Page 30 of Grave Peril

Rip nodded. “The guys that are still here…not that many anymore.”

The conversation was interrupted when the meals were served. The aroma of garlic and spices wafted up from the plates of brisket, accompanied with onions, pickles, and coleslaw.

Lela carved a bite off the strip of herb-crusted beef and slipped it into her mouth. The meat was as tender and tasty as anticipated. For a while, she focused on eating the delicious feast.

Partway through the meal, Rip ordered two more beers, and Lela took a break. “I plan to finish the brisket, so don’t think you’re getting any of mine. I’m taking a breather, that’s all.”

Rip leaned back in the chair and swigged his beer.

“So do you have family here, besides your brother?” Lela said.

“My parents moved closer in, got a home in the suburbs. My younger sister lives out of state with her husband and kids. They have a place in Atlanta.”

“The name McConnell is Scottish, right?”

“Yes, I got my Spanish blood from my mother’s side. Her parents were born in Madrid,” Rip said. “What about you? You’re divorced?”

Lela sat up. “How did you know that?”

“I did a quick background on you before rushing off to your rescue. It’s not that hard to find out the basics: height, weight, marital status.”

“I guess it’s no secret anyway,” Lela said. “I was married to Tomás Cruz for ten years. We were high school sweethearts, and I thought I’d spend my life with him. We had a big Catholic wedding, the works.”

“What happened?”

Lela shrugged. “Turns out that I wasn’t his type. He wanted a domestic wife who stayed at home, cooked meals, and raised the kids.” She sighed. “I tried…really. I’m just unconventional, I suppose.”

Rip smiled. “Having a career of your own, being independent…learning self-defense?”

“You catch on quick. Even my dear mother wishes I’d tone it down, but you know…there are some things that probably won’t change.” Lela twirled her bottle on the table. “The thing was that Tomás didn’t leave me.”

“At least he had some good sense.”

“Well, I appreciate the compliment. But he didn’t have enough sense to be true to his wedding vows,” Lela said. “He caroused around, loved the women…used to boast about being the Latin lover. It didn’t take long for me to figure it out. Over and over, he said he’d change, but those were just empty promises.”

“Sorry to hear that.”

“Yeah…me too. But it was no way to live,” Lela said. “I put an end to it over four years ago, much to my mother’s dismay. She thought I should have worked it out. In the eyes of the church, marriage is permanent.”

After finishing their meals, Lela and Rip cruised back to the cottage. It was dark out, but a bright moon shone overhead. Since it was still early in the evening, Lela found a bottle of wine and suggested sitting on the terrace.

The moonlight shimmered on the water, casting a soft light over Rip. He was so damned sexy. The romantic ambience wasn’t helping. Lela wanted to go sit on his lap and breathe in his male aroma. She wanted to feel his strong arms around her and press her lips to his.

She cautioned herself to slow down on the alcohol before she did something she’d regret. “So tell me about Isabel. What was she like?”

Rip stared at his glass of wine. “She was beautiful, inside and out…kind, sweet.” He looked up. “She was nothing like you, and I don’t mean that in a bad way. She was softer spoken, relied on family, and wanted a traditional wedding.”

“She sounds like a lovely woman,” Lela said. “You were in your twenties when you got engaged?”

“Yes, Isabel had waited, given in to my preference to postpone marriage until I was out of the service. As that date drew closer, she began planning the wedding.”

The tranquility of the night settled over the terrace. Rip didn’t elaborate about the wedding, but even in the dim light, Lela saw the sadness in his eyes.

“How did she die?” Lela said in a low voice.

Rip put his glass down and dragged both hands through his hair. “Isabel was killed in a gang fight, a place that she never should have been.” He let out a long breath. “Her older brother had gotten involved with drugs, hung out with the wrong crowd.”

Rip looked at her, agony evident in his expression. “The thing was…I knew it. I grew up here, so I was no stranger to the drug scene. I should have made sure she stayed away, but she was close to her brother…she was close to all her family.

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