Page 21 of The Purrfect Rival

Kalyna stood in the archway, light silvering her copper hair. She wore a vintage-inspired dress in deep emerald that hugged her curves before flaring into a flowing skirt. A simple gold pendant at her throat caught the lantern light.

His mouth went dry. His lion surged forward with such force that he felt his eyes flash gold.

“Thank you for coming,” he managed, pulling out her chair.

“This is... not what I expected,” Kalyna replied, taking in the romantic setting with wide eyes.

The hostess beamed. “Our most romantic table! I’ve added our special lantern configuration—they respond to emotional energy.”

Rust’s ears burned as Kalyna pretended not to hear. “Thank you,” he said stiffly.

Once seated, an awkward silence descended. The floating lanterns pulsed slightly brighter, betraying the emotional tension between them.

“I didn’t choose this specific table,” Rust clarified. “I only asked for privacy.”

“Of course.” Kalyna’s lips curved in a small smile. “Though I suspect your assistant had something to do with it?”

“Probably.” Rust relaxed slightly. “He’s enjoying this entire situation far too much.”

“So is Lucella. She gave me very specific wardrobe suggestions tonight.” Kalyna rolled her eyes. “Apparently green ‘brings out the gold flecks in a certain lion mayor’s eyes.’”

Heat crept up Rust’s neck. His lion preened at her notice of his eyes.

“It’s working,” he said without thinking, then immediately wanted to kick himself.

Kalyna’s cheeks flushed, but her smile widened. “We should discuss the fundraising options.”

“Right. Business.” He pulled out a small notebook, ignoring his lion’s disappointed rumble. “The sheriff’s investigation might take weeks, and the library can’t wait. So, I’ve drafted some initial ideas for replacing the missing funds.”

They fell into professional discussion, reviewing potential donors and marketing strategies. Rust proposed a charity gala at the Leonid estate while Kalyna suggested a heritage exhibit to draw visitors from neighboring towns.

As their main courses arrived, the conversation shifted naturally to more personal ground.

“You mentioned questions of your own,” Rust prompted. “About the theft?”

Kalyna toyed with her fork. “More about your cousin. The scent at the safe... it can’t be coincidence.”

“No,” Rust agreed. “Boz has always been ambitious. Too ambitious.”

“What would he want with a fox artifact?”

“I don’t know. But his recent interest in fox skulk history seems suspicious in retrospect.”

She met his eyes directly. “Do you think he took the renovation money too?”

“The timing suggests coordination. Frame me while crippling the library project.”

“But why?”

NINETEEN

Rust hesitated, weighing how much to reveal. His lion pushed for transparency—to share everything with her, to establish trust.

“Boz has always resented my branch of the family,” he finally said. “My grandfather became mayor instead of his, creating a tradition that eventually passed to me. He believes the position should have gone to his bloodline.”

“So this is about revenge?”

“Partly. But Boz rarely acts without multiple motivations.” Rust set down his fork. “Tell me about the heirloom. What makes it valuable beyond historical significance?”

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