Page 29 of Frost and Felines

"Indeed," Daniel said, his gaze calculating as it moved between them. "Though I imagine running an inn with your new bride isn't quite the honeymoon you imagined, Kieran?"

"On the contrary," Kieran's voice deepened, becoming possessive. "Having my wife by my side while building something meaningful together? That's better than any honeymoon."

The conviction in his voice made Mallory's heart skip. For a moment, she could almost believe this wasn't pretend.

Mallory watched as Daniel's expression softened, his weathered face creasing with joy as he started to describe his forty-year marriage. The investor's hands moved animatedly while he spoke about surprising his wife with a trip to Venice for their anniversary.

"Nothing quite like sharing life's adventures with the one you love," Daniel said, dabbing his mouth again with his napkin. "What about you two? You must have some wonderful moments together, being newlyweds and all."

Kieran's hand tightened almost imperceptibly on hers. Through their joined fingers, she felt the slight tension in his muscles. His usual smooth charm faltered for just a heartbeat.

"Well," he started, his thumb gently brushing her knuckles. "There are so many to choose from..."

Mallory's heart raced as she watched him grasp for details. The pause stretched a fraction too long. Daniel's eyebrows lifted slightly, interest sharpening in his gaze.

The scent of roasted chicken and cranberry sauce wafted from their plates, mingling with the pine and cinnamon that perfumed the dining room. Outside, snow continued to fall in thick flakes, coating the window panes in delicate patterns. The fire seemed to crackle louder in the hearth near their table.

Kieran shifted in his seat, his broad shoulders straightening as he prepared to speak. His auburn hair caught the warm light from the chandeliers, and Mallory found herself mesmerized by the way it highlighted the strong line of his jaw. Even in this moment of uncertainty, he radiated confidence and strength.

"The thing about Mallory is," he began, his deep voice carrying that hint of possessiveness that made her pulse quicken, "she constantly surprises me. Like when we..."

Daniel leaned forward, clearly invested in hearing their story. The crystal glasses clinked as a server topped off their wine. Mallory felt the weight of the moment pressing down, knowing their entire charade could unravel with one wrong word here.

Mallory squeezed Kieran's hand, pushing down the ache in her chest as she suddenly launched into the story. "Actually, one of my favorite memories is from just after we got engaged," she said, her voice steady despite the storm of emotions inside her."Kieran insisted on cooking me dinner - said he wanted to prove he could take care of me."

The memory of Eli's proud grin as he'd presented his attempt at duck confit flashed through her mind. She forced herself to keep smiling, though her heart felt like it was being squeezed in a vice.

"I came home to find the kitchen looking like a war zone," she continued, watching Daniel lean in with interest. "Flour everywhere, pots and pans scattered across every surface, and this gorgeous man standing in the middle of it all with sauce splattered across his cheek."

Kieran played along perfectly, running his free hand through his hair in mock embarrassment. "In my defense, French cuisine is harder than it looks."

On the table, his other hand squeezed hers gently, as if he sensed the tremor in her voice that no one else would notice. The warmth of his touch anchored her, keeping the threatening tears at bay.

"The duck was completely burnt on the outside and raw in the middle," Mallory said, forcing a laugh that sounded natural enough. "But he'd gone to so much trouble, trying to recreate this recipe his mother used to make."

"So, what did you do?" Daniel asked, completely invested in the story.

"We ordered pizza," Mallory said, the words catching slightly in her throat as she remembered how Eli had kissed away her giggles that night. "And spent the evening slow dancing in the kitchen while he promised to stick to grilling from then on."

"Some promises are worth keeping," Kieran added smoothly, his thumb tracing soothing circles on her palm. The gentle motion helped steady her racing pulse.

Daniel raised his glass. "To kitchen disasters and the wives who forgive them."

As they clinked glasses, Mallory felt Kieran's concerned gaze on her face. She kept her smile firmly in place, even as her chest constricted with the effort of not letting the grief show. The memory of Eli's laughter echoed in her mind, mixing with the sound of Kieran's voice beside her, creating a discordant melody that threatened to break her carefully maintained composure.

Mallory's heels clicked against the polished floors as she and Kieran finally left the dining room. Her shoulders relaxed slightly now that the pressure of maintaining their charade for Daniel was over. The scent of Kieran's earthy cologne lingered as he walked close beside her, his hand resting protectively at the small of her back.

"That went well, I think-" she started, but a sharp voice cut through the air.

"Kieran Striker, you absolute bastard!"

A woman with perfectly styled dark hair and designer clothes stormed toward them, her face twisted with fury. Mallory felt Kieran tense beside her.

"Tina," he said, his voice dropping to that low, controlled tone she had noticed he used when dealing with difficult situations. "This isn't the time or place."

"Oh, I'm sorry, am I interrupting something with your latest conquest?" Tina's gaze raked over Mallory dismissively. "What's this I hear about you being married? We were together just a year ago!"

Mallory's stomach dropped. Through the dining room's open door, she could still see Daniel finishing his wine. If he heard any of this...

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