Page 34 of Christmas Magic

Chapter Six

“Cookies for breakfast?” Molly said with a grin. Near her feet, the five cats, lined up in a row, were gobbling food at their dishes in the kitchen.

“Cookies are good anytime.” Lucian snatched three more from the plastic container. His mouth watered as he remembered the vanilla-and-sugar sweetness of the ones he’d eaten the evening before. “Want some?”

“No, thanks. How many did you have last night?”

“Four.”Maybe all the sugar explained why he’d had trouble sleeping—not to mention his bizarre dreams. No way in hell was he going to tell Molly that he’d dreamed about Cora. Not a platonic dream, either. He’d been holding her in his arms. Kissing her, in a passionate mingling of lips and tongues.

Very odd.

With a brisk snap, he put the lid back on the container. “I’m heading out. I’ll see you at the store, okay?”

Surprise in her gaze, Molly turned from spooning cooked oatmeal into a bowl. “We’re not driving in together, as we always do?”

He bit down on a cookie, and the deliciousness crumbled on his tongue. Mmm. so good.

“I thought I’d go in earlier than usual, since things were hectic yesterday. I’d like to take care of some paperwork before we open.” Truth be told, he really needed some alone time to get his weird thoughts straightened out. He also wanted to check the data from the magic detecting equipment. If the pervasive, low level of magic had registered again, he’d better discuss it with Molly, just to be safe.

“If you want to go in early, that’s fine.”

Her bowl cupped in her hand, Molly leaned back against the kitchen counter and ate a mouthful of oatmeal. She wore the crimson dress with the vintage vibe that he liked; its nipped-in waist showed off her figure and the flared skirt showed off her shapely legs. But, today, for some reason, he didn’t experience the usual tug of desire that normally hounded him when she wore it.

An off day overall.

He picked up Cora’s plate, which he’d washed yesterday. “I’ll see you later. Come on, Galahad.”

“I’m still eating,” the squire said around a mouthful of food.

“I’m leaving now. You can ride in with Molly, then.”

“Wow. He’s Mr. Grumpy today,” Petunia said.

Molly rubbed her lips together, as though stifling a chuckle, and crossed to Lucian. “See you at the store, Mr. Grumpy Badass.”

He scowled. “I am not—”

“It’s okay. I know you had a rough night.”

“You do?” Hopefully he hadn’t mumbled Cora’s name.

“You tossed and turned a lot. You moaned, too.”

Argh. Worse and worse. “I did?”

“Bad dreams?”

“Something like that.” She stood with her face upturned, expecting a goodbye kiss. Usually, the sight of her eager gaze, the slight parting of her mouth, stirred up desires that could make them both late for work. But today, he experienced no such interest.

What was wrong with him?

Confusion tangled up inside Lucian as he dropped a quick peck on Molly’s lips and headed for the door.

Galahad fell in beside him.

Early morning sunshine drenched the stone path leading from the single-story house’s front door. A pair of cardinals flew up from a flower bed as he walked past on his way to the Mini parked on the street.

“You okay?” Galahad meowed.