Page 147 of The Defiant Curse

Graham laughed.

Oh, he’d done just that not long ago, and the only thing that saved him was literally the man beside him.

“Too soon, Mom. Too soon.”

She realized what she said and laughed.

“My bad.”

He winked at her.

“Anyway, I’m looking forward to later. Do you know how long it’s been since I cooked food for people I love and had a glass of wine?” she asked.

Michael could venture a guess because he knew how busy she’d been for the last year or so.

“A long time?”

She nodded.

“A long damn time.”

Well, that was going to change. Tonight, she was going to get into that kitchen that Callen and Chris designed and make dinner for them.

She’d promised.

“Don’t forget, I’m on dinner duty. I feel the need to cook for my sons.”

Oh, they wouldn’t.

Michael loved when Elizabeth cooked. She made the best food, and it had been a while since she had time to do it.

“What else do you want to do?” Graham asked. “Because this is your journey. Tell us, and we’ll make it happen. While here, we want you to rest, relax, and find yourself.”

She smiled.

That was exactly what she needed to do. Coming here hadn’t been a mistake, after all. If she wanted to ever go back to work, she had to find her balance again.

All work and no play had nearly killed her.

“I think I want to figure out what the fuck is going on at the castle,” she said, as she could see it looming up in the distance as they drove up the mountain.

Were they surprised?

No.

Were they surprised it was day two and she wanted to do it?

Yes.

Someone was finding her footing, and that was, after all, all that mattered. It appeared you could take the girl out of investigator mode, but you couldn’t take the investigator all the way out.

Some of it always lingered.

“Just as a heads-up, there is no way you’re keeping Gabby from helping. She is wild about things like this. So, get ready for the ride.”

That made her happy.

“There’s no pressure on me,” she said. “If I can’t help figure this one out, she can have at it when I’m gone.”