Page 11

11

MALLORY

M allory stood at the front desk sorting through guest requests when Kieran's deep laugh echoed through the lobby. The sound sent an unexpected warmth through her chest, and she caught herself smiling. Again.

"Earth to Mallory." Charlotte waved a hand in front of her face. "You were staring."

"I wasn't staring. I was... thinking about the Christmas Eve dance preparations."

"Mhmm." Charlotte's knowing look made Mallory's cheeks burn. "That's why your eyes haven't left our handsome innkeeper since he walked in?"

Mallory busied herself with the papers. "I don't know what you mean."

"You're allowed to like him, you know." Charlotte's voice softened. "Being alone isn't some kind of penance you have to serve."

Before Mallory could respond, Kieran strode over, his presence filling the space between them. "Ladies, what's the secret conversation about?"

"Nothing," Mallory said quickly.

"Really?" He leaned close, his breath warming her ear. "Because you're blushing."

Her heart skipped. When had that started happening? When had his teasing started affecting her this way?

"I'm going to check on the kitchen," Charlotte said, retreating with a smile.

"How about some lunch?" Kieran's hand found the small of her back, the touch sending tingles up her spine. "I got that soup you liked yesterday."

"You remembered that?"

"I remember everything about you." His blue eyes held hers, intense yet sincere. "Like how you scrunch your nose when you're annoyed, or how you tap your fingers when you're thinking."

The lobby suddenly felt too warm. "Kieran..."

"And how you're trying not to smile right now." His thumb traced circles on her back. "But failing miserably."

She was smiling, damn him. These past few days, he had been doing that more and more - making her forget why she had built her walls so high in the first place.

"Fine. Lunch. But only because I'm hungry."

"Of course." His grin was pure satisfaction. "Nothing to do whatsoever with my charming company."

As they walked to the dining room, Mallory realized with startling clarity that she was in trouble. Because pretending to be Kieran's wife wasn't feeling so much like pretending anymore. And that terrified her more than any storm she had ever created.

Later that evening, Mallory helped Amy sort through the stack of reservation cards when the inn's front door swung open, bringing in a gust of snow and the distinct scent of magical coffee. Nina Youngblood swept in, her constellation-speckled apron twinkling under her jacket even in the soft light. Two large boxes floated effortlessly beside her.

"Nina!" Mallory's face broke into a warm smile.

"There's my favorite storm witch." Nina guided the boxes down with a wave of her hand, purple sparks dancing from her fingertips. "I brought extra - something tells me you'll need it."

"You're a lifesaver." Mallory moved to hug her friend, breathing in the familiar scent of starlight and coffee that always clung to Nina's clothes. "I can't believe our entire shipment of hot chocolate disappeared this morning."

"Disappeared, or was helped to disappear?" Nina's eyes twinkled knowingly.

"I'm thinking the second one." Mallory lowered her voice. "Gregory Simmons has been-"

"What's this about Gregory?" Kieran's deep voice rumbled from behind them. He placed a possessive hand on Mallory's waist, drawing her closer. The heat of his palm seeped through her sweater, making her pulse quicken traitorously.

Nina's eyebrows shot up at the gesture, and Mallory felt her cheeks warm. "Nina, this is Kieran, my... husband." The word still felt foreign on her tongue. "Kieran, this is Nina, owner of the Cauldron & Cup located on the other side of town, and one of my oldest friends."

"Husband?" Nina's mouth formed a perfect O. "When did this-"

"Three months ago," Mallory cut in quickly. "We eloped. It was very private."

"I see." Nina's knowing look made Mallory's stomach flip. Of course Nina would see right through this charade - she was one of the few people who knew about Eli and about Mallory's self-imposed isolation.

"Have dinner with me tonight?" Mallory asked, partly to change the subject and partly because she genuinely missed her friend. "We have so much to catch up on."

"I'd love to." Nina's smile was warm.

Kieran's arm tightened around Mallory's waist. "I'll have the kitchen prepare something special for you both."

"That's not necessary," Mallory started, but Kieran's eyes locked with hers, intense and determined.

