Danks released a boyish grin. “You should see the other guy.”

  “I did,” Bexley seethed through clenched teeth. “I had the pleasure of watching the bastard take his last breath.”

  The deputy nodded gravely. “Douglas was pronounced dead on the scene. We already got a statement from Twila. When you’re feeling up to it, we’d also like to take your statement.”

  “Did she tell you the details of his other murders?”

  “She did. I consulted with the FBI, and they’ll take it from here. They’re arranging to excavate the backyard of every home Douglas lived in between now and nineteen seventy-six. Hopefully, they can provide answers for the family members of those missing girls and give them peace.”

  Bexley caught herself before she let out a deep sigh. Although the pain was considerably less, some things still caused unnecessary pain. “Do you ever wonder if you made a mistake by choosing to become an officer of the law? Just think, you could be rubbing shoulders with Hollywood’s elite by now, sucking champagne off each other’s backends and snorting caviar, or whatever it is movie stars do with their free time.”

  “I think they eat caviar,” he said with a quiet laugh. “But nah, that scene isn’t for me.”

  “Sometimes I worry I’m going to give Hawk an honest-to-god heart attack. What does your girlfriend think about you chasing after killers?”

  “Hawk is a resilient guy…I shouldn’t have to remind you of that. And Angie doesn’t have to worry about it anymore.” The deputy paused to rub his forehead. “I’ve been officially relieved of my duties. Sheriff Blair was upset that I’d been contacting you directly. He doesn’t think I’m a good team player.”

  “He fired you?” she spat, jerking upright in a way that set her chest on fire. “You’re the best deputy he has! That dirty, low-life, bottom-feeding⁠—”

  “It’s okay,” Danks interjected with a crooked grin, motioning for her to calm down. “I hated working for him anyway.”

  “What are you going to do now?”

  He lifted one shoulder. “I don’t know…maybe go to college and get a degree in criminal justice. Maybe I’ll decide to become a lawyer or something instead. Money will be tight for a while because rent isn’t exactly cheap, but I think I could get a scholarship⁠—”

  “Come work for me!” Bexley blurted. “Technically, you’d work under J.J. since I have a handful of months left before I can apply for my P.I. license. But as owner of Stronghold Investigations, I have the authority to hire you!”

  His green eyes widened. “Really?”

  “Adam, you shouldn’t act so surprised! You’re whip-smart and as determined to work as a jackrabbit. I’d be honored to have you on my team! Besides, I’ll need someone to handle my files in the time the doctor said it’ll take me to recover from this. You can take on as much or as little as you want. I can still advise you while I’m out. It’d be the perfect arrangement for both of us!”

  He gave her a hesitant look. “You seem really stoked about this. Like, unnaturally so. How doped up are you right now?”

  “Pretty doped,” she replied with a wink. “But the doctor said my brain’s good to go, and it’s telling me this is a brilliant idea. Go home and think about it. You can ask me again as soon as I’m free of whatever narcotics they’re pumping into me.”

  “I might just take you up on that.” He tipped an imaginary hat with a smile that lit his entire face. “Thanks a million. Take care of yourself, Squires.”

  “You too, Hollywood.”

  19

  Amonth and a half after the showdown with Arnold Douglas, Bexley woke from a nap, her body aching considerably less with every movement. Her eyes focused on a set of monstrous suitcases with matching duffel bags outside the bedroom door. They weren’t anything she recognized, and the high-end aluminum designs weren’t her husband’s style.

  “Hawk?” she called out, scooting into an upright position. When the toilet flushed in the attached bathroom, she added, “If you’re sick of taking care of me, I get it. But whatever baroness you think you’re running off with will have to go through me first, and I think I’ve proven that I can be a hard woman to take down.”

  Brewer emerged from the bathroom with a towel slung low on his hips, moisture from his wet hair dripping down his sculpted chest. “What are you babbling on about, Squires?”

  She flung a hand at the doorway. “Those ridiculous suitcases! I’ve done a decent job of taming the bad boy in you, but come on. You’re no Kardashian.”

  “You and me are goin’ on a trip.” His dimples popped into place with a wide grin, and his eyebrows wagged before he bent to kiss her. God help me, she thought as their lips melded together. One of these times, my heart will literally explode.

  Once he withdrew from her, she smiled at him with the finesse of a smitten schoolgirl. “With that godawful luggage?”

  He eyed the suitcases and chuckled before plopping down on the mattress at her side. “Take that up with your two best friends and sister. I don’t even know what’s inside. They won’t give us the combination until we arrive at our destination. Kiersten assured me they’ve supplied us with everything we will need.”

  As Bexley pictured Kiersten, Temperance, and Cineste shopping together on her behalf, she rolled her eyes and groaned. While the women collectively possessed excellent taste, they tended to go overboard. “Where are we going?”

  “On the honeymoon I promised but never gave you.”

  A warm flutter rippled through her chest. The man couldn’t be any more romantic. “But where?”

