Luna parked the car at her cottage and switched off the engine. She studied Colin, her expression thoughtful. “What was in the tube, if you don’t mind my asking?”
He hesitated, but after what she’d endured today, Luna deserved to know. “The sketches of my two-wheeled invention.”
“The bicycle,” she said.
“Aye.”
“I see.” After a silence, she asked, “Are you upset the sheriff took the tube? Is that why you hardly said a word on the drive here?”
“I’ve been thinking.” Truth be told, from the second Colin had handed over his drawings, he’d been mulling what that meant for his future with Luna. She deserved happiness, love, and the security of knowing he’d never knowingly disappoint or hurt her in any way. Yet, within five minutes of him retrieving the tube, her life had been in danger.
If the incident on the Guinevere had turned out differently, she could have been shot and killed. He’d have never forgiven himself if she’d died because of his sketches—and he’d not allow her life to be endangered because of them ever again.
Uncertainty touched her gaze. “Have you changed your mind about going through the portal?”
“Not at all.” He caught her hand and brushed his thumb over her fingers.
“What is it, then?”
He glanced out the car’s front window, at the rain still falling but not as intensely now. “I can’t help wondering how many other people, besides Otis, know about my drawings.”
“There’s no way of finding out,” she said.
“That’s what worries me. All has ended well for now, but—”
“Colin, you can’t torment yourself with what-ifs.”
“I can.” He couldn’t keep his tone from roughening. “I have to. You are everything to me, and I….”
Her eyes glistening, she leaned over and kissed him. “You are everything to me, too.”
“If you are all right with it, I’d like to join the Historical Society.”
“Of course I’m all right with it.” Luna smiled. “Roberta will be thrilled.”
A wry smile tugged at his lips. “I assure you, I’m not joining to delight Roberta. If I become an integral part of the organization, I’ll be able to keep track of my drawings. With luck, I’ll help determine what happens to them once they’ve been authenticated. I expect in this century, there’s tecknolagee that can confirm my sketches are several hundred years old.”
Luna nodded.
“If my drawings become part of the exhibition on the Guinevere,” he continued, “I can watch over them and all of the other items on display. I’ll monitor the portal, too.”
“Yes. That would be a good idea.” She frowned. “Do you think someone—or something—might come through that portal to Cat’s Paw Cove?”
“As you said, in this town, anything is possible.”
“It sure is.” She winked. “I still don’t understand how you got here, but I’m very glad you did.”
“I am too,” he murmured. Desire stirred. He’d love to show her just how glad he was.
Her gaze narrowed, not with wariness, but coyness. “That’s quite a look, Mr. Wilshire.”
He must replicate his ‘look’ in front of the bathroom mirror, so he’d understand what she was seeing now. “What do you mean?” he drawled.
A lovely flush spread over her face. “You’re staring at me as though you’re starving, and I’m a giant plate of lemon bars.”
He fought not to chuckle. “Is that so terrible?”
“No.” She sucked in a quick breath. “I think it’s perfect.”
He slowly grinned. Perhaps he should go change into the jeans he’d worn before. She might help him with the zipper again. For starters.
She tsked. “Colin Wilshire.”
“Colin Brandon Wilshire,” he corrected. His wicked mind teased him with the idea of licking powdered sugar off her bare skin. Aye. He reached for the door handle.
Luna got out of the car and opened the rear door to get out Hecate’s carrier.
“I’ll meet you inside,” Colin said.
“I’ll be waiting.” With a saucy sway of her hips, Luna went into the house.
Colin smiled and, as light rain landed on his hair and clothes, he looked toward the ocean, happiness soaring within him.
He’d traveled through time and found Luna, his adorable little witch.
At last, he was home.
Three weeks later….
Luna pulled a pan of cinnamon buns out of the oven and put it on a cooling rack. Before she’d removed her oven mitt, Colin came in the back door of the café carrying a metal contraption that resembled a doll-size Ferris wheel.
“Morning, beautiful. Already hard at work, hmm?” He set his burden in the corner then came over and swept Luna off her feet for a toe-curling kiss.
With her hair pulled up in a hairnet, and wearing her favorite old apron, Luna was sweaty and dusted in flour and powdered sugar, but she’d never felt more attractive. Because Colin always treated her like the most desirable woman in the world.
When he finally released her, she was breathless from the kiss, but tingling with happiness from head to toe. She pulled off her oven mitt and tipped her chin toward the metal wheel. “Another invention?”
Colin nodded excitedly. “This one is for the cats.”
