Killer Season

by Lara Lacombe

  “We don’t have to do this,” Nate said, reaching for the keys. “Let’s go grab a bite to eat, instead.”

  “No.” Fiona leaned over and placed her hand on his arm, preventing him from starting the car again. “I’d like to get a tree. It’s been too long. I think it’s time I started celebrating the holiday again.”

  “You’re sure?”

  She nodded. “Positive. Let’s go find one.”

  It took longer than he’d thought it would, especially since he assumed she’d simply pick one after her stomach started audibly growling. But she was determined to find the “perfect” tree. The problem was that she couldn’t really describe what constituted a perfect tree, so Nate was left grabbing specimen after specimen, holding it upright while Fiona circled around it, inspecting every branch and needle. She’d shake her head, he’d put the tree back, and the cycle would continue. On and on, until Nate started second-guessing the merits of this particular plan.

  Maybe a movie would have been a better idea, after all. He took a deep breath, trying to keep the exasperation from showing on his face. Fiona hadn’t decorated at Christmas for the better part of the past decade. The least he could do was be patient while she selected the tree that was going to break her slump.

  Finally, she nodded her approval. For the life of him, he couldn’t see what made this tree stand out from all the others, but it was the one she wanted and so it was the one she would have.

  Her face beamed as he secured the tree to the top of his car. “Do you think it’s getting smashed up there? What if it falls off while we’re driving? Are you sure Hannah won’t mind us bringing a live tree into her apartment?”

  Nate tied the last knot and then turned to face Fiona. Taking her hands in his own, he met and held her gaze. “The tree won’t be on its side long enough to get smashed. And I secured it tightly, so there’s no danger of it falling off. Besides, I’m going to drive carefully. And Hannah won’t mind—before we got there, she told me she was sorry she hadn’t put one up herself.”

  Fiona nodded. “Okay. Let’s get going!” She practically jumped into the car, her excitement palpable.

  He climbed into his own seat, feeling pleased with himself. Taking Fiona out to get a tree had been a split-second decision, an idea that had popped into his mind when he’d seen how upset she was back at Hannah’s apartment. If he’d known how happy it would make her, he’d have suggested it right away.

  “Where should we put it?”

  His chest warmed at her use of the word we. It made him feel like part of a team, like they were actually a couple. He knew he was skipping ahead a few weeks, but it gave him something to work toward.

  “What about the corner of the living room, by the bookshelf?” he suggested. Truth be told, he didn’t care where the tree went. He was just happy Fiona was looking forward to decorating it.

  She was quiet for a moment, considering his words. “That could work,” she admitted. “But what about in front of the window? That way, people can see it and enjoy it from the parking lot.”

  “Sounds good to me,” Nate said. He had to admit, he was starting to get excited about decorating the tree, too. Her enthusiasm was contagious, and it was a nice change of pace for him. Normally, his evenings were spent working, either in the office or while he was at home. His job was important, not just because it gave him a way to help people, but because the better he did at work, the better he’d be able to provide for Molly once their parents were gone.

  It wasn’t something he liked to think about, but Fiona’s circumstances made him more aware of the fact that his parents were getting older, and one day they would be gone. Molly was a well-adjusted young woman, but she still had special needs that prevented her from living on her own. Once their parents died, Nate would need to step into their shoes and make sure his sister was provided for and had the care she required. He couldn’t do that if he didn’t excel at his job, and to make things more difficult, he couldn’t explain the necessity for his workaholic behavior to his mother. It was easier for her to think he was just really busy. If she knew the truth, she’d feel guilty about the situation, and he wanted to spare her that. Guilt was a pointless emotion, and it couldn’t change anything.

  “How are we going to get this up the stairs?” Fiona’s question broke into his thoughts, and he was grateful for the distraction. If he thought too long about his sister and the future of his family, it made his stomach clench into knots.

  “I figured I’d carry the tree upstairs while you look after the bags.”

  “That sounds fair.”

