by Jadyn Chase
I dared to look up at him. “Sorry. It’s a little too out there even for me. I don’t mean to offend you. I just keep thinking there has to be some other logical explanation for what happened.”
“What logical explanation can you think of?”
Now that we stood face to face and I looked into those eyes again, I couldn’t bring myself to completely dismiss what he said. Everything about him seemed to suggest he was telling the truth—at least, he thought he was telling the truth. Maybe he imagined it. Maybe he was schizophrenic. Christ, how should I know?
Jake and Jackie weren’t schizophrenic, though. Batshit crazy—yes. They wouldn’t make up something like this, though. For one thing, they were kind and considerate and just as dedicated to helping humanity through their wacky research as I was. They wouldn’t take some poor, benighted lunatic and use him like this. They wouldn’t concoct a story like this and foist it on an unwitting victim. They didn’t do stuff like that.
For another thing, they were sticklers for science. Their entire fantastical cosmology revolved around proving that things like magic and spells and paranormal entities and all that really existed. They used hard science to prove it and they demanded that anyone who claimed those things existed should prove it using reputable science, too.
They would never say the Sheltons went to sleep for two hundred years unless they found ironclad proof that it happened. They would never dignify the notion that a man could change into a dragon if they didn’t discover some irrefutable evidence to suggest that he really did it—evidence like eyewitness accounts, for instance. If the two of them provided those eyewitness accounts, so much the better.
I found myself staring into space thinking over all the problem’s different angles. When I woke from my trance, I discovered Just Alex studying me. I had to smile. “Where are Jake and Jackie now?”
“They went up to the Castle to look around,” he replied. “They didn’t feel comfortable taking me with them for obvious reasons.”
I jerked my thumb over my shoulder. “I’m going over there to have lunch. Do you want to come?”
He broke into one of those radiate smiles. “I’d love to.”
He pivoted away and walked right out into the middle of traffic. A truck squealed to a halt blaring its horn. Another car skidded in front of the pedestrian crossing. He stopped dead staring all around him in utter confusion.
In a heartbeat, I dove in front of the truck and yanked him to safety. “What are you doing? You didn’t even look! You could have been killed.”
He passed his hand across his eyes. “I’m so sorry, Rosie. I wasn’t thinking. I’m….” He scanned the road up and down like he was visiting from another planet. “I’m not used to all this.”
I leaned back and narrowed my eyes at him. If that was his idea of a trick to convince me of his story, he had a twisted sense of humor. He didn’t act like it was a trick, though. He pressed his hand to his heart and gasped for breath. His face went white and he hesitated to go near the road again.
I studied him for what seemed like a long time. He kept casting anxious glances everywhere. Once he calmed down a little, I took his elbow and tried to steer him back to the crossing.
Just at that moment, a chopper thumbed overhead flying toward the docks. The noise startled Alex and he lunged back staring and grimacing. When I tried again to ease him forward, he dug in his heels.
He panted and his hand flew to his forehead. “I don’t know that I’ll ever get used to this bizarre world of yours, Rosie.”
“Look,” I told him. “Let’s just go back to the shop. My lunch break is almost over anyway, and you should hook back up with the twins. They might be looking for you and getting worried.”
He let me escort him back down Marine Parade. He glanced over his shoulder a few times toward the crossing but moving away from it seemed to calm him down.
I, on the other hand, kept checking him out. If he was out of his fucking mind, which I still wasn’t convinced he wasn’t, he put together a very convincing act. He acted like he just stepped out of a time machine and was seeing all this for the first time.
I made up my mind to do some investigating on my own. If there was any truth to this wild tale, I had to find it. Either that or I had to prove to myself he was lying through his teeth.
I couldn’t believe that, though. I might believe he was delusional. I couldn’t begin to suspect him of falsifying that story to deceive anybody, especially not Jake and Jackie. I couldn’t see Alex tricking anybody or pulling the wool over the eyes of a couple of good-hearted boys.
We didn’t speak until we got back to my shop—or should I say, the part of Marine Parade across the road from my shop. I nodded toward the building. “Are you sure you don’t want to come inside for a while? I have some books that might help you figure out what happened.”
He eyed the thoroughfare and didn’t move. “Thank you, but I really think I’d rather not. As you say, Jake and Jackie are probably looking for me.”
“How are you going to meet up with them if you don’t cross the road?”
“They’re meeting me here. They told me to stay here and they would come back for me.”
“I see.” I hesitated. “Well, I better go. It was good to talk to you.”
He looked beyond me. Then he brought his eyes around to rivet on me again. “I…. You’ll think me a terrible clod for saying this, Rosie, but I don’t feel right letting you go without kissing you.”
My breath snagged in my throat. I realized, all in an instant, that I was standing too close to him and even touching him. I still rested my hand on his arm. I hadn’t removed it since the pedestrian crossing.
Now that he loomed close to my face, I felt the same compulsion drawing me close to him. For some reason that made no sense at the time, I didn’t feel right leaving, either. Something still remained to be done between us. Kissing him? Should I?
