Ever since Ariel met Beth at the clinic, they’d become best friends. “You don’t have to do that.”
“Sure, I do. I know it’s hard to decide what to keep and what to give away. I can be impartial.”
Beth was the best. “Then I accept, but I don't plan to toss too many things. What if I find some evidence that he's innocent?”
"I hope you do," Beth said.
Ariel looked around the Double G for a waitress. She needed another drink. Between learning that poor Buster had gotten loose again, and then seeing her brother at that depressing prison, her day had gone from bad to worse. The only good thing she’d accomplished was finally beginning the journey to find justice for her brother.
“Who is next on your search for truth and justice list?” Beth asked.
Beth wasn’t a big fan of Trent’s, but Ariel had convinced her that he would have never killed Samantha. When they were growing up, their father had taken Trent hunting, but he’d refused to kill a deer or any animal for that matter. Seeing how her brother had turned out, no one would believe it though. Maybe it was why he ended up a butcher. He let someone else do the killing. Of course, that information probably never made it into the courtroom.
“Both Trent and Sherry pointed a finger at Benson’s roommate, Preston Daniels. I plan to talk to him in the morning.”
Beth leaned back in her seat. “He would never hurt anyone, but in case I’m wrong, meet him at the gym. That way, you’ll be surrounded by a lot of people.”
That was a scary thought. “Do you personally know him?”
Ariel didn’t. Even though Wildwood only had a population of about thirty-five hundred, she mostly came in contact with those who had animals. As for going to the gym, Ariel jogged for her exercise. The reason she’d never stepped foot in the Hard Body Gym was because she didn’t need to be among all those egos. She also couldn’t afford the monthly dues.
“I can’t say I know him well, but I should mention that I was in the same high school class as both Preston and Benson.” Beth fanned her face. “The man was hot back then, and he’s even hotter now.”
“I’ve never met him, but I would assume he’d have a good body if he owns a gym. Besides, I can’t imagine a Granger rooming with some ugly troll.”
Beth laughed. “You are too funny. They were on our high school basketball team together. That’s why they are friends.”
“That was before my time.” Beth was six years older than she was, which put the men about thirty-two.
Her friend looked up from their booth. “Oh, shit. Speaking of the devil, look who walked in.”
Ariel’s pulse shot up. “I’m not turning around. That would be weird.”
“You said you needed to talk to Preston about what happened that night,” Beth said.
“Yes, but not at a bar. Especially here where Trent and Samantha had their argument.” It was also owned by Will Granger, Benson’s brother.
“You have a point. What are you going to ask Preston when you do speak with him? It’s not like you can ask if he killed Samantha.”
Ariel refrained from rolling her eyes. “No. I’ll ask him if he saw anyone near the house when he tried to drop off Sam’s wallet. I just need to start him talking. Maybe he’ll tell me something useful.”
“Good idea. If he trained her, they would have spent a lot of time together. Sam might have confided in him about how Trent was treating her or when she planned to leave your brother.”
“If she did that, it would have been in the hopes that Preston would ask her out. I mentioned that Sherry said Sam was interested in Preston, didn’t I?”
“Yes, but I think every single woman in Wildwood has been interested in Preston Daniels at one time or another. You can check him out now. They aren’t looking this way.”
They? Who was Preston with? She wouldn’t have turned around, except it would be helpful to know what he looked like. Ariel swiveled in her seat and instantly spotted Benson Granger sitting perpendicular to the bar. He was wearing jeans, boots, and a form-fitting, long sleeved, forest-green shirt instead of one of his very proper blue or brown suits.Damn. Her heart pulsed extra hard at his handsome face, even though she recognized that her reaction was wrong on so many levels. He was the enemy—but oh what a beautiful enemy he was. She wished he’d been ugly. Disliking him might have been easier.
The man facing him at the bar was unfortunately just as good looking—not that it mattered. This wasn’t about finding a date. The large, muscled man wore a tight black shirt and faded jeans. Ariel immediately turned back around. She didn’t need to have her body betray her any more than it already had.
“Well?” Beth asked.
“Well what? I now know what he looks like.”
“You can understand why Samantha wanted him for her personal trainer, right?”
Ariel wouldn’t take the bait. “I suppose if a woman wanted to look like a man, she’d ask someone like Preston to train her. Personally, I’d want a woman to train me.”