Chapter 3
Seda glanced apologetically at Hugh as they waited for the airport shuttle that would take them to their hotel for the night. They’d made it from London to Atlanta, then were stopped trying to get through customs. Hugh’s forged passport and ID card were flawless and he’d whisked through with no problem. Seda however got nabbed by a sniffer dog right after she’d picked her suitcase off the baggage carousel.
Apparently some sealed eighteenth century spice jars she’d picked up for a client still had their eighteenth century spices in them. And then the authorities took so long deciding if she was a smuggler or just an idiot, that they missed their connecting flight.
Instead of seeming upset, Hugh looked around him in wonder as they stepped out into the muggy Atlanta air.
“The sky,” he said, trailing off as if that was all the sentiment he could think of.
She squinted up at the clear, dark blue expanse, the blinding red-orange sun glaring back at her as it hovered just above the horizon. “Yes, we get all that in California, too,” she said.
Even in the late evening it was hotter than blazes and sweat trickled into every crevice, but she was glad to be out from under London’s gray dome.
“It seems higher,” he said, shaking his head. “Bigger.” He looked positively beatific as he gazed straight up at the sky.
“I guess you don’t remember much about Italy,” she said. “I’m sure they have hot, sunny days like this.”
His rapturous expression slid into one of sour disgust. “I never made it to Italy,” he reminded her. “That rogue made off with my money and left me to gather dust in the attic before I ever had the chance.” He smirked. “Serves him right that no one wanted to buy his painting. Hopefully he spent at least as many years in a box as I did.”
“I know you’re still mad, but if I’m right and he’s meant to be with Jade, you’re probably going to have to face him again. Are you going to be all right with that?”
She didn’t like the new look on his face one little bit. She was glad it wasn’t directed at her because it definitely could come close to killing. She prodded him and he snapped out of what she hoped wasn’t a murderous reverie.
“You really can’t be violent in this time,” she said. “No duels, not even a glove slap, okay? I’d go crazy without you if you went to prison.”
He stopped snarling and pulled her close. “I’ll do my best,” he said noncommittally. “I don’t want to be away from you, either.”
A message pinged on her phone and she saw that the painting was due to be delivered to Jade that day. A shiver of excitement mixed with trepidation went down her spine. What if she was wrong again?
Being the reincarnation of a crazed, man-hating witch was the worst. She’d only realized it after the Viking in the painting she’d bought for Audrey popped out and had to do Audrey’s bidding until he realized he was in love with her. Seda must have gotten cocky and hadn’t spent enough time analyzing the dreams she had about the various men who’d been cursed and was certain Hugh was meant for Jade.
But Seda’s attraction to him had been undeniable and she soon realized he was her fated love. That was nice and all. Really, it was amazing. But her confidence in her abilities to read the dreams she had of her wicked past life was shaken. If Jade wasn’t the one for Daniel, she’d have to find a way to repossess Daniel’s painting until she could figure out who was.
She nervously called Jade to tell her she should be expecting a giant package. As the phone rang she wondered if she should tell her to be prepared or see what fate had in store. She had a sudden, awful thought that Daniel might really be a rogue miscreant bastard and all the other rude names Hugh called him. She’d always assumed that was his bitterness at being betrayed, but what if Jade might be in danger if Daniel popped out of his painting?
“Didn’t you say Daniel was a pirate?” she asked in a hushed tone.
“I did,” he replied. “A bloody wretched pirating, thieving, wine merchant.” He didn’t bother to keep his voice low and a couple of people raised their brows at him.
She was about to offer a thankful prayer that Jade’s phone would go to voicemail, but Jade answered it at the last second. Her crisp, businesslike greeting was like a cool breeze. Seda wished she could be as put together and perfect as Jade.
“Oh, hi, Seda,” she said. “Sorry I’m a little out of breath, I’m walking uphill to the house after teaching a class.”
Of course she was. And she didn’t sound the least bit out of breath. Seda vowed to join one of Jade’s health centers the second she got home.
“I just wanted to let you know I’ve got a replacement painting on the way from Italy.” She knew from the way Jade had acted when she was in London that she was in complete denial about everything so Seda decided to go with it and let her think it was only an ordinary painting. Just in case Daniel wasn’t released. There was a long pause on Jade’s side and Seda added, “To replace the one I bought in England. You know, the one that… got ruined?”
“Oh right! Great. I can’t wait to see it.” There was a scuffling sound and then a gasp. “Is it giant? I might be looking at it right now.”
“The delivery people just ditched it? With no signature?”
“Outside the gate, no less,” Jade said, not sounding very impressed. She grunted as if she was trying to pick it up. “It weighs a ton.”
Seda was outraged, then remembered how cheap Audrey had said the painting was. It probably wasn’t sent with any fanfare at all, but Jade could never know that or she’d reject it without ever looking at it. That girl only wanted the best, which usually meant hella expensive.
“I’ll have their heads for this,” she continued, trying not to giggle. “If there’s even the slightest scuff, you need to tell me so I can file with the insurance.”
Jade sighed. “Sure. Listen, let me go so I can figure out how to get this thing in the house.”
“Don’t hurt yourself,” Seda said, wondering if she could somehow be held liable for that. “But yes, better get it in the house.”
After she ended the call she was still livid that the delivery people just chucked it in front of Jade’s gate. The thought that some hoodlums might have made off with Daniel turned her blood to ice. She may never get peace from her past life if she couldn’t make everything right with these poor cursed men.
“Not that there’s any hoodlums in Jade’s neighborhood,” she muttered.
“What’s that, my darling?” Hugh asked.
She forced herself to believe everything would work out this time and smiled at Hugh. “Nothing,” she said, taking his hand. “The shuttle’s finally coming. Let’s go get checked in and then get some room service.”
He returned her smile with a devilish grin of his own. “Perhaps we’ll actually get to eat it this time,” he said.
She felt her cheeks heating up in the most delightful way. “Hmmm. I hope not.”