Before I could fully make up my mind whether it was a good idea or not, he kissed me. He leaned in and gave me a very innocent peck on the lips. In a fleeting second, it was all over. He was back to standing there like it never happened.
Once he did it, that disarming smile returned to his lips. “There. Now I can let you go.”
I floated away without feeling my legs. I walked toward the road and looked back. He stood in the same place looking at me and me alone. For someone who just stepped out of 1840, how could I be the most interesting thing to look at around here?
I motioned toward the shop. “I meant what I said about coming in and looking up a few things. I think I might know something that could help you.”
He closed his eyes and bowed from the waist. “Thank you, Rosie. It would be an honor.”
7
Rosie
Chelsea parked the car five blocks down the street and set the hand brake. “This is the closest park I could find. We’ll have to walk from here.”
“What? Walk!” Frances moaned. “I’m not walking! What’s the point of driving if we have to walk? We could have left the car at Rosie’s apartment and walked from there.”
I kicked the door open. “Come on. A little walking never hurt anybody. Anyway, it’s not cold.”
Frances snarled under her breath. “Leave it to you to see the positive in everything. Can’t you get a little despondent every now and then?”
I laughed and the three of us set off down the street. A few blocks away, we arrived at the club. A line of people queued to get in. A lone bouncer at the door waved his hands and shook his head, but I couldn’t hear a word over the noise.
His eyes lit up when he saw the three of us. He waved us forward and pushed Chelsea inside. Frances followed, but when my turn came, I happened to spot a familiar figure a few yards away.
Just Alex sauntered along looking at everything with that bemused expression of his face. I guessed I couldn’t call him Just Alex anymore. I knew his name. He was Alexander Lincoln Shelton—at least, he claimed to be.
&nb
sp; He didn’t seem too interested in the club. He inspected the buildings and peered through the windows.
I jumped forward and grabbed his hand. “Alex! What are you doing here?”
He burst into a grin. “If it isn’t Rosie, my favorite witch. Where’s your cat and your broomstick and your bubbling cauldron? I thought you’d be up to your eyelids in hexes and charms on a night like tonight.”
I had to laugh. “Even a witch needs a break sometimes. Do you want to come in and have a drink?”
He craned his head back to glare at the crowd, but I didn’t give him a chance to refuse. I didn’t want him slipping away from me this time.
I towed him toward the club, but he didn’t go willingly. I gave the bouncer my best smile. “He’s with me.”
The guy made a face, but he didn’t protest when I dragged Alex into the noise and sweat and flashing lights. I ignored his horrified reaction and forced him into the crowd.
I didn’t see Chelsea and Frances anywhere, so I steered Alex toward a corner behind the bar. I knew this club well enough. That was the only spot in the house where anyone could hear themselves think.
I leaned my mouth close to his ear and bellowed. “What would you like to drink?”
His lips moved, but no sound came out. I didn’t hear him until he copied me by yelling into my ear. “Do they have vermouth?”
I blinked at him trying to figure out if that was his idea of another joke. I took a few seconds to realize he was serious.
I held up my hand. “Just wait here. I’ll get you something.”
I got the bartender’s attention and ordered two bottles of beer. When I handed one to Alex, he eyed it with suspicion. “What is it?”
“It’s beer—ale.”
He looked around at the other patrons. “And you drink it…. just like this—no glass?”
“I’m afraid so.” To demonstrate, I tipped up my bottle and took a swig.
He curled his lip. “Good heavens! How disgustingly common!”
I did my best not to laugh. If he was crazy or manipulating me with this time-travel shit, I seemed to be going along with it. “A lot of the social rules that used to be standard operating procedure in your day don’t apply anymore.”
He grimaced at the people around him. “I can see that, and it has done exactly nothing for the general improvement of society. I can see that as plain as I’m standing here.”
I took another pull of my beer. “So where are Jake and Jackie tonight? I didn’t think they would let you out of their sight.”
“They went to visit some people.” He waved behind him. “I didn’t ask for the specifics, but if I had to guess, I would say they went to visit some girls.”
I raised my eyebrows. “Jake and Jackie—visit girls? I didn’t think they did that sort of thing.”
“Why not? They’re certainly very becoming young gentlemen and I never met kinder or more generous fellows anywhere.”
“I’m not saying they’re not…. becoming. They’re good-looking enough to have any woman they want, and they are very kind and generous. They’re the best. You really got lucky falling into their laps.”
“Then why do you say they wouldn’t go to visit girls? What healthy young man their age wouldn’t?”
I blushed in spite of myself. “I just never imagined them visiting girls. They’re always so stuck into their research. Then again, how should I know? I never see them except in relation to their research.”
He rounded on me with that piercing stare. “You wouldn’t happen to be jealous, would you, Rosie? You wouldn’t have your eye on young Jake or Jackie, would you?”
My cheeks flamed red hot. “No! Of course not! I’m not interested in Jake and Jackie.”
A wicked grin crept over his lips. “Which one do you fancy? Jackie—is it? He seems the brains of the operation. Then again, I must admit Jake has a certain rugged good looks that Jackie doesn’t.”
I hauled off and slapped his shoulder. “Knock it off! I am not interested in Jake or Jackie, so stop insinuating that I am.”
