Chapter
Nine
Clara enjoyed her and Brex’s hikes each morning, though there was an underlying tension in the air. Because they were both fighting their attraction? She was fighting it and wondering why she had to. She reminded herself he wouldn’t be in the valley long and she didn’t want him to reject her again. Yet maybe she’d take rejection for more kisses like they’d exchanged.
They were getting to know each other, growing closer, and she kept pushing away the worries about the murderer thinking she had a boyfriend again.
Brex had all but admitted he was in the valley for more than training the police, but she had no clue what he was really doing here. Was it time to tell him about her boyfriends’ deaths and her suspicions? He’d probably heard rumors from his police friends. Would Brex help her or want to stay away from her? With Aiden Porter as his boss, he could help her get to the bottom of the deaths.
The calendar turned to early May, and it was too warm, even during their early-morning hikes. In a month, she would leave on her first mission trip for the summer, and Brex’s three months in the valley would be up about the same time.
Clara decided to go back to the ethereal Red Mountain Falls again, keep cooler in the water, and maybe recreate the magical moments and kisses she could never push from her memory. She and Brex were friends with an undeniable pull between them. She wanted out of the friend zone, even if it wasn’t smart for Brex’s safety or her heart.
As she and Brex exited their vehicles, his gaze swept over her, fiery hot and filled with meaning. He wanted out of the friend zone too?
“Bringing me on this hike again, eh?”
“Don’t read anything into it,” she tried to tease, but her throat was thick.
“Oh, I will.” He approached her, and she let her eyes move over his well-built body. “Maybe I’ll catch you on the ladder again.”
“Maybe you’ll let me go first like a gentleman and you won’t have a chance to catch me.” He was a gentleman, always making sure she went first or escorting her, getting her door. It was fun to tease him about.
He stepped in closer, and his large hand cupped her waist and hip. “A gentleman would make sure his lady didn’t fall down a ladder.”
She gazed up at him, loving his brown eyes and his sculpted face. Two months ago he’d been an out of reach, polished pretty boy. Now he was her friend, but he still felt surreal and tantalizing.
“But I’m not your lady,” she managed to say.
Brex’s eyes grew warm. “Clara,” he said in a husky tone, “do you have any clue how irresistible you are?”
“No.” She managed a smile, but her legs were suddenly weak.
He blew out a long breath and then took her hand. “You are.”
Then he started walking toward the trailhead.
Clara held on to his hand and kept pace. Did this mean anything? This hand holding and telling her she was irresistible? If she was irresistible, why hadn’t he kissed her? It had to be obvious she wouldn’t turn him down.
They walked the two miles to the river and the mile up the river. They chatted about Lincoln’s baseball game last weekend and the high school team’s chances of making it to the state championship this year. Lincoln had high hopes. She’d seen Brex at the game but he hadn’t sat with her. She wanted him by her side, cheering for Linc with her, and by her side in every other part of her life.
The conversation didn’t distract her from what she hoped was happening between her and Brex. Was it smart to fall deeper for him? No. Would he be in danger? She glanced sidelong at him, and he gave her an alluring smile. Maybe. Her stomach turned over.
The red rock walls grew ever closer together and the magic of the mystical setting washed over her as she saw the water spray from the falls.
As they reached the moss-covered ladder, she stepped in front of him to go first but turned to face him, leaning against the ladder. Brex didn’t disappoint as he eased in closer and rested his hand against the ladder. Should she tell him about the risk he was taking if they were in a relationship? Maybe after they kissed.
“If I’m so irresistible,” she said, studying him for his reaction, “why do you resist me?”
He gave her a brief smile. “Because of my job.”
“Oh.” Disappointment filled her. “And you can’t tell me what your real job is yet?”
“No.” His gaze swept over her face, hungry. He leaned down. “If I fail at resisting you … is that fair to you?”
“What do you mean?”
“Clara.” His voice was husky and meaningful, the look in his eyes even more so. “I’m dying to kiss you, but I don’t want to confuse you or hurt you if things don’t go right with my job or I have to move on.”
He wanted her. That was all she cared about at the moment.
