Spell Cat by Tara Lain Page 0,56

hope.”

“So true.” And it was.

“Hey, don’t I remember you’re free this afternoon?”

“Not exactly. I have some phone calls to make for, uh, some students.”

“Leave it. I have a surprise. Come meet me in the park at Broadway and Lafayette. We’ll have an early dinner.”

Gods, that sounded nice. And he loved surprises. “Okay. I’ll take the subway. Be there in half an hour.”

“Great. I can’t wait. See you.”

Killian hung up. Blaine sounded excited. Okay. He’d be excited too. He hurried into the bedroom to dress in something irresistible.

Twenty-five minutes later, he stepped off the subway with Aloysius around his neck. A spell had taken care of any objections he might have encountered from the other passengers. The teal leather jacket and white shirt he’d put on topped off his jeans and set off his blond hair perfectly. Couldn’t wait to see Blaine’s eyes when he saw him.

He looked around and spotted the City Hall building a block away. That’s right; there’s a park there. He walked toward it, moving past the tall buildings and late-afternoon pedestrians. Inside the park, he stopped. Blaine sat on a park bench. Killian just wanted to stare at him. So beautiful. Not that perfect kind of beautiful like Moran. Blaine looked… what? Smart as hell, yes. Free, self-actuating, brave. That was a kind of beauty no picture-perfection could match. Oh gods, I love the way the black-rimmed glasses sit on his high-bridged nose.

Blaine looked up as if he’d felt Killian staring at him. Goal achieved. He looked entranced without benefit of spells.

Killian paused. It wasn’t without benefit of spells. The man was righteously bespelled. He took a breath. But at least he had Blaine for now.

He walked toward Blaine, putting a little extra sway in his walk.

The green eyes shone. “You look beautiful.”

Killian smiled. “Thank you. I wanted to be fitting of your surprise, whatever it may be. You look pretty yummy yourself.” It was true. Blaine was usually very casual, but he’d made an extra effort today. Freshly washed jeans, a white shirt, and a dark sport coat. What was the occasion?

Blaine looked up at Killian’s shoulder. “Hi, Al. Good to see you, buddy.”

“Merwaor.”

Blaine glanced at his watch. Hmm. Was he taking Killian to a show? Maybe he had a restaurant reservation. He patted the bench. “Come sit down.”

Killian sat. Curiosity gnawed. He glanced around the park for a clue. “I hardly ever come here. I forget what a great building the City Hall is.” He looked at Blaine. “Are we going on a tour?”

“Not exactly, but there is another building I want to show you, I hope in a few minutes.” Blaine’s eyes crinkled. He looked like he wanted to laugh.

“What’s going on? What’s the surprise?” Why did he feel anxious? Aloysius began to purr.

Blaine giggled. Giggled? Really? “I’m so bad at secrets.” Al’s purr got louder. Blaine reached in his pocket. Oh, Killian had an odd feeling.

Blaine pulled a box out of his pocket. Oh gods. He couldn’t breathe. Blaine opened the box, revealing the most beautiful antique gold and sapphire ring. He looked up at Killian. “I love you. I know it seems fast, but I think you feel it too. I’d like to walk you over to the marriage license office this afternoon and apply. Will you marry me?”

Killian couldn’t breathe or speak—he just stared at the ring. His life passed before his eyes. Every dream and barely acknowledged wish. Every lonely moment’s ache of longing. It lay there in that box. Tears pushed behind his eyes. He had to say yes. In all his life, no matter how long he lived, there would never be another moment like this. There would never be another Blaine. He looked up. “I can’t.”

A crease pushed between Blaine’s eyebrows. “You told me you weren’t going to marry her.”

“I’m not. Though I haven’t told the family yet.”

“So tell them you’re marrying me instead.”

“I can’t. You’re the most wonderful thing I’ve ever known, and that’s the most beautiful ring on earth. But I can’t.” And that was it. If his heart had one tiny sliver still intact, it broke.

Blaine took Killian’s hand, wringing it tight. “Why? Tell me.”

Killian sighed. So his hope to have this magic in his life just a little longer was over. “Because you don’t love me, really.”

“What the hell?”

“It won’t last, and soon you’ll be glad you dodged this bullet.”

“Bullshit! I’m a grown man, and I know how I feel.” Blaine glanced around at the few passersby and lowered his voice. “How