Gabriela’s breathing evened out and Jeremy slid from under the beauty. He was as restless as he was tired.
Unlike in Montana, he was unable to walk out to a porch, so instead he slid the sliding glass doors open and stepped outside to the balcony.
Humidity and lights greeted him. He looked across from one side to the other, admiring how alive the area remained despite the late hour. Although the street straight below was pretty quiet, there were customers seated outside at the corner café and cars continuously went past.
He imagined it was much calmer outside the city, like where Gabriela’s parents lived. In some parts of San Diego, life would not be much different than back home.
Why had fate brought him here? Of all the women he could have met, he’d fallen for one that lived thousands of miles away. Although he couldn’t fathom life without Gabriela, a part of him worried how moving whether he did it or she did it would affect their marriage if there was regret.
She wanted a winter wedding in Montana. Now that his family was no longer doing the winter festival, they planned to use some of the décor for the wedding at the same building where the festivities had been held.
The family who was taking the festival over was younger than his parents and enthusiastic about hosting the festivities on their land. Since their only son had gone off to college, the Clarks welcomed the opportunity to do the festival together as a couple.
“Are you okay?” Gabriela sounded groggy as she came and stood next to him. The riot of curls shifted in the warm air and he couldn’t help but smile. God she was beautiful.
“I’m perfectly fine. Heard sirens and came out to see if we should run for our lives,” Jeremy replied with a chuckle.
Gabriela peered down to the street below. “I’m sorry. I know it’s noisy and you’re not used to it.”
“Don’t apologize,” Jeremy said pulling her against his side. “Look at the people down there. The people at the table against the building keep feeding the other folk’s dog.”
She looked and giggled. “That is a huge dog. Maybe they are trying to stay alive.”
Jeremy took her face and lifted it up and looked into the eyes of the woman he’d just spent hours making love to. “Gabriela. Please be certain you want to move. I don’t want to take a chance and risk losing you. If you are unsure about the move at any time and decide you are not happy, just one word and we’ll move back here.”
“I won’t regret it. I know it’s the right thing for me.”
“Promise me you will tell me if you ever feel you don’t want to live there.”
“All right fine. I promise. I promise.” She lifted to her toes and pressed her lips against his. “How about you come back to bed. We have a brunch date with Nana tomorrow morning.”
“You mean hours after I get up?”
She huffed and rolled her eyes. “I’ll have to teach you the art of sleeping in.”
Chapter Thirteen
“I’m glad the case didn’t go to trail,” Williams said. “Never seen two people double cross each other to the point they cleared up any questions.”
It had turned out the couple was caught having at tryst at the cabin. The victim, Kevin Maloney had followed Janet to the cabins. Obviously, Mark Rutledge had kept the key from a time he’d rented the cabin to spend time with Janet, unbeknownst to the Hawkins.
Mark Rutledge, an aspiring local politician, had panicked. Not wishing his reputation soiled, he hit Kevin over the head with an iron poker from the fireplace, killing him instantly. The couple had then wiped their fingerprints from every surface and slipped away.
According to Mark, realizing she’d left her earrings on the bathroom counter, Janet had returned the next day. The woman had spotted Gabriela approaching and leaving in haste, did not close the front door.
Kevin had been parked out near the ranch hoping to steal Gabriela’s camera and had taken advantage the day Gabriela wandered alone.
The thought the man could have hurt his fiancé made Jeremy thankful, he’d been nearby.
“I didn’t care for Kevin Maloney, but I can’t help but wonder if he was alive while they cleaned up,” Jeremy said.
Williams shook his head. “Pretty cold blooded. Janet was back at work the next day after the funeral, acting normal. Not a care in the world.”
“She was about to get a huge life insurance settlement,” Detective Sanders interjected from his desk. “Now their bratty kids are set for life.”
“Nah, they’ll blow it in a couple years,” Williams replied. “Saw their son at the car dealership the other day.”
Sanders huffed. “Twenty-five years is all the judge saw fit to give them. They should be locked up for life.”
Just then Jeremy’s phone rang, after a short conversation, he stood. “Come on Williams. Looks like it’s going to be a long day. A woman just knocked an intruder over the head and killed him.”
“Why are they are calling us in?”
“The intruder is naked in her bed.”
Williams stood and stretched. “Who called it in?”
“The woman’s husband.”
Jeremy pushed back from his desk. “I better call Gabriela and let her know I’ll be late getting home.”
“Welcome to the club.”
Gabriela hung up and went to the window to look outside. From the condo where they now lived overlooking the Clark Fork river, she could see far into the distance. The view of the mountain scape just past the blue water always made her want to pinch herself. Her new home was breathtakingly beautiful.
When the yellow lab, Hank nudged at her leg, she bent and patted his head. “We’re going for a run in a minute, let me get my shoes.”
Most days the three of them ran for a couple miles every evening. On the days Jeremy was too tired, or worked late, then it
