“It is, but it’ll be okay, I promise. No matter what you decide, it’ll be okay. We’re here for you, heartbreak or wedding bells alike.”
“I hope it’s not the former,” Bel said.
“Same. With how rich Eamon is, your wedding would be insane.”
“It’s like you don’t even know me. In what world would I ever have a massive wedding?”
“I do know you,” Briar laughed. “It would be an intimate destination wedding, probably on a private, tropical island with champagne and celebrity chefs flown in to cater.”
“Or, it would be at the Estate in the rose garden.”
“Sometimes I wonder if you even love me. How could you deny me such a fancy vacation?”
“How about I decide if I want to get married first?”
“Fair. Did this conversation help at all?” her sister asked.
Bel grunted a noncommittal sound. This decision could alter the future of her relationship. It wasn’t one she would make after a single midnight phone call.
“Well, will it at least help you sleep?” Briar asked. “Because I have to get up early with the boys.”
“Right, sorry.” Bel grimaced. Despite being the oldest Emerson sibling, Briar had some of the youngest children in the family, meaning their late-night calls were a thing of the past.
The sisters said their goodbyes, and after letting Cerberus out into the garden for a moonlit potty break, the duo climbed the stairs and slipped back into the master bedroom. Bel instantly could tell that Eamon was awake. He didn’t lift his head or speak, but she felt him watching her in the darkness. Had he heard her entire conversation? She prayed he’d ignored his hearing to grant her some privacy, and he thankfully said nothing as she crawled into bed. He didn’t touch her as she slid below the sheets, either. He just stared at the ceiling, and Belwondered if he was waiting for her to end things. Was he worried they were over? She wanted to tell him they weren’t, but that was a lie—at least for now. All five of her older sisters had children. Did she really want to be the only Emerson girl without kids? She’d had such a beautiful family growing up. She loved having sisters constantly surrounding her. Were her potential future babies something she was willing to bury?
She didn’t have an answer for him. As much as she wanted to lie beside this man for the rest of her life, could she really live in this empty mansion without the pitter-patter of tiny feet?
As if he heard her, Cerberus charged across the floor and launched himself onto the bed, his toenails clicking on the hardwood with enough echo to make up for the absence of miniature human heels. Eamon grunted as the dog landed squarely on his chest and curled against the man who was quickly becoming his dad. The pitbull would be destroyed if the couple split. Was he—and the countless rescues they would undoubtedly adopt—the only child they needed? The three of them were happy. Could they be happy like this forever?
As if hearing her mind overthink, Eamon finally extricated his arm from under the dog and extended it across the pillows. He didn’t touch her, but it was an invitation. He wanted her to stay. For the night. For forever. But she had to make a choice. He wouldn’t force her.
So Bel curled against his side, and his body immediately relaxed at her acceptance. She wasn’t promising forever, but at least for tonight, Beauty and her two beasts were still an odd family.
An unfamiliar carparked next to Bel’s SUV, and she assumed that Agent Barry had sent a colleague to observe Ariella Triton’s autopsy in his stead until Olivia’s blonde head popped into view.
“Oh, good, you got the rental,” Bel said as the partners entered the morgue.
“Yeah, I found it in my driveway this morning with the keys in my mailbox. It was nice not having to find a ride to the rental company, so can you thank Eamon for me?”
“Of course.” Bel ordered herself not to smile.Thank Eamon?This was a completely different Olivia Gold than the one who’d wanted to cut ties with them six months ago. “Eamon loves doing stuff like this, though, so it’s no problem. He certainly keeps trying to throw money at me.”
“You’re his girlfriend. That’s different.”
“But I care about you.” Bel met her partner’s gaze and held it. “So, he cares too.”
Olivia cleared her throat with a soft grunt and turned her attention to prepping for the autopsy. “Did he take my car to the mechanic?” She asked as they donned the protective gear. “The rental was in the driveway, but my car was gone.”
“Umm…” Bel paused. He was the type to take a car without warning in the name of repairs, but he hadn’t given her the heads-up. “I don’t know. I doubt it, though. He would’ve mentioned it to me.”
“Then where is it?” Olivia asked. “It vanished overnight.”
“I’ll call him after the autopsy.” Bel held the door for her partner, and the women entered the exam room. “Maybe he had it towed to the shop for you.”
“I hope so. It’s weird not knowing where my car is.”
“Detectives,” Lina Thum greeted as they gathered around the exam table. “Are you ready?”
“I’m never really ready to autopsy a teenage girl,” Bel said.
