Renaissance Rogue (Cursed Painting Book 3)

by Cassidy Cayman

  Table of Contents

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Epilogue

  Renaissance Rogue

  by Cassidy Cayman

  Renaissance Rogue

  Seda thinks she’s found the last of the cursed paintings. If all goes smoothly with Daniel Kincaid and her friend Jade, Seda can finally stop feeling guilty about being the reincarnation of a man-hating, curse-happy witch.

  But perfectionist Jade is already engaged and would never dream of being with a bad boy pirate. No matter how sweet and sexy he is. No matter how much of a jerk her fiancé is. No matter what.

  Of course things just couldn’t go smoothly.

  Will fate win in this final installment of the Cursed Painting series?

  More books by Cassidy Cayman

  Lost Highlander

  Reunited

  Revenge

  Sam & Evie

  Reckoning

  Smitten by the Spinster

  Wild about the Witch

  All for the Heiress

  Belmary House Book One

  Belmary House Book Two

  Belmary House Book Three

  Belmary House Book Four

  Belmary House Book Five

  Valhalla Cupcakes

  The Marquess Mess

  The Lost Heiress

  The Lost Heiress 2

  Endearing (Knight Everlasting book 1)

  Enchanted (Knight Everlasting book 2)

  Evermore (Knight Everlasting book 3)

  The White Christmas Inn

  Chapter 1

  Hugh, Marquess of Altonshire, First Earl of Debbenly, looked fondly at his soon-to-be bride. As she huddled over her sleek computer, brows furrowed in concentration, his heart swelled with how much he loved her. Despite the fact that she was chained to that damnably clever invention.

  Frankly, the thing frightened him a bit— too many images appearing much too fast, people shouting their opinions, so many cats— but it helped Seda make her living. She was almost always on the thing whenever they were in the modest flat they’d managed to find in London. With her being an American and him being all but non-existent without the proper modern paperwork, they were lucky to have a roof over their heads at all.

  He blamed himself for their less than perfect situation, even though he couldn’t have factored being cursed into a painting by a witch. Or being betrayed and having his fortune stolen by his supposed best friend. Every time he thought about that scoundrel, Daniel Kincaid, his fists clenched, itching to smash the man’s face in.

  As it stood, he might eventually get that chance, if what Seda said was true and Daniel had suffered the same fate as he had. And by the same unfaithful witch who’d so unfairly cursed him more than six hundred years ago. Though Hugh hadn’t deserved it, whereas Daniel most certainly did. As much as he wanted his chance to do some face smashing, he wished Seda would give up her quest to find Daniel’s painting and leave him to rot on the canvas.

  Seda’s infernal phone buzzed alarmingly and she picked it up without taking her eyes off her computer screen. He didn’t know which he hated more, the computer or the phone. Seda couldn’t live without either.

  “Seda Baris,” she said in the self-assured way he adored. She was nothing like any woman he’d ever known before.

  It had taken him a moment to come to terms with how successful she was at decorating people’s homes and how in demand her services were. There were a lot of things it had taken him time to come to terms with in the three months since he’d been freed from his painting. But as much as it befuddled him, he was proud of her. He only hoped he could find a way to make her as proud of him.

  She beamed at him and pointed to the phone. Did she want him to speak to someone?

  “It’s Audrey,” she said, poking at the phone and setting it on the tiny kitchen table. “I just put you on speaker, Audrey,” she said. “Hugh’s here. He’ll want to hear all this, too.”

  Hugh suppressed a groan. It could only mean Seda’s best friend Audrey had located Daniel’s painting. Perhaps he’d find a way to set it on fire before the miscreant was set free. Could he do such a thing? The entire time, all those endless years, Hugh had been lucid while trapped in his canvas. Could he really destroy Daniel in such a way?

  Seda poked him and nodded toward the phone. “Hello, Audrey. I hope you’re well,” he said dutifully, trying to hide his lack of enthusiasm.

  “Well, did you find him?” Seda asked.

  “Hi, Hugh,” Audrey said. “We’re doing all right, thanks. Glad to be back in California after such an extended honeymoon.”

  “Audrey!” Seda shrieked. “Did you find him? Were you able to get the painting?”

  There was a long, tantalizing pause. It made Hugh’s lips quirk up, which he quickly straightened at Seda’s despairing face.

  “Don’t keep us in suspense any longer,” he said toward the phone, still feeling awkward around it. It was so odd speaking to someone who was thousands of miles away. Miraculous, but a bit off-putting.

  Audrey laughed from her end. “You two can stop your worrying. Yes, I found him. And not only that, he’s paid for and on his way to Jade as we speak.”

  Hugh’s heart sank as Seda beamed joyously. If Jade was Daniel’s true, fated love, he’d be free the moment the painting was in her presence. And while Seda had been confused before, thinking her dreams had led her to Hugh’s painting for her friend Jade when in truth he’d been Seda’s fated love, he didn’t think she was wrong this time. Which meant Daniel would be once again walking the earth in no time at all.

  Well, he and Seda were stuck here in England due to his lack of paperwork. At least he wouldn’t have to face his once friend, now sworn enemy. And more importantly, Daniel wouldn’t be given the chance to turn Seda against him.

