Chapter
Five
Brex was losing his mind. If he didn’t find it soon, he might mess up this entire job.
He’d never experienced flirtation or a desire to be close to and kiss somebody like this before. Casually dating Rachel or anyone else, no matter their beauty or status, was ruined for him.
Clara was all he could see. All he wanted to see.
And this gorgeous woman who was drawing him in wasn’t his type, wouldn’t fit in his world, and might be a murder suspect.
Brex wanted to curse the interruption, but it was for the best.
He couldn’t see any scenario where Clara had killed anyone, but that was why he was here. He couldn’t let Aiden or the Hendrys down, and he longed for that million dollars in his bank account. What was he doing almost kissing her? He’d done enough groundwork to spend more time with her. Kissing her would make him lose his mind and was stretching far over the line of acceptable protocol.
He and Clara straightened and turned to face a man and three women who burst into the kitchen from the front entry.
“Clara’s cookies,” the reddish-blonde woman with jade-colored eyes said, but she was studying him with questions in her eyes.
“Ultra-hot man,” the brunette with deep-brown eyes who he recognized as Clara’s younger sister, the influencer Melody, murmured.
“Who are you?” the man demanded, an average height, well-muscled blond guy about Clara’s age in a golf shirt and pants.
The third woman was pressed into the man’s side, a petite brunette with a soft smile and a vacant look in her eyes.
Clara sighed and lifted a hand toward Brex. “Brex Cabella, this is my sister Melody, my cousin Tess, and my closest friends Weston and Jane.”
Weston’s mouth turned down at the word ‘friend’. The possessive way he was looking at Clara said he wanted more than friendship.
“Nice to meet you,” Brex said to the three of them. He stepped forward and shook each of their hands. The first two women each gripped his hand normally. Jane’s grip was limp. Weston tried to clamp onto his hand. Brex put pressure with his thumb on the man’s median nerve in the thenar space between the thumb and first finger.
Weston winced and pulled away. Brex hid a smile and stepped back to Clara’s side.
“How did you meet my gorgeous sister, Mr. Brex Cabella?” Melody asked, grabbing a cookie and biting off half of it. She was loud and borderline obnoxious on her feed but well-loved by her audience. She was much calmer in person but still had a mischievous glint in her dark eyes. She reminded him more of Lincoln than of Clara.
“We met hiking this morning,” Brex answered. “Then she invited me to dinner. For Lincoln.”
“For Linc?” The cousin Tess’s eyes, so similar to Clara’s, narrowed. It was intriguing to see those eyes in a paler face with strawberry-blonde hair instead of Clara’s dark locks. “Why not for Clara?” She blinked long lashes at him, a seemingly innocent motion, but he could tell she was baiting him.
“Brex works for Aiden Porter,” Clara explained, “so I knew Linc would die to meet him.”
“Aiden Porter?” they all exclaimed. Except Jane who remained silent.
Weston looked even more annoyed now. Brex had to hide a smile again. He shook his wrist and looked at his watch.
“What kind of job could you do be doing for Aiden Porter in sleepy little Jade Valley?” Weston asked.
“I’m training the police,” Brex said evenly, folding his arms across his chest. He felt a strong desire to posture. This guy bugged him. What was his relationship with Clara? Why hadn’t there been anything in the police or FBI reports about him? He was a prime suspect in Brex’s mind. In love with Clara for years but always the ‘friend’. Having to watch her love other men and killing them in a rage of jealousy.
“Are you now?” Weston looked like he was ready to call Brex out and try to prove Brex was lying about working for Aiden. Did Brex not have ‘the imposing yet charming look’ down yet? Was his TravisMathew golf casual not impressive enough? What if Weston saw straight through him to this being his first field job for Aiden?
“That’s what I said.” Brex found himself puffing up as if staring down a dangerous animal. Weston wouldn’t have a chance against him in a fight.
“Can I get a selfie with you?” Melody asked, interrupting his and Weston’s stare down.
“Not if you’re going to post it,” Brex countered.
“Oh, ha! Somebody’s done their research,” Melody grinned, obviously pleased to be recognized.
“You are the famous Melodious Melody,” he teased back.
“I am, and I promise I wouldn’t make fun of you on my post.” Melody blinked innocently. “I’d just brag about meeting one of Aiden Porter’s guys.”
He smirked at her, thinking he was playing this one correctly. Clara’s little sister was endearing with an intriguing mix of charisma and mischief. She wore similar clothing to what he’d seen on Clara—quality material and great fit but no labels. Even still she would make a stir and stand out in San Diego social circles.
Should he let Melodious Melody give him five minutes of fame? As a police detective, he would definitely have preferred incognito. With Aiden being flamboyant and charming the entire world, Brex didn’t think he’d get in trouble if this world-famous influencer bragged about meeting him. In his training they’d explained it depended on the job they were doing and what future jobs they wanted to do if they were more visible or hiding their identity.
