Page 28 of Criminology of a Character

“Will you ever tell me your story?” Bel asked.

“If you’re sure you want it.”

“I do… just not at Thanksgiving dinner. I feel your history will be rough to hear.”

“It will be, but you’re worth it.” He trailed his finger over her jaw. “I’ll give you the world if only you ask.” He gripped her chinand pulled her lips toward his, but at that exact moment, the table fell silent as the last plate had been served.

“None of that,” Briar ordered, and Bel blushed as she jerked upright, but Eamon didn’t remove his arm from her shoulders.

“No kissing my baby sister until we’ve had the chance to question you,” Briar continued good-naturedly, and Eamon smirked as everyone picked up their forks.

“Ahh… the interrogation Isobel warned me about,” he said with a playful wink. “Do you mind if I ask for a refill before you treat me as a hostile witness?” He lifted his glass, and Briar’s husband Flynn poured him another finger of whiskey.

“Thank you.” Eamon took a sip, and when he was done, he met Briar’s gaze with what Bel assumed was an attempt to appear non-threatening. “Do you worst. I am ready and willing.”

“What are your intentions with our sister?” Briar started, the table watching as if this were dinner and a show.

“She’s not throwing any punches, I see,” Reese mumbled, and Bel and her sisters smirked until Briar threw them a look.

“She’s assured us that this isn’t a fling, but I want to hear it from you,” her oldest sister continued. “What do you want with our Bel?”

“What do I want with Isobel?” Eamon repeated. “I haven’t told her that yet, soI won’t be announcing it here.”

“What haven’t you told me?” Bel asked.

“Let’s concentrate on you moving in with me before we go there.”

Bel stared at him for a second before scanning the table. Allofher siblings sat beside their husbands, their bodies connected… just as Eamon’s body was cemented against hers, and she realized what he meant. She gave a tiny cough as she speared a piece of turkey and popped it into her mouth to stop her fromblurtingsomething incoherent. She wasn’t ready forthose words yet, especially not in front of her family. When the time came, she wanted that confession to be for her ears alone.

“All right, let’s not make your sister too uncomfortable,” Reese interrupted. “I don’t want her to choke on her food.”

“I’m not going to choke!” Bel laughed. “Besides, it’s him you’re supposed to be questioning, but my sisters seem to be off their game. They haven’t made him nervous once.”

“We are not off our game,” Odette argued. “It’s a holiday. We’re being nice.”

“You don’t have to be.” Eamon waggled his eyebrows at the women, and Odette’s teenage twin daughters giggled at how charming he could be when he tried. “I have my very own detective, who often interrogates me at the police station. I’ve been questioned by the best, so I’m eager to see the masters she learned from at work.”

“Oh, he’s good,” Luna said, and Bel and her father exchanged a look as they realized Eamon had unleashed the beast. If he’d been any other man, this line of questioning would terrify her, but she was immensely grateful he was willing to play along. Her sisters were already warming towards him, and instead of worrying about an uncomfortable dinner, Bel readied to laugh as her siblings desperately tried to make an immortal nervous.

“Have you told her you love her yet?” Giselle asked.

“Yes, and often.” Eamon pointed at Rose. “Next.”

“Has she said she loves you back?” Rose obliged him with a wink at Bel.

“No,” Eamon answered. “I’m not worried, though. Your sister is smart and knows her mind. I’ll wait until she’s ready.”

“Why did you say Bel had interviewed you at the station?” Odette asked.

“I was the murder suspect on her first case in Bajka,” he answered, and the entire table stopped eating save Reese and Wendy, who already knew. “I wasobviouslyinnocent of thecrime, but your sister was so convinced I was the killer that she broke into my house. She made sure I was well aware of her hostility.”

“He was your suspect?” Briar asked. “Ofcoursethat’s how you two met.” She shook her head. “I worried that being a detective would hinder your chances of finding love, but it seems the universe found a way. Mom must have seen you refusing to date and sent you someone you couldn’t ignore.”

“She could only take so much of Bel being alone, so sheliterallydropped a man in her lap,” Odette laughed. “Mom was like‘ignore this’.”

“She certainly made him hard to ignore, didn’t she?” Bel looked teasingly up at Eamon. He could disappear if he wanted to, but he’d stepped out of the mansion’s shadow all those months ago, and a part of her had belonged to him ever since.

“Your mother created you, and you are impossible to ignore,” Eamon whispered for only her ears. “Any other questions for me?” His voice returned to normal.

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