Page 60 of The Magical Bed & Breakfast

He blinked, “We’re last.”

“You’re the best. Seymour says so.”

“Yes, of course.” Rory held in his sigh. No time to practice on the harpsichord. Zip, zero, none. Why would he expect it to be any different? But how would he break the news to Kate?

*

Kate flung anotheroutfit on her bed. What was she supposed to wear to this thing tonight? She had nothing. Nothing! And her hair was doing those weird spiraling curls it always did in the rain. Because ofcourseit had started to rain today, just because Hazard was playing a joke on her. She would fail miserably at this performing. She knew it. All that practice for nothing. Play the piece perfectly. In front a big crowd.Right.She took a breath to calm down. She knew how to perform. She did. She had played piano with the high school orchestra…more than a decade ago. Thinking about just how much more, well, she didn’t need that right now either.

One last outfit hung in her closet. Her costume from Halloween, but was it really just acostume? It wasn’t flimsy, designed to be worn only once, not at all. It was period dress and perhaps it would be suitable for tonight. Perhaps she could make it even better. Perhaps she could get a little help from her two new friends. Because if she was going to wear the corset she had foregone on Halloween and lace the dress up tight, shewouldneed help.

*

Rory swung backby the inn midmorning, and it felt like a date to Kate. They were dressed casual for now. She was in blue jeans and a black long-sleeved tee, her hair down and frizzing in the sprinkling mist to its heart’s content. Because—rain! There really was no other option but to leave it down to its own devices.

And Rory…man, but he really radiated the rock star vibe today. No more incognito. He’d been outed and now he was embracing it. Black leather encased his long legs like a glove all the way down. Soft leather begging to be stroked. Kate had to shove her hands in her back pockets to keep from reaching out and caressing all his manly perfection.

Rory grinned at the direction of her gaze. “Leather keeps the rain off.” He gave her a half shrug and full grin.

“Oh, like duck feathers?”

He raised an eyebrow at the comment and Kate knew he was aware he’d thrown her off. “That it,” he said and then stepped in front of her down the walk with a little duck waddle. She burst out laughing. She couldn’t help it. Okay, so he wasn’t in total rock star mode if he was willing to look ridiculous for her.

For her. Oh dear, she was in deep.

At the sidewalk, Rory held out his hand. Her hair was already springing up in tiny curls around her face. “Need an umbrella?” He produced one as if from nowhere. It was bright yellow with little black cats jumping all over it.

She tilted her head. “Ah, because it’ll be raining cats today?”

“Mystery cats, just for you.”

“Casper the cat.”

“Or…Catspurr,” he said and grinned.

Kate blinked. “I like that.Catspurr.She’s been needing a name all her own. “Catspurr, the friendly cat.”

“When you want to be part of theinncrowd,” Rory said, tucking in close with Kate under the umbrella. They set out strolling along Endeavor Street.

“So, why did you name your band for Hazard?”

“I didn’t intend to, but I…suppose I needed to. I couldn’t wait to leave at nineteen, but later, I…I don’t know.” He shook his head.

“Probably the same reason I keep a little piece of my Katrina persona.”

“You have two personas.” It wasn’t a question, and Kate felt understood. She nodded. “As do you.”

“Ah, yes. Yes, I do. But with you…”

“They merge.” They spoke the last together.

“I’m only ever my whole self with you.”

“And I…me too.”

They walked in silence for a while along the street named after his band, close together under a single umbrella in step and moving as one. They passed the chocolate shop that Kate still had yet to enter, Toby and Macs, then rounded the corner toward the Town Hall on Worthy Street.

She blinked up at the street sign. “Worthy…” she murmured, “…named after FranklinWorthy, his daughter PrudenceWorthywho followed her heart at the cost of her family.” Kate blinked. Something settled deep inside her, bringing her to a decision she hadn’t even been aware she was making until that moment.

---