Page 17 of Made

Keir drew back and looked at Lochlan like he’d gone mad. That quickly changed to what I read on Keir’s face as sympathy.Right on.He knew me far better than Lochlan did. Shaking his head while chuckling, the love of my life wisely turned and went back into the house without another word.

“Anyway,” I was beginning to calm, “again, thank you for the thought. Let that be the end of that.”

“Very well.” Lochlan sniffed.

“Was there… something else?” I asked.

“Ah, yes. As a matter of fact. Ivy said to mention that Lily has an overabundance of decorative greenery. If you’re, ah, planning on doing the place up for Yule.”

“Oh good,” I said cheerfully, glad for the change of subject. “I’ll ask Keir to trot over and claim some.Of course,I’m decorating. You know I love Yule. And the shop could use a festive wrapping as well.”

“Indeed.” The ghost of a smile on Lochlan’s perpetually passive face told me the cheer I’d beaten away was returning, albeit slowly.

“Don’t tell Keir I said the thing about him ‘trotting over’. It sounds a little unmanly.”

“Keir is not a man.”

“Don’t be dense, Clerk. You know what I mean.”

“I do. And I will make an effort not to be, ah, dense. Have you settled on the cases you’re taking at Yule Court?”

“Mostly. I could be prepared for a docket conference tomorrow. Afternoon?”

Lochlan looked at his watch like it was his calendar. “Very well. Tomorrow at two.”

“You know perfectly well that’s my nap time. One o’clock.”

“One it is.”

As Lochlan turned to go, I caught his sleeve and stopped him. “Lochlan. Please forgive me for my rudeness earlier. I know your heart is always in the right place. Thank you again for the very nice offer. You’re the best benefactor ever.”

“Indeed. I probably am. And you are welcome, my dear. Even though I know firsthand your experience with benefactors is limited to myself, which means you are quite unqualified to make comparisons.”

Choosing to ignore the central message of his thought, I said, “It’s entirely improper to address the magistrate asyour dear. Doesn’t it violate some kind of protocol?”

He chuckled, both of us knowing he would continue to call me that. I smiled in return because I liked having my clerk’s affection, and I suspected he knew that.

“Forgot so quickly? Thanks to you, I’m free of the need to observe protocol. See you in the lane.”

I nodded, both smile and good humor restored. “See you in the lane” was the shorthand Lochlan and I used to mean we’d meet in the early morning for a hilltop walk with the dogs. I can’t help but feel bad for everybody who isn’t privileged to begin their day on a panoramic hike with Lochlan Jois and the fab four magical hounds.

As I turned to go inside, I vowed to remember to begin my journal notes with a sentence or two about my extraordinary good fortune. Forward progress came to a halt as I was suddenly distracted by what changes I might make to my front door decorations.

I love Yule.

CHAPTER SIX The Mighty Might Have a Weakness

Ilmr hadn’t awakened to the feel of a lover stroking her bare arm while covering her shoulder blades with tiny, stammering kisses in such a long time that she was, at first, startled. It took only seconds for her to replay the myriad pleasures of an afternoon in bed with Vidar that had stretched into night and finally a deep, calm sleep better than any in memory. She smiled as she lazily turned to look over her shoulder.

“Mmmm. Is it morning?”

He chuckled. “It is.”

“I need to bathe and dress for court.”

“Why?” He hadn’t paused his ministrations that were coaxing her body back to feeling the joy of aliveness.

“Told you before. My title comes with duties.”