"Let me take care of my wife and her friend." His voice was soft but brooked no argument. He pressed a gentle kiss to her temple, and Mallory's breath hitched at the unexpected tenderness of it.

Nina watched this exchange with barely concealed amusement. "Well, this should be an interesting dinner conversation."

Mallory soon settled into the plush armchair in her suite, watching Nina inspect the room with appreciative eyes. The smell of roasted herbs and garlic wafted through the air as the room service attendant wheeled in their dinner - a spread that made Mallory's mouth water.

"Well, someone's certainly pulling out all the stops," Nina said as the attendant unveiled herb-crusted salmon, roasted vegetables, and what looked like chocolate lava cake for dessert. "Your 'husband' has excellent taste."

Mallory's stomach fluttered at the word 'husband.' "He's... attentive."

"Mhmm." Nina's eyes sparkled with mischief as she poured them both wine. "So, tell me everything. Last I knew, you were holed up in your cliffside house writing about throw pillows and area rugs."

"I still am. Or was." Mallory took a long sip of wine. "The bridge collapsed in the big snowstorm last week."

"The bridge leading to your house? That was quite a storm." Nina's gaze turned knowing. "Your doing?"

"Not entirely, or at least not intentionally." Mallory pushed a piece of salmon around her plate. "I was... frustrated with the last-minute shoppers."

"And now you're here, married to the most eligible bachelor in town." Nina leaned forward. "Want to tell me the real story?"

Mallory sighed, setting down her fork. "It's temporary. The marriage thing, I mean. Kieran needed someone to pretend to be his wife to help the inn's image while an investor is here. I needed a place to stay. It's a business arrangement."

"Does this business arrangement involve him looking at you like you hung the moon?"

"He does not-" Mallory's cheeks warmed again. "He's just playing the part."

"Sweetheart." Nina reached across the table to squeeze her hand. "That man is not playing anything. But that's not what worries me. Are you okay with this? Pretending to be someone's wife after..."

The question hung in the air, heavy with unspoken concern. Mallory stared down at her plate, her throat tight. Outside, snow began to fall hard against the windows.

Mallory drew a deep breath, the wine glass cool against her palm. "At first, I wasn't sure I could do this," she admitted, meeting Nina's understanding gaze. "Playing someone's wife after Eli..." Her voice caught, but she pressed on. "But Kieran's been different than I expected. He notices when I need space and respects my boundaries. Yesterday, he saw me getting overwhelmed by a crowd in the lobby and created this ridiculous diversion about a 'ghost' in the kitchen just to give me a moment to breathe."

Nina's purple sparks danced across her fingers as she smiled. "And?"

"And he's building something truly special here. You should see him with the guests, Nina. The way he remembers everyone's names and their stories. He turned this place into a home for people." Warmth spread through her at the memory of Kieran comforting a crying child yesterday, his strong hands gentle as he fixed the little girl's broken toy.

The thought of those same hands on her waist earlier sent an unexpected shiver down her spine. Mallory pushed the dangerous thought away, but it lingered like honey on her tongue.

"The Simmons, though." She wrinkled her nose. "They're trying to destroy all that with their fake smiles and sabotage."

Nina's expression darkened, purple energy crackling around her shoulders. "Watch yourself with those two, especially Vivian. Gregory's chaos magic is nasty, but Vivian?" She leaned forward, her voice low. "That woman's rune work once turned a rival's entire house inside out - with the family still in it. They lived, but..."

"Noted." Mallory's storm magic stirred beneath her skin in response to Nina's warning. "I'll be careful."

"Will you?" Nina's knowing look cut straight through her defenses. "Because I see the way you look at him when you think no one's watching. The way your magic calms around him instead of churning like it usually does with others."

Heat crept up Mallory's neck. Was she that transparent? The realization that she had grown fond of Kieran - his laugh, his protective nature, the way his eyes softened when he looked at her - sent panic fluttering in her chest. This wasn't supposed to happen. She wasn't supposed to feel anything. No complications, remember?

"It's just temporary," she whispered, more to herself than Nina. But as she said it, her traitor heart skipped at the memory of Kieran's kiss on her temple earlier, so gentle it had nearly brought tears to her eyes.