Page 17 of The Jade Stone Sleuth

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 himagain 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 It was clean and outdated and felt like a happy family lived there.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 intothe 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.

Chapter

Six

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