Page 25 of Hex and the Kitty

TWENTY

Amemory surfaced in Molly’s mind—Warrick’s voice, low and sincere:“Most of those evenings blur together. This one... won’t.”The way he’d looked at her when he’d said it.

Molly took a deep breath. “We’re meeting again next week. Same time, same place.”

“And?” Tabitha prompted.

“And I’ll make something special with the ingredients he brought. Show him I was paying attention too.”

The women exchanged approving glances.

“Just be careful with those Fire Lotus petals,” Celeste warned with a knowing smile. “Kade says they respond most strongly to desires you’re trying to hide. Could get awkward fast.”

“Or interesting,” Luna countered with a wink.

Before Molly could respond, small hands tugged at her apron. She looked down to find Vienna standing there, holding up a wooden spoon covered in cinnamon sugar.

“Make magic?” the little girl asked hopefully.

Molly smiled, taking the spoon. With a gentle twist of her wrist and a whispered word, she sent a shower of edible golden sparkles dancing from the spoon’s tip, forming the shape of a tiny tiger that pranced through the air before dissolving into sweet-scented mist.

The toddlers shrieked with delight, and Vienna clapped her hands. “Again! Again!”

As Molly prepared to repeat the trick, the bell above the front door chimed. She groaned. “I forgot to lock the front.”

“I’ll get it,” Ellie offered, standing.

“Tell them we’re closed for another fifteen minutes,” Molly called after her, focusing on entertaining the children with another sparkling creation.

The kitchen fell silent a moment later as Ellie returned, her eyes wide and a grin spreading across her face.

“It’s for you,” she said to Molly. “A delivery.”

“From whom?” Molly asked, puzzled.

“Not ‘whom,’” Ellie corrected, stepping aside to reveal a stunning arrangement of exotic flowers—vibrant blossoms Molly had never seen, their petals giving off a faint, magical luminescence. “From a certain fire chief who apparently has excellent timing.”

Molly’s heart stuttered as Ellie set the arrangement on the table. Nestled among the flowers was a small card. With trembling fingers, Molly plucked it free and read the brief message written in bold, precise handwriting:

“These bloom only at the full moon in the mountains of Peru. They reminded me of your eyes. Until next week. —B”

The entire kitchen fell silent, then erupted in delighted squeals and knowing laughter. Even the toddlers joined in, though they clearly had no idea why.

“Still think it’s just a ‘mutually beneficial arrangement’?” Celeste asked, her voice gentle with understanding.

Molly touched one of the glowing petals, her heart racing. “I think,” she said softly, “I’m going to need to make something very special for our next ‘strategic meeting.’”

As her friends crowded around to examine the exotic blooms, Molly’s mind whirled with possibilities—both culinary and otherwise. Whatever name they gave these encounters, whatever pretense they maintained for the town’s benefit, one thing was becoming clearer by the moment.

This tiger shifter with his golden eyes and quiet intensity, his centuries of experience and rare, and transformative smile, wasn’t merely playing along with their arrangement. He was pursuing her—deliberately, intentionally, and with a patience cultivated over three centuries years of existence.

And despite all her reservations, despite the logical part of her brain listing all the reasons to guard her heart, Molly couldn’t deny the simple truth that sent her magic dancing through the bakery in jubilant sparks.

She very much wanted to be caught.

TWENTY-ONE

The bell above the door of the Lone Wolf Café jingled as Warrick stepped inside, the rich aroma of freshly ground coffee beans enveloping him like a welcome embrace. His tiger senses picked up each distinct note—earthy Sumatran beans, nutty Colombian, and a hint of something sweeter that reminded him of Molly.

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