Page 32 of The Jade Stone Sleuth

She blinked and then shook her head. “My heart broke for their families. Their deaths were disturbing and awful, but Brex …” She swallowed and then pushed out, “I never cared deeply for any of them like I do for you. I had a lot of fun dating themand enjoyed talking and teasing with them, but there wasn’t this connection, this magnetic pull, this … love.”

She swallowed again and studied him as if certain he’d reject her.

Brex couldn’t catch his breath. She’d said it. The word. He agreed with the connection and magnetism. He needed to be with her and wanted to love her. Was that selfish on his part, or had he finally found a giving and unselfish love?

If only he could spill it all and work through the issues he and this job had created with Clara. When could he? Should he do it now? He felt like his tongue was bound and his hands were tied. He’d taken this job, let himself fall for her, let her fall for him, and now he’d messed it all up. He’d like to see anyone else do better, find the right clues, resist her. No, actually he wouldn’t. He couldn’t stand the thought of Clara in anyone else’s arms.

He needed a heart-to-heart conversation with Nick. He was in over his head. Maybe he wasn’t even cut out for undercover ops like this. Maybe he should quit and just focus on being by Clara’s side. The million dollars gone. His future gone.

Brex studied her, wondering if a future without her was any kind of future at all. For the first time in his adult life, solving the next case, making more money, being successful and appealing to a crowd of famous women didn’t matter. He only wanted to appeal to her.

When he didn’t respond, she leaned back against the bench. “If you don’t feel the same …”

“Clara.”

Don’t do it. Resist. Resist. Don’t hurt her. Don’t mess up this job.

The money wasn’t the motivator any longer, but protecting Clara was. What did he care about money, social status, wearing a Brioni suit, or having a condo on the beach if he couldn’t have Clara? In three months, his vision of what was importanthad changed. Clara was his anchor; she brought true happiness. Brex had never felt that before, and Clara was worth carving a different future.

Could he tell Aiden and Nick he’d messed it all up? Maybe there was no murderer, but he was going to stay by Clara’s side to protect her. He’d sell his Range Rover and his condo, see if the Jade Valley police force would hire him, or maybe he could do research for Aiden. He was good at research.

The river rushed by and he sat on a park bench in the middle of nowhere. He wasn’t on a red carpet, in some VIP room at a club, or in a box at the Chargers game with a starlet. But he didn’t want to be there. He only wanted to be wherever Clara was.

He couldn’t let Clara think for one more second that he wasn’t gone over her.

Brex swooped her off the bench, against his chest, and held her close. “I have never been so drawn to a woman. Never. It’s too quick, and I know you have to leave for your mission trip and I’ll leave as soon as this case is solved, but I want to have a future with you. Somehow, we have to make it work. I’ve fallen for you, and I don’t ever want to let you go.”

Her eyes softened and grew bright at the same time. Was she about to cry?

She threaded her fingers into his hair and tugged his head down instead.

Their kisses lit up the dark night. Brex could hold her and kiss her all night long.

Eventually, they drew apart and walked back to her house holding hands. Brex felt content and almost giddy. He was going to humble himself, risk his boss and mentor telling him he’d failed, and get some help with this case and advice on how to tell Clara the truth. He would solve the case so he’d be free to loveClara. He had no idea how that would work with his job or hers, but love had to conquer all. It had to.

He’d never had such cheesy and unrealistic thoughts in his life. He didn’t care. Nick and Aiden could make fun of him or fire him. All his old friends and the beautiful women in San Diego could mock him.

All that mattered was Clara.

“Brex,” she said when they reached her front porch. “With your background, resources, and connection to Aiden Porter … could you help me investigate my boyfriends’ deaths?”

His eyes widened again. Did she know? He studied her gorgeous jade eyes and knew that she genuinely wanted his help. She wanted closure just like Malik’s parents did. Well, maybe not just like; Clara wouldn’t accuse someone innocent of killing her boyfriends. This could play into exactly what he was supposed to be doing here, but he couldn’t use Clara like this. How to own up to the truth? Right now he feared if he did, Clara would hate him and he’d mess up the job and her life.

“Your certain the deaths weren’t accidental?” he asked, wondering if this wouldn’t be more of a breakthrough than anything Aiden and Nick could help him with.

“I don’t know for certain, but there were out-of-place sounds and just that feeling that something was wrong or somebody was there when Malik died. I can’t help but think that Kyle’s climbing harness shouldn’t have frayed and ripped like it did. And then the jade stone I found next to each of their bodies…”

He played innocent. “A jade stone?”

“Yeah. I can show you pictures. I gave them to the police.”

He’d seen the stones at the station, inspected them. “Did the police rule the deaths accidental?”

She nodded. “The FBI even got involved last year after Malik died. They didn’t find anything suspicious.”

“So they think the stones were …?”

“They never said, but it can’t be a coincidence. Especially with my eye color and the valley being named after my ancestors because of that eye color. Right?”

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