and I can carry the landscaping load.”

Except Neely Kate was getting a baby of her own, which meant she wasn’t going to be able to fill in for me. She’d be taking her own time off, and based on what she’d said, she might not return at all. But I couldn’t tell him any of that. It was Neely Kate’s news to share.

We’d figure it out. Ultimately, he was right—I had bigger fish to fry.

I reached up and kissed him on the cheek. “You’re a good friend, Bruce Wayne Decker, and I’m lucky to have you.”

“Joe will find those two kids,” Bruce Wayne said. “He loves ’em nearly as much as you do.”

I nodded, but somehow I expected the legal route wouldn’t see them home. “Something feels off to me about all of this,” I said. “If Mike was involved in something illegal, wouldn’t some of the other criminals in the county know about it? From my experience with them, they seem to be chatty about their buddies.”

“Maybe he’s not workin’ with local criminals.”

I stared at Bruce Wayne in shock. “Hardshaw.”

He shrugged. “It’s something to consider.”

Did that mean the subcontractor who’d been murdered was also working for Hardshaw? Or had he heard something he shouldn’t have? All the more reason to talk to Mason.

“You gonna suggest it to Joe?” he asked.

“Yeah. As soon as I leave.” I pointed to the truck. “I’m gonna go pick up lunch, then head to the office. Can I get you anything?”

“Nope,” he said, glancing back at the gazebo. “I brought my lunch today. Besides, we’ve got a few hours of work left in us.”

I left him and picked up Muffy from the nursery, telling Maeve that Neely Kate had taken the afternoon off. I thought she might ask questions, but she took it in stride.

Muffy hopped in the truck with me, smothering me with kisses from across the bench seat. I partially rolled down the window, and she stuck her head out of the opening. She got excited when we pulled