Chapter 24
“Open it,” I said to Roan.
It was the night of Christmas Eve, and we sat in front of his tree, opening gifts.
Yes, that day had been quite a ride. The police had arrived at the mansion a few minutes after Tex died from his “heart attack.” We’d explained that he admitted to killing Zelda, which was much to Luis’s and Lemon’s surprise.
Luis had then told Lemon about his relationship with Traylor. Apparently with Traylor’s blessing. Lemon had yelled and screamed, but then Luis told her that he would write the house over to her.
That seemed to make her happy, because she stopped cursing. A couple of hours later we were allowed to leave, and the first thing I did was head to my house and take a long, luxurious nap. Unfortunately I dreamed about life-size elves who danced and sang.
I shuddered now even thinking about it. But after I woke up, I came over to Roan’s so that we could celebrate Christmas.
He, the superhuman that he was, managed to whip up a dinner fit for a king with all the trimmings—cornbread dressing, duck, cranberry sauce, green bean casserole (yuck), and homemade rolls.
I ate as much as I could, and then we cuddled in front of the fire for present opening.
He shot me a sneaky look. “What is it?”
I pointed to the box. “You’ll never know unless you open it.”
He did and whistled. “A watch with a leather band.”
“Turn it over.”
He did and I swear a tear pearled in his eye. “‘To Roan, my one and only love.’”He pulled me to him. I collapsed, curling my fingers into his sweater, making sure that I could feel all the way to his hard muscles beneath. I mean, he had them, might as well feel them.
When we parted, he said, “Are you okay?”
I knew he was talking about my dad. “I’ll be fine. He was meant to be in the heavens, not with us. And,” I teased, “I’ve picked a day next summer for us to get married.”
“A summer bride? Killer, I always imagined you as a winter bride.”
I jabbed my finger into his side, tickling him. “I don’t appreciate that.”
“Come here.” He hugged me again. “It doesn’t matter what season we get married in. You’ll be beautiful no matter what.”
“Thank you.” I smiled so hard that my face hurt. “You’re almost too nice. I should break up with you.”
He chuckled and handed me a box of my own. “Your turn.”
I pulled the delicate gold ribbon off the box wrapped in red paper. After I had threaded my finger under the tape and pulled it away and opened the box, I gasped.
Lying on a cushion sat a silver chain. Fashioned in the center of the chain was a silver disk with one word engraved on it,Killer.
I laughed so hard that I nearly fell backward. Roan beamed. “Like it?”
“I should break up with you, but yes, I love it!”
I threw my arms around his neck as a sound from outside grabbed our attention.
“Carolers,” he said. “Let’s watch.”
He rushed to the door and I followed. Roan threw it open, revealing Alice and Ruth standing in their bathrobes singing “O Holy Night.”
Mr. Hodges, Alice’s boy toy, stood beside them, dropping fake snow over their heads. When Alice saw us, she smiled and stopped singing.
Ruth elbowed her. “We’re not done with the song yet.”
