Page 18 of Stilettos & Secrets on the 7 Seas

Alex pushed back from the table. “It’s been a pleasure meeting all of you. I can’t say I’m not disappointed. My great grandfather died hiding it from the Germans during World War II.”

“I’m sorry.” I choked out the words. “Maybe Silver was the pirate who gave your grandfather the loan.”

“I guess I’ll never know.” Alex stood and looked down at me. “Anyway, I have a plane to catch. I can say I’ve done my due diligence and paid my family’s debt.”

I placed the clipping and the paper back into the treasure chest, stood, and extended my hand. “Thank you.”

He took it and wrapped his other over mine. “Good luck, Miss Cloud. Seems you have good friends.”

“The best.” I smiled at him, and he left. I sat hard into my seat and stared at the chest.

“Too bad.” Angel cut into her shaved meat. “Going on a treasure hunt would have been a real hoot. Marco would have loved the challenge.”

Caiyan moved toward me. “Let me take ye home.”

I couldn’t speak so I just nodded. Hugging the chest into me, I stood to follow Caiyan.

Jake jumped to his feet. “No way in hell are you leaving, McGregor. And not with that chest.”

“Jennifer has jest returned from a travel. She needs rest. And yer no takin’ me in withoot a fight. Is that what ye want?” Caiyan gave a raised eyebrow glance at the wedding guests.

Angel moved from her seat and cut between the two men. Her petite frame, long dark hair, and floaty summer dress gave the impression of a fairy standing sentry between two snarling trolls. “Jake, look at Jen. She’s as white as a bleached bedsheet. Let her go with him. You can sort this out tomorrow.”

“I’d like to take a look at that chest.” Jake motioned toward the box, and I hugged it tighter. He studied me for a long minute. “I’ll examine it tomorrow.”

“Tomorrow.” I managed to squeak out.

Jake focused on Caiyan. “And I’d like to have a few words with you, McGregor.”

Gertie held out the brown shopping bag. I placed the chest inside. She handed me the bag, and I looped the handles over my shoulder. “Thanks.”

“Here.” She gave Caiyan her car keys. “They haven’t cut the cake yet. I’ll catch a ride home with Cousin Darryl.”

“Tomorrow.” Caiyan’s tone carried a stern warning. Jake took a step back, allowing us to pass. Caiyan placed a firm hand on the small of my back, steering me away from the table.

We exited the wedding, not saying a word. The music and laughter and excitement of love’s first celebration sounded as if it played from the depths of a bottomless ocean.

Seven

The ride home from Uncle Durr’s wedding was a silent one. I was thankful Gertie offered up her car. I needed the time to think, and I didn’t like to lateral travel when my mind was running like a mouse through a maze searching for reasons Marco sent that chest.

My time traveling abilities also included lateral travel. I can jump across the ocean and end up in Paris for the night, if I desired. I could carry someone else, even a NAT the acronym for not-a-time traveler, to Paris with me. Luckily, Caiyan was at the wheel, so I didn’t have to worry about accidentally landing my outhouse in the middle of the highway, or Mount Vesuvius.

Caiyan’s dark waves had been recently cut. The square set of his jaw as he focused on the road told me he wasn’t ready to talk about things that had transpired in the last week. The week before I left Marco stuck in the past.

We entered my house. Gertie’s gray tabby cat stood on the kitchen table in greeting. Caiyan shooed it away and pulled out a chair. “Sit.”

“Caiyan, I don’t want to hash this out right now.”

“Right now. Yer going to eat, then rest. Weel talk aboot other things later.” He removed his suitcoat and hung it on one of the hooks next to the door. He rolled up his sleeves, revealing tanned, muscular arms.

I sat as instructed since my legs felt wobbly and my chest heavy. He took a glass from the cabinet and filled it with water, setting it on the table in front of me before disappearing into the living room. When he returned, his tie hung loose around his neck and he carried a shot of bourbon and a scotch neat. He placed the shot on the table next to the glass of water. “Drink these.”

“Caiyan, I don’t want?—”

“Weel make ye feel better.” He downed half the scotch and sat the glass at the place across from me. “See, I feel better already.” He walked into the kitchen, pulled open the refrigerator door, and grimaced.

“I know it’s a little sparse. Gertie’s on another diet and forgot to go food shopping.”

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