Page 16 of Evidence of a Folktale

“You say the nicest things.” He dropped the rotting wood and charged for her. Bel shrieked as she tried to escape, but he was too fast and caught her in his filth-streaked arms before she could take two steps.

“Gross!”She shoved his sweaty chest, but hesimplyleaned forward and planted an exaggerated kiss on her lips. “You’ve ruined my sweater,” she grumbled against his mouth.

“That’s what you get for making fun of me slaving away up here.”He kissed her again, andthis time,Bel surrendered to the embrace.Filthy or not, a shirtless Eamon was glorious to behold.

“I’ll buy you a new one if the stains don’t come out,” he said as he finally released her.

“Fine, but what if I’d loved this sweater?” she challenged.

“You don’t.”

“How do you know?”

“Because you’ve been staying with me since Christmas, yet never wore it. Your sisters packed your clothes when you were in the hospital, so you only have what they gave you, and instead of going home to repack, you did laundry here…even though that sweater was clean in your luggage the whole time.”

“Okay, fine. Why do you have to be so observant?” She swatted his chest. “You and my dad are a pair. Other guys don’t notice things, but you twoare always watchingme. I can’t get away with anything.”

“I’m always watching you.” He pitched his voice low and menacing, and even though he was joking, her skin flushed with a prick of fear at how quickly he could flip the switch and uncaged the beast.

“Creeper.” She stole a kiss before sidestepping him to study the gutted room. “Looks like you’re taking the walls out too. What will this become?”

“Not sure yet. I’m just going with whatever comes to me at the moment.”

“Am I allowed to make requests?” she asked.

“Do you want to?”

“You said you were restoring this house with me in mind.”

“I am.” He came up behind her and wrapped his arms around her chest. “What would you like?”

“An office,” she said. “For when I sleep over.”

“Of course.” He kissed her cheek, seeing right through her request.

“I work on sensitive cases, and while I’m terrible at keeping things from you, it would be smart to have a designated area separate from my living space.I don’t have that at the cabin, so if I bringhome a case, it’s just death on my dinner tableand my countersand mymattress.It would be nice to have a room to leave it behind in.”

“Done,” Eamon said. “But not here.”

“Why not?” she asked.

“Because it’s too far from my office, and if you’re going to work here, I require the ability to roll my chair across the hall to visit you.”

“Okay, not here, but yes? I can have an office?”

“You could have mine if you wanted it. Take the whole house for all I care. Iactuallyhave safety nets in place in case anything happens to me. You get everything.”

“Seriously?” She gawked at him.

“Close your mouth.” His fingers pushed her jaw closed. “All it does is give you my estate and wealth if I die. One day, we’ll add you to the paperwork while I’m still alive, but for now, it’s just in the event of my death. And we both know I’m not the dying type.”

“You better not be.” She leaned her head against his chest because he was right. She didn’t love this sweater.

“You’re stuck with me, unfortunately. You made that very clear.” He kissed her cheek before releasing her to return to his work. “So, what am I guessing?” he asked, referring to her earlier question when she’d barged through his front door.

“Oh, right… I’m already dirty. Should I help?”

“Sure, but put gloves on. I need all these floorboards ripped out.”

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