Page 8 of Frost and Felines

"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.

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