Chapter Sixty

“It adds a calming, meditative element to the room, don’t you think?” Amelia asked.

Gideon contemplated the aquarium. “I’m not so sure about that. The hum of the air pump is annoying.”

“We’ll get used to it.”

It was late. The others had left after the pizza delivery dinner. The podcast crew was booked into a nearby hotel. By now they were probably continuing the celebration in the lobby bar. Shelton and Dr. Pike had taken their leave after making arrangements to continue their intense discussion the following day in Shelton’s personal library.

She and Gideon were alone, kicked back on the sofa, stocking-clad feet propped on the coffee table. The long stretch of sleep deprivation was finally catching up with them.

“The noise of the pump probably won’t be a problem in the bedroom,” Gideon said.

“Exactly. You know, it might help if I got a bigger tank with a more expensive pump.”

“Goldfish keep growing, Amelia. The bigger the tank, the bigger they get.”

“I didn’t know that.”

“Let’s change the subject.”

“What do you want to talk about?”

He wrapped an arm around her shoulders and pulled her close. “Us.”

She snuggled into his heat and strength and yawned. “What about us?”

“I love you. I know it’s probably too soon for you to commit but I really need to know if you think that you might be able to one of these days.”

“It’s not too soon. I love you, Gideon. I started falling in love with you before we even met. When you called me back to set up the appointment to discuss my case, I really, really, really liked the sound of your voice.”

“Yeah?”

“Probably just another example of Shelton’s theories of aura resonance in action.”

“Do not drag my uncle into this, not now. I’m trying to be romantic.”

“And you are doing a marvelous job of it.” She turned in his arms and raised her lips for the kiss that sealed the private vows.

Aunt Cybil was right. Trust your intuition. Some things you know are true.