Page 4 of Frost and Felines

"That's so generous of you." Charlotte's voice dripped with sweetness that didn't reach her eyes.

Vivian's perfectly manicured hand pressed against her chest. "It must be so difficult, running this place all by yourself." Her gaze swept over him, lingering. "If only you had a partner to help shoulder the burden. But then again, settling down was never your strong suit, was it?"

His tiger growled internally. The scent of her rune magic - sharp and metallic - mixed with Gregory's chaos magic, making his noise itch.

"Gregory and I make such a wonderful team at the Lux Grove." Vivian's voice floated across the lobby. "Our guests always comment on how having a stable, committed couple running things creates such a trustworthy, family-friendly atmosphere." She beamed at her husband. "Isn't that right, darling?"

Gregory's arm slid around her waist. "Indeed. Nothing says reliability quite like a proper family establishment."

Kieran's muscles twitched as he walked over to the front desk. The jabs about his personal life and his inn snapped something inside of him. His tiger roared, demanding action, and before he could stop himself, the words tumbled out.

"Bold of you to assume you know anything about my marriage status, Vivian."

The silence that followed was delicious. Gregory's perfect smile faltered, and Vivian's perfectly sculpted eyebrows shot up toward her hairline. The scent of their confusion mixed with the pine and cinnamon in the air.

"Marriage status?" Gregory recovered first, though his voice held an edge of disbelief. "Are you suggesting-"

"I'm not suggesting anything." Kieran leaned against the front desk, projecting casual confidence while his mind screamed at him to shut up. "I'm just saying assumptions can be dangerous things."

Vivian's eyes narrowed, her magic crackling in the air. "How interesting. We'd love to meet this... wife of yours sometime."

"Yes," Gregory's smile turned predatory. "Do bring her to our New Year's gala. We'd be delighted to get to know her."

The couple swept out of the lobby, leaving behind the lingering scent of their magic and suspicion. Kieran waited untilthe door closed behind them before dropping his head into his hands.

"That went well," Charlotte said dryly.

"Don't start."

"Oh, I'm starting." She crossed her arms. "Where exactly do you plan on getting this wife of yours? The Build-A-Bride Workshop?"

Kieran lifted his head, flashing her a desperate grin. "How do you feel about playing pretend?"

"I'm more likely to pass as your grandmother than your wife, and you know it." But her expression softened. "Though having a wife - even a fake one - wouldn't be the worst idea."

"What?"

"Think about it." Charlotte gestured around the inn's cozy interior. "We're trying to attract families and create a wholesome atmosphere. Your reputation as the town's most eligible bachelor-"

"Former eligible bachelor."

"Still follows you. A wife would show stability and maturity. The kind of thing investors love to see."

Kieran's tiger paced anxiously under his skin. The logic made sense, but the implementation? "So, I just need to find someone willing to fake being married to me, fool Gregory and Vivian - two powerful witches, by the way - and convince the entire town I've secretly tied the knot. Simple."

"Well, when you put it that way..." Charlotte patted his arm. "At least you have four weeks until the gala to figure it out."

"Thanks for the reminder." He pushed away from the desk. "I need a drink."

Kieran poured a generous splash of whiskey into his hot apple cider, the spicy-sweet aroma mixing with the kitchen's perpetual scent of baked goods and herbs. His tiger prowled restlessly, still agitated from the confrontation with Gregoryand Vivian. The afternoon sun streamed through the kitchen windows, catching dust motes in its golden rays as he leaned against the granite counter.

Chase's boots announced his arrival before he appeared in the doorway, wiping grease from his hands with a red shop rag. "Heat's back up and running. Found traces of chaos magic wrapped around the main valve - clever bastard tried to make it look like natural wear and tear."

"Gregory's getting bolder." Kieran took a long drink, savoring the burn. "Want one?"

"Nah, but I wouldn't say no to coffee." Chase helped himself to the fresh pot. "Charlotte mentioned something about you acquiring a wife?"

Kieran's groan echoed off the copper pots hanging overhead. "I may have implied I was married to get under Gregory and Vivian's skin."

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