“Oh?” She couldn’t wait to see what it did. Colin had already made her life easier with his automated icing machine that allowed Luna to frost two dozen cinnamon buns or cupcakes with the press of a button. He’d also built her friend Fiona a rotating display rack for the crystals at the Cheshire Apothecary. And thanks to the news story on CPC-TV and in the Cat’s Paw Cove Courier about how Colin had rescued poor Roberta Millingham, and discovered the now-famous sketches of an early bicycle prototype, Colin had become a bit of a local hero. Someone from the Chamber of Commerce had contacted him about fixing some of the antique pulleys that worked the stone monoliths at Coquina Castle. He now had a waiting list of people who wanted to hire him to fix items no one else could.
“Jordan told me that cats rarely drink enough water,” Colin said. “And that can cause health problems for them.”
“Is it a water wheel?” she asked.
Colin grinned. “It is. I read on the computer that cats enjoy drinking from faucets and other sources of running water. The wheel will circulate water in two fountains. Maybe the cats will drink more.”
“Ingenious!”
She gave him a quick kiss before returning to her baking.
A while later, Colin returned to the kitchen. “It’s all set up. Do you have time to check it out?”
Luna glanced into the café. Leo had the front under control. “Sure.”
Colin led her into the cat room.
Jordan was sitting on a beanbag chair, holding one of the older cats, a striped tabby. “Hey, Luna.” She giggled like a little girl.
Why did Jordan seem so giddy? “Excited about Colin’s new invention?” Luna asked her friend.
Jordan laughed. “Yeah, that’s it.”
“Okay.”
“Over here,” Colin said. Draping his arm around Luna’s shoulders, he gestured at two identical cat fountains separated by the slow-moving wheel. He clicked a toggle switch and the fountains turned on.
“Cool!” she said.
Suddenly, she heard a clink. Had a screw or a nut come loose? Leaning closer to see into the fountain on the right, she noticed something sparkling inside. “What is that?”
“See if you can reach it,” Colin said.
Jordan came over wearing a huge smile. “What is it, Luna?”
One the side of the fountain, she found a glittering ring. She gasped and looked at Colin.
“The stone is sea glass.” He reached into the well for the ring then kneeled before her and took her left hand. “Luna Halpern, I realize that by today’s standards, this is awfully quick. But I know what I k
now. I love you, and I want to spend the rest of my life making you happy.”
Her entire body hummed with surprise and excitement and delight. Her lips moved, but she couldn’t manage a single word.
Hopping up and down, Jordan hugged her from behind. “Yes, she says yes!”
All Luna could do was nod.
“You have to say it for yourself, Luna.” Colin chuckled. “Although I appreciate your help, Jordan.”
Sucking in a shaky breath, she nodded again. “Yes, yes, yes.”
He scooped her into his arms, lifted off the ground, and kissed her.
Colin was right. When you know, you know.
The End
About the Authors
Catherine Kean is an award-winning, Kindle Unlimited All-Star author of medieval romances whose creative muse has coaxed her to write in other romance genres. Her love of history began with visits to England during summer vacations, when her British father took her to crumbling medieval castles, dusty museums filled with fascinating artifacts, and historic churches. Her love of the awe-inspiring past stuck with her as she completed a B.A. (Double Major, First Class) in English and History. She completed a year-long Post Graduate course with Sotheby’s auctioneers in London, England, and worked for several years in Canada as an antiques and fine art appraiser.
After she moved to Florida, she started writing novels, her lifelong dream. Catherine’s books were originally published in paperback and several were released in Czech, German, and Thai foreign editions. She has won numerous awards for her stories, including the Gayle Wilson Award of Excellence. Her novels also finaled in the Next Generation Indie Book Awards, the National Readers’ Choice Awards, and the International Digital Awards.
When not working on her next book, Catherine enjoys cooking, baking, browsing antique shops, and shopping with her daughter. She lives in Central Florida with two spoiled rescue cats.
Bestselling author Wynter Daniels has written more than three dozen romances, including contemporary, romantic suspense, and paranormal romance books for several publishers including Entangled Publishing and Carina Press as well as for Kristen Painter’s Nocturne Falls Universe.
In 2019, she started CPC Publishing with author Catherine Kean. Look for their brand new Cat’s Paw Cove Romance series in 2019.
As a child, Wynter Daniels told her parents she wanted to be an archaeologist, an actress or a sculptor. Unfortunately she didn’t demonstrate the natural ability to sculpt or to bring an audience to tears with her Ophelia. Nor could she stand getting dirt under her fingernails. But she could always talk her way out of anything by spinning quite a colorful tale. Wynter lives in sunny Florida with her family and a very spoiled cat named Chloe who tries all day to distract her from writing.
Coming Soon from Cat’s Paw Cove
HER HOMERUN HOTTIE
By Wynter Daniels
Event Planner and earthly Cupid Tori Sutherland enjoys nothing more than playing matchmaker for lonely hearts. Too bad Tori will never find her own happy-ever-after because the only guy she ever loved moved on years ago.
