Chapter 12
Jade rolled over to a blinding beam of sunlight streaming through an opening in the blackout curtains. She was in the Aristocrat Hotel, the nicest hotel in Annabel. In bed with Daniel. His arm was thrown across her stomach and she managed to turn enough without waking him to look at him. Warm sensations and delicious memories gushed through her at the sight of his bare chest and brawny shoulders.
She had about thirty seconds to bask in those memories before a guilt storm blew in and battered her with self-recriminations. She slithered out from under Daniel’s arm and got out of bed, wrapping herself in the hotel robe, which had managed to end up across a chair. She tried to blot out the images of the clothing trail that had led her to the truth about Reynolds by feasting her eyes on Daniel’s sleeping form again.
She had absolutely nothing to feel guilty about.
Her phone had dozens of messages waiting for her and she groaned, knowing she had to have missed at least one meeting. She sent a quick email to her assistant telling her to beg everyone’s pardon, but she needed a personal day.
She finally had messages galore from Reynolds and she deleted them all without reading them. She accidentally caught the word doll in one of them and nearly woke Daniel with her feral growl.
“What’s this?” she said, sitting down. There were several very long messages from Reynolds’ boss. “Holy cow, he didn’t.”
But he did. She read through them all, feeling sick and sorry for both herself and Reynolds’ boss for having been involved with two such rotten people.
It turned out the random screw was not only the wife of the big boss, but she was also a VP at Daniel’s company. What a mess. Jade was glad to be out of it, and cleanly. She didn’t care about the few personal things she had at his apartment. Now she knew why he never wanted any signs of her around. She highly doubted the VP was his only paramour.
“Are you all right?” Daniel asked. He sat up and the sheet slipped down, revealing lots of rippling abs. Concern etched his sleepy face.
“Yes,” she said, meaning it. She took off her ring and put it in her purse.
He beamed. “You’re done with him, then?” he asked hopefully.
“Yes,” she repeated.
“That’s wonderful news.”
She held out her hand to keep him from continuing. She didn’t like where things were clearly heading. She didn’t like that she was about to break Daniel’s heart while getting hers broken all over again. But she needed to figure things out. Like why she had allowed Reynolds to treat her so badly for so long. Was she the kind of person who needed to be in a relationship even if it was toxic?
She knew she put too much importance on the fact that Reynolds was from a “good” family and had the “right” connections. Even as she hated herself for it, she knew she valued those things, only wanting to get as far away from her messed up, low class upbringing as she could. Even though she didn’t care about Reynolds anymore, it was going to hurt her pride when everyone she knew found out.
Her relationship with Reynolds had somehow become the better part of her identity. And she didn’t want that. She didn’t want to be the kind of person who jumped into a new relationship the second the old one ended, either. Her mother couldn’t go three months without being married and it had caused her and all her children nothing but misery.
“I’m sorry, Daniel, but it’s not wonderful news.” Her voice broke and she coughed to try and hide it. She blinked back the tears and gathered her resolve. “I can’t be with you.”
“But why not? If you’re free of that fool, why not?”
“I’m not free of some other things,” she said. “I want to be. I hope to be one day, but I’m not now. That’s why. You have to go and forget about me.”
He shook his head. “I don’t have to heed your commands anymore. I realized it last night.” He turned away. “Though I did what you said to please you. And because it pleased me as well.”
Her face heated up and her body yearned to take back what she said, forget about self discovery. What was so important about loving herself when someone like Daniel loved her enough for the both of them?
“Then I’ll ask you instead of command you. Will you please go and forget about me?”
He was silent for so long, she turned back to face him, not sure she could ask again. His fists were clenched at his side and his chest heaved. At her glance, he let out a gusty sigh.
“I’ll go, but I won’t forget about you. Never. Not if I somehow live another five hundred years.”
A whimper escaped her and she flapped for her purse. “Let me give you some money.”
“Please don’t insult me, Jade.”
Now it was painful and awkward, but how could she let him go out into a world he was ill-equipped for? Her wretched heart tried to convince her he could stay in her house while she healed and put her life back together.
“It’s nothing to me to help you get started out there,” she said, knowing the words were wrong the second they were uttered.
“I will only ask you to please call your friend Seda and tell her where I am. Hugh may still be angry at me, but we were like brothers growing up. I’m sure I can stay with Hugh.”
