Page 86 of Looking Grimm

Grinning, Nash pulled me in and kissed my cheek.

We stayed close a moment more before he motioned to the graves again. “I’m still waiting for that introduction.”

I yanked my hand free and flapped it at him. “Fine, fine. Mom, Dad, this is Nick,” I paused for a scarce second before adding, “my boyfriend.”

“Hell, yes,” he said.

Shaking my head, I stood. “You happy?”

Between his toothy grin and those telltale dimples, I hardly needed to wonder, but he assured me anyway. “Very.”

He was still kneeling, so I offered him a hand up. “Well, come on, let’s not keep everybody waiting.”

He took my hand and rose, then we turned in unison toward the small group lingering a dozen feet away. Ripley, Maggie, and Pippa looked on as Nash and I walked forward to greet them.

Maggie bounded ahead of the other two, gurgling a cheerful noise as she wrapped me in a cold-bodied hug. I returned her embrace before she drew back to clear a path to Ripley who stood aside with his bony arms crossed.

“Bloody well done, mate.” He smiled, and his bi-colored eyes creased at the corners.

“You, too, old-timer,” I replied. “Thanks for the assist.”

He dipped his head in a nod. “It was my pleasure.”

Maggie latched onto him while twirling one of her pink pigtails around her finger.

“Where are you two gonna go?” I remembered the drawn curtains and blinds in their hotel room. The couple’s reclusive lifestyle had been one of necessity but, with the threat of the gang eliminated, that could change.

Ripley shrugged. “Word is the city will be open again soon, and Mags has always wanted to see London.”

At his statement, the zombie girl squealed and gave a little shimmy.

“Looks like you’re on the hook for that.” I chuckled.

He smiled. “It’ll be nice to go home again. Been too long.” He paused, pensive and considering until he said, “When Grimm first found you, he called you a marvel. But I don’t think he ever saw the half of what you really are. Don’t let what he took from you diminish what you have left to give.”

“And what’s that?” I asked.

“Knowing you?” Ripley’s thin lips curved into a smirk. “A whole lot of hell.”

Nash huffed a laugh as I shook my head.

“Nonsense,” I replied. “I’m a changed man. A model citizen.”

Ripley looked at Nash. “And you’re going to make sure he stays that way, eh, Nicholas?”

From behind the scrawny teen, Pippa approached. She wore a smile, as well, though hers was more guarded. “That’s a tall order, Nick,” she said in a low voice.

I shied away from her inspection. Since the last time we spoke, I’d hardly proven her wrong in her concerns about my impact on her brother’s life. His business was ruined and his home destroyed. A nice insurance settlement was only a Band-Aid on a much bigger wound.

Nash squeezed my hand. “I wouldn’t expect any less from my best customer.”

Pippa gave a scarce nod as she fixed her attention on me. “You love him?” She indicated her brother.

I nodded.

“You’d better because he adores you,” she said, then added in a mumble, “For whatever reason.”

Nash sighed. “Pip…”

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