Page 106 of Building What's Meant to Be

Mae holds me down. “That’s my line. What did you do to send Tinsley packing?”

Rolling over so I can get up, I lift Mae to her feet and brush us both off. “It’s what I didn’t do. And since when do you defend Tinsley?”

“I do what’s right and fair.”

“Sounds familiar,” I mutter.

“We are not leaving until you spill your guts, even if we have to drag it out of you,” Mae says.

I recoil. “You’re not painting a pretty or appealing picture.”

“Just remember, Murder Doll is watching,” Bess singsongs in a creep-tastic way.

We go inside Toby and I keep a careful eye on Murder Doll. Give me criminals and thugs, and I can handle myself, but I’m convinced that the thing is an actual article of the devil. It’s so disturbing with the way it stares as if it attempts to penetrate my soul. “Actually, can we get that thing out of here?”

“Only if you call up the love of your life and get her back here before she gets on an airplane.”

“How do you know she didn’t already leave?” My tone is somber, the sound of someone who has all but given up.

“She called Christina and asked if she knew of any luxury hotels in Savannah that allow dogs. Tinsley’s brother helped her out, but she’s not sure where to go,” Mae says.

Bess glares at me. “She should go here. Er, come here. You know what I mean.”

“Mae asked me what I did. It’s what I didn’t do. I didn’t tell her about my job.”

“You didn’t tell us for nearly two decades. I have to give you credit for keeping the secret. You’re like James Bond-level sly.”

“I prefer Sherlock Holmes, but yeah. Sly, sneaky, stupid.”

“Ah, so you admit it,” Mae says.

“Yes, of course, I was being stupid. I wanted to protect her. To keep her safe. To separate my job from the rest of my life. Notsure how well you keep track of criminals, but I deal with some pretty nasty characters.”

“And there we thought you were a jet-setting playboy.”

I wink. “I was that too.”

“But Tinsley tamed you.”

“You might say that. She’s everything I didn’t know I wanted, I needed.”

Bess and Mae simultaneously sigh. “Sounds like love.”

“Oh, it’s love. One hundred and ten percent. I want it to be forever.”

This time they gasp at the same time.

“We know what to do,” Bess says.

“We do?” Mae asks.

“Yes. You’re going to go to Savannah. Buy a ring. Propose on the promenade by the water. Then—”

“I don’t even know where to find her.”

Bess shakes her head like I’m an egg short a dozen. “At the luxury hotel where they allow dogs.”

The space between my eyebrows pinches tight.

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