Page 43 of Did It Have To Be Gnomes?! (Carry A Faerie #1)

Chapter Thirty-One

Winter

T he person knocked—more like banged—on the door again, and I frowned at Miles, asking, “Were you expecting someone else?”

He shook his head, frowning as he headed for the door. “Nope. Maybe it’s just a neighbor or a salesman or something?” He didn’t sound sure at all.

“Maybe.”

Of course, my eyes tracked his movement—I couldn’t help but stare at Miles anytime he was around—so when he opened the door, I saw his entire body language change. He tensed up, looking like he was ready for a fight.

“No.”

I stood up at the stern word coming from Miles. I’d never heard that tone of voice from him before, so it put me on instant alert.

Sola sensed it too since she leapt off her perch.

I thought she was going to fly to Miles’s shoulder, but the firebird surprised me by flying to me instead.

Miles must’ve asked her not to land on his shoulder.

Maybe he didn’t want this person knowing he was bonded to a firebird.

That was fine. I’d pretend she was mine if need be.

I tilted my head to the side so she had more landing room, then moved closer to my almost-boyfriend so he had backup.

I thought he was about to turn the person away, but I heard a deep voice ask, “Please? I just need a minute of your time.”

Miles stood there, holding the doorknob so tight his knuckles were white, but instead of slamming the door in the guy’s face, he opened it and silently waved him in.

A man in a suit walked in, and the second I saw him, he screamed cop to me. My eyebrows rose, not expecting that. Why was a cop interested in Miles? Was he in some kind of trouble? The thought made my stomach sour with unease.

He couldn’t be in trouble, right? Not Miles.

The man gave me a cursory glance before ignoring my existence entirely and turning back to Miles. “I need to talk to you about that lead you sent me.”

Miles’s jaw ticked. “I already told you everything I know, Higgins.” He glanced at me and added, “Higgins, Winter. Winter, Higgins.” He met my eyes. “Don’t worry. He’s not staying.”

“I know you gave me everything.” The Higgins guy still completely ignored me, only having eyes for Miles as he pulled out a manila envelope and tried to hand it to him, but Miles wouldn’t take it. “I need a second opinion, detective.”

“Don’t call me that.” Miles ground his teeth together. “I’m not a detective anymore.”

My mouth fell open as I stared at my… Miles.

Not a detective anymore ? Miles… Miles was a detective? That was the job he’d left to become an exterminator?

A detective?

What in the hell was an ex-detective doing hanging out with me, an ex-con?

Miles turned worried eyes on me for a moment, ignoring his cop friend to check on me. I… wasn’t sure how I was feeling, but I appreciated the thoughtfulness.

Miles was a cop.

What in the bloody hell was I supposed to do with that?

T hank you so much for reading Miles and Winter’s first adventure! I hope you had as much fun reading it as I did writing it. Our couple, plus their new found family, will be back in .