Always and Forever

by L. A. Fiore

  And so here she was dressed in a gray raincoat with a hat low over her eyes even though there wasn't a cloud in the sky, to spy on the ratfink bastard.

  It hadn't been easy to slip from Cole but she didn't want him knowing she was investigating Derek on her own. She wasn't entirely sure Gabriel would be okay with that. And why she didn't wish to upset Gabriel, she couldn't say.

  As soon as Derek and his babe disappeared inside, Quinn ran across the street and into the building. A feeling of pride washed over her as she looked at the walls which were painted with murals time-lining the Scarcliff family and their many contributions. She was delighted to see that Archer had invested in Bartolomeo Cristofori's invention in 1709 called the piano and also John Shore's invention in 1711 called the tuning fork.

  Quinn's heart started pounding hard in her chest when she realized he also heavily invested in Thomas Newcomen's steam pump. She had witnessed the very conversation between Archer, Thaddeus and Derek that lead to this investment! It was yet another small piece of proof of her time in the past and she savored it.

  Next Quinn noticed a lovely write up that stopped her in her tracks: Nicholas Archer O'Cuinn Scarcliff was born in 1977 and raised at Whispering Winds before he attended Eton and Oxford earning degrees in anthropology and finance. After his schooling, he started his own firm, Second Chance, that specializes in conservation-restoration of antiquities both at home and abroad. Being the top firm in the industry, Nicholas has made giant leaps in the preservation of our world's history.

  There was more but Quinn was having trouble seeing through her tears. She turned around and almost walked right into Gabriel.

  "What are you doing here, Quinn?"

  The delight she felt at seeing him was completely involuntary and was followed quickly with curiosity as to what he was doing there.

  "Just doing a bit of research on the family," she said, "What are you doing here?"

  He slipped his hands into the front pockets of his faded jeans and rolled back on his heels, "I'm their head of security."

  Quinn knew her mouth dropped open as she wondered why a successful businessman would act as head of security for a non-profit organization. Why hadn't he mentioned that he worked for the Scarcliff Foundation? Why be so secretive? She was tempted to ask him but then he opened his mouth to speak.

  "Well since you are here... I mean, I was going to call you," he stammered like a schoolboy, "Have dinner with me tonight."

  Quinn knew her answer was clearly visible on her face when she replied, "Yes."

  His smile was like watching the sun breaking through on a cloudy day. "I have to work a bit longer so I'll meet you outside at six?"

  "Six," Quinn started for the door when she heard that deep baritone coming from behind her, "I'm glad we ran into each other, Quinn."

  She looked at him from over her shoulder and replied, "Me too, Gabriel."

  Gabriel watched her leave and then waited a few minutes longer to make sure his legs would support him. He was like a man who no longer possessed his own soul. From the very first time he saw her, it was as if he had been hit over the head with a sledge hammer. Even now, his reaction to her was just as fierce as it had been that first time.

  When he saw her on the security camera, he had no control over his own body and practically ran from the security office so he could get to her before she left. And after their all-too-brief conversation, it was something close to panic he felt when she turned to leave because he couldn't stand the thought of not sharing the evening with her. He had to face the truth: when it came to Quinn, he was a goner.

  Back at her hotel room Quinn was trying to understand why Gabriel was acting as the head of security for the Scarcliff Foundation. What was in Gabriel's background that made him qualified for the position and why would he bother? It wasn't really any of her business but she found him very mysterious and this made him even more interesting. She was having dinner with him tonight and she felt a thrill of anticipation remembering their dinner last week; the best date she'd ever been on, well, at least in this century.

  Now isn't the time to daydream about romance, Quinn silently scolded herself and turned her focus on Derek. There were countless biographies written about him and so she read through the details of every one of his archaeological digs, from the very first one. In the beginning there was nothing spectacular about them. It was only after his dig at a Mayan temple that his extraordinary luck kicked in. It sounded impossible but this must've been when Derek had somehow learned to move himself through time. It explained his unusual success; he was going back in time and locating rare treasures that he then buried so he could find them in the future. She had caught him, in Archer's time, doing just that. Unlike Quinn though, who had no idea how she traveled through time, Derek had learned to control it.

  She remembered reading in University about the Mayan belief in the ability of the mind to transcend time. Derek had found something during that Mayan dig. Whatever it was, it had the ability to move not just his mind, but also his body, through time.

  It sounded crazy, absolutely, but the more she was around Whispering Winds the more she knew the likelihood that she had just "made up" her adventures in the 1700s was just way too improbable. She knew things she couldn't possibly know and she recognized things she shouldn't possibly be able to recognize. But with Derek, she didn't want to force a pattern that wasn't there. She decided to call Charles and see if he'd come to any conclusions. She needed an objective, thoughtful person to back her assumptions.

  Charles answered on the first ring and after greeting one another, he conceded to Quinn that he was beginning to understand her concerns. Charles agreed that not only was Derek unusually successful in finding rare treasures but he did so without any documentation supporting his finds. How did he know where to look for something when there was no proof that that something existed?

  Quinn explained her theory about the Mayan dig and Charles immediately agreed to look deeper into what Derek might have discovered.

