Free The Mighty Quinns: Kellan by Kate Hoffmann

might liven things up a bit.” She paused. “Oh, and one more thing.” Maeve hurried over to one of the display cases and picked up a small jar, then handed it to Gelsey. “I can see you haven’t been getting much sleep lately. Try this. It does wonders for bags under the eyes.”
    “Thank you,” Gelsey said. “I will try it tonight. And I’ll see you on Tuesday.”
    When she walked out of the shop, Gelsey jumped into Kellan’s arms and yelled, “I got a job!” She gave him a long, lingering kiss. When she finally drew back, she looked around to find several people staring at them. “Well, that will give the townsfolk something new to talk about,” she said.
    “Yes, I suspect it will. And congratulations—I think. Can we go home now and have some lunch?”
    “All right. But I want to do something more. I’ll cook for you tonight. A wonderful gourmet meal.”
    “That’s not necessary,” he said.
    “But I want to.” She pushed up on her toes and gave him another kiss. “This has been an amazing day. I think we need to celebrate, don’t you?” Gelsey paused. “She mentioned the mermaid thing. You don’t think she’ll fire me once she realizes I’m not a—”
    “I think everyone knows already,” Kellan said. He dropped another kiss on her lips. “But that’s not going to stop them from talking about it. Twenty years from now, you’ll still be known as the mermaid girl.”

4
    THE ONLY LIGHT in the cottage came from the peat fire flickering on the hearth and an oil lamp Gelsey had set on the floor. Outside, a roaring wind from the sea scoured the windows. Though they had a perfectly adequate table at which to dine, Gelsey had chosen to spread their gourmet dinner out on the floor in front of the fire, creating a much more romantic atmosphere.
    As Kellan poured her another glass of wine, he studied her features, still rendered breathless by her beauty. What bit of luck had brought her into his life? He could have walked in the other direction that morning. She could have climbed up the cliff on her own and disappeared again, without the two of them getting a second chance. But something had brought them together and he couldn’t help but wonder if there were magical forces behind it all.
    Kellan groaned inwardly. This was exactly how it began for his brothers. He’d listened to Riley and Danny tell their tales and he’d heard them both blather on and on about the incredible power of love. And now he was doing the same thing. Turning himself inside out over a woman he barely knew.
    Clenching his fist, Kellan fought the urge to reach out and touch her. Was it even possible to resist anymore or was he completely lost? Yes, the sex was incredible. And he did enjoy spending time with Gelsey, talking to her and kissing her. But that didn’t mean he was falling in love.
    Still, he couldn’t help but admit that everything that passed between them was different, as if it had been touched with something extraordinary, some little bit of magic.
    She drew a deep breath and sighed, stretching her bare legs out in front of her. Gelsey was dressed in nothing but one of his oxford shirts. “I feel like a stuffed hen. I knew I could cook, but I didn’t expect it would turn out so well.”
    “It was pretty amazing. That sauce on the salmon was incredible.”
    “Capers and lemon,” she said, scooping up a bit on her finger and holding it out to him. “It’s one of the first sauces I learned. I told you I was good with fish.”
    He took her finger into his mouth and enjoyed another taste of the sauce. “And potatoes. And turnips. Even the salad was perfect.”
    She grinned seductively, then crawled over the remnants of the meal on her hands and knees to drop a kiss on his mouth. “Are you ready for dessert?”
    He glanced down, taking in the view. His shirt gaped at the neck and he could see her bare breasts. The long tails covered her backside. “Would that involve taking your clothes off?”
    “I