  “It’s a surprise.” Lacing his hands behind his head, his eyes didn’t leave hers as he lowered to his back. Then sat upright. Then lowered again.

  “Have mercy,” she muttered. Her beautiful husband was doing sit-ups right before her hungry eyes. If she weren’t in so much pain from her tussle with Twila’s ex-lover, she would’ve attacked her husband at that moment.

  “You say something?” he asked, quirking an eyebrow during another sit-up.

  “Quit distracting me with that godawful body of yours. Seriously, Hawk. I’m gonna go blind. Such an atrocity.”

  With a snigger, he kept going. “You might want to get ready, B. We have company coming.”

  “I’m failing to follow you here. If we’re leaving, why are people coming?”

  “You’ll find out.”

  She tossed her hands out at her sides. “I can’t just up and leave, Brewer. I have clients—open cases that need my attention. I’ve been out for almost an entire week already.”

  “Danks has everything under control,” he answered. “After everything you’ve been through, you’ve earned a real vacation. The doc even said it would be beneficial if you took some extra time off.” He finally paused his workout to frame her face inside one of his hands and run his thumb along her jaw. “We’ve had an emotional couple of months, B. A little extra time alone together, extra space to heal our souls would do us both good.”

  There was no sense in arguing any longer. He was absolutely right.

  They met in the middle for a drawn-out kiss filled with endless emotions. Brewer cradled her in the most gentle of holds, knowing she still hurt. He eventually ended the kiss and regarded her with a grin. “I wasn’t kidding about company coming. They’ll be here in half an hour.”

  Grunting under her breath, she rolled out of bed and shuffled into their bathroom to start the shower.

  “Kiersten said you’re supposed to wear the outfit in the garment bag hanging on your side,” Brewer called out. “And you’re supposed to wear those gold sandals she bought you in Greece.”

  “Everyone in my life is so bossy,” she mumbled as she stepped under the warm spray. The heat on her sore muscles felt heavenly. She would’ve been tempted to stand under it longer if she hadn’t heard Brewer shout that she only had twenty minutes left.

  Shuffling into the closet, she unzipped the bag from Kiersten’s favorite department store and gasped. The most beautiful dress she’d ever seen hung from a velvet hanger. The chiffon material, with its A-line cut and v-neck with cap sleeves, was the perfect level of femininity without being too revealing. The pleated material around the waist gave it a touch of class. And it was pure white.

  Bexley covered her mouth. “Is this⁠—”

  “We can’t leave on a honeymoon without a proper wedding reception,” Brewer answered from right behind her.

  She spun on her bare heels to see her husband dressed in a loose, white linen button-down and off-white khaki trousers. Although it was more casual than the navy suit he had worn when they eloped on the beach, the casual look was more enduring on her husband. If Brad Pitt himself were standing at her husband’s side, Bexley wouldn’t have been more starstruck by handsomeness.

  With an overwhelming rush of affection for the beautiful man who had transformed her mediocre life into her own fairytale, Bexley threw herself into his arms and swallowed the tears rising in her throat. “I love you, Brewer Hawkins. Now and always.”

  As fireworks shot over their heads, launched by Danks from a temporary station nearby in the sand, Bexley and Brewer kissed passionately in front of their closest friends and family. Cheers erupted before they were pulled into an endless string of embraces and well-wishes. Cap and Cinderella yipped happily alongside the partygoers before chasing each other up and down the beach.

  Tabitha had allowed Johnny to attend the celebration with Jack, and the kid quickly become inseparable from Olive. It was good that the two children were well-occupied because Bexley caught Temperance and Jack kissing several times throughout the night. On one occasion, Jack caught Bexley’s gaze on them, and she winked to let him know it was cool with her. Nothing could’ve ruined her joy that night.

  As they prepared to leave for the trip—destination still unknown to Bexley—they gave tearful goodbyes to everyone in attendance. The suitcases filled with new wardrobes and God knew what else had been a group present from all of them, so Bexley and Brewer made a point to thank each of them for their generosity.

  “We will take good care of your Captain,” Temperance assured Bexley once she was huddled in a circle with her sister and best friends. “You have nothing to worry about.”

  “I have everything to worry about!” Bexley corrected her. “I don’t know where my husband is taking me! Do I need special shots? Are we going on a flight? How long is it?”

  “For once in your life, you’ll have to sit back and relax, sis,” Cineste said. “Trust that those who love you have handled every possible detail.”

  “Except for the malaria vaccine,” Kiersten butted in. “You got that, right?”

  Bexley’s eyes popped wide. “What?”

  “She’s kidding,” Cineste promised, giving their friend a playful shove. “Seriously though, Bex, you have to take a ton of pictures. We’re all so jealous of your trip!”

  “Great!” Bexley feigned their level of excitement. “Now someone tell me where I’m going!”

