Chapter 39
ONE MONTH LATER
Cora stepped out of the small house and made her way toward her vehicle. Pulling back the hood of her PPE and removing her mask, she breathed deeply, savoring the crisp air. The sterile, suffocating layers of protection were gone as she stripped off the full-body suit, folding it neatly into a disposal bag before closing the trunk with a solid click.
The approaching footsteps drew her attention, and she looked up to see a detective striding toward her. His lack of protective gear made her lift a brow.
“You’re not wearing any PPE.” Her straightforward delivery was met with a grin.
“Nope. This isn’t my case, so I wasn’t called in to investigate.”
With her hands on her hips, she narrowed her eyes with an exaggerated glare. “Then why are you here?”
Jeremy closed the gap between them, his smile softening as his hands settled on her waist. Bending his head, he brushed his lips over hers, the warmth of the gesture chasing away the day’s tension. “I’m here because I heard a hot medical examiner is on the scene.”
Cora’s serious expression cracked, and her smile lit up her face. Wrapping her arms around his neck, she tilted her head and teased, “And what do you think about this hot medical examiner?”
“I think she’s mine,” Jeremy said, his voice gentle but laced with seriousness.
Cora’s smile widened as she held his gaze, waiting for him to continue.
“Not that I want to be a caveman,” he added with a self-deprecating chuckle, “but I want you to be mine just as much as I consider myself yours.”
“You know,” she said, leaning closer, “for a man who’s used to throwing out one-liners, you say some really sweet things.” Rising on her toes, she pressed her lips to his.
Before the kiss could deepen, she eased back with a playful smile on her lips. “Did you really stop by just to see me?”
“Partly,” he admitted, brushing a strand of hair from her cheek. “But I also came to let you know that Buford Grissley has been cleared to stand trial by the psychiatrist. While he might’ve had a breakdown at the mortuary, everything leading up to that was calculated and deliberate.”
Cora nodded, her mind drifting back over the tangled web of crimes they’d unraveled in recent weeks.
“And,” Jeremy continued, his tone growing grimmer, “he confessed to killing Roy Parker with foxglove. Apparently, he visited Roy’s house when he knew Roy was alone and poisoned the cup of coffee. He left before anyone could suspect.”
Cora’s brow furrowed. “But why?”
Jeremy sighed. “Turns out Roy’s wife wasn’t the only one upset when he decided not to sell the farm. Buford claims that Roy had initially planned to sell and donate a portion of the profits to the church. Buford was already counting on that money. When Roy changed his mind, Buford acted out of anger. Figured Roy’s wife would sell and be persuaded to give the portion of the money to Buford.”
Cora exhaled sharply, the pieces falling into place. “He manipulated people into giving up their medications, recruited Jed to move them, and somehow kept the whole operation hidden.” She shook her head, disbelief etched on her face. “How did Jed even get involved?”
Jeremy’s expression darkened. “Jed found out what his manager was doing and came to Buford, feeling the need to talk to someone about what was happening. Buford twisted that doubt into an opportunity, convincing Jed to do his dirty work for a small cut.”
Cora crossed her arms, the frustration bubbling in her chest. “So Buford managed to kill multiple elderly people, but he’ll only face charges for Roy.”
“You know how it works, Cora,” Jeremy said gently. “We gather all the evidence, but it’s up to the courts from there. At least Buford will stand trial for Roy’s murder and the drug trafficking. And thank God you decided to go ahead with Roy’s autopsy. Without that, his death might’ve gone unanswered.”
Cora’s gaze softened. “Then I’m glad. I’m glad there will be justice for Roy and closure for his family.”
Jeremy pulled her close, resting his chin on the top of her head. “You’re the real hero, Cora. The behind-the-scenes, hidden hero. If it wasn’t for you, he would have gotten away with it.”
She melted into his embrace, her cheek pressed against his chest. After a moment, she leaned back and tilted her head to meet his eyes.
His grin returned, a playful light in his eyes. “I want to try something this weekend.”
Curious, she arched a brow.
“How would you feel if I brought Tommy Girl to spend the weekend with us at your place?”
Her head tilted slightly. “You even have to ask? Of course!”
