Page 64 of To Steal a Heart

Arden held out her wrist as Grandmother examined the charms. “So he left you the tear charm the night he stole the mask.”

“Yes.”

She looked thoughtful. “You said that Garrett was angry when he was on the phone call.”

“Furious.” She’d thought of him as a lone warrior facing down a legion of foes. She remembered how his anger had scared her a little and excited her.

“He claimed to be talking to a contractor?”

“That was his story, but it was a lie.” She narrowed her eyes. “Garrett wasn’t working as an architectural consultant. He was in Carmel because of me.” She grunted. “I spent so much time and energy feeling guilty because I lied to him about my identity.” Her voice went shrill. “And all the while, he was playing me.” The all-too-familiar anger cut at her insides.

Grandmother grinned. “It was quite clever of him to orchestrate that meeting with Zachary Kipling.”

Arden smirked. “Looking back, I’m sure he did it so that I’d have to come clean about my identity.”

“I’d bet my diamond necklace that was his plan.” A few beats passed. Arden could tell by the firm set of her jaw that Grandmother was doing some heavy thinking. “Do you think he was talking to his boss that night on the phone?”

“Boss?” Arden asked dubiously.

“The person who hired him to steal the mask.”

“I always pictured Garrett as working for himself.”

“Perhaps,” Grandmother said, but it was obvious that she wasn’t convinced. “Maybe someone forced Garrett to steal the mask.”

“Don’t defend him.”

“Think about it … if Garrett had wanted your money, then all he had to do was to pull a love con. A close association with a Chasing is worth more in the long run than a silly mask.”

“There you go again with the Chasing thing. Maybe Garrett didn’t want to put up with me for the long term.” Her chest squeezed. “I’m a lot. Isn’t that what Hector said?”

“Quit wallowing in self-pity,” Grandmother snapped. “It doesn’t become you. Hector’s a twit.”

“You’re right about that.”

She arched an eyebrow. “I’m right about a lot of things.” She stroked her chin. “I still think it’s strange that Garrett didn’t take more than just the mask. And why alert you that he’s coming for the diamond? Doing so will make his task much harder.”

“Garrett is an adrenaline junkie. Maybe he steals for the thrill of it like Carter Laramie did.”

“Or maybe he does love you, but his demons are getting in the way.”

“At least that’s one thing we can agree on.” A shiver ran down Arden’s spine. Grandmother’s assertion was ringing true. Garrett was a compulsive gambler, and his demon had fed his need to steal. It was a vicious cycle. Arden should be thanking her lucky stars that Garrett hadn’t wanted her for the long term. If that were the case, then why did he break into her bedroom and leave the pink diamond charm? The two of them were still connected. Arden could feel it deep inside her bones.

“Garrett said that you make him want to be a better man. He prompted you to attend church. That sounds like a man who’s trying to change.”

“Yeah, maybe. But he did steal the mask.” She didn’t want to give Garrett the benefit of the doubt. It was easier to hate him.

“He left you the tear charm and the note that saidI’m sorry.” She drew her brows together and then seemed to reach a conclusion. “We’re missing too many pieces to put this puzzle together.”

“A second thing we can agree on.” She clicked her tongue. “You and I agreeing … what’s the world coming to?”

Ignoring her jab, Grandmother forged on. “You know what I think?”

She rolled her eyes. “I’m sure you’re about to tell me.”

“You’d better believe it,” she punched out. “Do you know the best way to catch a rat?”

“With a trap?” She bunched her brows. “Or better yet. A sledgehammer.”