Free Kindling Flames: Granting Wishes (The Ancient Fire Series Book 5) by Julie Wetzel Page B

her. It held a four-leaf clover the old woman had brought back from Dublin on her last visit.
    “Yes.” Patrick’s eyes softened as he answered. Reaching out, he touched her hand on the counter. “You have three wishes. What do you want?”
    Letting out an exasperated breath, Cathren pulled away from the man’s touch. “I don’t know.” She pushed her long, dark hair back over her shoulder and scraped the necklaces they had just untangled back into the box. Hundreds of possible wishes flooded through her brain. “Do I have to answer now?”
    “Yes.” Patrick nodded glumly. “I can’t leave ‘til I know what you want.”
    She couldn’t believe that she was going to buy into this man’s dementia, but if it got him out of the store… Although, it was a shame to send him packing so soon. He was rather nice to look at. Shaking her head, Cathren put her mind to the task. What could she ask for that would send him away? She blurted out the first thing that came to her mind. “True love.”
    Patrick’s eyebrows nearly disappeared into his hairline.
    Embarrassment colored Cathren’s face. Of all the things that could have popped into her head, she had to pick that. Sure, she always dreamed of some handsome prince sweeping her off her feet, but things like that didn’t happen in this day and age.
    “Okay.” Patrick pushed both his hands through his hair, smoothing it back from his face. “Is there someone that you wish to love you truly?”
    The blush on Cathren’s face deepened, and she hid it away from him as she answered. “No.”
    “Okay.” He sounded a little less shocked. “We can work with that. And, I suspect your next wish will be for money?”
    “No.” Cathren shook her head, dismissing this idea; she had never been a material girl. “Money can’t buy happiness.”
    Patrick laughed. “So you want happiness?”
    Cathren turned to look at the man. “Sure.” That was vague enough to be a good wish.
    “True love and happiness.” Patrick smirked and leaned on the counter again. “And your third?”
    Cathren thought about this for a moment. Her stomach growled loudly. “Waffles.” She chuckled at him. If he was going to grant her wishes, she might at least get something out of them.
    “Waffles?” Amusement turned up the corners of his mouth.
    “What?” Cathren glowered at him. “I’m hungry.”
    Patrick laughed at her. “True love, happiness, and waffles.” His voice was rich with joy. “This should be very entertaining. Here.” Pulling out his wallet, he fished up a business card and held it towards her.
    She came over to take the card. “What’s this?”
    Patrick caught her around the wrist before she could pull the card from his fingers. “If you should change your mind or need to contact me, you can reach me here.” He slipped the card into her hand and closed it around the thick paper. “Have a nice night.” Before she could get over her shock, he had released her and disappeared out the double doors into the main part of the mall.
    “That was odd.” In all her twenty-five years, she had never had anyone hit on her like that and disappear. She stood there for a moment, praying he wasn’t nuts. Looking at the card, Cathren read it: Patrick Brogan, owner, Hats and Soles. The man owned a hat and shoe shop. This was not something she had expected from the slightly insane, but, then again, weren’t hatters supposed to be slightly mad? Slipping the card into her pocket, she decided to keep it in case he caused her trouble. The feeling of something shifting on her arm drew Cathren’s attention, and she lifted her hand back up to look at it. A fine chain of gold wrapped around the wrist that Patrick had grabbed.
    “What the…?” She was surprised she hadn’t noticed him slip the chain on her wrist. Cathren searched the bracelet for a clasp but couldn’t find one. She did find three clovers attached to the fine chain. They were magnificently wrought in gold. Tucking her