Page 146 of Criminally Yours

“We’ll meet up loads, and I want to swap books now that I know about your social media and?—”

“Liss, take a breath and stop meddling,” Bear said with a sigh.

Liss cocked her head and glared at him. “Are you asking me to be someone different, Bear? Because, if I recall correctly, you said you love every part of me.”

Bear twisted his mouth to the side. “I do love every part of you, but Millie’s just come out of the hospital and needs to rest before she’s hosting dinner parties.”

“Okay, that’s fair,” Liss replied. “Your mum’s glaring at Strike every chance she gets. Do you need me to organise a rescue mission and get you out of here?”

Millie laughed. “I love you, Liss, but I can’t avoid her forever.”

“No matter what happens, we’re your other family. If you need anything, we’ve got you. Okay?”

“Okay.”

“Can I check which places you and Strike have had sex? Idon’t want to be sitting anywhere you two have, you know.” Bear dropped down on the outdoor sofa. Millie stared at him and blushed.

Bear jumped up. “I mean, I’m proud of the guy. We might have to change his name to Home Run, but still.”

Liss shook her head as they all sipped their drinks, enjoying the sound of the waves.

“Can I have a word?”

Millie turned to find her parents and brother eyeballing her.

Liss hugged Millie, carefully avoiding her sling. “Don’t forget, several men here were in the Special Forces. They can hide a body without you needing to ask.”

Millie fought her laughter as she took her family to where Strike stood in the open-plan kitchen. She gripped his hand.

Her mum and brother grumbled as they studied how she threaded her fingers through Strike’s.

“Millie,” her brother began, his hands wide, “we’re worried about you. A few weeks ago, you were fine living a quiet life in your apartment, reading your books, but now you’re back with the man who broke your heart, and you nearly died.”

“What Dexter’s trying to say is?—”

“Let me stop you there, Mum. Dexter needs to stop pretending he’s the perfect son. He has secrets to tell you. Strike isn’t the bad guy. He saved my life, challenges me, sees me as an adult who can make decisions, and loves me like I love him, maybe even more some days.”

“Are you sure you’ve not fallen for your bodyguard because you’re desperate to live in this romantic fiction world?” Dexter said, undeterred.

Strike pulled his shoulders back. “Grow up, Dexter. I adore how much Millie loves books. She’s not a child who can’t understand they’re fiction. Let Millie love what sheloves. And know this, some people love fictional men because real men aren’t trying hard enough.”

“He’s got a point,” Liss said from the side of the kitchen. Everyone turned to stare as Bear dragged her to the other side of the room while grumbling about her nosiness. “He has. Maybe you need to up your game, Dexter.”

Millie covered her mouth, but her giggles escaped.

“What are your hobbies, Dexter?” Strike asked. “Do you like an action movie or sci-fi?”

“He loves Doctor Who. He’s been obsessed with it since he was a kid,” Millie replied.

“I don’t know how to tell you this, Dex, but Doctor Who isn’t real. The Doctor isn’t coming in his Tardis to take you to meet aliens.”

“I know that. It’s fictional, and I’m an adult.”

“Same, big brother. Same,” Millie said, pointing. “And stop being an arsehole to Strike, because, without him, you wouldn’t be living the life you are now.” Millie raised an eyebrow and waited for an argument.

“I guess.”

Millie growled, and Strike gripped her hand. “Some people can’t be fixed in a day,” he whispered in her ear.