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Chapter Two

“Youwhat?!”

Niera gawked at Annise from across the small café table. She didn’t give a rabbit’s tail fluff about the coffee that had dribbled down her chin and splattered on the tabletop and floor, but apparently one of the calico cats had no problem stretching its lean body to lap at the droplets. Annise laughed, but her face turned beet red, highlighting the spattering of freckles over the bridge of her otherwise pale nose. Bright red hair fell over her cheeks when she looked down at her tangled fingers.

“Annise, I didn’t come here to make matches for the masses. I came here to helpyou.”

Her voice, low and hissy, wrung a sigh from her friend. She’d met Annise a few years back on a ranch while she was matching a down-on-his-luck bull rider and a lonely elementary school teacher who’d given up any hope of finding love. Annise had been a ranch hand with a suspicious ability to make the farm animals do her bidding.

Niera noticed immediately the pixie’s magic, and vice versa. Since then, they’d built a friendship over impromptu trips, magical festivities, and mischief.

This was sonotNiera’s kind of mischief. It was one-sided, and not favoring her side at all!

“You know the ocean steals my energy. I can’t stay here long without consequences.”

“You won’t have to stay long, I promise! Listen, this is a magical time of year. Cat’s Paw Cove is brimming with holiday cheer.”

She hadn’t noticed the snowflake banners and strings of unlit lights wrapped around every streetlight pole, tree trunk, and vertical surface she’d passed. Nor had she gaped at both colorful and rustic style garlands draped around storefronts, dripping with holiday décor that sparkled in the sunlight.

Nope. Not at all.

“Christmas in this town is special. Just imagine all the happiness you can bring the residents by helping them find their perfect matches.” Annise splayed her hands to emphasizeperfect matchesand smiled, but concern washed any hope of that smile reaching her eyes. “And I only told a few people.”

“No.” Niera finally opted for the paper napkin, startling the cat lapping at the drops of coffee, and wiped her chin. “I offeredyoumy help. You said there’s someone here that caught your fancy, and I came to see if he compliments you. I’m not spending more time in this seaside town than I have to. I’m not Cupid.”

“I know. I’ve met Cupid. Or someone very close to a cupid.” Annise shook her vibrant head and snickered. “You’re definitely not her. And your abilities are different.”

“I match those the Fates have decided to weave together. I can’t just”—Niera made a sharp pull and push motion with her fists—“put people together.”

With an exasperated sigh, she dropped her hands on the table, causing the coffee mugs to clatter against the surface. Her gaze lowered to the cat that sat on its haunches and stared up at her with green eyes. Its tail swooshed back and forth over the floor. Unusual markings that resembled a mask surrounded its gleaming eyes.

“And the thing with the cats in this town is weird. They’re everywhere. I prefer rabbits and fawns.”

“Niera, they’re not all normal cats.”

“We’re both stubborn creatures.”

Annise dropped back against her chair and snorted. “That I won’t argue, but the cats here are different. You’ll see.” She jutted her chin at the calico. “Seems you’ve got your first furry friend there.”

Niera raised a brow at the cat, which earned her a rumbling purr, followed by what she could only describe as a feline smile. A white-toed paw stretched up to her thigh, tapped tentatively against her jean-clad leg, then came to rest there.

“You can stop playing marionette with the kitty, Annise. It’s not smoothing things over, I promise you.” She started to take the cat’s paw and remove it from her leg when its sandpaper-like tongue brushed her arm. Gods, she could have sworn the animal smiled. And those eyes held far too much understanding to be a simple cat. “Seriously.”

“I’m not doing anything. Couldn’t even if I wanted to. I told you, these cats aren’t normal cats.” She flicked a finger toward the animal. “However, I can tell you she’s rather fond of you.”

“Annise is right, you know.”

Niera’s head snapped up to see a pretty woman approaching their table, blond hair tied up in a ponytail. She wore a bright smile as she leaned down and scooped the cat into her arms, earning a soft meow and a pleased purr. The cat’s eyes settled at half-mast as her ears were scratched.

“I’m Jordan. I help Luna out at the café, placing the kitties with families. And this one here”—she nuzzled the cat’s nose with her own—“escaped the kitty room.”

“Nice to meet you,” Niera said, shedding her frustration over Annise’s decision to promote her matchmaking gift without her approval.

“This one here is Holly and she loves the outdoors. She never strays far, is loyal and very well-behaved.”

Jordan nuzzled Holly’s furry tri-colored head, winning twitching whiskers and another feline grin. Niera’s brows pinched as she considered the expression. She’d witnessed plenty of forest animals express happiness through grins, but this cat seemed to understand exactly what they were discussing andreactedappropriately.

Jordan lifted her head from Holly’s and shared that beaming smile again. “Annise told me you enjoy nature. Holly here would be a wonderful companion for you.”