Temptation Trails - Page 121

“Rebounds are a myth, dear. Many a couple has found love on the edge of heartbreak.”

“That’s very poetic, but I don’t think so.”

“C’mon, Luke,” I said. “Fresh out of a breakup, maybe pining for her ex? Sounds like she’s right up your alley.”

He shot me a glare.

But I wasn’t wrong. Luke had a tendency to only want women who were so obviously wrong for him, anyone could see it. Not that I had a lot of room to talk. But I’d only made that mistake once. Granted, I’d married her, and Luke had never gone that far.

Still, what guy would pass up the chance to give his brother shit, especially about women?

“Aunt Louise set me up with Harper,” I said. “I think you should trust her.”

His forehead tightened and he leaned forward. “Garrett, we’re going to be late.”

“Late for what?”

“You know, the thing I was going to help you with.”

Aunt Louise smiled at us both.

I decided to have pity on Luke. Repay him for staying with Owen the other night when I was too drunk to go home.

“Oh yeah. I do need your help with that, and time is ticking. Good to see you, Aunt Louise. I’m sure Luke will think about it.”

He shook his head as we both stood. “I’m not going to think about it.”

Louise gathered up her handbag and wiggled her fingers at us. “See you later, boys. Luke, I’ll be talking to you soon.”

“Great, Aunt Louise, thanks,” Luke said with a very fake smile.

I followed him out and he glanced back at the door, as if worried Aunt Louise wouldn’t let him go.

“She’s our aunt, and I love her, but no. Just, no.”

I chuckled. “You didn’t even get your coffee.”

“Yeah, whatever.”

Luke’s get-out-of-there excuse got me thinking. Maybe I could use another set of eyes. Unofficially, of course.

“Are you busy?” I asked.

“I need to get back to the garage at some point. Why, what do you need?”

“I’m going to take a look at something. It’s related to the cold case. Another set of eyes might not be a bad idea.”

“Cop stuff? Hell yeah, let’s do it.”

We loaded into my SUV and I gave him the rundown on the way to the trailhead.

“I found a bracelet when I was investigating another crime. Turns out it matches the bracelet Jasmine Joyner was wearing when she disappeared. It’s not much of a lead in and of itself, but it’s how I got on the case in the first place.”

“Got it.”

“What’s bugging me is the location. The original investigators assumed Jasmine had been abducted off the trail, pulled into the woods, killed, and left there. If that’s the case, why was her bracelet somewhere else?”

“So what are we looking for? It’s been ten years.”