  “Already on the way?” Seda asked. “How is that possible? I thought one of us would have to fly to Italy and wrangle with the art dealer.”

  “Nope,” Audrey replied, now sounding like she was chewing on something. “Yum, it’s so good to be home. I made up a new recipe for mint julep cupcakes and they are amazing. Erik’s whipping up some more right now. The test batch got gobbled up in about three minutes and customers are clamoring for more.”

  Seda pressed her lips together and breathed out heavily through her nose, clearly trying not to get upset. “That’s great,” she said. “Fantastic. But what about Daniel’s painting?”

  Once again Audrey giggled, enjoying teasing her best friend. Hugh remembered what it was like to be free and easy with a good friend. Until said friend betrayed him, caused him to be cursed for five hundred years, and stole everything from him.

  “Okay, okay. Untwist your panties. It turns out Daniel had been sitting in this dealer’s gallery for over a year and nobody bought him—”

  Hugh snorted at that, then apologized. “Sorry, do go on.”

  “So nobody wanted the painting, which is why it was going to go into some sort of charity auction. I guess there’s some trees there that need this expensive treatment against—”

  “Audrey!” Seda interrupted. “Cut to the chase. And quit eating cupcakes in my ear. It’s not fair when I can’t have one.”

  “Sorry,” Audrey said, taking a second to finish her mouthful. “They were just going to try and get whatever they could for him at this charity auction. They figured
people would at least give something for the sake of the trees.”

  Hugh couldn’t help another bout of mean laughter. It did his heart good to hear that the handsome bastard’s painting had gone without interest. Seda had to get in a bidding war for his own painting and pay an exorbitant amount.

  “I just threw out an offer,” Audrey continued. “And they jumped at it. Actually, the shipping fees to get him here were more than the actual painting.”

  “Thank goodness,” Seda said. “Because I can’t afford any more debts.”

  “I don’t mind wiring you some money if you need it,” Audrey offered.

  She’d already given them so much and he could tell by Seda’s sour face that she didn’t want to take any more from her.

  Seda sighed. “It’s fine, we’re getting by with the clients I managed to get here. I made them think I was doing them some great favor, working for them on my vacation instead of letting them know I was trapped and desperate for money. Thankfully, I found this rare antique firearm for a guy who can fix Hugh up with paperwork.” She waggled her eyebrows at him and pointed to her computer. It was the first he’d heard of it so he figured she’d only just made the deal.

  “That’s great,” Audrey said. “That means you can come home.”

  “Yes, finally. I just need to get the gun and then Hugh’s as good as legal.”

  “As good as? That sounds a little shady.”

  “It’s extremely shady, but I’m sick of sausages and beans and never seeing the sun. I missed my cousin’s accordion recital and at least three home designer networking events. People are going to think I’m out of the game.”

  “They’ll think you’re more glamorous for doing work overseas,” Audrey rebutted. “But I’m glad you’re coming home. I miss you. Maybe you’ll get here before Daniel arrives.”

  “I’ll call you when we know more,” Seda said, giving her goodbyes and ending the call.

  She came around and sat in his lap, brushing his hair from his brow to kiss it. He couldn’t believe he thought he’d been in love with the woman who cursed him. Those feelings paled in comparison to what he felt for Seda.

  “I hope you love California,” she said. “You’re really all right with leaving England? It’s not forever, you know. We can still visit. And I think you’ll do great in America, once you figure out what you want to do in this time.”

  Hugh had been a bit hurt to hear that Seda considered herself trapped here in his homeland. He’d been ambivalent about going to the mysterious United States, wanting to somehow regain his lost titles and fortune. But those days were long, long gone and he would do anything to make Seda happy. And now if there was a chance he could still get to Daniel’s painting before the bastard was free, all the better.

  He wrapped his arms around her and breathed in the herbal scent of her hair. “I’m certain it will be wonderful, as long as I’m with you, my darling.”

  If he had any qualms about destroying the painting and making his old friend suffer such a fate, he was done with them now. He would do far worse if it meant keeping Seda from knowing the truth.

  Chapter 2

  Jade Carter put on the last coat of waterproof mascara, missing the days when she was just another trainer so she didn’t have to worry about looking perfect for her classes. But now she was the owner of her own fitness chain, made insanely popular by her line of booty sculpting internet videos.

  She felt compelled to be as glamorous as people must imagine her life to be whenever she taught a live class. Helping people to learn to love fitness as much as she did was the passion of her life, but she rarely had time to teach classes anymore.

  She finally blinked when she was sure her lashes were dry and took a seat on the bathroom’s built-in marble bench, next to the sunken tub. She took in all the sparkling white and seafoam green tiles. Her oasis. Everything custom to her specifications and nearly as big as her first apartment. She’d been fantasizing about a bathroom like this since she was a little girl, fighting for mirror time with her four sisters. Okay, maybe she didn’t miss being just another trainer all that much. All her hard work had paid off in this dream house.

  As she walked through the bedroom, she tried to ignore the empty alcoves and blank spaces on the walls. Her designer had been out of the country for months. Jade toyed with the idea of hiring someone new— especially after Seda’s bizarre behavior in London.