Heath Castillo managed to escape his dysfunctional family for a career in major-league baseball. His only regret was not acting upon his desire for his best friend. When an injury threatens his livelihood, Heath has no choice but to face the ghosts of his past.
When long-buried passions ignite, Heath and Tori consider taking a chance on love. But will the forces that kept them apart in high school destroy their budding romance before it even begins?
GAMBLING ON THE ARTIST
By Wynter Daniels
Artist Samantha Cartwright arrives in Cat’s Paw Cove for a visit with her great Aunt Emma, hoping to get clarity about Emma’s cryptic prediction. Instead, Sam finds out she must mind her aunt’s metaphysical shop while Emma is away on vacation. The temporary job proves impossible for Sam because unlike Emma, Sam possesses no magical powers. Lucky for her, tall, dark, and handsome help enters the shop just in the nick of time.
Eli Kincaid managed to get on the bad side of a ruthless loan shark. Now his life depends upon his ability to con an innocent woman out of the only thing of value she owns—a precious jewel she inherited. If he can get close to Sam, maybe he can figure out where she’s keeping the gem. What he hadn’t counted on was falling for his mark. Can he escape the web of deception and protect Sam as sinister forces close in on both of them?
HOT MAGIC
By Catherine Kean
While clearing out her late mother’s home in Cat’s Paw Cove, Florida, Molly Hendrickson finds an unusual antique necklace. Wearing it makes her feel confident and sexy—things she hasn’t felt since her ex broke off their engagement or, really, ever. She decides to keep the jewel but takes other items to Black Cat Antiquities, the local antique store, to have them appraised.
Lucian Lord, a reincarnated 12th century knight, moved to Cat’s Paw Cove after a scandal in which he revealed his magical abilities to his former girlfriend. Demoted by his superiors, he’s running the antiques shop while his grandfather is on vacation. But, when Molly brings in artifacts tainted by dark magic, Lucian is duty-bound to find and contain the dangerous energy before it wreaks havoc not only on the town, but the world.
Living by the knightly code of honor, Lucian vows to help Molly, especially when he realizes the necklace is the source of the ancient magic he’s hunting. He’s determined to save his headstrong damsel and redeem his tarnished reputation—but first, things will get very, very hot.
MEOWS & MISTLETOE – A CAT’S PAW COVE HOLIDAY ANTHOLOGY
Eight holiday tales in the magical town of Cat’s Paw Cove:
FAMILIAR BLESSINGS by Candace Colt
To repay an old man who brought him out of war's dark shadow, a former Army Ranger delivers a cryptic letter to a gifted medium in Cat's Paw Cove. If what the letter says is true, the reluctant medium and skeptical Ranger must travel back to 1720 to save a young boy from the gallows.
CHRISTMAS AT MOON MIST MANOR by Kerry Evelyn
Lanie and Matt Saunders return to Cat's Paw Cove two years after their first disastrous Christmas there. When a mysterious kitten leads Matt back in time, can he right the wrongs of the past and give his expectant wife the perfect Christmas?
CHARLOTTE REDBIRD: GHOST COACH by Sharon Buchbinder
With the help of hunky real estate agent, Dylan Graham, life coach Charly Redbird and her new kitten have found the perfect home next to a cemetery. Charly gets a new client right away, who happens to be her neighbor—and a ghost. What could possibly go wrong?
GNOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS by Kristal Hollis
When an empath who’s failed at every relationship impulsively kisses an enchanted garden gnome, he magically turns into a real man. Together they must find his one true love and end the curse by Christmas or he’ll be forever alone and trapped within his stone prison.
RING MA BELL by Debra Jess
In 1979, Michael Bell fell in love with high seas radio technician Dvorah Levi's voice as she guided him to safety, but their marriage was cut short by a bullet. Forty years later, Dvorah still mourns him. Can a special holiday and a magical Sherwood cat bring him back?
PURRFECTLY CHRISTMAS by Mia Ellas
Faerie Sormey Johnson moved to Cat's Paw Cove to live a quiet life as a human until a sexy werewolf deputy needs her help tracking down a murderous monster. When Sormey offers herself as bait, the cost may be more than she bargained for.
COLLYWOBBLES FOR CHRISTMAS by Sue-Ellen Welfonder
The fate of star-crossed lovers falls into the magical paws of a time-traveling kitten determined to right an ancient wrong and claim the greatest Christmas gift of all - love.
NEW YEAR’S KISS by Darcy Devlon
In order to overcome a family curse, Griffin Brooks, the town's hotshot assistant fire chief, must earn his true love's trust. Trina Lancaster knows she can release Griffin's curse, but will her magical family baggage be a deal breaker?
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