Chapter
Six
Clara had to endure a lot of teasing and questions on the bike ride along the Emerald River Trail and later that night with her parents. They all gave her a hard time and tried to find out everything she knew about Brex, which wasn’t nearly enough. She shouldn’t have let him leave early. Thinking about seeing Brex the next morning made it easier. A superstar had dropped into her life and she wanted to spend every spare minute with him.
She pulled into the parking lot at the Red Mountain Falls trailhead early the next morning, the smell of creosote greeting her when she opened her door. The scent was pungent to a lot of people but welcoming to someone who had grown up in the desert.
Brex’s beautiful silver SUV was already there. Her older Sonata looked dowdy next to it. Did she look the same next to Brex? She wouldn’t think about it.
Jumping out of her car, she hurried toward him. He strode her direction. The sun wasn’t up, but it was light enough to see his handsome face.
She’d had three serious boyfriends as an adult and each one of them had tragically died. Brex seemed far too tough and confident to die, but that didn’t mean he couldn’t have a horrible accident like Harrison, Kyle, and Malik.
He wasn’t her boyfriend. Not even close. He wasn’t even here long term and she hardly knew him. Her thoughts were running away from her.
But she was drawn to him. Magnetized. Had the good Lord put Brex in her path to give her a chance to trust in a man and find love and a future? She always trusted her Heavenly Father and felt His inspiration in her life, but she wasn’t certain if Brex was a gift from above or if she was so attracted to him she wasn’t seeing clearly. He could be gone tomorrow.
What was she going to do about this draw to Brex? If they did develop a relationship, how could she keep him safe? Maybe she should tell him about what had happened with the other men and beg him to stay safe and be ultra cautious. He could use his connections to Aiden Porter and figure out if there was foul play in her boyfriends’ deaths. They could determine together if she dared get involved with him or, rather, if he dared take a risk on dating her.
No. She wasn’t ready for any of that. Brex would think she was trying to get him to be her boyfriend. He might even think she was the one to blame for the deaths. She’d been the only one around and the creepiness of finding the jade stones that matched her eyes made her wonder if she wasn’t somehow at fault.
“Morning,” he said, gifting her with his incredible smile.
“Hi. Ready to get hiked into the ground?”
“With those cute legs of yours?”
“Oh, my.” She groaned. “I can’t believe you heard me singing yesterday.”
“I was hoping for more singing today.”
“Prepare for disappointment.”
He chuckled and gestured. “Lead the way.”
“All right, I will.”
She took off at a quick pace up the nearby canyon. The first part of the trail was on the edge of a stream that fed into The Emerald River that wound through Jade Valley. The farther they walked, the more the canyon walls closed in. The path through the red rock canyon grew narrow until the path was in the stream. Her valley would grow unbearably hot in the summer, but in March it was ideal, fifty to sixty in the early morning and rarely broke seventy-five at midday.
When they had no choice but to plunge into the chilly water, Brex said, “Well, this is unique. I don’t think I’ve ever hiked in the river.” He gazed up at the almost sheer red walls dozens of feet high framing them and the blue sky. The sun had risen while they hiked, but they couldn’t see it from here. The sky looked unerringly blue, almost fake like the sky at Disneyland.
“Have you never done The Narrows in Zion?” she asked.
“I’ve only been to Zions as a teenager with my parents and sister and we didn’t do much more than a short hike that ended with us playing in the river.”
“That’s probably Riverside Walk, the start of The Narrows. Were there red rock walls?” She felt a twinge at bringing up the national park. Malik’s death gouged at her. She hadn’t been back to Zion since he died a year ago, even though her friends and family had begged her to go in the off season. She loved the park but wasn’t fanatical enough to correct Brex for saying ‘Zions’ not ‘Zion’ like the locals would.
“Yeah. Is the Narrows hike more like this?” He gestured around.
“It’s a lot wider than this, but yeah, you have no choice but to walk in the river. For miles and miles.”
“I like it.”
She smiled. She’d hoped he would. “Are your parents still in Colorado?”
“Yeah.”
“And your sister?”
“Yes. She’s married and lives a few miles away from them. They’re pestering her about grandbabies all the time.”
“My parents don’t have any married yet, so they pester all of us about getting married and then making them grandbabies.”