  The women giggled, each taking a turn to hug Bexley before they walked away. Jack approached her next with a sheepish grin and hands in his pockets.

  “This was some celebration,” he said, turning to watch over his shoulder as Johnny and Olive each threw balls down the beach for the dogs. “I suppose I should get him to bed soon, or Carla might not approve another overnight visit.”

  Dipping her chin, Bexley smiled. “I’m glad she came to her senses. Does Johnny know about Tabitha yet?”

  “Carla told him shortly after he met me. Johnny told her he’ll always think of Tabitha as his aunt and Carla as his mom. The women seemed pretty satisfied with the arrangement. Tabitha’s pleased she can go on with her life, status quo, and Carla seems grateful to have a little alone time without losing ‘her son’.”

  Bexley laughed as Olive began chasing Johnny. “He seems like a great kid. Smart, too. Must be that Squires blood.”

  Jack’s features sobered as his gaze locked with hers. “I don’t know how to thank you for helping me, Bex. If I hadn’t asked for your involvement, I may never have known I had a child.”

  “I’m sure you would’ve found your way to each other eventually. I’m glad I could help speed up the process.” She tipped her chin in Temperance’s connection. “Things seem to be going well between you and Temp.”

  Jack licked his lips and glanced down at his bare feet wedged in the sand. “I know I told you I’d take it slow with her, but we have this connection…it’s pretty hard to fight it.”

  Brewer caught her gaze from where he stood in a huddle with Luke, Alex, and a couple of guys from his old motorcycle club. When he grinned, she grinned back, and her cheeks flushed. “It’s okay, Jack. I know the feeling.” She playfully slugged his shoulder. “Just don’t hurt her.”

  “I won’t.” He leaned down to kiss her forehead. “Have fun on your honeymoon, Bex. Relax and let that husband spoil you the way you deserve. The four of us can meet up for dinner after you return.”

  Red was the next one to give the couple of honor her parting well-wishes, followed by Danks and his girlfriend.

  The goodbye Bexley and Brewer saved for last was the hardest. Brewer put his arm around Bexley as they approached J.J. and Twila cuddled on the couch behind their house.

  “You look good, Twila,” Bexley said to her.

  “And you’re glowing, kiddo,” was Twila’s cheeky reply as she stood to embrace Bexley. “What you did was reckless and dangerous, but I wouldn’t be here if you hadn’t come to my rescue. For that, I thank you from the bottom of my heart. I’ve nearly completed a painting for you and your beautiful husband to show my gratitude. I hope to have it done by the time you return.”

  “That’s not necessary. I’m just grateful you made it out of there alive.”

  “That makes two of us,” J.J. wheezed, budging in to hug Bexley when Twila moved on to Brewer. Bexley couldn’t recall ever receiving an embrace from her father anywhere near the caliber of the one J.J. gave. He even kissed the top of her head before whispering, “I owe you everything I’ve got.”

  “Inheriting your business was more than enough,” she assured him with a gentle pat on his back before they released each other.

  Brewer tucked Bexley against his side and nodded to the elderly couple. “Take care of each other while we’re gone.”

  “We will,” J.J. promised, slinging an arm around Twila’s neck. “Make sure your wife stays out of trouble while you’re gone. She rightfully earned a fair chunk of time away from this nefarious community.”

  Brewer’s face split with a wide grin. “That should be easy enough, considering our destination.”

  The newlyweds headed to the front of the cottage and drove off in Brewer’s GTO with their friends and family waving goodbye among shouts of good intentions. Someone had written “Just Married” on the back window, and a string of tin cans rattled from a string tied to the bumper. Bexley waved at their guests until they were no longer in sight, then wrapped herself around her husband’s arm and released a heavy yawn.

  “It’s so late, darling husband. Are we seriously flying out tonight?”

  “Temperance helped me time it just right. We’ll sleep on the flight over—her jet has a queen-sized bed. By the time we wake, we should be there.”

  Bexley couldn’t begin to imagine what Temperance had concocted, considering their wealthy friend had been offering to send them somewhere amazing on her private jet for years. “And where is there, again?”

  He glanced down at her, eyebrows lifted. “Somewhere warm and secluded where no one will bother us unless we ring for service. You’ll get the idea if you imagine feasting on a floating tray of fresh fruits and fancy chocolates while swimming beside one of those bungalows in the middle of nowhere.”

  With visions of a grass hut suspended over turquoise blue water, Bexley snuggled against her husband’s shoulder and closed her eyes with a content sigh. Maybe having a rich and famous friend who insisted on showering them with decadent experiences wasn’t so bad.

  She couldn’t deny that J.J. and Brewer were right—she had earned time away from Papaya Springs. She only hoped it was still standing by the time they returned.

  Thank you for reading The Neighbor’s Dark Past! If you enjoyed this book, please take a quick minute to leave a review on Amazon, Goodreads, and BookBub. Anything you can do to spread the word about this book is greatly appreciated!

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  www.quinnavery.com

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