She flung her arms around his neck and arched up toward him. “I’ll deal with the confusion and hurt.”
“Oh, Clara.” He wrapped his hands around her waist, drawing her closer. “I don’t want to hurt you.”
“Then don’t.”
“But I’ll have to leave the first part of June. Leave you behind.”
“Maybe I’ll leave you behind first.” She raised a challenging eyebrow. “My first mission trip of the summer is in a month. Maybe I’ll be the one who rips out a piece of your heart when I go.”
He didn’t smile like she thought he would. “Being without you would rip my heart apart, no matter the reason.”
She knew he was right, but she also knew that he craved her and cared about her and for now, maybe that was enough.
“So are we going to waste time jabbering about who’s leaving who and who’s going to hurt worse, or are we going to enjoy the time we’ve got together?”
He did smile then. “You jabber, I’ll enjoy.”
She grinned. “What are you going to enjoy?”
“Kissing you in this spot.” His voice was gravelly, and he lowered his head until their lips were mere centimeters apart. “I’m going to kiss you deeply and thoroughly like I’ve been dreaming about since our last kiss in this magical haven.”
“You do that,” she challenged, “And no regrets. The hurt might come, but I’d rather savor these moments with you.”
“Agreed.”
He tenderly cupped her face with his palms, trailing his thumbs underneath her bottom lip and making her quiver. His dark eyes searched hers, full of yearning and promises she didn’t know if he could keep. Slowly running his fingertips along her jawline and into her hair, he massaged her scalp, bringing tingles with his touch.
Then he captured her mouth with his.
This was the kiss to end all kisses. He was true to his word; he kissed her deeply and thoroughly and it was even better than their first kiss in this mystical and beautiful refuge.
Brex’s hands slid down her back to frame her hips. He lifted her off her feet and into his arms. They moved closer to the gurgling water. She wasn’t sure how it happened, but they ended up under the water. The kisses grew even hotter as cool water intermingled with their warm lips.
This was a kiss unlike anything she’d ever known.
When they pulled back, Brex’s skin was glistening with water and his eyes were sparkling at her. “Deeply and thoroughly?”
She nodded. “And absolutely incredible.”
He grinned but then he sobered. “No regrets?”
“Not for me.”
“Good.” He held her close as she caught her breath. His gaze traveled over her, hungry for more, and then he kissed her again.
Voices came from down the river.
They ignored whoever it was until they were almost upon them. Then Brex pulled back and said, “Let’s step aside. They can go up the ladder and we can kiss more in my favorite spot on earth.”
“Sounds good.” This was her favorite spot too, because of the natural beauty but even more so because she’d kissed Brex here. She needed many more kisses from him. Why had they been wasting time worrying about who would leave who, her heart being broken, him being killed? Maybe because they were serious issues that shouldn’t be ignored, but she wanted to push them to the side.
They edged to the side as a man and a woman came into view.
“Jane? Weston?”
“Beautiful friend,” Jane said, her dark eyes innocent. She looked at Brex and his hold on Clara. “Wow, Clara. He’s hot.”
Jane was a sweet and loyal friend to her and Weston. They’d been protective of her since grade school when Jane used to get teased because she was ‘slow’. Weston had been a better friend to Jane lately than she had. He was a great guy.
“Hey.” Weston’s face lit up as he looked at Clara, but his mouth turned down as he took in Brex’s arm around her. “I thought you were done with him.”
“Just beginning with me,” Brex said, grinning as if Weston’s frustration made him happy.
Weston growled and started toward them. Jane put a hand on his arm. “You don’t want to mess with that guy,” she said in a quiet voice that Clara barely heard. “He’s ripped, and he works for Aiden Porter.”
“I’ll be careful.” Weston softly patted Jane’s arm. He was always so kind with her, a sharp contradiction to the tough football coach. He’d had Jade Valley High Football sweatshirts made specially for her and Clara that said “#1 Fans”. Jane wore hers often.
He turned to Clara, ignoring Brex. “You’re enamored with the Aiden Porter thing. He’s probably lying. He hasn’t known you for years and he’s not long for the valley, Clara. He’s nothing special.”