  She’d tricked Jade into flying all the way over there with zero notice under the pretense of finding some of the rare porcelain pieces Jade hankered for. Then she’d tried to set her up with some Englishman who’d supposedly come from the painting Jade had authorized Seda to spend big bucks on.

  Jade shook her head. She tried to put that insanity behind her, but the man Seda had tried to hook her up with looked exactly like the man in the portrait she’d asked Seda to buy. The broken pieces of antique picture frame were right there in the trunk of the rental car. She’d seen it all with her own eyes but everything Seda said had to be nonsense. It had to be. Honestly, Jade felt a little sorry for her, going off the deep end like that. But she was an absolute wizard with color combinations and finding rare bric-a-brac, so Jade was going to keep working with her to finish her house. She wanted only the best of everything.

  “Doll, I’m going to have to miss out on your little shindig tonight. Have to go back to the office for some important meeting.”

  She stopped stressing about the empty wall alcoves and turned to see her fiancé standing in the bedroom doorway, backlit by the late afternoon sun coming in from the bank of living room windows.

  Talk about perfect. Reynolds Whittaker was up and coming in one of the top finance firms in the state, was tall and the kind of preppy handsome no one could find flaw with. He’d gone to the best schools, knew all the best people. His upbringing was a far cry from her hardscrabble childhood. He still hadn’t met her mother and whoever her step-dad might be now, and she planned to keep it that way. At least until the wedding.

  Not that her sorry upbringing was her fault. And she had risen far above it. She did often ponder why he never asked about her family, since she’d been to his family estate dozens of times. Jade shook her head and stopped thinking about it. He was so busy, and really, it was for the best that he wasn’t the curious type.

  She straightened his already perfectly straight tie and kissed his cheek. “No worries,” she said. “The Women Business Owners Guild gala isn’t until tomorrow night, remember? I reminded you to send your tux to the cleaners. You did that, right?”

  He grimaced and looked down at his phone, scrolling furiously. “Uh, hang on. Let me check my schedule again.” His cheeks got suspiciously red through his tennis club tan and she narrowed her eyes.

  “Let me guess,” she said, sounding more shrill than she wanted. “Your meeting is actually tomorrow night.”

  She was pissed and disappointed when he wouldn’t meet her eye. He kept scrolling, finally giving up.

  “Sorry, Doll. Dennis got a new yacht and he wanted us all to have drinks on it. It’s important for me to rub elbows with my bosses, you know. And it looks like it is going to be tomorrow after all.”

  She felt her stomach turn over as he still wouldn’t look her straight in the face. She told herself to let it go, be accommodating. It was what he was used to. His mother was an angel, never saying a harsh word, certainly never raising her voice. She had to get used to that kind of life, now that she was going to be a part of it.

  “So which is it?” she asked, voice rising. “Meeting tonight or boat party tomorrow? You can’t have it both ways, Reynolds.”

  He blinked at her, dumbfounded. “Doll—”

  “I hate when you call me that,” she snapped. “I’ve told you a hundred times at least.”

  “Sorry, Jade.” He rolled his eyes. “I thought you’d rather have a cute nickname than be constantly reminding everyone you have a stripper name.” He turned around and started walking toward the front of the house. �
�Look. I don’t want to fight over something so trivial, but the fact of the matter is, I really just don’t want to go. Do I have to be dragged to every little thing?”

  Tears welled but she remembered her perfectly applied eye makeup and bugged out her eyes until they were dry again. Is that why he always called her some dumb nickname? Come to think of it, he never directly introduced her to new people. Just called her his fiancée. She’d pored over etiquette guides in her constant quest at self improvement, but always chalked it up to some wealthy person quirk that never made it to the books. Insider stuff. Now she knew it was because he thought she had a stripper name. After her feelings got hurt, she got mad. Little women’s club thing?

  “The Women Business Owners Guild gala isn’t a little thing,” she said. “It’s a major, once a year event. I’m giving a speech. You know all this, Reynolds.”

  She’d gone from backbone strong to whiny begging by the end of the sentence and she hated herself for it. She forced herself not to remind him of how many of his things she’d gone to. Things that actually were trivial.

  “Doll— sweetie, let’s not, okay? Just tell them I’m sick or something.” He frowned at her as if she’d done something wrong and shook his head. “I thought we could have a nice dinner, but I’m not really hungry anymore. I’ll just go.”

  She waved her hands over her gym clothes. “I’m teaching tonight,” she said to his back as he stalked away. “Something else you already knew.”

  The front door closed behind him and she took several cleansing breaths. She’d been looking forward to teaching this class since she squeezed it onto her schedule nearly a month ago and she refused to let him ruin it. Or the gala.

  But his lies and his lack of caring about her feelings made her look down at her left hand. The massive diamond ring usually cheered her up when he was thoughtless. It proved he loved her. Even though it was a cushion cut when she’d all but spelled it out for him that she wanted a teardrop. It was still a gorgeous ring, a symbol of how far she’d come in her life. It usually made her happy. Now it felt as heavy as her heart.