He chuckled. “Very well. Then tell me who you do fancy. Do you have a sweetheart somewhere?”
“Me?” Now it was my turn to laugh. “No, I don’t have a sweetheart. I’m not really into guys.”
His eyes popped out of his head. “You’re not! Why not?”
“I didn’t mean that!” I shrieked. “I only mean guys aren’t usually into me. They’re not into the stuff I’m into. When they find out what I’m into, they run away.”
“The magic and witchcraft and that, you mean?”
I did my best to pull it together, but my face burned with sudden embarrassment. “Yes.”
“I see.
I found myself peering into his eyes. “You’re not put off by it, are you?”
“Of course not. How could I be when I came to you in search of this information?”
I nodded more to myself than to him. It was the twins, not him, who came to see me. Besides that, he was the first man I ever met who showed a genuine interest in the esoteric and the arcane. No, scratch that. He was the first attractive man I ever met who showed an interest in the esoteric and the arcane.
All at once, I realized we were standing that close again—close enough to kiss. His lips brushed my ear when he spoke in a bellow. When I answered him, I caught a whiff of his smell. His hair gave off a fresh, earthy scent.
Looking into his eyes, I suddenly wanted to be somewhere else, somewhere quiet, somewhere without all these people around.
I waved toward the door. “Let’s get out of here.”
He started in surprise. “But you’re the one who wanted me to come in.”
I didn’t answer. I nabbed his hand and dragged him out the same way I dragged him in. The queue appeared longer than ever, but I didn’t give the passersby a second glance. They could take my place in the club. Chelsea and Frances would find their way home without me.
Once outside, the quiet closed around us. My ears throbbed from the pounding music. Alex shook his head and even bumped his skull trying to clear the air. “Phew! I don’t fancy that establishment at all, Rosie.”
I had to smile at him. “I don’t like it, either, to tell you the truth.”
“Why do you go there, then? It seems you should be able to find some other form of amusement.”
I chuckled. “That’s what passes for going out and having a good time in this day and age.”
He groaned. “No, thank you. Give me a nice quiet pub, but I don’t suppose you have those anymore.”
“We have them.”
“Do you know any?” he asked. “We could talk much more effectively there.”
Don’t ask me why I said what I said next. I just blurted out the first thing that came to my mind. “I have a better idea. Why don’t we go to my place and have a cup of tea?”
I couldn’t blame the beer, either, since I only had one, but I couldn’t think of taking him anywhere else. I wanted to be alone with him. I wanted to talk to him. If we were going to stand that close, close enough to touch, I didn’t want anyone around watching.
Alex stopped dead in his tracks at the suggestion. “Will your parents be there?”
“My parents!” I shrieked. “Are you nuts?”
“We’ll need some supervision. It would never do for a gentleman of my standing to enter a single lady’s domicile unsupervised. I wouldn’t want to besmirch your honor.”
I couldn’t even laugh at that. He really was some piece of work. If he was completely off his rocker, I probably shouldn’t take him home with me anyway. “Don’t worry about it. We don’t use those rules nowadays. Besides, my parents are across the Atlantic in America.”
“Oh. Of course.”
He matched my movements heading down the street, but he kept scowling and brooding until my apartment building came in sight. When I turned off to enter the gate, he touched my arm to stop me. “Are you absolutely certain this is acceptable, Rosie? I really wouldn’t w
ant to sully your reputation by….”
I hooted with laughter. “Sully my reputation! That’s a good one.”
He frowned. “What, may I ask, is so funny about that?”
I got the key out of my pocket and put it in the hole. “Nothing. Not a thing. You would be sullying my reputation as a spinster by not coming in.”
He opened his mouth and shut it again. I couldn’t stop chuckling to myself. Sully my reputation! That was a joke, but I didn’t say so.
I let him in and led him up to my apartment. Was I really going to go through with this? I hadn’t specifically made up my mind to hook up with him, but I certainly wanted to. Shit, maybe I would sully his reputation as a gentleman by violating his body with my base urges.
All that Victorian talk made me want to laugh, but here I was, closing the apartment door behind him. “Take a seat. I’ll put the kettle on.”
He wandered off somewhere. I went to the kitchen and got down the cups and saucers. This might be the first time in English history that tea was used to deflower a man. Then again, what did I really know about his time? Maybe women in the 1800s did this sort of thing all the time and novelists only painted it differently for their own purposes.
Okay, Rosie, it sounded like you really were buying this time travel line. What difference did it make in the end where he came from? He was a hot guy, a nice guy who didn’t think esoteric practices made me an object of ridicule.
I poured the water into the teapot and carried everything into the living room. I found him seated on the couch perusing a volume on dragon lore.
I set the tea tray on the table and sat down next to him. “Are you in it?”
I meant it as a joke, but he didn’t laugh. He flipped a page and kept reading. “I asked myself the same question, but I don’t see anything about men who can change back and forth. That seems the stuff of fiction.”
I held out the cup and saucer for him. “There must be some logical explanation for it.”
“I certainly hope so.” He laid the book aside and took his tea.
