Page 111 of Fierce-Colson

“No.” She squeezed his fingers. “It’s not. Don’t get in your head. What did we talk about earlier?”

“Be more specific. We did and said a lot of things earlier.” The wiggle of his eyebrows said that he was putting this conversation behind him.

And maybe she should just follow his lead.

“That we weren’t letting things get in our heads. That means the same with Bella. Because if you do that, it might bleed into other things. Trust me. I think she’s proud to have you as her brother. Just as proud as I am to have you as my partner.”

“Partner?” he asked, his smile widening.

“Boyfriend and girlfriend is just so teenage. This is better. More mature.”

He tapped her on the nose. “You can be mature. Sometimes I want to go back to those days.”

“And sometimes, we do,” she said, kissing him quickly.

“Eww,” Bella said, coming back in. “Don’t do that too much.”

“Guess that tells you what she really thinks of dating right now,” she whispered.

“All the more reason for me to do it again,” he said, laying his lips on hers.

“Now you’re doing it on purpose,” Bella said. “Marjorie said that she’ll show me how to make carrot cake. She has one for dessert. If she does, can I make one? I know you like it.”

“Sure,” he said. “That’s my favorite.”

“My mother remembered how much you loved it back then,” she said.

Which shouldn’t have surprised her in the least.

Maybe her mother wasn’t talking to the Fierces. But she was still meddling in her own way.

And Marly wasn’t the least bit upset over it.

“Marjorie,” Diane said later that night when she answered the phone. “I didn’t expect to see your name come up.”

“I hope I’m not interrupting you,” she said. She had to get to the bottom of what was going on. Dave had already given her an earful that she shouldn’t get involved and she swore she wasn’t.

“Never,” Diane said. “With everyone out of the house now, it’s quiet most times unless we’ve got the grandkids.”

“I had my granddaughter over earlier. Both kids too. Zander was questioning me in front of Marly. Seems Grant stopped in and was talking about Marly and he wondered if I was fishing to have you help set her up.”

“Grant,” Diane called out. “What did you say to Zander about Marly Conway last week? Are you trying to get people in trouble?”

She heard the laughter in the question, then a muffled answer. “What did he say?” she asked.

“He said he was only talking in general. Nothing important. Not that he can even remember. I can tell by the look on his face, it’s the truth. What’s going on?”

“Well, I can say it because it’s not a secret and it seems to be moving in the right direction.”

“Oh, is Marly dating the person you mentioned weeks ago?”

“She is. Colson Ryder. He’s a detective with the PD. They were all here for dinner today.”

“I’m sure you’re excited. Now you get to sit back and just watch it.”

“I am excited. Between us, I’ve never seen my daughter like this before.”

“Then you know, he might be the one,” Diane said.