Page 210

A child squeals near the front of the gallery. “That’s the cemetery gator!”

Ezra crouches beside the little boy and points toward the Deacon painting. “He’s very particular about being called the Deacon.”

“Does he eat people?”

“Only rude ones.”

The boy’s mother looks alarmed.

Ezra flashes her his sweetest smile. “I’m kidding.”

The child points at the graves in the background. “What’s he looking at?”

Ezra glances toward me. I feel the question move quietly through the bond. “The future.”

My chest warms.

The boy seems satisfied and asks for a gator postcard.

Pepper Vines, financial genius that I am, adds gator-specific merchandise to tomorrow’s list.

Wes enters through the gallery doors with Roman beside him. Wes has changed out of uniform but still looks like law enforcement here to inspect the catering. Roman heads toward Scarlet, and Wes stops beside Honey and accepts a plate without pretending he doesn’t want one.

The room feels full without feeling crowded.

My girls surround me.

My alpha holds me. My beta lights up every person who comes near him.

Ezra catches sight of the empty hook where the fog painting hung and pauses. I feel a flicker of something through the bond. Surprise. Loss maybe. Then pride. The work is gone because someone wanted it enough to take it home.

He looks at me.

I mouth, “We need more prints.”

He mouths back something impolite.

Theo laughs. “What did he just say?”

“We’re having artistic differences.”

“Was it about inventory?”

“Yes.”

Theo nods. “He should have listened to you.”

“Thank you.”

Ezra makes his way toward us as the final group of guests gathers near the refreshment table. He stops twice. Once to sign another postcard, and once because Mrs. Delaney insists on kissing his cheek. By the time he reaches us, there’s lipstick near his ear.

I wipe it away with my thumb. “Local celebrity.”

“I have sold twenty-seven postcards featuring a cemetery gator.”

“The people have spoken.”

Theo opens one arm, and Ezra steps into us. I remain between them. Exactly where I want to be. Theo kisses the top of Ezra’s head.