Chapter 4
Most days I ate breakfast at Zane’s mansion.
Mainly because Alfred didn’t trust me to start the day off with a somewhat nutritional breakfast. I wasn’t a breakfast eater…
never had been. But to appease the ancient fairy, I usually ate peanut butter toast or peanut butter muffins—whichever one Alfred was making.
“Good morning, Kara,” Alfred said from the stove.
I hung my jacket over the back of my chair and headed for the coffeepot. “Good morning, Alfred.”
“Cold out there.”
“It is cold, but at least there was no new snow overnight.”
I poured a coffee for myself, and then poured hot milk and honey into a thimble for Link.
“Thank ye, lass,” Link said as he wrapped his small hands around the thimble. “This will hit the spot.”
Rota strode into the kitchen, dressed in red pants and a white tunic. “Good morning, everyone. Happy Valentine’s Day.”
“Morning, my dear,” Alfred said. “I have something special for you today.”
Rota’s eyes lit up. “What’s that? A pancake shaped like a dagger or sword?”
I laughed. “Always the Valkyrie.”
Alfred set a plate down in front of Rota, and I couldn’t help but smile. In addition to her normal scrambled eggs, roasted potatoes, and buttered toast were two pancakes shaped like hearts.
“Alfred, you shouldn’t have.” My grandmother happily slathered butter on the pancakes. “But I’m glad you did.”
I laughed and reached for the basket of muffins in front of me. I knew they’d be peanut-butter flavored...and I wasn’t disappointed as I broke one in half, blew the steam away, and took a bite. “Mmmm. Perfect, Alfred.”
“Careful, Kara,” Zane said as he strode into the room. “You’ll give Alfred a big head.”
“Yes,” I said dryly as I rolled my eyes, “Alfred is the one I worry about getting a big head.”
Zane winked at me as he strolled over to the espresso machine. Once his tiny glass was full, he sat down to my right, and I finally took in what he was wearing. He was dressed in a charcoal Armani suit, but that’s not what caught my eye.
“Nice pocket square,” I said.
Zane smirked and downed his espresso in one gulp. “You like?” He patted the red-and-pink pocket square dotted with tiny hearts. “I wore it for you. Thought it might put a smile on your face.”
I grinned and took another bite of my muffin. “Oh, it puts a smile on my face all right.”
Alfred placed a bowl of oatmeal in front of Zane. “There are fresh blackberries and blueberries this morning. Picked them myself.”
Alfred went back to the stove, loaded his plate, and sat down at the table to join us.
“As much as I like the lull,” Rota said, “it’s weird we haven’t had a case in a while. Usually, if there’s nothing going on here in Mystic Cove, PADA will send you guys out on an undercover assignment.”
Zane swallowed his oatmeal and set down his spoon. “I say we enjoy the quiet while it lasts.”
I slathered a knife full of peanut butter on my muffin.
I didn’t believe there was ever such a thing as too much peanut butter.
“Zane and I are eating at five o’clock tonight.
I have most everything prepared ahead of time.
The lava cake will take the longest, and Alfred is going to help me with that.
I forgot to get a couple things when I was in town yesterday, so Zane offered to take me in this morning.
” I groaned and shook my head. “I also forgot I’m supposed to make Savage some tuna cakes today. Something special for him and Nyxie.”
“If you get behind,” Alfred said, “I can make the tuna cakes for you, Kara.”
“Thank you, Alfred. Hopefully, I can juggle it all.”
Zane waggled his brows at me. “And while Kara is shopping this afternoon, Link and I are picking up a couple last-minute gifts for our girls.”
“What about you, Rota?” I asked. “Anything special on your agenda today?”
“I have to go in to City Hall for a few hours. A mayor’s work is never done.” She smiled at Alfred. “Then I’m coming home, and Alfred and I are going to exchange gifts and have a nice meal in.”
I lifted my coffee cup into the air. “Here’s to a nice, quiet night of good food and romance.”
“Careful, lass,” Link joked. “You’ll jinx us.”