Page 42 of The Sinner's Son

Sawyer had put together quite a feast on short notice. Dinner looked good, smelled delicious, and it would taste amazing.

Eddie tucked right in without hesitation and devoured half his plate before he said, “This food tastes incredible.” He shook his head in dismay at Royce. “Your husband is an incredible cook. ‘Mostly tastes good,’” he grumbled before forking another bite.

Sawyer didn’t preen, but it was damn near close. “It’s all in the quality of ingredients. You replace the bad stuff with flavorful herbs and spices and use healthy fats and oils. If you don’t want to cook like this for yourself every night, there are companies that deliver healthy prepared meals to your door. I put some suggestions in your binder.”

“How’d you get to be so smart about food?” Eddie asked.

“It has to be your mom’s healthy habits,” Jo said. “She’s more beautiful now than she was in her thirties.”

“No wonder she adores you,” Sawyer replied. “I was an awkward, closeted gay kid who never fit in anywhere. I ate my emotions instead of expressing them and battled adolescent obesity as a result. My mother had friends who’d struggled with eating disorders, and she was terrified I’d develop severe problems if she remarked negatively on my weight. I eventually got it figured out, and yes, she was very helpful during my metamorphosis.”

Royce coughed into his hand. “His motivation might’ve had something to do with the personal trainer she hired.”

Jo giggled and swatted his arm.

“It’s true,” Sawyer agreed with a shrug. “He was a hottie.”

Eddie had a good chortle over that. “Royce was right to recommend your help. I appreciate it.”

“You’re very welcome.”

Their conversation turned to other events from the day. Sawyer couldn’t say much about his investigation, but he sharedwhat he could. Royce talked a little about Cayden, Dane, and Nina’s situation, which garnered much sympathy and relief that Detective O’Connell had committed to his case. Then the topic shifted to Holly’s big bust. The big press conference wouldn’t happen until the following morning, but Sawyer bragged about Holly’s dogged determination to get justice.

Jo set her fork down and shivered. She turned to Eddie and said, “That’s so dangerous. Aren’t you worried she’ll get hurt or killed?”

Eddie paused with his forkful of kale salad halfway to his mouth. “I worry about her every day.”

“Do you express your concern to her?” Jo pressed.

Setting his fork down, Eddie took a long drink of water. Probably trying to figure out the right words to say. Was he rolling Royce’s advice through his head? Was he wondering if Jo was putting him through a test? Royce thought he detected an ornery gleam in her eyes before she blinked it away. Finally, Eddie set the glass back on the table and lifted the napkin from his lap to wipe his mouth. Who the hell was this guy? He returned the linen to his lap and fixed his gaze on Jo. “Being a cop isn’t just a job to Holly. It’s a calling, the same as it is for Royce and Sawyer. It’s an essential part of who she is and just as important to her as being Jace’s wife and Harper’s mother. So, yeah, she could get killed on the job, or she could die a little death every day because our fear took something meaningful from her.”

Royce stared in complete awe. It took all he had not to stand up and clap. Who was he to think Eddie needed tips from him?

“Wow.” Jo fiddled with the neckline of her dress and beamed at Eddie. “That’s so insightful of you. And progressive.”

“Isn’t it?” Royce asked, suspicion creeping into his voice now that the shock had worn off.

Eddie reached over and took her hand. “I’d love to take credit for my remark, but those are the words Holly hurled at me after I’d made a misogynistic suggestion about her getting a safer job when she announced her pregnancy.”

Jo threw her head back and laughed, pressing her free hand to her chest.

“I knew those words sounded familiar,” Sawyer said. “I was trying to remember what movie they came from.”

Eddie lifted Jo’s hand to his mouth and kissed it. “But I really listened to what she said and realized I was wrong. I sincerely mean those words now.”

“Oh, Eddie,” Jo said. “I love you like crazy.”

He leaned forward and kissed her. “I love you too.”

Royce mouthed across the table to Sawyer, “What is happening?”

His husband waggled his brows and formed a circle with his index finger and thumb on one hand. Royce kicked him under the table before he could penetrate the circle with his other index finger. “Who’s ready for dessert?” Sawyer asked.

Eddie and Jo jerked apart as if they’d forgotten they weren’t alone.

Jo settled back in her seat as a pretty blush bloomed across her cheeks. “Forgot myself there for a second.”

“It’s that Locke charm,” Sawyer said.