“So where were you, my friend?”
“Clive.”
“Yes.”
“What are you up to?”
Clive laughed. “I’m a man in need of cash and you’re the one with the ready supply. Have some things that belong to a friend of yours and one that belongs to you. How does a million sound?”
“Pardon me.”
“Astrid. She’s in a safe place. When I have the money, I’ll tell you where.”
Duncan felt cold. What had Clive done?
In the background, he heard Lorna’s laughter. “Tell him she’s in a safe, dark place.”
“Where?” Duncan asked.
“The money.”
“Do you think I can get that much in a short time?”
“Maybe not but you can find a quarter mil with no problem. When I have that in hand, I’ll tell you where Astrid is. With the rest sent to an account in the Caymans. I’ll tell you where the jewelry and things are. Lloyd will have a lot to explain. If you’re thinking to do what I figure, you’ll want to help him, too.”
“Two hundred and fifty thousand. Where and whey>: Duncan asked. “He would bargain with Clive but once Astrid was safe, he would think about the rest. Clive didn’t know how much dirt he had on his former friend.
“The beach house. As soon as you can manage. She won’t survive in the safe place forever.”
“Will do. Give me three or four hours.” Sure, he thought. Not if he could locate Astrid first. He sent Jan for Lloyd and tried to think of which accounts he could tap.
Where could they have taken her? He heard a tapping noise from the office. He walked toward the open door and saw the overturned chair. The steady pounding grew louder. The vault! Numbers he hadn’t wanted to hear flashed in his thoughts. He tapped the numbers and opened the door.
He jumped back to avoid the metal head of the cane Astrid held. He swept her into his arms.
* * *
Just as Astrid aimed another blow, the door opened. To keep from slamming the bar into Duncan’s head, she opened her hand. The metal clanged on the floor. Duncan captured her mouth in a kiss that seared a path to her lower abdomen. For a time, she surrendered to the need threatening to destroy her vow to forget this man.
She pulled away. “Move. We have to stop Lorna and Clive. They’ve looted the shop.”
“They won’t get away. Your dad’s calling the police to report the burglary.”
She heaved a sigh. “Too late. They’ve had two hours to get away.”
He shook his head. “They left Rockleigh but I know where they are.”
“Then let’s go.”
“And jump into danger. Not a good idea.”
She pushed past him and left the office. Her father stood at the counter. “Dad.”
He turned. “Where were you?”
“Clive locked me in the vault. If Duncan would tell me where they are, I would go after them.”
Lloyd placed his hand on her arm. “No need. The police are on the way.”
Duncan joined them. He reached for a pen and jotted words on a scrap of paper. “I have somewhere to go. Tell the police they’ll be at this address for at least three hours. They’re waiting for a ransom.”
Astrid stared at the paper and memorized the address. She dashed outside and sprinted around the building toward her car. “You can’t go after them.”
She whirled. “Why not? I can’t let them make off with Dad’s things.”
“Let the police solve the matter.”
She tried to shrug him off. “I’m going.”
He pulled her against his chest. “Then we’ll take my car.”
She slid into the passenger’s seat and fastened the seatbelt. Duncan started the car. When he reached the street, he turned away from the bridge. “Where are we going?” she asked.
“To my house. We need to talk.”
“I’ve said all I’m going to say. I want to go after Lorna and Clive.”
He flashed a grin. “I have things to say.”
She slumped on the seat. “We have to see this to the end.”
“We will. After they’re arrested and they will definitely stand trial. The police should have them in custody soon. There’s no sense putting ourselves in danger.”
Astrid clenched her fists. “We’re not in danger. When I was in the vault, I saw the curse had ended.”
“You had another dream.”
She nodded. “In the vault, Clive shoved an emerald in a working of gold and silver wire. He said the gem was flawed. He spoke of the Egyptian curse. In Peru, his role was as a Sun Priest who betrayed the Inca. When a Spanish priest married Coyllur and Guerro, the curse was broken but the Sun Priest vowed to kill the ones she loved and to take the wealth of the man she loved.”
“Looks as if he partially succeeded.”
But all lived in the Peru tale. In the Victorian story, the father of the original heroine died. This time, no one has died.” She turned to Duncan. “He tried to take your money.”
Duncan pressed the opener for the gate. “He failed this time and he will be in jail for years. The items he took make for grand theft. He failed a second time.”
“Twice? What do you mean?”
“Lorna was supposed to lure me into a liaison. Then he would have sued me for alienation of affections.” He parked the car behind the garage. He left the vehicle and opened the door for her. “When he told me he had you hidden in a safe place. I had to admit I love you.”
“You what?”
“Love you and need you in my life forever.” He tugged her hand. “Let’s go inside and decide where we’re headed.” Once they were in the lower floor entrance, he closed the door and pulled her into an embrace.
Their lips touched. The kiss raised liquid lightning that seared a path to her core. He stroked her back and nibbled her mouth. She felt his erection grow full and hard.
Need bubbled inside. She dug her fingers into his shoulders. Her back pressed against the cool plaster of the wall. He slid his hands beneath her silk shell and skimmed the cloth toward her head. He released her mouth and pulled the blouse over her head. He ran a finger along the edge of her bra. Her nipples thrust against the satin.
“Duncan.” She grasped the neck of his shirt and fumbled for the buttons. Opening them would take too long. She wanted to feel his flesh beneath her hands. She gripped the cloth and ripped. The buttons flew.
Duncan laughed. “A bit impatient.”
“I want you.” She ran her hand over his chest, savoring the ripple of his muscles. She touched her tongue to his skin and tasted salt. His aroma stoked her desire.