  It took only a few minutes to get the job done, and in the end, he managed to avoid poking himself in the eyes with the pine needles. Slinky watched them from his spot on the couch, his big green eyes following their every move as they worked to get the tree into the stand Nate had bought. Fiona stood back, surveying their progress.

  “Just a little more to the right,” she directed. “There...perfect!” Her eyes were bright with anticipation, and she motioned for him to stand next to her. He obliged, releasing his hold on the tree so he could walk over to her. “Doesn’t it look wonderful?” she asked.

  Nate had to admit, it did look good. The tree was small, but it was already filling the apartment with a fresh, woodsy scent. And even though it was undecorated, it was still a pretty, festive addition to the living room.

  “Ready to decorate it?”

  Fiona smiled up at him. “Do we have any ornaments?”

  “Check the bags.”

  She dove for them like a little kid on Christmas morning, oohing and aahing as she pulled out several boxes of brightly colored glass bulbs and strands of lights. “I wasn’t sure what you’d like,” he said, coming to sit next to her. “So I picked up a variety of decorations.”

  “This is wonderful,” she assured him, placing her hand on his knee for a moment. Her touch was warm through the fabric of his jeans, and he breathed in deeply, enjoying the way her lemon-sugar scent mingled with the pine of the tree.

  “I’ll let you get started on organizing the decorations. I’m going to order some pizza.”

  She closed her eyes and moaned. “That sounds really good right now. Mushroom and sausage?” She sounded so hopeful, he couldn’t help but nod in agreement.

  “I can live with that.” He pulled his phone out of his pocket and retreated into the kitchen. Hannah had a collection of magnets on her refrigerator, each one from a different restaurant, and all promising fast delivery service. After locating the information for the pizza place, he called in their order. Then he opened the fridge, in search of something cold to drink. He fished out two cans of soda and straightened up, but before he could head back into the living room to rejoin Fiona, his phone rang.

  “Gallagher.”

  “Is she all settled in?” Owen asked, not bothering with the preliminaries.

  Nate glanced into the living room and saw that Fiona had taken the decorations out of the bags and was busily sorting them into some kind of order. “So far, so good. Did you find out anything regarding that lawyer?”

  “Not much more than what I already told you. We seem to have hit a wall, at least for tonight.”

  “Maybe not.” Nate eyed the stack of papers still on the end table. “Fiona’s boss, Ben, gave her a pile of papers from the store today and asked her to take them out to his car. But our John Doe aggressor showed up before Ben could take them back, so she still has them.”

  “You think that’s why the guy came after her today?”

  “Could be. We haven’t had a chance to look through them yet.”

  “Seriously?” Owen sounded genuinely surprised. “It’s not like you to sit on a lead like that.”

  Nate shrugged, even though his partner couldn’t see the gesture. “I suppose. I just thought Fiona had been through enough today, and I wanted her to have a break before we got back into it.”

  Silence greeted his reply, and it lasted so long that Nate wondered if
his phone had dropped the call. He pulled the phone from his ear to check, but no, his partner was still on the line. “You still there?”

  “Yeah.” Owen’s voice held a new note, one he’d never heard before. “I’m here. Just processing.”

  “I didn’t know I’d said something that requires processing.”

  His partner responded with a short laugh. “If you say so, buddy. I’m glad to hear you’re taking a break from work.”

  “It’s not really a break,” Nate hedged, but Owen cut him off.

  “You don’t have to make excuses to me. I know how hard you work. Just enjoy the moment.”

  It was Nate’s turn to laugh. “I never thought I’d hear you say that.” He propped his hip against the counter edge and let his eyes roam around the kitchen, taking note of the little touches here and there that personalized the space and screamed “Hannah.” She had done wonders for Owen—he was a changed man, and it gave Nate hope that he too might find someone who fit him as well as she and Owen fit each other. “It’s good to hear you happy.”

  “Thanks, man. I’m a lucky guy.”

