"We can leave if you want, you look exhausted," Josie whispers.


    "Not until after dessert, it is your birthday, we can''t leave early. Don''t worry about me," I reassure her.


    "I''m going to need to book another room at the bed and breakfast for you unless you want to share with me and Freya," sheughs.


    "You, yes, but not Freya," I smirk.


    "You want to share a room with me? Do you think that''s a good idea?" she raises an adorable eyebrow at me.


    "It''s an excellent idea and a necessity. I''m not letting you out of my sight any


    time soon,"


    "I''m d you think so because I don''t want to let you out of my sight either," she says in an almost purr, leaning in closer to me and running a hand up my thigh. I grab her hand before she reaches my crotch.


    "Miss Banks, please try not to be inappropriate at the dinner table, otherwise we will be skipping dessert. I have waited far too long for you to be teasing me right now," I whisper in her ear and I love the small noise she makes in response.


    "Yes, Sir," she whispers as Freya returns.


    "Did someone just turn the temperature up in here," Freyaughs, fanning herself sarcastically as she takes her seat opposite us. I like Freya, I can see why Josie is so fond of her.


    "How long have you been keeping Josiepany?" I ask.


    "Since she first got back here. Well, minus a few hours. I wasn''t there for the murdering part otherwise I would have helped, and then it took me over an hour to pick her up," Freya shrugs.


    "The murdering part?" I frown.


    "I''ll exinter," Josie whispers before Penny and Frank return with a cake. They begin singing and Penny ces the cake in front of Josie so she can blow out the candles.


    "We already did the singing and candles," Josie says with amusement.


    "I know but Deacon missed it, so I thought we should do it again," Penny beams before taking the cake and cutting it into slices for us all. Josie picks at the cake, eating a small amount before asking if she can wrap it up forter. I notice Freya eyeing her suspiciously before sharing a look with Penny. I need to get her out of here before they decide to say something. I doubt she is going to take the news well so dont want to ruin her birthday with this.


    "Thank you for hosting us this evening, Penny. The food has been wonderful," I say before Freya can speak.


    "You''re very wee, it has been nice to have somepany and an excuse to cook," Penny grins.


    I insist on helping to clean up this time and Josie stays by my side as we carry tes to the kitchen with Penny. Freya follows us a momentter and begins to wash the dishes. I take a towel and start drying them, waiting for Penny to leave the kitchen. The moment she walks out I drop the towel and turn to the kitchen cupboard opposite the sink. I drop to the floor and pull off the kick te under the cupboard, reaching in and feeling around until my handnds on the smooth leather of a briefcase. I pull it out and dust it off quickly before putting the kickte back in ce and brushing the dust from my clothes.


    "What''s that?" Josie whispers.


    "An emergency stash," I smile.


    "Oh, thank god because I''m almost out of savings and was worried I how I was going to keep us all fed," Freya sighs.


    "I''ll rece any savings you''ve lost," I assure Freya.


    We finish cleaning up and then say our goodbyes to Penny and Frank before


    heading to the bed and breakfast. I can''t wait to have some time alone with Josie.


    Today''s Bonus Offer