Harlequin Romantic Suspense April 2021

asked.
“The vet thinks she’s a lab mix.” Carly pulled out her phone, ready to show pictures. She certainly had a lot of them.
Her trio of cousins ambled over, clearly curious. Everyone dutifully oohed over Bridget’s pictures.
“She’s really thin,” January said, expression concerned. She’d always been tenderhearted, which was part of the reason she’d gone into social work and did so much volunteer work. “Are you feeding her several small meals a day?”
“I am,” Carly replied, which made her cousin beam.
“Where’s Harry?” Simone asked, glancing around as if she expected him to appear at any second.
“We’re taking a break,” Carly replied, bracing herself for the comments that were sure to follow. Her cousins exchanged quick glances. Simone frowned, while January appeared confused. Since she’d been the one to set Harry and Carly up, Carly knew she owed her an explanation. “He’s a great guy and I appreciate you introducing us. We just weren’t right for each other. He’s good with it, though, much more so than I thought he’d be. Maybe you can work your magic and fix him up with someone else.”
Still frowning slightly, January nodded.
Tatum hugged her. “I’m sorry. Are you okay?”
“Mostly,” Carly allowed. She figured she might as well get this over with now, though she wanted her brothers to hear, too. “Heath, Jones. Do you have a minute?”
Since they hadn’t actually started cooking anything, they came over.
Jones slung a casual arm across her shoulders. “Looking good, Carly.” She smiled up at him, while inside she couldn’t help but wonder how they all were going to take her news.
“What’s up?” Heath asked, his shaggy dark blond hair blowing in the slight breeze.
“Micha is alive,” she blurted, inwardly wincing at her bluntness. “He showed up at my house a couple of days ago.”
Everyone started talking at once, asking questions. Heath cleared his throat loudly and held up his hand. “Quiet,” he ordered. “Let Carly explain.”
Carly told them everything, all except the part where she’d fallen into bed with Micha. When she finished relaying Micha’s story, Simone shook her head. “That explains Harry’s absence.”
Which meant that Carly had to tell them Harry’s reaction. Part of her still couldn’t digest the fact that he’d let her go so easily.
“Proof he wasn’t the right guy for you,” Jones drawled supportively, hugging her again. “I hope you’re not losing any sleep over him.”
“I’m not,” she said, surprised to realize the only thing stung had been her pride. Looking up, she realized both her mother and aunt had tears in their eyes.
Carly eyed January. “Thank you for fixing me and Harry up. He’s a great guy. I promise you, I never wanted to hurt him in any way.”
“It sounds like you didn’t,” January admitted. “He’ll be okay. But poor Micha,” she said, sighing. “It sounds like he’s been through so much.”
Carly nodded, not sure how to react to that. While Micha had suffered a horrible ordeal, that didn’t excuse the fact he hadn’t reached out to her in two damn years. “All this time,” she said out loud, “I thought he was dead.”
“I’m so happy for you,” Fallon said, sniffing. “You get to have a second chance. I wish your father could have been here to see that. He always was fond of Micha.”
Carly’s stomach twisted. She didn’t have the heart to tell her mother that she wasn’t sure she wanted a second chance with Micha. Especially not now, when she knew her mother would have given anything to have her husband back. As would Aunt Farrah.
“When’s the wedding taking place?” Simone asked softly. “Or haven’t you had time to start planning it yet?”
“I want to cater it,” Tatum interjected. “Or maybe you could just have the reception at True.”
Overwhelmed, all Carly could do was slowly shake her head.
Standing across from her, Heath narrowed his eyes, something in the tightness of his expression letting her know he understood at least some of the tangled emotions inside her.
“Give Carly a break,” he ordered. “I imagine all of this came as quite the shock.”
“It did,” Carly managed. She checked her watch. “Shouldn’t you two start grilling? I’m hungry.”
Grinning, Jones touched his finger to his forehead in a mock salute. “We’ll get right on that. Come on, Heath.”
Carly exhaled as her two brothers sauntered away. For a moment there, she’d seen a flash of anger in Heath’s steely gaze. She’d been really glad he wouldn’t be confronting Micha yet. She had a lot of her own upset feelings to deal with first without her older brother bringing his own into the mix.
“Why didn’t you bring Micha today?” Tatum asked, one brow raised. “It would have been great to see him after all this time.”
“I agree,” Simone said. “I always liked him.”
Carly shrugged. “Can we change the subject, please?”
All three of her cousins laughed. January hugged her this time. “Sure we can.”
A quick glance at her mother revealed she and her sister were in a deep, whispered conversation. Which was fine. Carly knew the two women could use a distraction. Since she didn’t want to worry anyone, Carly decided not to mention her feeling of being watched for the last six weeks. At least not yet. The police knew, Micha knew, and that would have to be enough for now.
Once the meat—tender, delectable cuts of beef, chicken and pork that Tatum had marinated, seasoned and prepared—had been grilled, all the sides were carried out and placed on a long table. It would be a feast. Carly, unable to keep from wondering what Micha would make of it, hung back a little while the others lined up to fill their plates.
Heath joined her, his expression troubled. Since she’d promised she wouldn’t, she couldn’t reveal that she already knew about the recent double murders. No doubt her older brother was worrying about how to tell the family without causing a mass panic.
Meanwhile, Heath apparently took her preoccupation for worry about Micha. “It’s going to be all right, Carly.” He patted her shoulder. “Right now it must feel overwhelming, but things