“What kind of investigating?”
“You're listed as the owner of this property at the real estate tax assessor's website.”
As she entered the open-concept living area, her attention intersected with a handsome black-haired man rising from the sofa. “What a crafty way to find an address,” the stranger said with appreciation. “I heartily approve.”
“This is Max Cirillo,” Jude said.
Max. Recognition clicked in her brain. She'd seen photos of him online and now here he was in the flesh. Felix's son with the housekeeper Nicole. Max, who was just three months younger than Jude. “I'm Gemma Clare. Nice to meet you.”
“Likewise.”
Jude and Max had grown up together on the same piece of property. They'd been in the same grade in school. Best friends. Meeting Max felt like scratching off a winning lottery ticket.
Jude and Max had similar (excellent) builds and the same pale green eyes. Both had larger-than-life magnetism. But that's where the similarities ended because Max's coloring—the olive skin and very dark hair—was so different from Jude's.
“I wondered whose car that was outside,” she said, trying not to stare impolitely at the half-brothers.
“If you're referring to the interesting car,” Max said, “that one's mine.”
“We did some fishing earlier,” Jude said. “Max was just leaving.”
“Was I?” Max asked.
“Yes.”
“I've heard about you,” Max said to Gemma. Bizarrely, he seemed as interested in her as she was in him. “It's excellent to have the chance to put a face to a name.”
“Ditto. Are you the owner of Libri?”
“I am.”
“My mom's a subscriber. She loves it.” Libri was a digital library packed with more than a million items. Mom used it for books, audiobooks, magazines. When Gemma had realized that Jude was a Camden, and done her deep dive into his family, she'd learned that Max’s company was valued at abillion dollars. Which was crazy and awe-inspiring.
“Please tell your mom thank you for me,” Max said.
“I will.”
Max’s eyes crinkled in an appealing way. Smooth confidence radiated from his posture, voice, expression.
“See you later, Max,” Jude said.
Max chuckled. “He's kicking me out, but I don't care because I stayed long enough to get to meet you, Gemma. So I'm the luckiest man in Maine.”
“Nice to meet you, too.”
Max moved toward the door. “You've made my day.” He gave her a practiced smile that likely stupefied most women, then was gone.
The door shut behind him.
“Any chance he's a ladies’ man?” Gemma asked.
“The worst,” Jude confirmed. “He was always a flirt but then he had his heart broken. Since then, he's cynical and he has no problem using women. I'm waiting for the day when the right woman will prove to him that he still has a heart in there.”
“Fascinating.”
Jude did not look fascinated or amused. He looked worried. “Are you here because something's wrong? Did anything happen—”
“I'll get to that in a second. First, a tour? I'd like to snoop around.” She was avidly interested in his house.