“You’ll have me deep and hard.” He unfastened his trousers and pushed them down. After he stepped out of then, he popped the hooks of her bra. He dipped his head and teased her nipples with his teeth while he dragged her skirt to her waist. When he hooked his thumbs in the sides of her thong and drew it toward her feet, she unfastened the waist of her skirt and let it fall.
Duncan rose and feasted on her mouth. The plaster felt cool against her back but his hands were hot and fevered on her skin. He slid his tongue into her mouth. She rubbed her erect nipples over his chest.
“Now, now," she cried.
“Soon.”
When he gripped her waist, she raised one leg to his hip. He clasped her buttocks and lifted her. While he grasped her thighs, she leaned back and reached to guide him. A contented sigh flowed from her lips. He opened his mouth over hers. Tongues thrust and parried. She braced her hands on his shoulders and began to move. He matched her rhythm.
Astrid pressed her shoulders against the wall. She felt jolts of lightning and tightened her inner muscles. As she climaxed, she felt Duncan’s forceful ejaculation. She cried his name and he cried hers. Their breaths came in ragged gasps. He let her slid over his sweat-slicked skin until her feet touched the floor. He covered her face with kisses.
Duncan staggered to the steps leading to the kitchen and sank onto one. Astrid wal
ked to him. “I love you.”
He pulled her onto his lap. “I love you. Marry me.”
She leaned against his chest. “When?”
“Soon. We’ll fill this house with children the way it was meant to be.
She looked up at him. “What about my career. I’m starting a Master’s to become a nurse practitioner.”
He touched her lips with his fingers. “You can work, stay at home, and continue with your education. The choice is yours. We can hire a nanny if there are children and you want to continue to work.”
She pressed her lips to his throat. “Accepted. Now what?”
He shrugged. “Your choice.”
“Do you think we should return to Antiquities and see what’s happening? And discover if Lorna and Clive have been apprehended?
He winked. “I’d like a shower and to change clothes first. I was attacked by a wild woman.” He kissed her lightly.”
“Wild woman loves wild man. A shower sounds good.” She leaned into the kiss. Joy erupted. She was with the man she’d loved and lost time and again. This time he was hers forever.
The End
Books We Love Books by Janet Lane Walters
Seducing A Pair of Blakefield Friends
Seducing the Blakefield Sisters: Double Feature
Seducing the Blakefield Brothers
Seducing The Baker (At First Sight Book 6)
Seducing The Attorney (At First Sight Book 5)
Seducing The Doctor (At First Sight Book 4)
Seducing the Innkeeper (At First Sight Book 3)
Seducing the Chef (At First Sight Book 1)
Seducing the Photographer (At First Sight Book 2)
The Cancer – Capricorn Connection (Opposites in Love Book 4}
The Gemini – Sagittarius Connection (Opposites in Love Book 3)
The Taurus – Scorpio Connection (Opposites in Love Book 2)
The Aries – Libra Connection (Opposites in Love Book 1)
A Marriage Takes Two
Sanctuary's Ending (The Goddess of Solunda Book 1)
Dragons of Fyre (Island of Fyre Book 2)
Wizards of Fyre (Island of Fyre Book 3)
Temple of Fyre (Island of Fyre)
Pursuing Doctor West
Bast's Warrior (An Alternate Egypt Book 1)
Horu's Chosen (An Alternate Egypt Book 2)
Toth's Priest (An Alternate Egypt Book 3)
Amber Chronicles
Shattered Dreams (Moonchild)
Rekindled Dreams (Moonchild)
Melodic Dreams (Moonchild)
Divided Dreams (Moonchild)
A Double Opposition
Moon Summoned
Lines of Fire (The Guild House - Defenders Hall)
Code Blue
The Doctor's Dilemma
Heart Throb
Books We Love Special Edition - Janet Lane-Walters
Gemstones
Choices
Healwoman
Young Adult books By J L Walters
Escape (Affinities Book 1 - Young Adult Fantasy)
Havens (Affinities Book 2 - Young Adult fantasy, Books We Love)
Searches (Affinities Book 3 - Young Adult Fantasy, Books We Love)
Confrontations (Affinities)
Janet Lane Walters was born in Wilkensburg, Pennsylvania on July 17, 1936, reported to be the hottest day of the summer. She has been a published author since 1968 beginning with short stories and moving into novels when an editor told her a short story sounded like a synopsis for a novel. In the 1970s and 1980s she published four sweet nurse romance novels. Then she returned to school to earn a BS in Nursing and a BA in English. Returning to work as a nurse to help put four children through college, she put her writing career on hold. In 1993 she retired from nursing and began writing again. A new nurse romance followed in print. Then she discovered electronic publishing and since 1998 has been electronically published.
Janet calls herself an eclectic writer since she moves from genre to genre. There are mysteries featuring Katherine Miller, a former nurse who seems to stumble over bodies wherever she goes. Using her interest in Astrology, she has several series that use Astrology as a premise for the stories. Once she earned enough money to travel to Ireland by casting charts for people. She has many books in the romance genre, some of them are contemporary and are nurse romance, and others fall into the fantasy or paranormal forms of romance. Interested in reincarnation, she has used this as a jumping point for at least two novels. Two of her novels deal with alternate worlds using a love affair with Ancient Egypt.
Under her other name, J.L. Walters, she has written a YA fantasy series called Affinities. She has also written a non-fiction book with co-author Jane Toombs that won the EPIC Award in 2003 for best Non-fiction. During her career she has received other awards and has a number of great reviews.
Besides her four adult children, she has seven grandchildren. Five of them are the models for the YA series. The other two arrived too late to play a large role in the series. Four of her grandchildren are bi-racial and three are Chinese so the eclectic even invades her family. She has been married to the same man for more than 50 years. He's a psychiatrist who refuses to cure her obsession for writing.
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Past Betrayals, Past Loves Page 28