  Maybe I am, too. He cast another glance at Fiona, smiling a little at the expression on her face. “We’ll take a look at the pages in a bit, and I’ll let you know if anything comes of it.”

  “Okay,” Owen replied. “I’ll keep my phone on me, just in case.”

  “Thanks.” Nate disconnected and slipped the phone back into his pocket. He grabbed the sodas again but paused before walking into the living room, content to just watch Fiona for a moment.

  She had finished setting everything out and was now engaged in petting Slinky. He couldn’t hear the big cat from where he was standing, but Nate was willing to bet all the money in his bank account that the furry guy was purring his heart out. He looked up at his mistress with adoration, blinking slowly at her as she leaned forward to press a kiss to the top of his head. It was a cozy picture, and seeing her with her cat made his stomach flip with a sense of anticipation and wonder. If she was this affectionate and loving to her pet, what would she be like with the man she fell in love with? Or her children, for that matter? If Slinky was any indication, she’d make a great mother.

  Whoa. Where did that come from? Nate had never thought about kids before. Well, maybe he had, but only in the abstract, maybe-one-day sense. Normally, when he thought about the future, he was focused on how he was going to provide for Molly and how he wanted to find a woman who would understand how important his sister was to him. But he’d never before thought about having kids of his own, and certainly not while staring at a woman he was attracted to.

  “Nate? Is everything okay in there?”

  Shaking himself free of his thoughts, Nate walked into the living room. “All good. The pizza is on its way and should be here soon. I brought you something to drink.” He handed her one of the cans, and she smiled up at him.

  “Thanks. I appreciate it.”

  “How’s he doing?” He gestured toward the cat as he settled into the recliner opposite the couch. “He seems pretty calm. Much better than when he was in the station earlier.”

  “He’s never enjoyed being in a carrier, and I’m sure the bag smelled bad. I keep my gym stuff in there.” She wrinkled her nose in sympathy and scratched behind his ear, causing Slinky to close his eyes in pleasure. If Nate didn’t know better, he’d swear the cat was smiling. “You can’t really blame him for being upset.”

  “I’m just glad he’s happy now. I know how important that is to you.”

  A tender expression stole across her face, and she gave him a soft smile. “It is. And thank you for caring enough about him to ask.”

  Nate took a sip of the soda, unsure of what to say next. He couldn’t very well tell Fiona that he was really more concerned about her. Oh, sure, he liked animals. And Slinky was fine, as far as cats went. But his primary concern was Fiona. Since the way to her heart seemed to run through her cat, he was just going to have to bond with the big, fluffy fur ball if he wanted to get closer to her.

  It wasn’t the most arduous task he’d ever faced. From what he’d seen, Slinky seemed to be a pretty easygoing cat, so it shouldn’t be too hard to make friends with him.

  As if reading his thoughts, Slinky opened his eyes and stared at him, his wide, green gaze surprisingly intense. “You doing okay, buddy?” Nate asked him. The cat responded with a dismissive flick of his tail before closing his eyes and laying his head down on his paws. Well, then. So much for the direct approach. Maybe he could buy the cat’s affections with treats or something.

  “So how does your family decorate the tree?” The change in subject threw him, and Nate blinked to realign his thoughts.

  “Uh, what do you mean?”

  Fiona gave him an indulgent smile. “When I was growing up, we’d start at the bottom and work our way up, saving the star on top for last. What did you guys do?”

  “Oh.” He thought back to childhood Christmases, and the excitement he’d felt when his dad had brought the box of decorations down from the attic. He and Molly would grab ornaments at random and run to place them on the tree, heedless to any kind of design or balance. The finished product was invariably lopsided in the decorations department, but it was theirs and they’d always loved it.

  “We didn’t really have a system,” he said. “Molly and I just put ornaments wherever, and Mom and Dad were content to let us. Our trees never looked like the ones in the catalogs.”