“Yes, that’s perfect.”
She set it all up while he got dressed, feeling like ice had replaced her blood when he headed to the door to leave. She followed him to say goodbye, not certain it wouldn’t kill her.
“Let’s be together,” he said quietly, almost knocking her off her feet with that cruel request.
Yes, her heart screamed. But her mind was made up. She couldn’t trust her feelings, they’d lied to her before. You’re wrong! Daniel is the one, her heart tried one more time.
“Goodbye Daniel,” she said, holding open her arms for a hug.
He shook his head. “I won’t say goodbye.”
And he wouldn’t hug her, either. He walked out the door, letting it quietly click shut behind him. She sank to the floor and cried into the plush bathrobe.
***
Daniel sat in the hotel lobby feeling like an abandoned orphan. Every fiber of his being wanted him to run back up the stairs, fall to Jade’s feet and beg her to let him stay. He would continue cleaning her pool and cooking her meals, if only to get a glimpse of her each day.
But Jade didn’t want him. He sat staring dully out the revolving front doors, waiting for Hugh to pick him up. He was supposed to be the one to rescue Hugh, but now he was the one being rescued. Yes, it hurt his pride. That pain wasn’t as great as the pain that wrapped around his heart, threatening to stop it.
Hugh finally bumbled his way through the revolving door, looking harassed as it threatened to continue going around with him still in it. Daniel would have laughed if he had any laughter left in him. And if the same thing hadn’t almost happened to him the night before. He’d laughed then, with Jade, delighted to keep experiencing new things with her.
“Come along,” Hugh said sourly. “Seda is what she calls double parked. It’s apparently not a good thing.”
Daniel dragged behind, loath to leave Jade, despondent about being dependent on Hugh, but having no other choices. In the car, Seda pointed out how to put his seatbelt on, explaining it was to keep him from flying through the windshield should she crash.
“And there’s a fine if a cop sees you without it,” she added, not at all concerned about this seemingly inevitable crash.
“I’m positive I didn’t have to wear this uncomfortable harness in the taxi last night,” he groused.
“Your driver was probably irresponsible,” Seda said. “Nobody’s dying in my car, nope.”
Daniel put his head in his hands. He’d been out on the ocean in the roughest storms and never been seasick, but these modern vehicles made him feel like his insides were being bounced to pieces.
“It will all be fine,” Hugh said gruffly.
Daniel shrugged. “It’s only the movement of the car,” he said.
Seda turned around and gawked at him. Alarming, since she was driving. “Are you saying you’re not brokenhearted at Jade sending you away?”
“Seda, love, do you have to be so straightforward?” Hugh asked quietly, but not so quietly that Daniel didn’t hear. Hugh’s pity was just more acid burning away in his stomach.
“I’m only trying to see if I was wrong again.” She turned around once more. “Was anyone else at the house when you came out of the painting?”
“Please watch the road,” he snapped. “And why are you asking me such questions?”
She faced the front and glanced back at him through the little looking glass that hung from the roof. He set his teeth, determined not to yell at the person whose hospitality he now relied on, but did she not understand that she needed to watch the road while at the helm of this racing death trap?
“The only reason any of you came out of the paintings is because you were in the presence of your fated true love. The only reason.”
Her words poked at his tender heart. He’d known he was in love with Jade. Was fate so cruel as to make him love someone who didn’t love him in return?
“Let it go, Seda,” Hugh said, seeing his anguish. “It will work out if it’s meant to. And if it’s not, he’s still free. That’s all you’re responsible for.”
“What do you mean, that’s all she’s responsible for?” Daniel asked.
Seda did something to make the car lurch and she looked anxiously at Hugh. “Yes, well, about that,” she said.
“It’s none of your affair,” Hugh thundered.
Daniel had only asked his question to get Seda to stop badgering him but this odd reaction chiseled through his self-pity and curiosity flared.
“If it has to do with me, it certainly is,” Daniel said. “How is it that you know so much about the curses that were set upon us?”
Seda put her hand on Hugh’s arm and looked back at him. With a deep sigh, she pulled into a side street and parked beside the curb.
“You may want to get out after I explain things,” she said sadly. “The reason I know so much about the curses is because I’m the one who placed them.”
