Page 9 of Dead Serious Case 4 Professor Prometheus Plume

“I do miss them,” I confess, after several long moments.

“If you ever do decide to get in contact with them, I’ll be here with you every step of the way. You know that, right?”

I nod slowly. “I do know that, but honestly? I don’t know if I have it in me to put myself in that situation again.”

“Well, it’s your choice. You don’t have to do anything you don’t want and there’s no time limit if you change your mind later on either.” He lifts his hand and strokes my jaw. “I know it’s not the same as having your family, but you’ve got me.”

“It’s not the same,” I tell him. “It’s better. The day I left was one of the most painful days of my life, but I would go through that day a thousand times over if it meant ending up here with you. Because you, and this life we’re building together, is all I want.”

His mouth curves into a soft smile.

“You’re the dream I never knew I had,” I mutter.

“You’re the dream I never knew I had too.” He rises up on his toes and kisses me deeply. When he releases my lips, he lets out a sigh and presses his forehead to mine. “You are a good man,” he tells me fervently. “The best I’ve ever known, and you’re just perfect the way you are.”

“I’m not perfect.” I shake my head.

“I didn’t say you are perfect,” he clarifies. “I said you’re perfect exactly the way you are, flaws and all.” He cups my cheeks in his hands and brushes another kiss to my mouth that I feel from my toes to my scalp. “I love you.”

My heart gives another hard knock. I don’t think I’ll ever get tired of hearing those words from him.

“I love you too,” I respond, my voice sounding rough to my own ears.

He pulls back and sends me a cheeky smile, lightening the heavy atmosphere. “Right. I’m going to have that shower and get my comfy pjs on because I believe there is a Big Mac and a festive McFlurry in my near future.”

He sends me a wink and blows me a kiss before turning and opening the door a fraction. Checking to make sure the coast is clear, he then squeezes himself through the narrow gap, trying to avoid the chunky feline ninja attempting to sneak back into the kitchen to kidnap the turkey.

My whole body flushes with love for the man currently laughing at his cat’s no doubt disgruntled expression, and my belly dances with nerves, extremely aware of the small box burning a hole in my pocket.

3

Icrank one eye open and yawn. For a moment I’m a little disoriented before registering I’m tucked up in my very warm bed next to Danny, who is cocooned in the duvet. Leaning over, I check the time on my phone sitting on the bedside table, which is plugged in and now fully charged.

It’s still early—only 8 a.m.—but it’s Christmas morning!

The thought makes me smile widely as I fight the urge to do a little enthusiastic jiggle, not just because it’s Christmas, but also because I have a whole glorious two weeks with Danny ahead of me.

My chest warms with affection when I look over at my boyfriend currently burrowed in and snoring. The last thing I recall from the night before was settling in with a tin of Quality Street to watchElf, but before Buddy even made it to New York, I was out for the count. Danny must have carried me to bed and tucked me in. God love that man, he’s going to put his back out one day hauling me around, but honestly I didn’t even stir, not a peep.

Lifting the edge of the covers, I slide out slowly so as not to disturb him. I have no idea what time he came to bed last night, but I want to do something nice for him and I don’t mean stripping him naked and riding him into the sunset yellingYippee-Ki-Yay-Motherfu–

Come to think of it, I had a really weird dream about Bruce Willis and Danny last night, and I find myself reminiscing over the fragmented details. The dream centred around Danny in bare feet and a bloodied vest stuffing a turkey while a German-accented Gordon Ramsey–clearly taking the part of Hans Gruber–yelled at everyone about cranberry sauce. Bruce Willis, on the other hand, was running around with a cigarette in his mouth, trying to shoot everyone with a giant glittery bath bomb cock.

Chuckling to myself, I make sure the covers are tucked back around Danny so he doesn’t get cold. Not that he will; the flat is lovely and warm. I cross the room, my bare feet sinking into the thick carpet, and marvel at the fact I no longer have to navigate around various saucepans filled with leaking rainwater.

Jacob Marley appears and twines around my legs, purring and meowing as if he hadn’t tried to pull off the great turkey heist last night by pretending to adore me. Still, I do love the little shit, so I scoop his plump body off the floor and nuzzle his nose, placing a kiss on his head.

“Merry Christmas, Jacob Marley.”

He gives another yowl, which I’m choosing to interpret asMerry Christmas to you too, my wonderful human, I love and appreciate you very much,and notwhy are you talking to me, peasant, and where’s my food?

I head toward the kitchen and open the door gingerly, sticking my head around the corner to check that the turkey is safely stuffed, prepped, and hidden away in the fridge.

Pushing the door open further, I relax. Not only is Bernard the turkey nowhere in sight, but the kitchen is spotless. That’s one of the things I’ve noticed about Danny since we officially moved in together six months ago. He’s obsessive about tidying. Which is just as well because I… am not.

It’s not that I’m lazy, it’s just that it’sboring. Dropping Jacob Marley down to the floor gently, I reach for his bowl and pause as I stare at it. It’s not just clean, it’s gleaming like it’s been scrubbed to within an inch of its life and then polished to a high shine. Turning in a slow circle, I take in the kitchen again and my brows furrow in concern. I’ve lived with Danny long enough now to see the signs. This isn’t just a cursory clean before bedtime, it’s not even his regular level of cleaning, this is Danny stress cleaning. Something is bothering him.

Resisting the urge to march straight back into the bedroom and wake him up so he can tell me what’s stressing him out, I set the bowl on the counter and reach for Jacob Marley’s food while he brushes up against my legs. Refilling his water bowl and setting it on his mat along with his food, I busy myself around the kitchen by boiling the kettle and making tea for myself and coffee for Danny.