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“I know how much you love that place.”
“So did our parents.”
“There’s no reason why we can’t make it work.”
“You believe that?”
He nodded.
“Then we’ll give it a go.”
“Music to my ears, my little bird.”
She drew back, curious. “Bird?”
“Uh-huh. Hard to lure and keep, so enticing, so magical. I’ve always wanted to hold you like this.” He was silent a moment, just staring into her eyes. “Promise me you won’t throw this away without giving us time.”
Carmen swallowed, touched by the depth of emotion she saw in his expression. Moving her hand to his jaw, she chaffed it. “I promise.”
CHAPTER THIRTY
FRIDAY WAS LOOKING hellish busy for Rex, but he was fueled by a zest for life he’d never experienced before. Carmen had left for the manor the evening before, and he’d worked into the night. Timing was tight, though, and he needed everything to go smoothly.
Fate didn’t seem to want to play along.
“I’m sorry, Rex, but some guy wants to see you.”
Rex looked up from his computer and studied Ayo’s face.
“Didn’t want to give his name, but he’s being really insistent and he refuses to leave until he speaks to you.”
Out of all the team, Ayo was the best at fending off curious neighbors and tenacious journalists. Rex usually heard about unwanted visitors after the event. Not this time. “Describe him.”
“White guy, scrawny, wearing a hoodie and a beanie hat.” Ayo looked disapproving. When he wasn’t wearing his overalls, Ayo was the personification of dapper.
“Longish hair?”
“From what I could see of it, yup.”
Rex already knew who it was when the visitor appeared in the doorway. Jerry was there, telling the young man to back off. Rex rose from his desk and stared across the room at his half brother Jason. He was about to pick up the phone and call the police when he saw the pleading look in the young man’s eyes. For a moment he was reminded of his father’s portrait. That threw him. “Let him in.”
Reluctantly Rex’s employees stood back, but when they departed they left the door open. That suited Rex. He could kick Jason out if necessary.
“Thank you.”
Rex clenched his jaw before he brought himself to reply. “Believe me, I might still change my mind. I thought I’d made it clear last time. Just because we share some DNA doesn’t mean I can overlook what you did.”
Jason paled. Staggering to a nearby chair, he slumped into it. “I know.”
Warily Rex returned to his seat, staring across the desk at the man who was both assailant and half brother.
Jason sighed and looked down at his feet.
The tension Rex felt eased marginally. “Go on.”
“I had no bad feeling toward anyone
, but it is my fault.”