Before Daniel could digest this bizarre information, Hugh whipped around and pinned his shoulder to the car seat. “Do not think of retaliating,” he said menacingly.
Daniel blinked, too confused to have thoughts of revenge. How was it possible? Was the wicked creature immortal? And why was Hugh still in love with her?
“How could you possibly forgive her?” he asked. It was the only question that could get past the dazed jumble of thoughts crashing around in his head.
“Have you heard of reincarnation?” Seda asked, twisting in her seat. “Hugh, let him go, he’s not going to kill me. Are you?” She said it only half jokingly. He shook his head and Hugh released him. “It’s a belief— well, I know it to be true— that a person’s consciousness can continue on after they die, by being reborn in a different body. Most people never remember their past lives.” She shook her head disgustedly. “Unfortunately, I happened to remember this particular past life and all the nasty things she did.”
“It’s fortunate for us, darling,” Hugh said, looking at her lovingly before turning to Daniel. “She found our paintings and rescued us by matching us with our true loves. It seems the witch had a twisted sense of humor.”
“True love is what freed me?” Daniel asked. He didn’t feel angry with Seda. It was clear she didn’t want the witch’s memories. And Hugh was right. It was the very best fortune that she’d found them. “But there must be another reason. Jade and I aren’t in love.” It hurt to say the words.
Seda put her head in her hands for a moment before restarting the car. “I just don’t understand it,” she said. “You’re sure you’re not yearning to be with her?”
He was yearning to be with her but he’d roll out of the moving vehicle before admitting it. He gave her a haughty look until she faced the road.
“Perhaps the witch cursed Daniel differently,” Hugh said when Seda kept muttering and shaking her head. “It’s clear he has no feelings for Jade.”
“No feelings whatsoever?” Seda demanded.
He’d be a cold-hearted bastard to say he had no feelings whatsoever and she’d never believe him.
“I only worry because of the escaped convicts in her neighborhood. She’ll be all alone,” Daniel said.
Seda infuriatingly looked back again. “Those guys were caught early this morning. She should be fine.” She gave him a long, searching look, as if daring him to admit he was more than concerned.
“Well, that’s good, then.” He looked out the window silently for the rest of the ride.
They pulled into a tidy house near the beach, albeit quite a way down the beach from Jade. He stood on the back deck and looked at the cliffs in the distance, still beautiful despite the fact they’d nearly stolen Jade from him. He shaded his eyes and tried to make out which of the houses dotting the craggy hillside was hers, but he couldn’t and eventually gave up.
Hugh brought him a plate with a sandwich on it, turkey and avocado, the same as what Jade had first made for him. Even the simple repast made his chest constrict. He pushed the plate aside.
“Don’t be a fool,” Hugh said. “Eat.”
“I’m grateful for your kindness,” Daniel said dully. “I’ll endeavor to be out from under your feet as soon as I can.”
“Stop being a ninny. You’re welcome to stay. Seda would have a fit if you left before she thought you were ready. And believe me, you’re not. I’ve been in this time three months and only just procured the necessary papers to gain employment. It’s a convoluted time, my friend.”
Daniel was pleased that Hugh had called him friend once more and took a bite of the sandwich. “Seda was right. I am heartbroken.”
“I’m sorry for it, but think of the alternative.”
He shuddered. Being in the painting. Was this pain worse than the five hundred years of solitary torture he’d been forced to endure? He honestly wasn’t sure at the moment.
“Will you help me procure these papers one needs to work?” he asked.
He was alive. Even though Jade’s rejection felt like it would kill him, it hadn’t yet. He had to do something to keep the pain at bay.
“Certainly. Seda’s already contacted the man who did mine. He’s a crime boss in London, very important.”
“Crime boss, eh? Sounds intriguing. You really don’t want to go back to our old ways? We had some good times, Hugh. Made a fortune.”
Hugh gave him a downright filthy glare. “I do not. We will make our fortunes the honest way in this time. I no longer have my titles to protect us.”
“Very well. I’m honestly grateful to you and Seda for helping me. It’s very kind.”
“It’s not kindness. I have to make sure you can pay back the gold you stole from me,” he said with only a hint of a smile.
It was a start. He wasn’t with the love of his life, but he was with friends. He’d have to make the most of his second chance.