Kaci Montgomery folded her arms across her stomach and stared out the window. A soft mist fell, blurring the scene on the other side of the glass. How appropriate. A gray weather day perfectly matched the gray feeling inside this room.

A glance at her watch showed Kaci she'd been waiting almost half an hour for her friend. Hannah Ives had shown Kaci into her plush office, then excused herself and said she'd be back in a few moments. That few moments had stretched into a lot longer. If Kaci didn't want to get this over with, she'd walk out the door right now and not look back.

Closing her eyes, Kaci tilted her head back and released a deep breath. She didn't want to hear what Hannah had to tell her. Her beloved great-grandmother was gone and nothing would bring her back. Whatever Nana had left in her will didn't matter to Kaci. She'd gladly give it up, plus all her own possessions, to have her great-grandmother back.

The sound of a door opening made Kaci turn away from the window. Hannah breezed into the room.

"I'm sorry for making you wait. I'm training a new assistant and things are a bit...confused."

"I understand."

Hannah motioned toward the leather chairs before her desk. "Please sit down. Would you like something to drink?"

"No, I'm fine. I just want to get this over with."

A look of sympathy crossed Hannah's face. "I'm sure you do. I know how much you loved your great-grandmother."

Hannah sat in one of the chairs and Kaci sat next to her. She had known Hannah since high school. Hannah had been the wild one, the party girl, the one everyone knew would end up in jail or hooked on drugs. She surprised everyone by going to college, graduating in the top twenty-five of her class, and becoming an attorney.

"You were out of town when I read the will to your father, stepmother and brother."

"And I'll bet my dear stepmother was thrilled with all that money and property that Nana left to my dad."

Hannah wiggled her mouth back and forth, as if trying to decide exactly what to say. "She seemed...pleased."

Kaci snorted. She'd never understand why her father couldn't see the witch he married the way she and her brother did. "And my mother?"

"She didn't come."

"No surprise there." Kaci sat back in her chair and crossed her legs. "She and Mauri aren't exactly friends."

"Your great-grandmother didn't forget your mother. She loved her very much, and left her a nice settlement."

That pleased Kaci. Her mother had put up with her father's affairs for years. He'd always come crawling back to her, begging her forgiveness, which she always gave. When he became involved with Mauri, she finally told him to go to hell and left him. It had taken her until her two children were grown and on their own before she started living her own life. Kaci was happy for her. Not only had her mother been successful with her art, she'd felt satisfied with her life for the first time in years. "I'm glad."

"Now, as for you." Hannah leaned forward and picked up a folder thick with papers from her desk. "Do you want me to read the entire will to you, or simply hit the highlights?"

Kaci pushed the hair back from her face with a shaky hand. She was trying so hard not to cry. Losing her great-grandmother had to be one of the hardest things she'd ever endured, even harder than when her parents had separated. She didn't know how much longer she could hold back the tears. "I don't... Whatever she left me... Hannah, it doesn't matter."

"You may change your mind when you see it." She squeezed Kaci's hand, then opened the folder and withdrew several sheets. "Your great-grandmother was quite wealthy, as you know. Since your father's parents died several years ago, all the hotels went to him. I'm sure he'll want you to stay on as manager of The Seattle Montgomery, but he's the official owner now."

Kaci had expected that her father would inherit the hotels. It made sense that they would pass down to her father. He'd been running the company for years, anyway.

"Your brother inherited her house on Mercer Island and received a generous settlement." Hannah looked at Kaci and arched one eyebrow. "Although not as generous as yours. I can certainly tell who was your great-grandmother's favorite." She continued to sort through the papers until she found the one she'd apparently been seeking. "There's a gold and diamond necklace, a Celtic Trinity Knot. It's lovely and very old." Hannah passed the sheet to Kaci. "Here's the appraisal."

Kaci's mouth dropped open at the sight of all the zeroes. "Are you sure this is right?"

"Absolutely. That necklace is centuries old. It's been in your family for many generations."

"I couldn't possibly wear something worth this much money."

"The best place for it is in your safety deposit box at the bank, or the safe at the hotel. It's in my safe now. I'll get it for you when we're through." Sorting through the papers again, Hannah withdrew another sheet and passed it to Kaci. "She left you $250,000.00 now and another $250,000.00 in trust for when you turn forty."

Kaci gulped.

"She left you several acres of land in Ireland and here in Washington, near Mount Baker. And a mirror."

Kaci's mind whirled from Hannah's words about money and properties, so it took her a moment to comprehend that last sentence. "Mirror?"

