Page 35 of Flirting With Disaster

“What happened?” Sirens wailed in the distance. Jude’s thoughts faded and the room dimmed. The coldness was close to unbearable. “Tell me what happened, Alana.”

“Nayeli jumped in front of Ennis, took the arrow for him and died in his arms, right here in this very room.”

Jude cried, small and silent for the lovers, her maid. Her ghost maid. Such a silly concept. She was a scientist, but since falling mystically and hopelessly in love, anything seemed possible.

“What happened to Ennis?” The urgency in Beck’s voice as he stroked Jude’s hair intrigued h

er. She tried to focus on his pale features.

“Young Ennis killed himself that night. Hung himself in your room, Beckette. Nayeli had stayed in your room, Jude, the night before their tragic meeting in October, over two hundred years ago this very night. It is said all of these rooms are haunted by the lovers.”

Jude reached up and touched Beck’s cheek. “You know him, don’t you?”

Beck smiled down at her. “Yes, I believe I do.”

Jude closed her eyes as Beck held her and sang Hey Jude just for her.

Sixteen

“Once we accept our limits,

we go beyond them.”

Albert Einstein

Jude packed her bags on the hospital bed, thrilled to be rid of it. After a week, she was sore, tired and ready to get home.

She hadn’t seen Beck since he’d flown her to the university hospital in Aurora himself, in his own plane. The man was still full of secrets.

He’d dropped her off like a care package with nothing to remember him by but a bouquet of lavender, a get well card, and a now deflated Beauty and the Beast Mylar balloon.

Her heart ached. Who would have thought a week in a fairy tale castle could bring such excitement and tenderness. Such love and devastation.

The place really was haunted.

She hoped Beckette had found everything he was looking for. Hoped he’d found a way to forgive himself, a way to love himself.

“You’re leaving?”

She screeched and spun, taking in the handsome familiar form of the first man she’d ever loved. “Beckette.”

“We need to talk.”

She dropped her eyes and zipped her suitcase. “No, we don’t.”

“We do. I need to explain.”

“There’s nothing to explain, Beck. I need things you’re not willing to give. God forbid, you have faith in yourself and accept my love and use it to heal.”

He sighed. “I am sorry.”

Jude tilted her head. “For what, exactly? Dropping me here like a used condom and not coming back all week? Or for not being able to love me because you think you’re a cursed soul?”

“I was here every fucking day. I just couldn’t look at how you were injured, almost dead, because of me.”

“Stop being so self-centered. I wasn’t shot because of you. I was shot because of a crazy woman.”

He raked both hands through his hair. “Give me a break here, Jude. Just because you throw your heart around doesn’t mean I have to.”

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