Page 37 of Wilde In His Arms

He turned to her, noting her hands clasped in front of her, like she was nervous.She’d done it when he interviewed her at the resort as well.“Do you rent the cabins out?”

“Sometimes.It’s extra money for my mother.Mostly in the summer.I’m too busy to keep up with it all year round.”She walked up to the door and used her key to open it.The place wasn’t that big.A bedroom and bath on one side, living space with a kitchen on the other.Neat.Simple.The fireplace would be a cozy comfort on cold nights and create a warm and inviting atmosphere to relax.

He walked to the bedroom and peered inside.He noted the bookcase and small toy chest.The bookcase held board books and chapter books, a few bestselling hardcovers.

Nothing out of the ordinary or suspicious about any of it, unless you knew that Javier trafficked kids.Then a single room with a queen bed with books and toys and no other bed for a child to sleep in made things feel a little creepier.

He didn’t want to think about it, but it was his job.

“Let’s go check out the other two.”

Half an hour later, he found himself outside Mrs.Lopez’s house with a creepy-crawly feeling dancing up and down his spine.

The other two cabins had been similar to the first one.One was a single bedroom like the first, though it actually had a set of bunk beds, the bottom bed bigger than the upper bed.The third cabin had two bedrooms, both with queen beds.

Again, on the surface it appeared that they were quaint little places to rent while you fished in the nearby river, or hiked the pristine countryside.But even the most mundane setting could be used to play out disturbing deeds.

“I assume you’re satisfied.”Julia stood beside him, trying to hide her nerves, but she kept rubbing her fingers together and clasping her hands in a nervous gesture she couldn’t seem to stop since he got here.

“I’m satisfied Javier isn’t here now.But I’m not satisfied that you haven’t seen or spoken to him.I’d hate to see your mother here all alone with no one to help her if you’re lying to me, or involved in some way and I have to arrest you as an accessory.”

She squared her shoulders.“I’ve done nothing wrong.I showed you what you wanted to see.Next time, I’ll ask for that warrant instead.”With that, she stormed into the house, slamming the door.

Good.He wanted her off-balance.He wanted her scared.Then maybe she’d reach out to her brother.

He had a feeling the forensics team would find something in the hotel room or that cart she used to sneak something out of the hotel.He’d like to get them into those cabins to check things out, find things he couldn’t see.

She was up to something.

He’d find out what it was and if it had anything to do with her brother, he’d use Julia to take Javier down.

Chapter fourteen

Aria’seyesglassedoverwith tears as she stood with the other guests, watching her brother and Layla recite their vows to each other among their closest friends and family.The simple yet poignant ceremony really touched her and made her long for the same love and devotion Jax and Layla spoke of today.Nothing more was needed than to look at the beautiful bride smiling adoringly at her groom and him smiling back at her like he won the lottery.

Fox had, and he looked at her sister Melody like she was a million times better than any jackpot.The Wildes truly were lucky in love.Lyric and Mason were expecting their first child.Jax and Layla were getting married and ready to welcome their first child.Melody was about to move to Boston to be with Fox and start a whole new life.It wouldn’t be long before Melody was married, too.

And Aria was still waiting for her love life to be more than just a handful of in-person days a month with nothing but calls and texts in between to save them from slipping away from each other.

“You may now kiss the bride.”

Jax kissed Layla like she was the oxygen he breathed.The beautiful moment brought tears to Aria’s eyes.

And Layla, she was a beautiful bride in her white gown with a fitted long-sleeve top that had a wide V-neck, with floral appliqués and a barely-there back.The chiffon skirt draped from her waist to the floor in a church-length train that puddled at the back of her feet, but wasn’t long enough to hinder her during the reception.If you didn’t know she was pregnant, you’d never tell in that dress.It was sexy and beautiful.Just like her brother’s bride.

They looked so good together.A perfect match.The perfect couple.

She wondered if that would be her and Nick someday.

Jax dipped his bride right before he ended the kiss and pulled her even closer.

The officiant announced with exuberance, “I give you Mr.and Mrs.Wilde.”

Everyone applauded.

She waited just long enough for Jax and Layla to head into the reception before she followed right along and headed for the bar.

She used to love weddings.They made her happy and hopeful.The room seemed to be filled with love and hope and anticipation for a wonderful future.For them.And while she was happy for her brother and Layla, she wished it was her.

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