“He is special,” Clara contradicted, though Weston was right about Brex not sticking around. “Special to me.”
Brex’s arm tightened around her waist. He smiled down at her, and the joy of their connection overwhelmed the ugliness of one of her lifelong friends being so rude.
“Whatever.” Weston turned and stormed down the river and around the corner.
Jane lifted her hands and focused on Brex. “Sorry. He likes the three of us. He gets … upset about Clara.”
“Would he ever hurt someone Clara is dating?” Brex asked.
Clara and Jane stared at him. Clara realized he must know something about the men she’d dated. Maybe from the police officers.
“No,” they both answered at the same time.
Clara smiled at Jane, but Jane looked upset.
“Who could hurt you, you a tough guy,” Jane mumbled.
“I am ‘ripped’.” Brex lifted his free hand.
Jane and Clara both nodded at that. Jane’s eyes were uncertain. Was she scared of Brex? She’d spoken more to him in the past few minutes than she had in any of their other interactions.
“I go after Weston.” Jane waved and turned, hurrying toward where Weston had disappeared.
Jane would help him calm down. She was a sweetheart and like the little sister Weston had never had.
“Sorry he’s acting so weird,” Clara said.
“Has he acted like this when you’ve dated other men seriously?” Brex’s eyes were a deep brown.
She tried to think about it. “Maybe.” She shrugged. “It’s not like you and I are dating seriously though.”
Brex growled low in his throat and pinned her against the ladder. “You kiss men the way you just kissed me when you aren’t dating seriously?”
She was tempted to tease him but felt he deserved the truth. “I’ve never kissed anyone like I kiss you.”
Brex’s eyes grew warm again. “Good. Now I’m going to kiss you until you agree that we’re dating seriously.”
Clara laughed, her nerves tingling with anticipation. “It’s going to take a long time to convince me.”
“Well.” He shook his head. “Sacrifices must be made.”
Clara gave a grunt of outrage.
Brex leaned in but paused inches from her lips and groaned. His gaze grew heavy. “Clara. I’m gone over you, but I don’t know how this is going to work between us.”
Her stomach tumbled. She’d never felt like this for a man. Was she putting him in danger?
“Because you have to leave after you finish this job?”
“That … and other things.” He studied her, his dark eyes too serious. “It’s risky dating you.”
Her own eyes widened, and her heart thumped against her chest. Someone in the valley, in the police force, had told him about her boyfriends’ deaths. Of course they had. Working with Aiden Porter’s people, he probably had inside information on everyone.
“You’re worried about the risk of dying like the other men I dated.”
He quirked an eyebrow. “Dying?”
Maybe he didn’t know, but his comments to Jane said he did. She swallowed and admitted, “I’ve had three boyfriends die in tragic accidents.”
“I’m sorry. I’ve heard about that.”
Water splashed on them and a chill raced through her. She shivered, and he pulled her in tighter.
“I don’t want to risk you. I don’t want you to die.” The words came out too stiff, not betraying the anguish she felt inside. She wanted to sob and cling to him.
“Clara. You understand that I’m far too tough to die.”
“Anyone can have a tragic accident.”
He studied her as if her comment had layered meanings. “I’m not worried about any physical risk to me.”
“Then what are you worried about?” She blinked water out of her eyes.
“The emotional risk. To both of us. You’ve lost boyfriends. I’ve been through breakups as well.”
Clara nodded. She wanted to hear about his past dating experiences and then go question the sanity of any woman who could walk away from him.
“But if you’re willing to take the risk …” He looked over her face, his gaze heating her up despite the cold water. “I find myself longing to be close to you every moment.”
Clara wrapped her arms tight around his neck and kissed him fiercely.
He grinned against her lips when she pulled back. “I’ll take that feisty answer as a yes you want to date me.”
“Yes,” she whispered. “But I’m worried about you being hurt or killed.”
“Bury those worries. I’m far too tough.”
“Brex.”
He only grinned and cut off any protests with another kiss.
She’d tell him about how serious the risk was of dating her. Later.
He increased the depth of the kiss.
Much, much later.