“I’ll have to think about it.” He looked at Clara. “We do try to remain incognito.”
Clara grinned at their inside joke. “Though it’s hard when you’re Jason Bourne.”
“Then why did you brag to all of us?” Weston asked, interrupting their moment.
“He didn’t,” Clara pointed out. “I begged him to let me tell Linc, and I was the one who bragged about him to all of you.”
“He told you who he was,” Weston pointed out. “Not very incognito.”
She gave Weston a look that clearly said to stand down. Brex could help prove her point with the guy if she wanted.
Weston raised his hands and changed the subject. “Are you coming on the bike ride with us?”
“I forgot,” Clara admitted. She glanced at Brex. “Would you like to come on a bike ride with us? Tess owns the bike shop, so she could get you a bike.”
“For sure.” Tess gave him a thumbs up. “Free bikes for Aiden Porter’s guy.”
“Thank you.” He chuckled. “That’s kind of you, but I need to take off anyway.” He questioned if he shouldn’t take them up on the offer, see what the dynamic was with Clara’s sister, cousin, and friends, but he was moving fast enough with her. His mind was still spinning from their almost kiss. He needed to get some space and perspective. Maybe he’d go to his rental home and research this Weston guy. What was his last name?
“I’ll walk you out,” Clara said.
“Nice to meet you all.” Brex raised a hand and smiled at them. He rested his other hand on the small of Clara’s back and walked with her to the entryway. She pulled open the door and walked out. He followed her, shutting the door behind him.
“You sure you don’t want to come on the bike ride?” she asked, studying him. “We’re doing the Emerald River Trail. It’s pretty and there’s some shade.”
“That river is called Emerald River?” He almost choked on a laugh.
“Hey. It’s greenish.”
He grinned. It was pretty, simply different from the sparkling blue rivers he was accustomed to. “I don’t want to interrupt something you have planned, and I need to get settled in my rental home and deal with some emails.”
Translation: research her and her friends for hours.
“You’re not leaving because Weston acted like a doofus? He’s a great guy; he just gets a little … jealous.”
Brex’s gaze zeroed in on her. “Are you dating?”
“No.” She shook her head. “Friends.”
“Has he tried to be more than friends?” Brex might be pushing past boundaries asking that question. He needed to know for the job and wanted to know for himself.
“At times, but I’m not interested in him like that, and he went through a rough divorce a couple years ago.” She shrugged. “We’re better as friends.”
“Maybe you should tell him that.” He needed to know the timing of Weston’s marriage and divorce. There were years long gaps in boyfriend deaths.
“I have.”
“I could tell him for you.” He arched his eyebrows.
“Somehow I don’t think that would go over well.”
“You never know.” He smiled and raised his hands. “What does Weston do?”
“He’s the varsity football coach and teaches science at the high school.”
He nodded. It was more than enough to find the last name online.
Clara changed the subject. “You’ve seen Melody on social media?”
Brex realized his mistake of recognizing Melody. Though she had a massive following, her channel wasn’t one he would typically look at and Clara already knew that about him.
“When I met you this morning …” He hated lying. He flicked his wrist and glanced at his watch. “I Googled you, and some photos of you were tagged on Melody’s page.”
“You Googled me, eh?” Her jade eyes grew warmer.
“What can I say?” He lowered his voice and stepped in closer. “I’m very intrigued by you, Clara Gem.” That was true personally and professionally.
He wanted to wrap her up in his arms and show her his kiss goodbye was better than his kiss hello.
A horn honked and an older Suburban pulled into the driveway. Clara stepped back and murmured, “Ah, no. You should’ve left while you could. Maybe you should run. Now.”
Brex studied the middle-aged couple as they parked the vehicle and the man hurried around to escort the woman out of her seat and across the grass to the front porch. He recognized them from the photos. Curtis Gem was in a suit and his wife Ruth in a flattering pale blue dress. Their clothes weren’t high quality, but they were presentable and attractive. They were also a great contrast as a couple. Clara’s dad was tall, burly, and redheaded with the distinctive jade eyes. Clara’s mom was brunette, olive-skinned, and petite with deep-brown eyes like Lincoln and Melody.
Gray interspersed with red in Clara’s dad’s hair. He didn’t look like he’d ever had a facial, and he was driving a car older than Lincoln. Alayna’s dad wouldn’t have been caught in a family vehicle from the early 2000s and in a suit bought at Wal-Mart. Brex was surprised how comfortable those facts and Clara’s home life made him. A large family in an older but well-kept home. No one but Weston had shown any inclination to posture or check out the label on his golf shirt.
“My parents,” she muttered.
“I can’t wait to meet them.”
“Your funeral.”
He chuckled at that but felt a blip of concern. Alayna’s dad had separated them, determining Brex didn’t make the cut. What if Clara’s dad felt the same? Maybe it had nothing to do with his bank account and everything to do with his nonexistent faith.
