Page 49 of More Bite than Bark

Mitzie looked back and forth between the two of them, back and forth, back and forth.

“What do you mean?”

“We’ve moved Elle into my place, Mother,” Kevin said reaching over to take her hand again.

“Into your place?”She looked back and forth between them once more then let her gaze drop to their hands.“Or into your bedroom?”

“Both,” Elizabeth said.“And that’s not all.She dropped one hand to cover her belly in what had quickly become habit every time she thought about the baby growing there.

A crease formed between Mitzie’s brows for a moment then her eyes went wide.Elizabeth knew she’d put two and two together.Mitzie opened her mouth as if she was going to ask something, but stopped and closed it again.Elizabeth didn’t know if she’d thought better of what she’d been about to say or had simply changed her mind.

“Really?”Mitzie asked, her eyes still wide, disbelieving as she looked back and forth between Elizabeth and Kevin.“I’m going to be a grandmama?And Sandy too?We’ll get to share a grandbaby?”

Elizabeth could only smile and nod.Mitzie was taking this better than she’d expected.That’s when she remembered that she’d left something in the truck.Something she’d thought she might give Mitzie, if things had gone well.

“I just realized I forgot something in the truck.”Elizabeth pushed herself to her feet.Kevin started to stand but Elizabeth waved at him to stay.“I can get it.It will only take me a second.”She went to the front door and let herself out.She made it across the porch and down the stairs, then there was a sharp pain on the back of her head and the world went black.

Chapter Twenty-Nine

“Ihopeyou’replanningonmaking an honest woman out of her,” Mother said almost the same instant the front door closed behind Elle.

“I’m not saying the option is off the table permanently, but it’s not happening right away.But that’s between her and I and no one else.”Hex wasn’t going to get into this discussion, or debate with Mother about this.

“But what will people think?”

“What will people think if days or even a few weeks after she walks out of one wedding she marries me, then, in very short order, she’s visibly pregnant?People are going to talk.She and I don’t give a shit about that.”

“Language!”Mother said.

“Shit’s nothing, Mother.I have way more I could say that’s worse.”

She started to protest, but he held up one hand, stopping her.

“I hold it back when I’m around you, out of respect, and I’ll continue to do so, but at the same time, try considering that a once in a while slip isn’t the end of the world.”

Mother narrowed her eyes at him, and they sat in silent stand off for several seconds before she took in a lot of air, held it and then seemed to relax.

“You’re right.”

Hex remained silent, but lifted one brow, silently asking what she thought he was right about.

“About all of it.”Mother rolled her eyes as if Hex was pushing past what she wanted to admit.“I can admit that it wouldn’t look good for Elizabeth to walk away from one wedding, then turn around and marry someone else.”She shook her head.“I don’t know how to keep them from talking about her and the baby, but maybe you’re right.”

Hex stared at Mother for a moment.Never in a million years would he have expected her to give in so easily, much less admit he might be right.

He blinked and turned his head, listening for anything out of place.Elle should have been back already.Was she having trouble getting into the pickup?

“Elle should be back by now,” he said, standing.He’d go check on her, just in case she fell, he told himself.He went to the door, opened it, and looked out.He could see the truck but not Elle.

“Elle?”he said, hoping she was just out of sight for some reason and would pop up saying here I am.

The rev of an engine and the screech of brakes drew his attention to the road.Something wasn’t right.He headed for the truck, determined to make sure she wasn’t there, but at the same time he pulled his phone from the pocket of his cut and dialed Cypher.

“Hey, I was about to call you,” the club hacker said in way of answering his phone.

“Unless it’s to say you’ve got a live image of Elle on your screen, I don’t care.Pull up the cameras at Mother’s and see if you can figure out what happened to her.Should be front door but check them all if you have to.She left to go to the truck about five minutes ago.”

“On it, give me a couple minutes.”