"Yes. Another antique, apparently. I don't have an appraisal on it, but your father said he remembers it from the description. It hung in the foyer of his parents' home in Ireland for many years. He didn't know what had happened to it."

"Nana was always on me about going to Ireland and studying my ancestry. I never did it. I never saw my grandparents' home. They died when I was four, so I barely remember them." Kaci flipped through the sheets Hannah had handed her, but the words and figures blurred. "What do I do now with these?"

"I'll take care of everything I can for you. You'll have to talk to your accountant about your inheritance, check on the taxes and any forms you may have to file."

"Yes, I'm sure the government will want their chunk."

"For now, Kaci, go back to the hotel and get some rest. I know all this has been hard on you."

"There have definitely been times in my life when I've slept better."

Hannah squeezed her hand once again. "I'll get the necklace for you from my safe. The mirror will be delivered to your suite this afternoon or tomorrow. Also, I have an envelope in the safe for you from your great-grandmother. I assume it's a personal note."

Kaci watched Hannah rise and round her desk. A beautiful landscape hung on the wall directly behind her desk. She swung the painting away from the wall to expose a large safe. A few flicks of her fingers and the door silently swung open. Hannah withdrew an envelope and square box, then shut the safe and replaced the painting.

"This necklace is exquisite, Kaci. Do you know the history behind it?"

Kaci shook her head.

"Maybe your great-grandmother told you in her letter."

"Maybe." Accepting the box and envelope from Hannah, Kaci held them against her chest a moment before she put them in her purse.

"Are you all right?" Hannah asked softly.

Kaci nodded. "I will be. Time heals all wounds, right?"

"Some wounds take longer to heal than others."

"Yes, they do." Kaci gathered up her purse and stood. "Thank you for everything, Hannah."

"You're very welcome." Hannah hugged her. "I'll talk to you in a day or so, as soon as I get some of the paperwork done, okay?"

"Okay."

* * * * *

Kaci slid her key card into the slot and waited for the green light. A soft click, a flash of green, and she pushed down the handle. Stepping inside, she flipped up the light switch. Muted light filled the living room. Kaci slipped off her shoes and leaned back against the door. Her gaze immediately went to the large window directly in front of her. The wall of glass faced west, giving her an incredible view of Puget Sound and the Olympic Range. Gray clouds filled the sky today, but on a clear day, the sunset over the Olympics literally took her breath. All the comforts of living in the large suite on the twenty-third floor of the hotel pleased her, but she loved the view most of all. It never failed to calm her, no matter how upset she might be.

Not even the incredible view had made her feel better this past week.

Her mood definitely called for a glass of wine. She needed the artificial courage before she opened the envelope from Nana.

Kaci poured herself a glass of Chardonnay and carried it to the couch. After taking a large sip, she set the glass on the coffee table and opened her purse. She removed the small box first and lifted the lid.

Kaci gasped.

It was stunning. Approximately the size of a nickel, the three diamond-encrusted gold knots intertwined with each other. A delicate gold chain, a bit dull, passed through the top knot. Kaci touched it with the tip of her finger. It felt...warm.

It definitely belonged in her safe. Wearing something this valuable would be stupid and irresponsible.

Yet she wanted to. She wanted to feel the necklace against her skin. Surely trying it on here in her suite would be safe.

Carefully, Kaci lifted the necklace from its black velvet nest. She located the small clasp and opened it. Her hands trembled as she placed the necklace around her neck and fastened it.

Warmth flowed from the gold knots. Kaci touched them with the tips of her fingers. A feeling of contentment, of serenity, washed over her. Her ancestors had worn this very necklace. It made her feel closer to them, to her Irish heritage.

Nana would've liked that.

Kaci sipped her wine, then drew her great-grandmother's envelope from her purse. She touched the scrawled "Kaci" written on it. A tender smile touched her lips. Nana's hands had become so shaky and painful in the last year she could barely write, yet she'd ignored that pain to write this.

The ringing of her doorbell stopped Kaci from opening the envelope. Laying it on the table, she rose and went to the door. A glance through the peep hole showed two of her employees with a large, slim crate on a rolling cart.

The mirror.

Kaci opened the door and stood to the side so they could enter. "Hi, guys."

"Hi, Ms. Montgomery," Sal said, smiling. His name fit him perfectly. He looked Italian, with dark hair, dark eyes, and olive skin wrinkled from too much time in the sun. "Delivery for you. Where do you want it?"

An excellent question. Kaci had been expecting the mirror, but she hadn't expected it to be taller than she. Perhaps it was simply packed in a larger box to protect it. "The bedroom, I guess."