  “That’s okay. It sounds like you and your sister had fun, and that’s the whole point.” Fiona reached for an ornament and passed it to him before taking one for herself. “Shall we get started?”

  “You go ahead. I’ll get the music going.”

  It took him a moment to figure out Hannah’s stereo equipment, but soon the festive sounds of Christmas carols filled the apartment. He turned back to find Fiona busily stringing lights on the tree, singing quietly under her breath as she worked. She was so beautiful, lit by the soft glow of the lights she had draped around her shoulders. The domesticity of the scene hit him hard, knocking the breath from his chest. Seeing her here, smiling and happy, waiting for him to join her—it was like a fantasy come to life. He could almost forget the circumstances that had led them here.

  At some point, they were going to have to look at the papers Ben had given to Fiona. But not now. He wasn’t sure how it had happened, but Hannah’s apartment had become their little oasis, a break from the unpleasant realities that waited for them. This was a gift, one he wasn’t inclined to squander. Tonight, he was going to focus on the present and let the future take care of itself.

  “Nate, are you coming?” Fiona watched him, an expectant expression on her face.

  He smiled, his chest warming at the sight. “Yes.”

  * * *

  The pizza arrived shortly after they’d finished stringing the lights on the tree. It was hot and delicious and tasted wonderful, especially on her empty stomach. But even better than the food was the way the conversation flowed between her and Nate.

  She was no longer nervous to be around him, the way she’d been in the aftermath of the robbery attempt. He was still gorgeous, but his looks no longer intimidated her. Besides, she was more interested in getting to know him, and it seemed the more she learned about him, the more she liked him.

  Unless she missed her guess, he seemed to like her, too. After all, he was still here with her, when he could have easily dropped her off at Hannah’s apartment and left to go back to work or to do something else. But he had stayed to spend time with her, and, more than that, he’d made it a point to find something for them to do that helped take her mind off her situation and the dangerous stranger who seemed bent on hurting her.

  Fiona carried their plates into the kitchen and loaded the dishwasher, smiling to herself at the turn her day had taken. She’d gone from terrified and shaken to feeling safe and content, all in the space of a few hours. And all thanks to the man in the living room.

&n
bsp; She paused in the doorway, wanting to watch him for a moment before they started decorating the tree again. Nate had moved to the couch and was sitting next to Slinky, running his big hand gently over Slinky’s body. Apparently sensing that someone new was touching him, Slinky opened one eye and regarded Nate with mild interest. But when Nate only continued to stroke his back, Slinky abandoned his suspicion and surrendered to his enjoyment of the attention.

  A swell of affection rose in her chest, and tears threatened at the back of her eyes. Underneath his workaholic, professional exterior, Nate had a soft heart, and she felt a burst of pleasure at the realization that she was seeing a side of him that most people didn’t know existed.

  As if he felt her gaze, Nate looked up and met her eyes. “Ready to get back to it, or are you too full?” he teased.

  She stepped into the room, enjoying the easy back-and-forth banter they had developed over the last few hours. “Are you kidding? Now that I’ve eaten, I’ve got my second wind. But what about you? You’re looking mighty comfortable there, like you could just lie down on the couch and take a nap with Slinky.”

  He glanced down at the sleeping cat and smiled. “It is tempting. But there’s a lot of tree left to decorate. I’d hate to leave the job half-finished.”

  They settled back into a routine of sorts, hanging ornaments and chatting about anything and everything. It was so nice to have someone to talk to—she hadn’t realized how much she missed having a simple conversation with someone. She and her mom used to talk all the time, but after her death Fiona had become so focused on school and her thesis that she hadn’t made time for friends. Of course, not that many of her friends from high school were still around, and those who were had moved on with their lives. Taking care of her mom during her illness had left little time for anything else, and making new friends was a lot more difficult than it had been when she was younger. Most of the time, she kept herself so busy she didn’t notice the void in her life. But tonight, after spending time with Nate, it was abundantly clear that she had been missing something over the last few years.