Brex glanced back with a longing in his dark eyes that made her cheeks go hot despite the cold water up past her knees and the cooler air outside. Was it the getting married or the making grandbabies that he liked? She focused on placing her steps to give herself a break, or she might beg him to date her seriously.
They progressed through the stream and reached the first waterfall. A ladder propped against the side of the falls gave them access to the pools above. This sheltered spot was magical to her. The red rock, green water, and blue sky were all so beautiful.
“Are you up for a little adventure?” she asked.
“Of course.” His deep-brown eyes twinkled at her, and he gestured for her to go first.
She climbed the moss-covered ladder and reached the next level. Waiting for Brex, she glanced around at the steep red rock walls and the fast-moving stream spilling over the rocks in a twenty-foot drop. It was otherworldly.
Brex reached her side and looked around.
“What do you think?”
“It’s beautiful,” he said, looking at the red rocks, the green water, the bright blue sky, and then his gaze landed on her face.
She flushed as if he’d said she was beautiful, not the scenery. Brex was clearly interested in her or he wouldn’t have asked to hike with her every morning, but he seemed far out of her league —too accomplished, worldly, and polished for her. She didn’t dare hope he was interested in anything long term.
He moved to the edge overlooking the falls.
“Please,” she cried out. “Get back.”
Brex turned to her, a smirk on his face. “Worried about me?”
“Yes,” she admitted. “I don’t want you to fall.”
“I won’t.” His voice and his eyes were confident.
Brex didn’t know his own vulnerability. That terrified her.
He walked to her side and they wandered up the stream, wading through graduating pools. They hit the end of the box canyon. A steep waterfall descending to a small pool. There was no way to scale it. She’d only seen her extreme-athlete Jude make it up.
Pausing to drink from their water bottles and savor the view, they turned and headed back down the stream.
When they reached the ladder, Brex said, “I’ll go first in case I need to catch you.”
She pushed out a huffy breath. “Catch me? I’m an experienced moss-covered ladder climber.”
“We’ll see.” He winked and scurried down the ladder. His speed made her heart thump quicker. She was tempted to ask him to be careful again.
Clara hurried down after him, intent on proving she wasn’t a wimp and could move as fast as he did. Her foot slipped off a rung near the bottom. Brex grabbed her and hauled her down to the creek bed and against his chest.
“Good thing I was here.” He smiled, and she knew he was teasing her.
“Yes, that plunge of one foot into this raging river could’ve been dangerous.” She was cradled in his arms and wanted very much to stay there.
His eyes twinkled.
The thought of him in danger made her sick.
She wrapped her arms around his lower back and savored the feel of his strong arms surrounding her. The small waterfall splashed merrily next to them. This early in the morning, and with the water cooling their legs and feet throughout the hike, they weren’t sweaty. They were in a magical oasis next to the scenic waterfall. Their own little world.
Was it too quick to kiss him? Their relationship was moving fast, and she shouldn’t get involved with Brex and put him in danger. How would she live with herself if he died?
She should back away, but she was weak.
His gaze became full of desire for her, a look that made her stomach pitch and her legs weak. She leaned into him and he bent down.
“Clara,” he whispered against her lips. “I shouldn’t …”
Clara wondered why he shouldn’t. He’d told her last night he was only here for a short time and not in a position to fall madly in love like Linc had teased them. Maybe he had a girlfriend back home. Maybe Clara wasn’t his type. Maybe he had made a vow to not date like she should have done.
She couldn’t waste any more time stressing about why he ‘shouldn’t’ when his arms lifted her closer and their lips met.
The air around them seemed to sparkle as their mouths connected and then danced together. Brex confidently took possession of her lips, and the morning sang with joy. Their kiss brought them together as if they were two magnets searching for each other their entire lives. Maybe heaven above had brought Brex to the valley and to her. He was a spectacular enigma, and she was fascinated by him. His kiss only made her more drawn to him.
Brex released her from the kiss and stared at her. His gaze was filled with the wonder of what had just transpired between them. How could this accomplished man who’d probably dated actresses and models look as awestruck as she felt? Their kiss was unique and binding, and she knew she wasn’t the only one who felt it.
“Clara,” he whispered again.
She’d always thought her name was plain and old-fashioned. Not on Brex’s lips. It was mystical and enchanting.