She led the way to her bedroom and watched them open the large crate. As the plywood and protective wrapping fell away, she saw that the mirror definitely needed a crate that large to hold it. A thick, ornate silver frame surrounded the glass. Kaci guessed it to be at least six feet tall and three feet wide, and in desperate need of a good cleaning.

She had no idea where to put it.

"Do you want this hung up?" Sal asked.

"No, not yet. Just lean it against the wall for now."

"Will do."

The guys secured the mirror and Kaci walked them to the door. Once they were gone, she returned to the couch. She forgot about the mirror for now and picked up the envelope from Nana. After taking a deep breath to calm her racing heart, she slipped her finger beneath the flap.

My darling Kaci,

If you're reading this, it means I've passed on.

I had a wonderful, incredible, exciting life. My only regret is not having more time with my darling Barry. Ah, what a man. We had 65 glorious years together, and I loved every one of them. If every woman could marry a man as considerate and loving as your great-grandfather, there wouldn't be any divorces.

I want that kind of happiness for you, Kaci. I've watched you fall in love and have your heart broken more than once. Whenever you were hurt, I was devastated. You were the most wonderful thing in my life, the one who brought me the greatest joy. There simply are not words to describe how very much you meant to me.

I lost my son and daughter-in-law many years ago. I hope you never know the pain of losing a child. Having you close to me made losing Riley easier to bear. If I hadn't already treasured you, that alone would have made me love you.

I know you are saddened by my death. I don't want that. Remember my life, and all our times together, and be happy that I'm finally with Barry again. True love never dies, Kaci. Sometimes it has to be put on hold, but it's always there, in your heart.

I want you to experience the kind of love I had with my husband. That's why I left you the necklace and mirror in my will. They've both been in the Montgomery family since the late 1500s. Together, they'll help you find the love of your life. Trust me on this, my darling. That necklace and mirror led me to my Barry. They'll help you too.

You'll meet him on St. Patrick's Day. Appropriate for us Irish, don't you think?

Your name means brave, Kaci. Never forget that. You're a strong, independent woman, and I was always so proud of you for that. But you need love, as does everyone. Don't turn your back on the gift when it's presented to you.

Until we meet again,
Nana

Tears streamed down Kaci's cheeks as she carefully folded the letter and replaced it in the envelope. The large sum of money her great-grandmother left her didn't mean nearly as much to Kaci as this hand-written note.

Oh, Nana, if only it were true. If only the necklace and mirror could actually bring me the love of my life. But I know that won't happen. I've given up on love.

Kaci laid the envelope on the coffee table. The tight lump in her throat refused to go away. Past experience had taught her that once she started crying, she wouldn't be able to stop for hours.

She had way too much to do to give in to a bout of self-pity.

The first thing she should do was decide where to put that huge mirror. It should be here, in the living room, so any visitor could see it. She certainly didn't have many visitors who saw her bedroom. Kaci couldn't remember the last time she'd made love. After her last disastrous relationship ended, she'd sworn off men forever...although she wouldn't mind one visiting her--and her bed--every now and then.

Kaci rose from the couch, picked up her wineglass, and headed for her bedroom. She sipped the last of the Chardonney as she turned in a slow circle at the end of the bed, studying the spacious room for a possible place to put the mirror. It either had to hang on the wall, or it needed some kind of brace put on the back so it could stand on its own. While all Montgomery hotels were built with the finest materials possible, she had no idea if any of the walls would hold such a large and heavy item.

Maybe it really would be better in the living room. She could call Sal and a couple of the other maintenance guys back to hang it for her.

Stepping closer to the mirror, she studied the ornate frame. She couldn't make out a definite pattern in the swirls and curls of silver, but some kind of design existed. Kaci set her glass on her desk and returned to the mirror. She peered closer, trying to make out the pattern. It almost looked like...

Kaci's eyes widened. Surely she hadn't seen what she thought she'd seen.

Once more stepping close to the mirror, Kaci studied the design. It looked like a couple entwined. No, it looked like several couples entwined, in many different positions. Her great-grandmother had left her an X-rated mirror!

Kaci covered her mouth with one hand to hold back her laughter. Nana had often told her stories of their wild family. Apparently, those stories had been true.

"My ancestors were perverts. You never told me that part, Nana." She chuckled again. "So much for hanging this in the living room."

It was the first time Kaci had laughed in two weeks, and it felt wonderful. The long work hours, along with Nana's death, had made laughter impossible. Normally a cheerful person, the lack of joy lately had been hard on Kaci. She didn't like feeling sad.

