Page 64 of Kidnapping of a Myth

“I can’t wait.” Wendy hugged her goodbye. “And I love you.”

“Don’t make me cry before work,” Bel teased as she kissed her friend’s cheek. “I love you too.” She released Wendy and raced into the early morning football game. “I have to go, so come give me a hug!” John and Michael wrapped her in their arms, and then Cerberus jumped up for kisses before she stepped into Eamon’s orbit.

“Have a good day, Detective,” he whispered as he captured her in his powerful embrace. “Don’t get into too much trouble.”

“That’s no fun.” She cupped his jaw and kissed him, already hating how much she would miss sleeping next to him every night. “I’ll see you later, okay?”

“Don’t go.” Eamon hoisted her into the air and deepened the kiss. “Stay with me.”

“You’re going to get me fired.” She tangled her fingers in his hair. “I’ll be home before you can miss me, Mr. Stone.”

“Text me what you want for dinner.” He put her down, and for some reason, it was harder to leave him than normal. Seeing his kindness toward the Darling brothers had unlocked something deep inside her. Something she hadn’t known existed in her walled-off soul, and she needed to go before she did something she wasn’t ready for.

“A dish with a lot of veggies,” she called over her shoulder as she raced for her car, forcing herself not to look back, or she just might cave and never leave Eamon’s house.

“Who is that?”Bel asked as an exceptionally attractive young man exited Sheriff Griffin’s office.

“Griffin has been interviewing replacements for…” Olivia Gold trailed off as she met her partner’s eyes. They’d lost deputies during the Darling case, and every time another candidate left an interview, the entire station felt the loss.

“He’s the last interviewee, though,” Olivia said. “I hope he gets hired because, my god, he is gorgeous.”

“Aren’t you and Ewan practically attached at the hip?” Bel teased her friend.

“Obviously, but I recognize beauty when I see it, and that man is…” She fanned herself with dramatic fingers. “Oh, come on, I know you and Eamon are together now, but you can’t tell me that guy isn’t hot.”

“He is,” she admitted. “Not my type, though.”

“Same. He’s not nearly massive enough.” Olivia smirked. “And Eamon is significantly taller than Ewan. What did their parents feed them growing up?”

“Children.” Bel deadpanned, and her partner shoved her playfully.

“I can still appreciate handsome men, although no one will ever compare to Ewan in my book. He’s… never mind. It’s too soon,” Olivia trailed off.

“Never mind what? Come on, you can’t leave me hanging.”

“I think he’s the one.”

“Oh… wow.”

“See.” Olivia’s head fell into her hands. “It’s too soon.”

“Hey.” Bell rubbed her partner’s back. “When you know, you know, and I hope he is.”

“Me too. He’s amazing.”

“Then why are you checking out the new hires?”

“Because someone needs to set Violet up,” Olivia said.

“So, you plan to use our coworkers to play matchmaker?” Bel asked.

“Come on, all Violet does is work.”

“So do we.”

“Yeah, but at least we’re spoken for. We need to find our girl a date.”

“Okay, well, maybe meet the guy first before you feed our friend to the wolves,” Bel chuckled.

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