Page 4 of Frost and Felines (Saltwater Grove #5)

4

KIERAN

K ieran leaned against the doorframe of his office that was hidden from view but with a perfect vantage point of the lobby. The platinum blonde at the front desk commanded attention without even trying. Her presence drew his gaze like a magnet, watching as she deftly handled the two bickering men with a cool efficiency that made his inner tiger purr with approval.

A coin flip. Such a clever solution to their petty argument over the last suite upgrade. The way she'd stepped in, taking control of the situation with quiet authority - it stirred something in him. Not just attraction, though there was plenty of that. Her light blue eyes had flashed with determination as she'd made those grown men shuffle their feet like schoolboys and apologize to poor Amy.

"Now that's interesting," he murmured to himself. He stroked his chin as he observed her gathering up her impressive collection of shopping bags and what looked like enough groceries to survive an apocalypse.

Charlotte appeared at his elbow. "What's interesting?"

"I noticed on my computer a few minutes ago that the woman over there just booked a two-week stay."

"And?"

"And she just solved our squabbling guest problem in under two minutes." His mind raced with possibilities. "Plus, I think she's new in town. No one here seems to know her..."

Charlotte's eyes narrowed. "Kieran Striker, what are you plotting?"

"Nothing." He grinned. "Yet."

"That's your 'I have a terrible idea' face."

"My ideas are never terrible. They're creative."

"Like telling the Simmons you have a wife?"

"Actually..." He straightened, watching as the blonde headed toward the stairs for the second level guest rooms. "This just might solve that particular problem."

"You can't be serious."

"Think about it. She's staying for two weeks anyway. She's clearly capable and level-headed. And she's..." He gestured vaguely in the direction she had gone.

"Gorgeous?" Charlotte supplied dryly.

"I was going to say 'professional.'" But his tiger was definitely appreciating the other aspects too. "What's the worst that could happen? She says no?"

"She could sue you for harassment."

"Please. I'm much too charming for that." He pushed off from the doorframe. "Besides, desperate times call for desperate measures."

"And desperate men seem to make desperate choices," Charlotte muttered.

He bounded up the stairs, taking them two at a time to catch up with the blonde guest. His tiger prowled beneath his skin, urging him forward as she struggled with her abundance of bags.

"Here, let me help you with those." He reached for several bags that threatened to spill from her grip. "I'm Kieran Striker, owner of this fine establishment."

She paused on the landing, studying him with those striking blue eyes. "Mallory Gale. And thank you."

The scent of rain and ozone clung to her, different from the usual perfumes he encountered. Natural. Intriguing. "Did you buy out the whole grocery store, Ms. Gale?"

"It was supposed to be a simple supply run." A hint of frustration colored her voice. "But the bridge to my house collapsed in the storm."

"Ah, the old Miller Bridge?" He shifted the weight of her bags, deliberately letting his arm brush against hers. "That's quite a ways out. You must like your privacy."

"I do." Her tone carried a note of warning that only made his tiger more interested.

They started walking down the hallway toward her room, and he seized the opportunity to learn more about her. "Your husband must be worried, stuck on the other side of that bridge without you."

"No husband." She adjusted her grip on the remaining bags. "No boyfriend either, before you ask. Just me and my books out there."

His tiger practically purred at this information. Single, beautiful, and clearly capable of handling herself - she was becoming more interesting by the second.

"Books?" He peered into one of the bags he carried. "Ah, I see you raided the bookstand. A woman after my own heart."

"You read?" The skepticism in her voice made him laugh.

"Don't let the muscles fool you. I have quite the collection myself." He flashed her a grin. "Though I prefer thrillers to..." He tilted his head to read a cover. "Interior design?"

"I write articles for an interior design magazine." She stopped at the door of her room. "And I'd prefer to keep my things intact, if you don't mind."

"Your wish is my command."

He watched her unlock her door, his tiger's instincts picking up on every subtle detail - the graceful movement of her hands, the way she kept her spine straight despite carrying so many bags, and that intoxicating scent of rain and ozone that made him want to lean in closer.

"Look, I know this is going to sound completely insane." He followed her into the room, setting the bags on a nearby table. "But I have a business proposition for you."

She turned, one eyebrow raised. "A business proposition?"

"I saw the way you handled that situation downstairs with those two guys arguing at the front desk." He paced the room, running his fingers through his auburn hair. "That's exactly the kind of presence this place needs right now. Especially with the Lux Grove trying to steal our business every chance they get."

"The hotel down the street?"

"My biggest competitor. Run by Gregory Simmons and his wife." His jaw clenched at the memory of their earlier encounter. "They're... let's just say they play dirty. And earlier today, I might have implied something to them." He paused, studying her face. "That I was married."

Her eyes widened slightly, but she remained silent. The scent of rain grew stronger, and through the window, he noticed the snow falling harder.

"Here's the thing - this inn? It's everything to me. But my reputation around town isn't exactly..." He searched for the right words. "Family-friendly. I used to be a bit of a..."

"Player?" she supplied, her voice dry as desert sand.

"I prefer 'selective dater.'" His tiger preened at her small snort of amusement. "But yeah. And now it's affecting business. Families want stability. Investors want maturity." He stepped closer, close enough to catch the slight intake of her breath. "What I need is someone to play the role of my wife. Just for a couple weeks, while you're here anyway."

The silence stretched between them. Mallory stood frozen, her light blue eyes wide with shock, and her lips slightly parted. Outside, the wind howled against the windows.

"I know it's crazy," he added quickly. "But you're seemingly new in town, no one really knows you, and you clearly have a knack for handling difficult situations. Plus..." His inner tiger urged him to close the distance between them. "We'd make a very convincing couple."

He watched her stunned silence stretch on further, his tiger growing restless under his skin. The scent of rain intensified around her, and he could practically taste the electricity in the air.

"Let me sweeten the deal." He leaned against the dresser, crossing his arms. "I'll upgrade you to our best room - the one with a separate living area, a bathroom bigger than this entire room, a private balcony, and a jacuzzi. The room will be complimentary with room service included, of course. All you have to do is play along when we're in public."

"And I won't cross any lines," he added quickly, noting how she tensed at his proximity. "No funny business. Just enough to convince certain... interested parties that we're happily married."

Her fingers twisted the hem of her sweater. "I'm not exactly new in town."

That caught him off guard. His tiger's ears perked up with interest.

"I live out on the cliffside," she continued. "I just... prefer to keep to myself."

"The old Victorian?" He had driven past it countless times, always wondering about its mysterious occupant. "That's quite the property."

"Some people find it strange." Her voice carried a defensive edge that made his protective instincts flare. "The isolation, I mean. They talk."

"Let them talk." He waved his hand dismissively. "Small towns always do. But that actually works in our favor - the reclusive wife finally emerging to help her husband with his business? It's perfect."

Thunder rumbled outside, and she jumped slightly. He noticed how her eyes darted to the window, watching the storm intensify.

"I don't know about this." She wrapped her arms tighter around herself. "It seems..."

"Crazy? Unconventional? Perfect for throwing Gregory and his wife off balance?" He flashed her his most charming smile. "Think about it overnight. Give me your answer in the morning."

His tiger didn't want to leave her alone, but he forced himself to step back. "Room 112 if you need anything. Day or night."

He moved toward the door, pausing with his hand on the handle. "And Mallory? Thanks for considering it."

The storm outside grew stronger as he left. He couldn't shake the feeling that somehow, it was connected to the mysterious woman he had just propositioned to be his fake wife. His tiger rumbled with satisfaction - either way, things were about to get very interesting at The Hearthstone Inn.