He stepped forward, shoulders back and confidence oozing, even if it was a facade, offering his hand to her father first. “Brex Cabella. Nice to meet you, sir.”
“Wonderful to meet you, son.” Her dad gave him a hearty handshake. His gaze was welcoming and kind. Brex was instantly put at ease. “I’m Curtis Gem, and this beauty is my breathtaking wife, Ruth.”
“Oh, you.” Ruth pushed at her husband’s shoulder with her palm, smiling hugely, and then turned and shook Brex’s hand. Her hand was small and her grip firm. “A friend of Clara’s?”
“Yes, ma’am. Hiking buddies. She kindly invited me over for dinner and to meet Linc.”
“Oh?” Ruth arched an eyebrow. “She didn’t tell us about a handsome hiking buddy coming to dinner.”
“Brex was just leaving,” Clara said quickly. “I’m walking him to his … SUV thingie.”
It should’ve annoyed him that she had no idea what vehicle he was driving. He was in debt to drive the Range Rover. Clara didn’t need to know what kind of car he drove and get certified financial statements before dating him. It was weird to him. And … refreshing.
“Okay, darlin’,” her dad said. “I wasn’t going to grill him with questions.”
“I’d believe you,” Clara said, “if it wasn’t common practice.”
Her parents both laughed.
“Nice to meet you, Brex,” her mom said.
“Come back again soon so I can grill you.” Her dad shook his hand again. “You look like a fine, upstanding man.”
“Thank you, sir. I try.”
Neither of her parents gave him the top to bottom visual inspection. They kept eye contact the entire time. Nonjudgmental, welcoming, and a preacher … it might take a minute to wrap his mind around that one.
Her dad held the front door and her mom walked in the front entry. Her dad retraced his steps to the driveway, waving to him again before jumping in the vehicle and pulling the Suburban into the garage.
Brex liked them. They seemed like a normal, teasing, loving family. He was welcome and comfortable in their home. It was clean and outdated and felt like a happy family lived there.
The only red flags he saw on this job were the friend Weston and the hatred Rulon and Pamela Hendry had for these people. That might all stem from losing their son, but who knew? Lots of research to do tonight for certain. He didn’t want to leave Clara’s side, but research was safe and familiar and the million dollars had to remain his top priority, not the desire to kiss this unique, down-to-earth sweetheart and potentially mess up the entire job.
“Sorry,” Clara said as they walked to his silver Range Rover. “The downfalls of living at home.”
“Why do you live at home?” he asked, hoping he wasn’t overstepping anything.
She folded her arms and looked more uncomfortable than he’d seen her look. “I’m not home often and my stipend for running the mission trips isn’t very much.” She looked down the quiet street. “I do make and sell my own dresses.” She gestured to her flattering sundress. “But most of the time I donate that money to the mission fund.” She squirmed as if embarrassed she’d admitted that.
“It’s very honorable what you do,” he said. It made sense why her clothes fit so well; they were tailor-made. She looked fabulous without the high dollar brands he was used to seeing on ladies he dated. Clara was nothing like he thought he wanted in a woman. Somehow, she was much more.
“Thank you.”
The moment was lost; he wouldn’t get a kiss goodbye. He shouldn’t want one so badly. Glancing back at the house, he saw a lineup in the formal living room off the entry, pressed into the picture window and watching them like a shot from a movie scene on the big screen. Only Weston looked sour about the current entertainment option. The only one not paying attention to them was Jane, who was studying Weston.
“Are we still on for hiking in the morning?” he asked, reaching for his driver’s side door and pulling it open. He’d accomplished a lot today and grown close to Clara, as per the objective. It was definitely time to go before he forgot the job objective and focused on growing close to Clara for his own selfish desires. That could sink him and skew his research and the case.
“Sure. Meet me at the Red Mountain Falls trailhead.”
“Sounds great.”
“Plan on getting wet. Leave your high-dollar watch at home.” She arched her eyebrows in a challenge.
“Sounds even better.”
She grinned but stepped back, out of reach. It was for the best. He loaded up and lifted a hand. She didn’t move as he drove away.
Clara Gem. She was pure, charitable, and a genuine beauty. She was enthralling, familiar, and yet more of a mystery by the minute. When he pictured her, it was different. He didn’t see her in a condo with a view of the beach, a dress designed by Dior, hair and makeup professionally done to make her more beautiful. He just saw Clara—her face, her smile, her inner beauty that outshone the glitz and glamor he was used to.
If only he dared call Nick and ask protocol on wanting to kiss the suspect.
He rolled his eyes at himself. No way was he doing that. Calling Nick, that was. Kissing Clara might happen. His blood heated. He could easily claim it was part of the job.
Why that rubbed at his conscience, he wasn’t going to investigate.
The job came first. Feelings for the angelic lady couldn’t factor in. If only he could remember that. He’d never had feelings this strong for any lady.