Chapter 5 #2
"That's a clever turn of the tables, trapped by my own words." She thought about it for a moment, then said, "I'm the middle child. I have an older brother, Ben. He's a detective and lives at Ocean Shores. You might have run into him at some point."
"I didn't realize he was your brother, but I've seen him in the laundry room."
"One of our most popular meeting places."
“And your younger sibling?”
"Aiden runs a wine bar in New York."
"He didn't go into public service like you and your brother?"
"He had no interest in that. It was a little surprising because service has been a big part of our family life. My father was career military until he retired two years ago."
"And your mother?"
She felt a familiar knot enter her throat when he asked the one question she really didn't like to answer. But she'd put herself in this situation, so she had to say something. "My mom died when I was eleven."
His gaze softened. "I'm sorry."
"Thanks. My dad raised us after that, but he was gone a lot, so we'd go back and forth between his house and my aunt's.
I preferred living with her, because when it was just me, my dad, and two brothers, I felt like the odd one out.
He didn't know what to do with a girl, so he raised me like my brothers, which means I can change a tire, mow a lawn, and throw a right hook. "
"That's good to know. Just in case I need to duck at some point," he said with a smile.
"I've got other tricks up my sleeve, too.
They've come in handy a few times on the job when I have to deal with someone who is out of their mind for whatever reason.
Anyway, that's my story." She paused, taking a moment to finish her gelato, then added, "Josie says you're a good guy.
That she wouldn't have rented to you if you weren't."
"Really?" A wary note entered his voice. "You asked Josie about me?"
"No. I asked Lexie, Josie's niece, and she told me what Josie said." She gave him a thoughtful look. "Are you a good guy, Jax?"
He didn't answer right away, then said, "Not everyone thinks so."
"I didn't ask what everyone thinks. What do you think?"
"Sometimes what looks right to me looks wrong to others."
"Well, that's cryptic."
"Let's get back to you. Why are you so interested in Walter? I get that you've helped him a few times, and you're concerned about him, but it feels more personal."
"He reminds me of my father. My dad has had issues after his service, and I don't think he has gotten the best care for some of those problems. That might be his fault.
He doesn't share his feelings, and he doesn't like help.
But sometimes he needs it. And I think Walter is the same way.
He's stubbornly proud and independent, but he's dealing with diabetes and maybe some cognitive problems, and I want to help him, even if he doesn't want me to. "
"Even if we establish that the basement of the bookstore is the club he remembers, I'm not sure how that helps him, Kaia."
"It might just close a question in his mind; something that's making him wander the streets at night and taking his focus away from his health."
"Or it could raise more questions. And if he knows where the club used to be, and he thinks there's some message there…"
She let out a sigh. "I get it. Let's just take it one step at a time. We'll come back tomorrow, talk to the owner. Maybe she can confirm it was a club, even show us the basement. Then we can decide what we want to tell Walter. The bookstore opens at ten. I'm free until the afternoon."
"That doesn't sound like a job for two people."
"You're jumping ship?" she asked, feeling more disappointed than she probably should. "Don't you want to see the basement? Isn't that why we've come this far?"
He didn't answer right away, and she could see the conflict in his eyes. "Okay. I guess I can check it out with you. Are you ready to go back to Ocean Shores now?"
She wasn't, but she'd run out of reasons to hang out with him, so she got up and walked back to his car, thinking she really hadn't found out much of anything.
She'd thought this little jaunt would provide answers, but it had just created more questions in her mind, and she wasn't really thinking about the nightclub, but about Jax.
Kaia was too much: too pretty, too sexy, too smart, too sharp, and far too perceptive.
Jax's grip tightened on the wheel as he drove them home, and just thinking about Ocean Shores as home for both of them made him even more uncomfortable.
He was supposed to be figuring out his life, his next chapter, his future, and that didn't include chasing down an old mystery with a woman who couldn't take no for an answer, a woman who intrigued him and attracted him more than he wanted to admit.
It wasn't like he hadn't noticed her before.
She spent a lot of time in a skimpy bikini at the pool, but he'd told himself this wasn't the time or the place for those kinds of thoughts. But his thoughts were even stronger now that they’d hung out together.
Which was why he should have said no to going with her to the bookstore.
And he should definitely not go back with her.
But refusing to go would probably just make her more interested in him.
And while she hadn't discovered his secrets yet, he wasn't sure how long it would take her if she was determined to know more.
In the beginning, he hadn't thought about how long he would want to escape his old life; he'd just needed to get away, to hide, to live in the shadows for a while, but he sensed all that was coming to an end, and he wasn't ready. He really hadn't figured out much of anything yet.
The quiet between them felt tense and prickly now, filled with unspoken questions, and he was relieved when he finally pulled into the parking lot.
As they got out of the car and walked into the building together, his relief fled as he realized how many people were in the courtyard and how many gazes were turning in their direction.
"Ben," Kaia said as a tall, brown-haired guy came forward.
"Hey, what's going on?" Ben asked, his gaze moving from Kaia to him. "Jax, right?"
"Yeah. I didn't realize you were Kaia's brother."
"Sometimes she likes to keep that a secret," he said with a laugh.
"It's usually the other way around," Kaia retorted.
"Where are you two coming from?" Ben asked.
"Just got some gelato," Kaia said as if that was a completely natural thing to do and not at all surprising.
He should be happy about that, because she wasn't making a big deal about it. She also didn't seem interested in telling her brother about their search for Walter's red door.
"That sounds good. I'm heading to the store to get some ribs. Are you both in for barbecue tonight? Too hot for any of us to cook."
"I'm in." Kaia's gaze turned to him.
"Sorry. I've got plans," he lied.
"Maybe another time," Ben said easily as he moved past them to the parking lot.
"You don't really have other plans, do you?" Kaia challenged.
In the face of her clear, penetrating brown gaze, it was impossible to lie. "No, but I'm not interested in a group barbecue."
"Maybe I could bring you some ribs, sneak them to your door when no one is looking."
"Why would you want to do that?"
"Because you'll probably be hungry later. And the only thing Ben cooks that is any good is ribs."
"Thanks, but I'll pass."
"Then I guess I'll see you tomorrow." As he hesitated, she gave him a pointed look and cut off the excuse he was about to make. "You have to come, Jax. We made a plan. And it's just you and me, not a party, not a group. We're also doing it for Walter, remember?"
"I never should have gotten involved in this."
"Well, you did. I'll meet you in the parking lot at nine forty-five."
She wasn't asking him; she was telling him, and with the crowd around the pool taking even more interest in their prolonged conversation, he decided to say yes before anyone else came over. "I'll see you then."
He took a wide path around the pool, managing a few cool smiles and nods of his head as he passed some of his neighbors.
When he got into his apartment, he let out a breath and leaned against the door for a long moment.
He should have felt relieved to be in the quiet, but he could still hear Kaia's laugh, which created all kinds of mixed emotions.
One thing was for sure: he no longer felt numb, but that didn't seem like a good thing.