Page 3 of Pack and Forth
Kira couldn’t help but chuckle at Gerri’s dramatic tone. “Fraudster, huh? Sounds like quite the character.”
“Oh, you have no idea,” Gerri lamented. “Just last week, they set up a mermaid with a desert-dwelling shifter. Can you imagine?”
As Gerri regaled her with tales of mismatched couples and the havoc the fraudster had wreaked on her business, Kira found herself intrigued. It was a unique case, far from the cheating spouses and insurance scams that typically crossed her desk.
“All right, Gerri,” Kira said finally, a smile tugging at her lips. “I’ll take the case. Let’s catch this fraudster and save your matchmaking empire.”
Gerri’s sigh of relief was audible. “Oh, thank you, darling. You’re a lifesaver. Literally. I think some of these mismatches might have ended in bloodshed if they’d gone on much longer.”
That evening, Kira’s apartment door swung open to reveal her sister, Maggie, armed with a six-pack of beer and a large pizza. Maggie’s blonde hair was piled atop her head in a messy bun, and her blue eyes sparkled with mischief.
“I come bearing gifts,” she announced, waving the beer and pizza. “And by gifts, I mean the essentials for a sisterly bonding night.”
Kira laughed, stepping aside to let Maggie in. Their evenings together were a cherished tradition, a bright spot in Kira’s often solitary life.
As they settled onto the couch with pizza slices in hand, Maggie turned to Kira with a curious grin. “So, what’s new in the world of private investigation? Any juicy cases?”
Kira swallowed a bite of pizza and chuckled. “Actually, I just got a call from Gerri Wilder. Apparently, some fraudster has been impersonating her and setting up the most hilarious mismatches.”
Maggie’s eyes widened. “No way! Like what?”
“Well,” Kira said, reaching for a beer, “according to Gerri, they set up a mermaid with a desert shifter. The poor mermaid nearly became fish jerky before she could escape back to the ocean.”
Maggie burst out laughing, nearly choking on her pizza. “Oh my god, that’s priceless. Gerri must be losing her mind.”
As their laughter died down, Kira noticed a flicker of nervousness cross Maggie’s face. Her sister was usually an open book, her emotions written plainly across her expressive features.
“Hey,” Kira said, nudging Maggie with her elbow. “What’s up? You look like you’ve got something on your mind.”
Maggie hesitated, her fingers picking at the beer label. “It’s nothing, really. I was just wondering...are you seeing anyone?”
Kira blinked, taken aback by the sudden change of topic. “Seeing anyone? Since this afternoon when we last spoke?”
Maggie laughed and shook her head and raised her brows suggestively. “No, you goof. You know what I mean. Anyone you haven’t told me about.”
Kira sighed. “Maggie, you know my work doesn’t leave much time for dating.”
Maggie leaned forward, her blue eyes intense. “But if you were going to date someone, what would you look for? What’s your ideal partner?”
At Maggie’s raised eyebrow, Kira sighed and set down her beer. “ I guess I’d want someone who’s strong and commanding, you know? A real go-getter who can keep up with me. But at the same time, I want someone who’s sweet and kind, someone who’s romantic and caring.”
Maggie nodded, a small smile playing on her lips. “Sounds like a tall order.”
Kira laughed, shaking her head. “Honestly, I’d probably need two different guys to meet all my requirements.”
“Probably,” Maggie giggled. “Can you imagine two hot guys after you?”
“Sure,” Kira snorted. “I might as well be asking for a unicorn shifter.”
As the evening wound down, Maggie pulled Kira into a tight hug. “You deserve all so much love, sis.”
“Hey,” Kira hugged her back. “Where’s this coming from?”
“I just want you to know that you’re a loveable person. You’re kind and sweet and any man would be lucky to have you.”
Kira nodded when Maggie pulled back. “Okay. That’s really nice of you to say.”
“I’m not just saying it, you know,” she whispered. “Don’t settle for anything less.”