Page 125 of Dark Love

Dahlia smiles. “Subtely isn’t Dylan’s strong point, but I’m dying to know who the serial killer is. I have a few guesses, but I really want it to be the butler.”

“The butler with the candlestick in the kitchen.”

“Exactly.” Dahlia grins up at me.

“It wasn’t the butler.”

“What? Why would you say that? He was ‘on vacation’—” Her nose wrinkles as she makes air quotes. “—during the first three murders. All of the people that have been killed were rude to him. And—"

“He was picking up flowers for a funeral at the time of the fifth murder.”

“Oh. Oh, I forgot about that.” She sinks down onto the floor. “Who do you think did it?”

“I know it was the grandson. Each of those people stood in the way of him inheriting billions.” It became obvious after the sixth book.

“The tourist he killed in book eight didn’t have anything to do with his inheritance. Nor did the doctor in book twelve.”

Those were the exact reasons that I know he did it. “The tourist was six months pregnant and the doctor you mentioned was a gynecologist.”

“Oh… Oh…” Her eyes widen. “How did I miss that? It all makes sense. You’re good at that.”

“Noticing details is kind of important in my line of work.”

“Oh. Oh.” She hides her gaze from me.

Why did I bring that up? Am I trying to push her away? It’s not like I’m ever going to let her go.

“Vex?”

“Yeah, Dahl.”

“You aren’t going to ever make me think you’re anything less than a hero.” Her voice is barely a whisper.

If only that were true.

Hot Fudge Sundaes

Dahlia

Why do I own so many books? I yawn for the third time. Not sleeping much for weeks has really done a number on my energy.

“You sound like you’re ready for bed.” Vex sets a book down on the shelf across from the window.

“I am.”

“Then let’s go to bed.”

Let’s go to bed?!?

Vex and I are sleeping together.

We haven’t even kissed and we’re going to sleep together…

Get your head out of the gutter. Nothing is going to happen tonight. It’s going to be completely platonic… well, mostly platonic. It’s not like you are half comatose like you were the last time.

Sleep, though, sounds soamazing. A nice long night’s sleep safe in Vex’s strong arms sounds better than anything else in the entire world right now.

But the whole getting to that point sounds awkward. “I’ll go make our hot fudge sundaes.”

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