Page 5 of Whisker me Away
Oh, she knew him all right. Kieran Holt, with his amber-gold eyes that flashed green and gold when his shifter side stirred, and that easy smile that made half the women in Hollow Oak forget their own names. The same Kieran who'd asked her out when she was twenty-one, confident that his reputation and charm would be enough to win her over.
She'd turned him down as politely as possible, but apparently not politely enough to spare his ego. He'd made it clear afterward that he thought she was a stuck-up princess who didn't know a good thing when she saw it. The fact that he'd immediately moved on to console himself with Sarah McKinney had only confirmed her opinion of his character.
"Kieran Holt is your botanical consultant?" Freya couldn't keep the disbelief from her tone. "He's a... handyman."
"Among other things," Elder Varric said smoothly. "Mr. Holt has extensive experience with magical plant cultivation, thanks to his years helping Mrs. Caldwell with her inn's gardens. He's also helped with pest management at the mercantile, assisted in greenhouse construction for several local practitioners, and even consulted on the community garden's magical enhancement spells. More importantly, he has no emotional investment in your family's legacy. His analysis will be unbiased."
Unbiased. Right. More like hostile, given their history and his obvious enjoyment of taking on multiple jobs around town just to prove how indispensable he was.
"I suppose I don't have a choice," Freya said.
"You always have choices, dear," Miriam said kindly. "But if you want access to the council's resources and archives, working with our consultant is the most efficient path forward."
Freya bit back the dozen arguments that rose to her lips. The council held copies of magical texts that dated back centuries, including records of similar corruptions that might offer clues. She needed that information if she wanted to save whatremained of her family's magical legacy, especially with harvest season approaching and the town's magical energy reaching its yearly peak.
"Fine," she said. "When do we start?"
"Immediately." Elder Varric gestured toward the grove's entrance, where a familiar figure had just emerged from the shadows between the trees.
Kieran looked exactly like every one of Freya's stress dreams: tall and confident, with sun-streaked brown hair with natural golden highlights that fell in waves just long enough to curl at his collar, and amber-gold eyes that flashed with amusement at inappropriate moments. He wore a work shirt that clung to his muscled chest and forearms, and the kind of easy smile that had probably gotten him out of trouble his entire life.
"Miss Bloom," he said, nodding in her direction with just enough formality to hide the smugness she could practically feel radiating from him. "Looking forward to working together."
The hell he was. She could see the satisfaction in his eyes, the way his smile sharpened just enough to remind her that he hadn't forgotten her rejection any more than she'd forgotten his reaction to it.
"Mr. Holt." She kept her voice carefully neutral. "I'm sure this will be... educational."
"Oh, I'm counting on it." His grin widened, and Freya had to resist the urge to smack the cockiness right off his face.
Elder Varric cleared his throat. "Mr. Holt, Miss Bloom will provide you with access to her family's private gardens and magical records. In return, the council expects regular reports on your investigation's progress."
"Understood." Kieran's attention shifted back to the council, but Freya could feel his awareness of her like heat against her skin. "How much access are we talking about?"
"Complete access," Elder Bram said with obvious pleasure at Freya's discomfort. "Miss Bloom will accompany you to all relevant sites and share any family knowledge that might prove useful."
Wonderful. Not only did she have to work with Kieran, she had to act as his personal tour guide through her family's most private spaces. The heritage garden, her grandmother's greenhouse, the sacred grove where three generations of Bloom women had performed their most powerful rituals.
"That's acceptable," Freya said, because refusing would only make her look more suspicious. "Though I should point out that some of our family records are written in the old tongue. Not everyone can read them."
"Lucky for you, I can," Kieran said smoothly. "Miriam made sure I learned when I was younger. Said it was important for understanding the foundation magic that protects Hollow Oak."
Of course he could. Because apparently fate had decided that this situation wasn't humiliating enough already.
"Then we're settled," Elder Varric said. "Mr. Holt, we expect your initial assessment by tomorrow evening. Miss Bloom, you're dismissed."
Freya managed a respectful nod before turning toward the grove's entrance, but Kieran fell into step beside her before she could escape. His presence made her skin prickle with unwelcome awareness, especially after this morning when he'd caught her arm and she'd felt that spark of connection.
"So," he said walking back, his tone carrying that hint of amusement that had always set her teeth on edge. "When do you want to start?"
"The sooner we get this over with, the better," Freya replied. "Tomorrow morning. Eight sharp."
"Looking forward to it." His smile was all charm and challenge. "This should be interesting."
Freya had a feeling that was exactly what she was afraid of.
4
KIERAN