  After the call, Quinn dropped her phone on the desk satisfied that her suspicions were confirmed by an objective outsider. She looked out on the London street. "What did you find at that Mayan temple, Derek, and what does the Scarcliff family have that you want so much?"

  Getting ready for dinner was hard. Quinn felt overly emotional after seeing all the Scarcliff memorabilia at the Foundation. She ached for Archer. But her feelings for Gabriel were growing by the minute. They were so similar it frightened her. And in the end she knew she just couldn't stay away.

  She changed into wide-legged black pants, a charcoal-gray cashmere sweater and black boots. She left her hair down and applied just a touch of makeup before grabbing her coat and leaving her room.

  As she walked through London she thought about Derek. Charles was good but she hoped he was willing to bend some rules because whatever Derek found at the Mayan temple he certainly wouldn't be willing to share. That meant there wouldn't be documentation as part of the dig's finds.

  If they could figure out how he was doing it, then they could stop him from continuing to time jump because each trip back he was screwing with history. And what the hell did he want that he was willing to go to such lengths to get it? Quinn was pondering that when she reached the Scarcliff building and saw Gabriel waiting.

  Gabriel saw her coming from down the street but whatever she was thinking about was occupying all of her attention. When she stopped just in front of him, he had the strongest urge to pull her into his arms and kiss her.

  "Hello, Quinn. I wasn't sure you were going to come."

  "I wasn't sure I was going to come."

  He grinned before he added, "I'm glad you did."

  "Me too."

  The strongest feeling of déjà vu swept through him at the exchange, so much so that it actually took him a minute to find his voice. He noticed that Quinn looked suddenly pale.

  "Are you okay?"

  She waved an unsteady hand and replied, "I
'm fine." But she wasn't fine. She had shared those exact works with the man she loved nearly 300 years ago. What did that mean?

  He reached for her hand and linked their fingers before they started down the street.

  "Did you have a nice rest of the afternoon?"

  "Nice, no, but productive. How about you? Did you ask any other women on a date?"

  Quinn meant it as a joke but she could tell by the seriousness of his expression that he hadn't taken it as one.

  "I was kidding, Gabriel, I'm sorry."

  He answered her as if he hadn't heard her apology. "You're the only one I wanted to ask."

  Quinn couldn't help smiling and he smiled in return and then asked, "So have you learned anything interesting about Derek?"

  "Only that he seems to be looking for something specific but doesn't seem to have a clue where to look."

  Gabriel stopped walking and turned to her. "Why do you say that?"

  "Look at the pattern of his latest digs," she explained, "very unscientific."

  Gabriel took her arm and pulled her into an alleyway. "I can't get into the Foundation business with you but I want you to step back. Derek's dangerous."

  "I know that. I have a private investigator looking into him so I know his past isn't all that squeaky clean." And then it clicked: she finally realized Gabriel's involvement.

  "Nicholas hired you because Derek works for you. Or you hired Derek because of his interest in the Scarcliff family," she announced.

  Gabriel said nothing but Quinn saw that she had hit the nail on the head.

  "Damn. It's like a sting operation or something. But why you? Why not call in the English equivalent of the Feds? Whatever they're called."

  Gabriel's expression was comical but all he offered was, "I've experience in this sort of thing."

  "Okay, I get it. None of my business."

  He reached for her hand and held it in his strong, warm one. "It isn't that. I don't want to see you get hurt."

  "Too late for that," she said but when she saw the guilt, she wished she could rip her own tongue out.

  "I'm sorry, Gabriel, I didn't mean that the way it came out," she tried to rectify.

  "Knowing that you could have died because of Derek, because I put you in his path, makes me feel very protective of you."

  Quinn was about to say she could take care of herself but, honestly, having this man looking out for her made her feel very warm and fuzzy and so instead she said with sincerity, "Thank you."

  He kept her hand and started down the street again. "Let's eat. I'm starved."

  At the restaurant, he watched her. He could have spent eternity just watching her. He loved the way her eyes sparked silver when her emotions were up, how her skin flushed a lovely rose when embarrassed, how she used all of her senses when she was experiencing new things. She was an active participant in life and was able to find joy in even the smallest of situations. He liked being with her. In truth, he craved her company above all others. And he couldn't explain why. He placed his glass down before he asked, "Tell me about yourself, Quinn."

  He watched as her delicate fingers drew a pattern on the tablecloth before she turned her attention to him.

  "There really isn't much to tell. You know my background, you hired me," she offered with a smile.

  "What's your interest in the Scarcliff family?" he asked.

  She thought about seeing the castle sitting abandoned so many years ago but she supposed, in this reality, that was never the case so instead she said, "They've made wonderful contributions to England and the world and as an anthropologist, I'm intrigued."

  Gabriel reached across the table and took her hand into his. "I think there's more to it but I won't push. Yet."

  Quinn was taken back a bit at that. Had he figured it out, that her imagination wasn't all that great and that the magical tale she shared with him was really nonfiction? She hadn't gone into detail with names when she shared her story but all the same, had he figured out that her interest in the family was because she had lived with them and loved them in their time? Would he believe her or would he call for the men with the straight jacket?

