Page 36 of Investigation of a Quest

“I’m sorry.” Bel slid her hand into his as they resumed their walk. “I should have waited for backup. I don’t try to be reckless.”

“You sure about that?” He bumped her with his hip. “Seems to me you enjoy trying to give this eternal heart an attack. What? You testing if you have the power to stop it when no one else could?”

“Something like that,” Bel teased. “But seriously, I don’t sit here and dream up ways to put myself in danger. It’s an automatic response. I see a situation that needs help, and I answer… even if it’s clearly fake flying monkeys.”

“It’s why you’re the best of us.” Eamon released her hand in favor of wrapping his arm around her shoulders. “But why wasn’t Olivia with you?”

“Your babysitter had to use the bathroom. How freaked out do you think she is right now?”

“You’ll probably be getting a phone call later,” Eamon said. “But who knows? This might be the push they need to reconcile.”

“You really think they have a chance after everything?” Bel asked. “She seems pretty set on not letting him back in.”

“A monster has to hope.” Eamon shrugged. “I did when you first shut me out. Besides, she seemed extremely concerned about him just now, and it helps that he is very… fit.”

“It’s amusing how he was more embarrassed by his ex seeing him naked than by me being there,” Bel laughed. “She’s seen him naked before.”

“Because you understand what we are,” Eamon said. “When we’re with you, the mission and your safety are the priority. Our own discomfort or humiliation doesn’t matter. But with her? He still loves her.”

“My God, Mr. Stone, I have turned you into a hopeless romantic.”

“You have, and now you must live with the consequences.” Eamon captured her in his arms and kissed her for the entire street to see.

“Oh, how I suffer.” She teased before kissing him back. “But honestly, do you think it’s smart for them to get back together? Shouldn’t they start fresh after everything they’ve been through?”

“Should we? We’ve been through worse.”

“You never lied to me.”

“I tried to kill you.” Eamon dragged his fingers over her scars. “Twice. That’s worse.”

“You were cursed. That doesn’t count.” Bel captured his hand and pinned it against her throat.

“But I have to live with it. Every time I look at you, I remember that I almost put you in the ground. I didn’t want to kill you. Lord, how I fought not to, but the damage was done. I changed your life, and whether you’re happy now is irrelevant. If not for me, you’d be a different Isobel.”

“Eh, she would probably suck.” She rose onto her toes and kissed the frown off his lips.

“So you like who you are?”

“Of course?”

“After these past few months, I’m really happy to hear that.” Eamon smiled, the last of his grimace falling away as he pulled her close.

“Yeah…” Bel paused, but it was the truth. Olivia had gotten through to her, and she genuinely liked who she was. She liked her life, but she loved the partner she’d chosen to live alongside. “Me too.”

“So, if we work through my almost killing you and your self-doubt, I think Ewan and Olivia can move past the lies,” Eamon said. “As long as the lying ends now.”

“If Ewan lies to her again, he’s asking to get shot,” Bel laughed.

“I see we both love the same kind of woman.” Eamon kissed her forehead. “Griffin,” he grunted over her head.

“Stone?” The sheriff stopped in his tracks. “I thought you were staying outside the neighborhood?” He glanced between the couple. “What happened?”

“Nothing,” Bel lied. “Nothing major,” she corrected.

“Are you okay?”

“I’m fine.”