No more. Nana didn't want her to be sad.

First things first. She had no silver polish, but she did have glass cleaner. At least she could clean the mirror.

Another benefit of being the manager of The Seattle Montgomery included never having to do any cleaning in her suite. Still, Kaci liked to have a collection of her own supplies. She returned to her bedroom with a small bottle of Windex and a lint-free cloth. Beginning at the top, she sprayed a generous amount of cleaner on the mirror and began wiping it off.

The accumulated dirt and film melted away, letting her see the beauty of the mirror. Her family had obviously taken exceptional care of it over the centuries.

Centuries. Kaci had a hard time accepting that this mirror was hundreds of years old.

As she cleaned the spot directly in front of her, her gaze fell to the reflection of the necklace around her neck. She'd forgotten all about putting on the necklace before she read Nana's letter. The light from the small lamp on her desk shone on the piece of jewelry. The sparkle of the diamonds took her breath, they were so lovely. Kaci touched the necklace, awed by its beauty.

Warmth radiated through her fingers and up her arm. The mirror seemed to shift, blur, before her. She blinked to clear her vision. It didn't help. Instead, the blurred effect intensified. Something began to form.

Eyes. Vivid blue eyes, surrounded by dark eyelashes.

Kaci gasped. She stumbled back and sat down hard on the end of her bed. Grasping the bedspread with both hands, she stared at the mirror, trying to see again what she thought she'd seen.

Nothing.

You did not see blue eyes, Kaci. Your eyes are green. The Windex made the mirror blurry, that's all.

Kaci took a deep breath and released it slowly, hoping it would make her heart stop pounding. It had to be a combination of the glass cleaner and a reflection from the lamp. That's the only explanation that made any sense.

Another few moments passed before Kaci felt as if her legs would work again. She rose and crossed the floor to her desk. Picking up her wineglass, she drained it in one gulp.

"Oh, Nana. What have you done to me?"

* * * * *

Ryne Wilkinson drew the razor down his right cheek, removing whiskers and the heavy shaving cream. He watched the razor as he swished it beneath the running water in the sink. When he raised his gaze to the mirror again, he saw her.

The first time he'd seen her, almost two months ago, it scared the hell out of him. Once he'd stopped panting for breath, he'd decided he was either dreaming or going crazy. He would've accepted either option for an explanation of seeing a woman hovering in mid-air.

He never knew when she would appear. He had no way to make her appear. She just...arrived without any notice. Sometimes she appeared in the air, sometimes in a mirror, sometimes in his dreams. He hadn't been able to make out her face at first, but over time he'd been able to see her clearly. Shoulder-length blonde hair, big green eyes, a peaches-and-cream complexion, an oval face. Her body...ah, her body. She always wore some kind of gauzy thing, a cross between a dress and pantsuit. That didn't hinder him from knowing she had a voluptuous body with full breasts and wide hips.

He wished she'd turn around so he could see her ass.

No longer afraid of the vision, he remained still and stared at it. She stood underneath a large evergreen tree. Her eyes were closed, her face tilted up to the sky. Her hair flowed around her face, as if a gentle breeze touched it.

She opened her eyes, looked directly at him...and smiled.

The vision faded.

Ryne waited, knowing what would happen next. Within a few seconds of the vision, he would have another visitor.

Right on cue, the fairy appeared with a faint pop.

"A lovely lass, isn't she?" the fairy asked him in a beautiful Irish accent.

"Lovely."

Ryne watched Shae float in front of the mirror a moment before she came to rest on top of his hair dryer. It must have been too warm from its recent use. She quickly darted away from it, rubbing her bottom.

Struggling not to laugh, Ryne asked, "Too toasty for your tush?"

"Aye."

She floated up to within six inches of his face. No more than four inches tall, Shae had short red hair and ivory skin. A few freckles were scattered across her turned-up nose. Her green wings matched the green leotard that covered her tiny body.

Ryne thought she was adorable.

"She's the lass of your dreams, Master Ryne."

"So you keep telling me. What you don't tell me is how to find her."

"I cannot do everything here. You must find her on your own."

"And how do you suggest I do that?"

Shae floated closer and touched his chest, over his heart, with one finger. "Start here."

With that comment, she disappeared.

Ryne looked back in the mirror where he'd seen the blonde and sighed. He didn't know why he'd begun to have the visions, or why a pointy-eared fairy decided to pop into his life. One thing he did know--the beautiful blonde was out there somewhere, waiting for him.

He would find her...no matter what it took.

a