We’re silent for a beat before Stevie speaks. “How does it smell here? I’m trying hard to get rid of the heavy embalming fluid scent from the previous owners.”
She worked as a mortician for six years until the previous owners finally retired and sold the mortuary to her.
My brows furrow at her and I stifle a huffed laugh at the absurdity of her question. Leave it to my sister to care about how it smells in a funeral home. Breathing in heavily, I’m surprised when I am only hit with a light floral scent.
“Flowers, with a hint of an old building? Why does it matter?”
“It matters to my clients.”
“The dead people or their relatives?”
She rolls her eyes, eyelashes long and curled. “The deceased are my clients, my priority. I don’t want it to smell bad for them. The families are just here for support.”
I shake my head at her.
My sister’s respect for the dead has never ceased to amaze me. She’s devoted her life to making sure everything about their services are completed with honor and beauty. And it clearly explains why it was difficult for her to accept what River and I were doing at first, but that she understood.
Stevie grabs my hand bringing it up between us. “Who writes checks anymore? Actually, whatbillionairewrites checks?”
I yank my hand back. “River does what River wants.”
With a sly smile, she pulls her bottom lip between her teeth. “I know what River wants.”
“Stop it.” I quickly jerk my hand and tap her in the stomach. My cheeks flush at her comment. “Not here.”
“I’m going back to the entrance to see if the rest of the family needs help greeting the guests.” She pats me on the shoulder before pivoting, her high heels clicking the hardwood floors as she walks away.
“Okay, send Dad to find me when you see him arrive,” I tell her, even though she’s created a distance between us by now.
Now, standing alone, my heart aches for the person who saved me—who helped me vindicate myself and these women.
Wearing my new expensive dress, which was delivered to my bedroom just hours before I had to meet Stevie here at Nevermore Mortuary and Funeral Home, it glides across the floor as I walk to the window.
Pinching the white satin curtains, I pull them open to expose a dark and dreary morning. My eyes fall to the black car with tinted windows across the street, parked beneath the shadows of an old cottonwood tree.River—watching me like always. Monitoring my every movement, more now than ever before. It bothered me at first—an unsettling, creepy sort of way I found surprisingly erotic. But now, after the almost two months we’ve had together, I take comfort in it.
My eyes bore into the dark tint on the driver’s side door, and when it unexpectedly opens a sharp inhale force from my lungs. First, I see his black boots hit the pavement, then his large stature, dressed entirely in black, slides from behind the door. His sunglasses mask the delicious darkness in his eyes on this typically cloudy day. With a quick flick of his hand, the door shuts. Facing me, his energy sears into my chest, tethering me to him. River leans back against the car with his arms folded and his ankles crossed. With a quick nod, he acknowledges my peering out of the window.
His energy sears into my chest, tethering me to him with security.
My focus slides back to the woman’s mother, still hunched over. I bet she never imagined having to bury her child—especially under these circumstances.
Mustering up the courage, I make my way toward her.
“Ma’am?” I whisper, and with a tender hand I rest my palm on her shoulder.
She lifts, her makeup smudged and eyes bloodshot. “Yes?”
“I’m Lux, Lieutenant Levinson’s daughter,” I say. “His team worked on your daughter’s case.”
Her lips pursed together, forming a small smile. “Thank you for coming, Lux.”
I smile while clutching her hands in mine. “I’m sorry for your loss.”
A tear rolls down her raw cheek. “Thank you, dear.”
“I know nothing can bring her back, but I would like to give this to you.” I slide the check from my purse and tuck it into her palm. “It’s from a very important person to me.”
Confused, she unfolds the paper, but her expression turns into shock. “What is this?”
