‘He doesn’t work out in a suit, Mallory. Sometimes he wears sweats.’
‘That’s not what I mean. Hechanged– not his clothes but his skin. I know it was the full moon last night but I thought werewolves returned to human form once dawn broke. Alexander seemed to shapeshift at will.’
Even the most self-absorbed person would have noticed Samantha’s sudden tension. ‘What time did this happen?’
‘Maybe around four?’
Samantha scowled.
‘Can all werewolves do that?’ Mallory persisted. ‘Is it something you keep secret from the rest of the world?’
‘Definitely not. Ninety-nine percent of werewolves can only shapeshift from dusk till dawn during the night of the full moon. Only a very few can shapeshift outside those hours.’
‘Can you?’
‘Not a chance. And that is one of the many reasons why Alex is so special,’ she said softly. Then she clammed up and said nothing more.
Some enterprising MacTirewerewolf who was keen to suck up to the boss had arranged a table for two in the back garden next to a heat lamp that held the chilly evening air at bay. To be fair, Mallory reckoned calling the beautifully landscaped, perfectly pruned verdant vision a ‘back garden’ was a misnomer It deserved a grander moniker – ‘botanical oasis’, perhaps. Or ‘estate park’.
Alexander caught her wide-eyed stare. ‘Impressive, isn’t it? A few older MacTire members are keen gardeners. There’s a kitchen garden beyond the fountain that we use as well.’
Doubtless there were also plenty of magical plants dotted around. ‘No silphium?’ she asked archly, referencing the lost magical plant that had led her to Alexander at Vallese in the first place.
He barked a quick laugh. ‘No, alas, no silphium. Although from what I hear, Kit McCafferty solved that particular problem all by herself and soon Coldstream will abound with the stuff. Of course, my lips remain sealed on the matter to anyone other than you and her.’
Mallory grinned. ‘Of course.’
‘Shall I pull out your chair for you?’ he asked. ‘Or is that being too overbearing?’
She gave him a mock-exasperated glare and he smirked. He pulled back one of the elegant chairs with a flourish and Mallory sat down, making a show of looking prim and proper.
‘Wait.’ Alexander frowned. ‘We need to backtrack. Stand up.’
‘Pardon?’
‘Stand up. We need to take this back. I’m meeting Cathy at the restaurant. If I’m there before her and she walks in, how do I act?’
‘You know what to do, Alexander. You’ve done it a million times before.’
‘I want to get it right. I know to stand up when she comes towards me, to smile and tell her she looks wonderful. But do I take her coat? Kiss her hand? Kiss her cheek? Shake her hand?’
‘You’re over-thinking. Do what feels right in the moment.’
He shook his head. ‘Let’s practise. I want to get this right,’ he repeated.
She looked at him suspiciously, certain that she was being played, but his expression appeared honest. She stood up andmoved back several feet while he sat down in his chair again. ‘Okay,’ she said. ‘I’m walking into the restaurant towards the table.’
On cue, he rose. ‘You look beautiful.’
Mallory inclined her head. ‘Thank you.’
He took her hand, raised it to his mouth and pressed his lips against her skin with a faint slurping sound. Mallory giggled. ‘What?’ he asked, sounding annoyed.
‘Nothing!’
‘Mallory…’
‘It just feels a bit silly and over the top – but Cathy might like it.’