He captured her mouth again, and magic wasn’t enough to describe how his kisses felt. The water babbled merrily nearby as their kisses intensified, became more passionate and more fulfilling. Clara was swept away in the joy of Brex and amazed to feel the depth of his longing for her in each kiss, each touch. Time passed, but she didn’t catalog it. She savored kissing and being kissed.
Voices echoed from the canyon below.
Brex pulled back. His eyes swept over her, full of a hunger she’d never seen in a man’s eyes and especially not a man as desirable and accomplished as Brex. Abandoning any ideals of not having a boyfriend, she was planning their future in her mind. She’d keep him safe. Somehow.
She moistened her lips, and his gaze sharpened and grew even more heated. She thought he’d kiss her again—who cared if whoever was coming saw—but he took her hand and turned. She said a prayer of gratitude for their magical exchange in this mystical and beautiful spot.
Brex didn’t say anything as he led her down the river. They greeted the couple coming up the stream but didn’t stop to chat. Clara recognized them but didn’t know their names.
They progressed down the path and the silence between them became louder than the creek dancing over rocks. She didn’t know what to say and wished he’d break the silence. Yet how could words fill the air between them that had been changed by their powerful kissing session? She’d naively fallen for him in those blissful moments. Had he just been enjoying the kisses, or did he feel anything deeply for her?
As the silence wore on, the rapture slowly fell away and an uneasy pit formed in her stomach. Brex was holding her hand. He looked strong and protective, but there was something off about them kissing like that, then neither of them speaking since.
Did he regret their kisses?
Did she?
She didn’t know that she could regret kisses that pure and enthralling, but she’d promised herself not to get another boyfriend. What if Brex slipped off a cliff or wrecked on a mountain bike, was crushed by a falling boulder, caught in a flash flood, or struck by lightning? Jade Valley was known for flash floods and spectacular lightning storms, and she’d personally seen men killed falling off cliffs and wrecking mountain bikes.
Her heart beat high and fast and her hand gripped his more tightly.
How could she protect him? She was terrified to have something happen to Brex. Their shared interactions and their shared kisses were beyond anything she’d experienced with Harrison, Kyle, or Malik. She’d known Brex all of a day and wanted to pledge her heart and life to him. That wasn’t smart or rational. On any level. He hopefully wouldn’t die, but he’d eventually leave Jade Valley, and her, behind. He was too suave and larger than life. Too accomplished for this valley. For her.
The canyon widened and they were able to step out of the river and onto dry ground. Brex released her hand, and they picked up the pace. He gave her another glance filled with longing but said nothing. The next couple miles passed with her stewing over what he was thinking and what she was thinking.
They finally made it to the parking lot, their ethereal waterfall retreat far behind them. Brex walked her over to her car and turned to face her. She pressed her back into the car door and stared up at him. The sun lit his handsome face, but his eyes were dark and apprehensive.
“Clara,” he said, studying her, “I’m sorry.” He flicked his wrist and glanced at it, even without his watch to look at. “I shouldn’t have kissed you.”
She blinked up at him, the unease in her stomach becoming a cold rock. He was not only second-guessing their passionate exchange; he wanted to retract it. His repentance was deeper than her questioning whether they were moving too fast. He wanted to erase it.
“You’re sorry about those kisses?” she demanded.
He smiled and cupped her jawline with his palm. “I couldn’t ever be sorry about those kisses.” Sparks of desire in his eyes counteracted the concern. “I’ve never experienced a kiss like that, a feeling like that.” He looked her over. “Pure and powerful. Genuine. You are pure and powerful and genuine, Clara Gem. If I could, I’d kiss you every hour of every day.”
Clara’s heart hopped and tingles covered her skin. He was sincere. She could see it in his eyes and hear it in his voice. He’d felt that interchange as deeply as she had. She had no power, only through her Savior, but the thought of their kisses being pure and powerful hit exactly right. Definitely genuine. There was nothing false between them.
He released his hold on her and stepped back. The muscles in his arms engaged as he clenched his hands into fists. “But I’m on a job here, and I shouldn’t be kissing you and leading you on. That isn’t my objective.”
Clara’s hopes dove into the red dirt. Her heart felt squished into the red dirt as well. She’d been falling for him, and he was easily stepping away. She put up her defenses and scrambled for something to say. “That’s good … really good … because I’ve sworn not to have a boyfriend again.”
