After receiving a clipped agreement from MacTire, the waiter scurried off while Kit did her best to offer a more detailed explanation. ‘Mallory is a broker,’ she said. ‘Of sorts.’
‘Secrets and favours,’ Mallory added, in case MacTire assumed she was some sort of financial whizzkid. ‘Not stocks and shares.’
Kit went on. ‘I asked her to find out what the Witches’ Council is worrying about this week in return for an as-yet unspecified favour.’
MacTire frowned. ‘Risky.’
Bristling at his ongoing scrutiny – and obvious judgement that she was a wrong ’un – Mallory said, ‘There are caveats as to what Kit will do for me in return. There are always caveats.’
MacTire leaned back his chair, his amber eyes hooded. Suddenly he appeared less irritated and more intrigued, as if Mallory were a new species of creature he’d only just discovered. ‘How do you know aboutme?’ he asked silkily.
She felt herself relax; as long as he was asking questions and not growling at her, she reckoned she was onto a winner. ‘Let’s say that a potential client came to me not long ago and asked for a favour – she not only wanted you to notice her but also consider her for the position of First Mate. I’m only telling you because I declined to help for reasons we won’t go into.’
There was too much that could go wrong when clients’ love lives were involved, and Mallory had no interest in setting up blind dates. Besides, something about the woman who’d approached her for help in snagging MacTire had rubbed her up the wrong way. She’d had a cold, mercenary attitude towardsnabbing one of the most eligible bachelors in Coldstream that was nothing to do with romance and everything to do with power and wealth.
Mallory had considered her options, researched how she might approach the situation and eventually decided against proceeding. Manipulating love wasn’t her style. Now that she’d met MacTire in person, she was even more glad she’d refused.
She realised that Kit might be concerned about her loose lips but Mallory was more than capable of keeping quiet when a situation called for it. ‘My real clients’ business is sacrosanct,’ she explained, ‘and I’m not in the habit of gossiping. I won’t go blabbing about your request to anyone, Kit.’
Unfortunately Alexander MacTire wasn’t interested in her promises to Kit McCafferty. ‘Who?’ he demanded of her. ‘Who asked you to do this?’
Mallory waved a hand dismissively. ‘I’m not going to tell you that.’ He could throw any number of lupine tantrums and her lips would remain sealed.
A note of triumph crept into his voice. ‘You declined because you couldn’t help her. Right?’
As if.‘Wrong.’ MacTire was starting to irritate her now. ‘I knew exactly how to achieve what she wanted, I just didn’t choose to do it.’
MacTire snorted. ‘How? How would you have done it?’
Kit intervened, doing her best to steer the conversation back to the real reason for Mallory’s intrusion. ‘If we could get back to the matter of this silphium…’
Mallory barely heard her. For reasons she couldn’t quite explain, she couldn’t drag her attention away from MacTire. His arrogant amber eyes seemed to penetrate all her defences. She tilted her chin and reverted to brash confidence.I’m not intimidated by you, she told him silently.Growl all you want.
MacTire’s mouth twitched.You can’t fool me with any of your tricks,he seemed to reply.I’m in full control of my own life. I’m the manipulator here. I’m in charge. Not you.
The sommelier appeared with a fresh bottle of wine.
‘Thank you,’ Kit said.
Neither Mallory nor MacTire broke their gaze. Fine. If he wanted to know how she’d have done it, she would tell him. ‘It’s the annual Wolf Ball next month.’
‘So?’
This was going to be good. ‘You’re attending the ball with your beta wolf, Samantha, as your date.’
Out of the corner of her eye, Mallory spotted Kit’s jerk of surprise. MacTire betrayed little but Mallory was certain she’d also shocked him. ‘When you arrive at the steps of the Grand Hotel, it would be an easy matter to distract Samantha. While she’s busy, my potential client would appear dressed in blue because it’s your favourite colour. I’d also advise her to wear a natural perfume based on roses because that would grab your attention. Then she’d make her approach. I didn’t iron out all the details because I didn’t take her on as a client, but I expect it would have been something along the lines of a little drama where she helped an elderly guest in front of you so she appeared both strong and compassionate.’ She shrugged. ‘But I’m only conjecturing.’
MacTire’s lips curled up in derision. ‘It wouldn’t have worked.’
She grinned. He underestimated her abilities. Considerably. ‘I beg to differ. It definitely would have worked – up to a point, at least. Even my wiliest machinations can only go so far.’ She took another sip of wine and tried not to let her grin turn into a smirk. ‘There would at least have been consensual sexual congress. Beyond that, I can’t say.’
The alpha’s sneer vanished and his mouth dropped open. Mallory did her best not to preen.
‘Okay-dokey,’ Kit said loudly. ‘About that silphium…’
Mallory gave an embarrassed laugh; she wasn’t here to score points against Alexander MacTire. She straightened her shoulders and turned her attention to her actual client. ‘Yes, of course. Sorry, Kit. We can go elsewhere to discuss it privately, if you wish.’ It would be preferable to continue this discussion without MacTire’s attention laser-focused on her.
‘It’s fine,’ Kit said. ‘Go on.’