“Well,” he continued, “it’ll be the first time we combine Tommy Girl, Max, and Mia. I thought it’d be good to let them get used to each other.”
Warmth surged through her, and her arms tightened around his waist. “Really? And why is that?”
Still grinning, he said, “Because I don’t want to wait any longer, Cora. I’m yours, and you’re mine. And while we might not be moving in together just yet, I’d like to think we’re headed in that direction.”
Her heart swelled, and she nodded. “I love that.”
Jeremy exhaled as if steeling himself. “I promised myself I’d wait until the perfect moment to say this, but hearing you say ‘love’… I have to tell you—I’m in love with you, Cora. Maybe it’s too early, maybe it’s crazy, but?—”
“Stop,” she interrupted, her voice firm.
His smile faltered, replaced by a pained expression.
She rushed to clarify. “I want you to stop talking because I need to tell you that I’m falling in love with you, too. And yes, maybe it’s early. Maybe it’s crazy to think about moving in together. But I’m all in, Jeremy.”
His grin returned in full force, and with a joyful laugh, he lifted her off the ground and spun her around, her laughter ringing out in the air.
* * *
One Year Later
Cora stepped out of the back door and made her way over the dune to the beach. The breeze tousled her hair, and the swoosh of gentle waves filled the air. The diamond ring on her finger glistened in the sunlight. On this spot, six months ago, Jeremy had dropped to his knee and proposed. The wedding would be soon, and their families would come together to celebrate with friends.
She lifted her hand and held it above her eyes as a visor and spotted Jeremy paddling his kayak toward the shore. A smile spread across her face as she reached him just as he dragged the kayak onto the sand. His skin glistened with seawater, and his hair was mussed from the wind.
“Have fun?” she asked.
Jeremy looped an arm around her shoulders, pulling her close. “Gorgeous day,” he said, pressing a kiss to her temple. “But I have to tell you, coming home to you makes it perfect.” He glanced down at the steaming cup of coffee in her hands and laughed. “You and your cups.”
She lifted the mug, momentarily forgetting which one she’d chosen. The bold print brought a grin to her face. I’m not anti-social. I’m just postmortem friendly.
“Just so you know,” she said with a playful smirk, “I bought you a new one.”
Laughing, they strolled hand in hand back toward the house, the warm sand shifting under their feet. When they reached the deck, Cora picked up a mug resting on the railing and handed it to him.
Jeremy took one look at it and burst out laughing. I pet cats. I investigate crime scenes. I know things.
“Damn, Cora, this is perfect!” he said, still chuckling.
They stood together on the deck, arms wrapped around each other, letting the sunshine soak into their skin.
Her landlord had decided to sell the property months ago, and they couldn’t pass up the opportunity to buy the small bayfront house. Renovations were nearly complete. The addition of a two-story wing was transforming the space. A new, spacious kitchen replaced the old cramped one, and the family room had doubled in size. Upstairs, new bedrooms and bathrooms were taking shape, along with a laundry room to make life easier. It had been a process, but they could finally see the finish line.
Tommy Girl and Max had settled into life here seamlessly, bonding over their shared antics. Mia often pranced between them, her tail held high like the queen of the household.
“This is going to be phenomenal once it’s finished,” Jeremy said, his voice low and content.
Cora leaned into his side, resting her head on his shoulder. “I know,” she murmured. “I love the idea of having our home.”
“The view can’t be beat,” he added.
She twisted slightly, glancing over her shoulder toward the water, the bay sparkling like a sheet of diamonds.
“I’m not talking about out there,” he continued.
Surprised, she turned back to him, her brow furrowing as she searched his face.
Jeremy’s eyes softened. “I’m talking about you. The sight of you in my arms, on our deck, staring at our house. It’s us together, Cora. That’s the best view of all.”
Her heart melted, and her lips curved into a tender smile. He bent his head, capturing her lips in a kiss that started sweet and quickly deepened.
As the heat between them grew, Cora set her coffee cup on the railing and pressed her body against his. The soft clink of his mug joining hers barely registered as his arms tightened around her, holding her as if he never intended to let go.
Jeremy was right. This—here, with him—was the best of all.