  Gabriel released her hand before he said, "I've scared you. Sorry."

  "No, not scared, but I will say you are a very astute and intense person."

  He reached for his glass, avoiding her gaze, and though his voice was casual somehow Quinn knew her answer to his next question was very important.

  "You aren't fond of intense people are you?"

  "Actually, quite the contrary, I find I'm wildly attracted to one specifically intense person," she said and stared at him hard.

  His eyes locked onto hers as desire turned them darker and when he spoke she wasn't sure if his words were meant as a promise or a threat. "Be careful because once you let me in, there's no going back."

  Gabriel sat back in his leather chair and looked into the fire. He didn't understand what was happening to him and how it was happening but just being with Quinn, being able to touch her again, made him feel profoundly grateful.

  As for Derek, he'd always thought of him as a pompous jackass, but now he knew he was far worse than that. Hidesight was 20/20 and for Gabriel to know what he knew now and to know that he had willingly put Quinn in Derek's sphere, dumbfounded and enraged him.

  He'd been watching Derek, particularly his obsessed interest in the Scarcliff's. Gabriel was surprised that he hadn't noticed before, how often Derek's path crossed with the Scarcliffs. Once or twice due to the nature of his work was acceptable, but dozens of times was bordering on stalking which was probably what stirred Nicholas' concern.

  Derek couldn't be trusted, he wanted something that belonged to the Scarcliffs, and Gabriel was certain that Quinn was linked to whatever it was that Derek was seeking.

  What was it that the Scarcliffs had that held such interest for Derek? Gabriel hadn't been able to figure out that part of the puzzle yet and he felt he was running out of time.

  Chapter Twelve

  Quinn arrived at the Scarcliff Foundation just after it opened and Gabriel suggested a tour.

  She had already seen the main rooms so Gabriel was taking her behind the scenes where they were studying the artifacts found during recent digs -- including some of Derek's digs. The first room they entered was the cleaning room where the artifacts were delicately cleaned before they were catalogued. As they walked past the tables, Quinn noticed pieces of pottery, old nails, horseshoes, a porcelain doll.

  "Are they going to do thermoluminescence dating on those pieces of ceramics?" she asked.

  Gabriel grinned before he replied, "Yes."

  Quinn wondered why he was grinning at her like that but forgot to ask when she got a look at the equipment in the next room they entered.

  "Oh my God! You have an ICP-MS!" she nearly swooned, "Oh, I am so jealous. Have they identified any interesting trace elements in Whispering Winds soil?"

  He was charmed by her unbridled passion before he said, "I honestly don't know. I'm not all that involved in the analysis."

  She could barely contain herself as they continued through the room and her fingers were itching to get involved.

  They reached another door which Gabriel held open for her as he explained, "In the next room are some artifacts that have already been cleaned and cataloged which I know you will enjoy."

  The excitement surged through her; the same excitement she always felt at the discovery of finding something buried and hidden away from human eyes. As soon as they entered the room, Quinn was drawn to one specific artifact and the sight of it had her heart pounding hard in her chest. Without a word she walked over to it and just stood silently staring. Without taking her eyes from it, she asked, "It's been dated?"

  "Yeah, early 1700s. They found it in the basement of one of the old tenant houses. Amazing, considering the conditions it was stored in, that it's in such good condition."

  "My God," she whispered as she reached out and touched her finger to the old wo
od seat that Archer had once sat upon.

  "People are debating what it is but I swear it looks like a primitive dunking tank," Gabriel seemed to be asking her a question without asking one at all. But Quinn was lost in her thoughts.

  For the rest of the tour, she was unusually quiet and when he brought her up to the security office, she was very reserved when meeting his team. After, they sat in his office but Quinn had hardly recovered.

  "What's going on, Quinn?" Gabriel asked gently.

  She seemed almost surprised when she looked up to see him sitting opposite her. "Nothing. Thanks for the tour."

  "Would you tell me again about your dream," he asked, "the one you had during your coma?"

  "Not today," Quinn could hardly hold back her tears.

  "Can I ask why?"

  His probing seemed to agitate her and she answered rather curtly, "Why do you care so much?"

  "Because it seems that it's very important to you," he said evenly.

  "And that's important to you because?" her unfinished question hung between them.

  "Because you are important to me."

  There were so many emotions racing through Quinn. And his innocent comment nearly pushed her over the edge. To look at this man who reminded her of Archer and who she was undeniably drawn to, to see the dunking tank which was proof positive that her coma-induced dream hadn't been a hallucination at all, was just too much for her. Quinn stood. "I should go. Thank you, really, for the tour."

  She started for the door but his next words stopped her in her tracks: "I think Derek orchestrated the accident. I think he wanted you away from Whispering Winds so he would have the place to himself to find whatever the hell it is he's looking for."

  Quinn's eyes narrowed slightly sizing up Gabriel. "So you think he's up to no good, too?"

  "Yes, but I haven't been able to figure out what he's looking for."

  "Any thoughts at all?" Quinn asked.

  "Well, I think it's more a family legend than actually real, but Nicholas mentioned the Scarcliff treasure, a treasure from Archer's time. But what it is and where it's located is a mystery."