Page 24 of A Roar for Magic

They wandered deeper into the gardens where enchanted roses bloomed in impossible colors and fountain sprites played hide-and-seek among the water jets. The night had turned magical in that peculiar way that sometimes happened in Mystic Hollow, where reality softened at the edges and anything seemed possible.

Somewhere in the distance, music and laughter from the picnic drifted on the evening breeze. But here, in their private garden bubble, time seemed to slow.

“Clover.” Her name carried the weight of unspoken things. “I’d very much like to kiss you. But if you’re not ready for this to be a real date, if you need more time to?—”

She rose on her tiptoes and pressed her lips to his.

For a moment, he froze. Then his arms wrapped around her, pulling her flush against him as he deepened the kiss. Her magic surged joyfully, meeting his in a cascade of sparks that made the fountain sprites cheer and the nearby flowers burst into sudden bloom.

When they finally parted, slightly breathless, the fairy lights had gathered around them in a glowing corona that reflected the golden threads of magic still dancing between them.

“So,” Rook said, his voice rough with emotion, “about those contract negotiations...”

Clover laughed, burying her face in his chest. “You’re terrible.”

“You like it.”

“Maybe.” She smiled up at him. “But I’m still going to make you work for it.”

His answering grin was pure trouble. “Challenge accepted, little witch.”

Above them, a shooting star streaked across the sky, leaving a trail of magical sparks. The fountain sprites had started singing something that sounded suspiciously like a love song. And Clover...

Clover decided that maybe, just maybe, real dates weren’t so bad after all.

Especially with tigers who definitely weren’t becoming increasingly impossible to resist.

Even if she knew she’d never hear the end of it from Poe.

FIFTEEN

Rook couldn’t stop thinking about that kiss. The way Clover had melted against him at the picnic, her magic sparking between them like miniature fireworks. His tiger paced restlessly beneath his skin, replaying the moment over and over – the soft gasp she’d made when he’d pulled her closer, the way her fingers had curled into his shirt.

The memory alone made him grip his steering wheel tighter as he pulled into the parking spot outside Spellbound Lights. Focus. He had a legitimate reason for being here today, beyond his overwhelming desire to see her again. The security cameras in his trunk weren’t just an excuse, even if his tiger insisted that protecting their mate was reason enough.

Through the window, he spotted Clover arranging a display of seasonal candles, her dark hair falling in waves down her back. She moved with an innate grace that fascinated him, each gesture precise and purposeful. Even Poe, her sarcastic familiar, seemed to be behaving, perched quietly on his usual spot near the register.

The bell chimed as he pushed open the door, and the shop’s magical atmosphere washed over him – warm vanilla, crisp citrus, and underneath it all, the distinctive signature of Clover’spower. She glanced up, and his tiger rumbled appreciatively at the way her cheeks flushed pink.

“Back so soon?” Her voice carried that blend of amusement and wariness he’d grown addicted to. “Missing my candles already?”

“Actually,” he set down the security equipment he’d been carrying, “I thought we might talk about those scorch marks Poe found.”

“Oh, now he’s concerned about security,” Poe muttered from his perch. “Couldn’t be because he wants an excuse to hang around all day.”

“Hush,” Clover shot her familiar a look, but Rook caught her fighting a smile.

“The cameras might help us identify who’s been lurking around,” he explained, pulling out one of the high-tech devices. “And yes, before you say it – I do know how to install these myself.”

“A billionaire CEO who does manual labor?” She raised an eyebrow. “Will wonders never cease?”

“I contain multitudes.” He shrugged off his jacket, well aware of how his shirt stretched across his shoulders. The sharp intake of breath from Clover’s direction suggested she’d noticed too. “Where would you like me to start?”

They settled into a rhythm with Clover strengthening the magical wards while Rook installed the security system. He found himself creating excuses to work near her, his tiger practically purring every time their arms brushed or their eyes met.

“About yesterday,” he ventured during one such moment. “The picnic and... after.”

“You mean when you kissed me senseless behind the willow tree?” The teasing lilt in her voice made his tiger want todemonstrate exactly how senseless he could make her. “Or when you nearly tripped trying to catch me when I stumbled?”

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