Page 37 of The Magical Bed & Breakfast

They arrived at the diner, the bright fluorescent lighting spilling out from the windows lining the building. Rory opened the door, the bell jangling as he motioned for Kate to go in first. A tall waitress with neon-orange bouffant hair seated them at a table in the front and placed obviously new, colorful menus before them.

After perusing their options, Kate chose the chile relleno platter and Rory choses the chile verde, extra hot. “So, tell me why you think mystery cat is traveling inside the walls?”

“Well, when I realized the cat had slept on the bed with me, and the door was shut tight, I took that handy-dandy flashlight you gave me for the”—he dropped his voice low, so no one could overhear—“tunnels.”

Kate glanced around dramatically. “And?”

“AndI found a gap in the back of my closet. So careful me, using the work gloves…”

“You mean the handy-dandy work gloves.”

“Exactly right,” he grinned. “I reached in and felt around the secret crevasse in the closet and couldn’t find the back of it, so I think that’s how kitty got in to keep me company.”

“So you had acatto warm your bed all night.” Kate didn’t know why she said it, it was so clearly flirtatious, her name being so close to cat. She started to retract but stopped at Rory’s expression.

He frowned. “Not really. Actually, I don’t remember feeling warm at all.”

She thought maybe he was joking with her, about to keep up the flirtation, when he shook his head. “In fact, it was cool last night. I hadn’t turned on the radiator, and I should have noticed the cat while I slept, but…”

“Was it warm where kitty was curled up?”

“No, not at all.”

Kate shrugged. “I heard the cat in my room, and my door, which I was certain I had locked, was ajar this morning.”

“So…”

“Kitty apparently has mystical powers.”

“Or you were mistaken about the door.”

Kate didn’t like it, the idea that she could be so forgetful.

“Itwasan eventful day yesterday.”

She took a big breath and agreed, “It was.” But it still unsettled her.

Just then their food arrived, and Kate almost laughed when Rory produced his own small bottle of scorpion sauce to add to his chile verde.

“Hey, what can I say? I’m a chilehead.”

“Did you grow up with hot food?”

“Nah, not really. It’s a redhead thing, I think.”

“Uhm, well,” she motioned him to share his sauce. “How does that explain me, then?” She dashed a liberal amount on her relleno.

“Be careful with that. It has a decided kick.”

“Oh, I hope so.” Kate took a cheesy bite and rolled her eyes in ecstasy at the spiciness.

“You too? I wouldn’t have guessed that.”

“I like a little spice in my life. What can I say?” She shrugged a shoulder.

“Here I thought you were looking for a ho-hum existence in Hazard.”

“Well, with a name like Hazard…”

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