an assault like that?
Be magnanimous enough to forgive, and then make sure you tease him about it, she thought to herself with a chuckle.
“I think that’s about it,” Henry murmured. He looked at her. “What do you think? Did we miss any?”
Bella realized that while she was daydreaming, Henry had taken care of it all. The entire sidewalk was now covered in tiny pebbles and the ice was clearly melting underneath the onslaught of chemicals. “Wow. Good work, Sherlock.” She laughed when Henry gave her a dry look.
“I’m gonna have to put my foot down about that nickname,” he said, bringing the bag back to the corner of the porch.
“Awww...” Bella teased. “Why? I think it fits you perfectly.” She grinned as he stormed her way. Once he was within reach, she fixed his lapel and patted his chest. “I’m not sure I can ever go back to anything else.”
Henry’s expression didn’t change. “If you actually meant it as a compliment, it wouldn’t be so bad.”
Bella laughed again and slid her hands up his chest. “I’m sorry. It was mean of me.” She dropped her voice. “Whatever can I do to make it up to you?”
Henry’s eyes seemed to darken to a deep smolder and Bella’s pulse leapt. Oh, how she adored kissing this man. He had the ability to make her feel beautiful, cherished, and desirable all from a single touch. And now, after their fight, seemed like the perfect time for a little make-up session.
“I’m pretty sure I can think of something,” he whispered as his head descended.
A shrill scream, heavily muffled, rang through the air.
“What the heck?” Bella breathed, breaking away from his hold. “I think that came from inside.” She turned to the door, but Henry had beaten her to it. She rushed after him, her heels clicking on the hardwood floor as soon as she got inside.
Henry had stopped in the front entry and was turning in a circle. “Where did it come from?” he asked, his voice low.
Bella shook her head. “No idea.” She shucked her coat and threw it to the side, keeping her ears peeled. “Here. Let me take your coat.”
“I’m not worried about my coat,” Henry ground out.
“Well, until you know where you’re going, we might as well wait a second,” Bella shot back.
With a growl, Henry tore off his coat and threw it to the side. It skidded across the floor and Bella tsked her tongue.
A crash came from further into the house and both of them jumped as if they’d been electrocuted.
“The display room,” Bella said breathlessly, her heart sinking. “If there’s been another accident, Emory is going to have a breakdown. She already had to remake an entire wal. There’s no time in the schedule for anything more. The displays are due to come in tomorrow.”
Henry took off and Bella hurried after him. They rushed down the hall toward the room, only to see Emory standing still in the hallway. She put up her hand and Bella forced herself to slow down.
Emory’s face was one of disbelief. As if she couldn’t quite believe what was happening. She backed up a few steps, turned to look in the open doorway, and her shoulders crumpled.
Bella hurried up and peered around her cousin. Antony was in the room, squatting low on his heels, peering into a pile of wreckage. Bella felt her jaw drop as she took in the destroyed room. Tables and decorations were thrown everywhere, and some of the tables appeared to have been smashed in half. “What is going on?” Bella breathed.
“I think everyone should stay back,” Emory said, the sadness in her tone clearly audible.
“Let me in, Emory,” Henry said firmly, but kindly.
With a slow nod, Emory turned, leaving room for Henry to enter and walk across the room to Antony. Just as he went to go inside, Emory darted into the room and got on her knees next to Antony.
“It’s a boy!” Emory exclaimed in surprise.
Bella tried to speed up and follow, but Henry put out his arm and held her back. They walked slowly across the room to where the other adults were gathered.
“Jim Harmon,” Antony was saying to Emory. “I think we found our food thief.”
“Emory, what’s going on under there?” Henry asked, his voice hinting of impatience.
Bella could practically feel the anxiety pouring off of him. His entire body was tight with tension and his arm was like steel where it kept her from moving past him.
Emory looked up, sighed, and rose to