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We hadn’t made any progress in the investigation yet because Elrik had been needed on another case that he’d thankfully solved. Something about selkie skins and a king and a queen, a thing I couldn’t quite fathom. Although, I didn’t know why I was surprised. With monsters roaming the land, why hadn’t it occurred to me that there were an equal number of them living deep in the sea?
“Elrik’s here,” Grannie Rose said with a big grin. She’d sat at the kitchen table to “supervise” the meal preparation, though she’d mostly drank tea and worked on another mitten. “I’m so looking forward to this evening.”
I felt bad. I was too busy to take her to many places,which meant she barely got out. A physical therapist came twice a week, and my grandmother was getting stronger. If she could get rid of the walker, she might be able to drive herself again. Once we’d cleared her name—and I was determined that we would—she could get back to the active social life she’d had before her fall.
Striding over to the side entrance, I opened the door.
Elrik bustled inside, juggling a bottle of wine, flowers, and two small heart-shaped boxes of chocolate.
“Ohh,” Grannie exclaimed, rising from her chair. “What do you have there, my fine-looking ice lord?”
He juggled the items, handing me the wine, his sultry smile sinking through my skin in the nicest way. “For us to share tonight.”
“Not me,” Grannie Rose said. “I can’t take that with my rat poison.”
His eyebrows lifted. “Rat poison?”
“I’m on a blood thinner to prevent clots in my legs,” she said. “They use it as rat poison, didn’t you know? The rats eat a lot of it and well . . .”
I winced.
She grinned. “They bleed to death.”
“Ugh. Grannie,” I said.
“I did not know that.” Elrik’s sparkling eyes met mine. “Melly and I will share the wine, then. It’s a great year. I think you’ll like it.”
“Thank you for bringing it.” I held up the bottle, squinting at the label. “A merlot, my favorite.”
“Good.” His face darkened, and he jutted out his hand holding one of two bouquets of flowers. “For a lovely lady.”
Before I could say anything, he was holding out the second bouquet to Grannie. “And this is for the second lovely lady in the room.”
“Do you know how long it’s been since someone gave me flowers?” Grannie asked, holding them like she would a baby, gazing down at them with complete joy. “Too long.”
“You need more flowers in your life.” Elrik held out one of the boxes of chocolate toward her. “Also for you. I hope you can still eat chocolate despite being on a blood thinner.”
“I can. Yum.” She took the box and laid it on the table, studying the contents. “Nuts! I love chocolate covered nuts the best. Not those gooey hunks of nougat some boxes come with.”
“I’m so glad I got the right ones.” Elrik sent me a smile. “What about you? Do you enjoy chocolate covered nuts?” He held the other box toward me.
There was nothing sexy in his question but heat still flared through me.
“I love chocolate, thank you.” He was sweet to think of us this way, but that was Elrik. “Dinner will be ready in a few minutes. If you want, you and Grannie can go into the living room to wait. I’ll dish up and let you know when it’s time to eat, which we’ll do in the dining room.”
He lifted his chin, sniffing. “Whatever you’ve made smells amazing.”
“Roasted chicken, mashed potatoes with gravy, and green beans. I made a cake for dessert.” I’d made it the second I got home from work, which was so early even Grannie remarked on it. The PR person had taken on thechallenge, but we’d seen no results yet, which meant we didn’t have one single customer. Discouraged, I’d closed and sent Carla home—though I’d pay her for her time. It wasn’t her fault business was creeping along slower than the pace of a glacier.
When Grannie asked why I came home mid-afternoon, I told her I’d closed up early to give myself time to make a nice meal for her and Elrik. I didn’t want to worry her. She’d feel responsible for the negative reviews even though she’d done nothing wrong.
“What can I do to help?” he asked.
“Everything’s almost ready, so go sit with Grannie. I don’t mind putting things in serving dishes and bringing them into the dining room.”
“I think we can help her with that, don’t you, Elrik?” Grannie asked. After setting aside her knitting, she used her walker to go over to the counter. “I’ll bring the potatoes in if you grab the beans.”
When she started to lift the platter, he took it from her. “Let me carry both.”
