‘Well,’ Mallory retorted, ‘you’ve been growling at me. It’s only fair.’
Surprisingly, MacTire’s expression became rueful. ‘I deserved that. If you have plans to meet someone, I understand.’ He raised his eyebrows. ‘Do you have a partner?’
‘No.’
Something flashed in his eyes.
‘And I’m not looking for one,’ Mallory added firmly.
He laughed. ‘Fair enough. Well, as it appears you’re on your own, you should know that Glynn’s Hot Dog Stand will still be open. Allow me to make up for my earlier rudeness by buying you the best food to keep those hunger pangs at bay. It’s the least I can do. After all, I didn’t have to pay for dinner.’
‘That’s kind of you,’ Mallory demurred. ‘But I ought to head home.’
MacTire’s eyes gleamed. ‘Are you afraid of me?’
‘No.’
He raised his eyebrows.
‘I’m not!’
‘Methinks the lady doth protest too much.’
For goodness’ sake. ‘Fine.’ Mallory shrugged. ‘Buy me a hot dog. With extra onions. I’ll eat it on my way home.’
‘I have a car,’ he told her. ‘I can drop you wherever you wish.’
He had a car? In Coldstream? She shook her head. Of course he did. ‘I’ll walk,’ she said emphatically.
Now MacTire looked amused. ‘As you wish, Ms Nash.’
They walked out of Vallese’s together. The violinist had finished up for the night but James remained in place. ‘Mr MacTire, Ms Nash, please do return at any time. Mr Vallese would be thrilled to welcome you both.’
Mallory smiled warmly at him. ‘Thank you.’
MacTire nodded. ‘Thank you, James.’
Mallory was impressed that he knew the maître d’s name. It was a small act that spoke volumes because there were many werewolf alphas in similar positions of power who wouldn’t bother to find out.
They strolled down the cobbled street in the direction of Glynn’s small stand. ‘That was an … interesting evening,’ MacTire said eventually.
‘Kit is an interesting person.’
‘She certainly is.’ He glanced at her. ‘As are you.’
‘You can drop the pretence, you know. I’m aware that you doubt my capabilities. Why shouldn’t you? I’m a squib, I have no Preternatural powers and I’m the dictionary definition of ordinary.’ She grinned to soften her words, trying to indicate that her lack of special magic skills wasn’t something that concerned her.
MacTire was silent for a moment before he said, ‘Of all the things I have discovered this evening, the one thing I’m sure about is that you are not ordinary.’ He wet his lips. ‘And I can’t deny that I’m impressed by how much you learned about silphium in such a short space of time.’
She hadn’t been expecting a compliment. ‘I suppose you’re not so bad yourself,’ she said grudgingly.
He laughed. ‘Damned by faint praise.’
Mallory pulled a face. ‘I gate-crashed your date, sat in your chair and drank all your wine. You adapted to the situation with aplomb.’ She paused. ‘Eventually.’
‘Eventually. Touché. To be fair, Goldilocks, it wasn’t much of a date.’
‘My hair is brown, not gold.’
