Page 149 of Bishop's Queen

Ella rolled up the window and opened the door, hopping out. “Ha, ha. Let’s not get carried away.” A quick whistle, and Brick followed her out of the truck’s cab. She reached in and helped out FB and LK. “We had a video to shoot, and I thought it would be best by that creek.”

He met her halfway down the front path. “You’re using Brick for his good looks and charming personality.”

“Brick stole the show. His ratings compete with mine.”

Bishop grabbed his dog’s head. “Don’t become a celebrity,” he said to his dog. “I can only handle one at a time.”

“Oh, shut up.” She jumped up for a hug.

“Sure, sure. Boss all your people around. FB, LK, Brick, get the talent something for dinner.”

Ella kept her arms wrapped around his neck. “You’re horrible. If I weren’t starving, I’d say that was just mean. But since I am, I’m wondering if Brick has amazing vegan dinner-making skills.”

He pulled away from the hug. “All right. Go inside; do whatever you have to do. I have the rest of the day planned.”

Ella’s eyebrows rose. “Really?”

“Yes. Go.”

She scooped up her cat and went inside, with Brick and FB following suit. They’d swung by her condo after stopping by Brie’s grave, and he’d directed her to pack a bag—which in reality meantbags,but that was all part of the process. And today was a hell of a process. Bishop waited patiently, crushing cans and chucking them for Brick, who was less patient. He had given up and returned after thirty seconds. Eventually, despite however hungry she claimed to be, Ella popped out his front door.

She twirled at the top of the stairs, letting her skirt swirl around her waist. “I’m ready for my date.”

“Who said it was a date?” He chuckled, throwing another smashed can for Brick. It didn’t matter how long she took. When that woman spun in that skirt? They would be lucky if they got off the front porch, because it was about to be hiked around her waist.

“Well, what did I have to get ready for, then? And it’s time to feed me.”

“You sound like Brick.” He met her at the base of the stairs and took her hand. “Let’s go, babe.”

“Where to?”

“Surprise.”

“Definitely a date.”

He guided her to his truck and opened the door. “In you go.” Then he turned to Brick and FB. “And you guys go inside.”

They barked and whined but listened. Ten minutes later, he and Ella were hauling ass down the road.

“Um, Bishop…” Ella’s shaky voice was unexpected.

Maybe this was a bad idea. No, it wasn’t. This was a badassidea, and he was going to own the shit out of it.

“Why are we headed here?”

“You said this was your favorite place. Short of heading to the tropics, this is the place you said that you loved most.”

“Itwas.”

“You cried and said you would do anything to replace that day.”

“True.” She sighed. “My happy escape was ruined. I hate that.” She reached her hand to his. “Are you going to walk around, kick-start this place with new memories?”

He nodded. “Thinking about it. Good plan?”

Her fingers squeezed his. “Excellent plan.”

Bishop pulled off the road and drove into Seneca Park. Ella was distant as they pulled into the parking lot near where she and Manny had had their accident—but then he kept driving.

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