His gaze became searching. “You have? Why?”
She blinked up at him. For a moment she considered telling him her story, the horrifying deaths, and begging him to help her. But if he was only ‘leading her on’, she wasn’t going to confide in him.
“None of your business,” she snipped. “If you’re focused on your job and I’m focused on not having a boyfriend, it’s for the best that we not see each other and that we never kiss again.” The words hurt to say, and she prayed he’d contradict them.
He swallowed, his gaze still searching hers. “I don’t know if I could claim it’s for the best. Those kisses … you …” His hand swept over her. “All of you, Clara Gem … You are as unique and beautiful as your jade-colored eyes.”
She felt the stirrings of hope and desire again. He thought she was unique and beautiful, but he’d also admitted he was leading her on. Who did that? He was too honest, which made his sweet compliments deeper but also made the rejection deeper.
She pushed any hope of developing a deep relationship with Brex away. It was for the best. It would keep him safe physically and keep her heart intact. She hadn’t had Melody research him on social media, but she could only imagine the classy and perfect women a charming security operative of Aiden Porter’s would date.
“Please don’t,” she said softly. “You’re the one who said you shouldn’t be kissing me. Is that true or not?”
He drew in a breath and squinted at the sun, pushing out the air like a heavy burden. “It is.” The two words were slow and weighty. He didn’t want to say them, but he was being honest.
“Well …” She said a prayer for strength. “It was very nice to have met you, Brex Cabella.”
Clara turned and ripped her car door open. She was humiliated, drawn to him, confused, and knew she was right that it was for the best they not kiss again. She could get him killed if someone had killed her other boyfriends. Besides, he was focused on his job and would be leaving the valley in a few months.
Training the police each afternoon. It seemed like a piddly excuse for a job from what Aiden Porter had shown his operatives to accomplish.
Then it hit her. Training the police was just an excuse. He was here for something bigger, something more nefarious.
No. That couldn’t be, could it? Jade Valley didn’t have much excitement or crime. What if there was a trafficking ring in her valley and she didn’t even know about it? You couldn’t be much farther from the southern border and still be in Arizona, but who knew. She wanted to pry out details, but this was hardly the time.
“Clara.” He wrapped his hand around her arm and studied her. “I apologize again. I’ve never met a woman as innocent and angelic as you. You’re not my type at all, but I can’t seem to fight how drawn I am to you.”
She was yanked from any speculation about why he was really here to the longing for her and confusion battling in his gaze. His words weren’t all sweet. She wasn’t his ‘type at all’ and her being ‘innocent’ wasn’t particularly a compliment. He was used to high-maintenance and successful women; that was what he was drawn to. Clara hardly knew how to use makeup, sewed her own clothes, and her career was all charity work.
“It’s probably better we never see each other again then.” She begged him with her eyes to refute that. Maybe she shouldn’t have a boyfriend again and put Brex in danger, but if any man could handle danger it was this one. She was drawn to him, and the thought of never kissing him again made her want to whimper with pain.
“No.” He shook his head. “Can we just … be friends? Go on hikes each morning like we planned and maybe spend more time with my buddy Linc?”
“Friends?” She’d gotten excited about his quick no, but then he threw out the ‘friends’ idea. No way. She shook her head and backed into her car. “You don’t kiss someone like that and then go back to friend status.” She narrowed her eyes at him, frustrated, confused, and wanting to kiss him all over again. “Goodbye, Brex.”
Last night they’d teased about a kiss goodbye. They were far from that teasing now. He had kissed her—thoroughly and beautifully and repeatedly—but he didn’t want to develop something with her. Because he was leaving after this job or because his job was something he couldn’t share with her?
She slid into the car and yanked the door closed. He didn’t move to stop her.
As she drove out of the parking lot, she could see him watching her go. It wrenched at her heart to leave him like that, but it was for the best, no matter how they both longed for each other.
Either she’d leave for a mission trip or he’d finish his job and leave. They had no future, and she wasn’t his type.
No future.
No relationship.
No hope.
She touched her fingertips to her lips.
It gouged to think of never teasing with Brex, seeing that sparkle in his dark eyes, being held in his strong arms, or kissing him again.
Even if being without him was the only path open to her.