Elemental Assassin 04 - Tangled Threads

fluffy mashed potatoes with plenty of real, fattening butter, sour cream, and cheddar cheese in them, and for the centerpiece, there was an enormous, spiral-cut ham with a brown sugar glaze. And then there were the desserts. I’d made a little something for everyone, from yummy fruit pies and warm berry cobblers topped with vanilla bean ice cream, to sweet sugar cookies and rich, chewy fruitcakes. I had a crowd to feed, and I’d outdone myself with all the dishes.
    I might not be the most demonstrative person when it came to telling people how I felt about them, how much I cared about them, but I could sure make them a meal that they’d never forget.
    We’d already eaten, and now I was back in the kitchen, washing the dishes while the others opened their presents. Of course, the ones most excited by the gifts were Roslyn’s niece, Catherine, and Natasha. The little girls tore into the wrapping paper, barely pausing to admire the pretty packages before destroying them to get to what was waiting inside. The squeak, squawk and squeal of new toys filled the air.
    “Here’s the last of the dinner dishes,” Owen said, carrying a final set of plates into the kitchen and dumping them into the sink. “You want me to dry while you wash?”
    I wiped my hands off on a dish towel and turned to face him. “Sure, after you open your present.”
    Owen raised an eyebrow. “A present? For
moi
?”
    “Yes, for you.”
    I reached across the counter, grabbed the present I’d put there earlier this morning, and held it out to him. The gift was wrapped in candy-cane-striped paper and had the small look of a jewelry box.
    Owen took the box and carefully shook it, but no noise came from inside it.
    “You didn’t think I’d make it that easy for you, did you?” I said in a teasing tone.
    He grinned. “I had hopes.”
    “Go ahead. Open it.”
    Owen shook the box one more time before tearing into it just as Catherine and Natasha had done in the other room. He ripped off the paper, popped open the box, and paused, staring at what was inside the small container.
    He fished out the item and held it up for me to see. “A key?”
    “I admit that it isn’t nearly as nice or as inspired as the new silverstone knives that you made for me,” I said. “But I have been busy these last few days.”
    Owen stared at me with his violet eyes. “And what does this key go to?”
    My heart, because you’ve proved yourself worthy of it
. That’s what I thought about saying, that’s what part of me wanted to say to him. But I didn’t. I might not have much experience when it came to this relationship business, but I knew it was too soon for that. Especially since I was still processing this new warmth I felt for Owen and how best to handle it—and him.
    “It goes to Fletcher’s house,” I said. “My house. It occurred to me that you’ve never been over there while we’ve been together. I thought you might like to see it sometime. Anytime that you’d like.”
    “I see.”
    I stared at Owen, wondering if it was enough, if maybe I should have gotten him something more substantial—like a holiday tie or a light-up Christmas sweater.
    Then he looked up at me, a slow smile spreading across his face, softening his features and warming his violet eyes, and I knew I’d done the right thing. “One question. Are you going to try to kill me the way you probably do all of your uninvited guests? Because I’d hate for my first visit to get off to a bad start.”
    “Oh, I think I can make an exception for you,” I replied in a teasing tone.
    Owen joined in my soft laughter. He drew me toward him, and our lips met in a hot, long kiss that made me wish the party were already over so we could be alone—
    The doorbell rang, the merry chime echoing through the house.
    Startled, I drew back from Owen, looking in that direction before my eyes went back to his. He nodded, telling me that I should go get it. We both knew there was only one person it could be. Only one other person knew I was here today, that we were all gathered here today. Only one other person had been invited.
    So I walked to the front door, drew in a breath, and opened it.
    And there she stood, her cheeks pink from the December cold and the thick flakes of snow that swirled aroundlazily in the air. Detective Bria Coolidge. My baby sister. She wore her long coat as she always did and held a small wrapped box in her hand, about the same size as the one I’d just given to