Page 28 of The Jade Stone Sleuth

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 wereserious 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.

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