Deadly Curses

by Donna Shields

  He had to get her out of here before Ciarra popped in. He didn’t want her to see Miranda or have Miranda say anything to her.

  Why the hell did he care? What was wrong with him?

  “Yum. Did you bring me a playmate? You know me so well, Doctor Moore.”

  Trent stood still, stumped for a couple of seconds. Shit. Ciarra had to be standing behind him in the doorway. His gut churned as he turned to face her.

  “I-I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to interrupt. I’ll just wait downstairs for you.” Her earlier glow had disappeared, her cheeks now pale.

  “Ciarra, wait. She was just leaving.”

  Miranda stood and approached Ciarra. “Honey, I’m as confused as you. But, he’s right. I’m leaving.” She turned to Trent. “Let me know when those apron strings are cut from little Miss thing there. This is what I get for being away from you for so long.” She led her manicured fingertip trail along his jaw line.

  “Don’t bother. I’ll leave you two alone. I’ll be waiting downstairs while you get your cat. Don’t be too long or I’ll leave you here.” Ciarra took off toward the elevator.

  He should run after her to explain how he could never go after a woman like Miranda again. Not after being exposed to Ciarra. In that moment, he realized he didn’t want to be that man anymore. He didn’t know about love. He wasn’t sure he was ready for it, but he no longer desired his random one-night stands and friends with benefits.

  “Oh boy, Trent. You did exactly what I thought I’d never see.” Miranda walked over to the coat rack and slid her long leather coat on.

  “I’m sorry, Miranda. I just—”

  “I won’t mess with this.”

  “Wait. What do you mean?”

  She laughed. “You don’t know? I could see it in both your own and her eyes. It’s obvious you’ve fallen for her.”

  Trent shook his head despite knowing deep down she was right. He wouldn’t admit it aloud though. Not because Miranda stood there, but because once the words passed his lips, there would be no going back. “No. She’s protecting me from some crazy person who’s going around killing certain people. I’m on their hit list.” He didn’t want to go back. But it would mean admitting he had fallen for Ciarra. Could he do admit it?

  Miranda covered her mouth as her eyes grew wide. “Oh no. Even more reason for you to realize what’s going on between the two of you. It’s hard to find love in this cruel world. Stop denying your feelings for her.”

  “It’s not love,” he croaked out.

  Liar. Yet it was, for good or bad, whether he liked it or not.

  She laughed. “Don’t bet on it, or you’ll lose. I’m going. Please keep yourself safe, sweetie. But, don’t let this pass you by. I still stand by my assessment that your father loved your mother in more wonderful ways than you’ll ever know. Your judgment isn’t always great. Just because you have been clouded by whatever demons you have fought doesn’t mean there wasn’t a lot more going on behind closed doors. Do not be a fool, love.” She kissed him on the cheek and walked out leaving him alone.

  “I’m in trouble,” he mumbled to the empty room.

  Ciarra couldn’t bring herself to move on beyond Jack, the only man who had never hurt her. She didn’t want to take another chance, yet Doctor Hunk, pain-in-the-rump, had slowly chipped away the wall she had been careful to build. But, she couldn’t allow him in any further. The walls had to go back up.

  Seeing the near naked woman sitting on Trent’s sofa practically dripping in lust continued to rip at Ciarra’s insides. She shouldn’t be feeling this way. She had been doing a great job at not loving another. Then fate had to intervene.

  But then, everything happened for a reason. Ciarra believed it wholehearted. Why she’d been thrown into the doctor’s world, she didn’t know. Was it for the present, for a season, or a lifetime? She blinked back the threatening tears, her jaw aching from her clenched teeth. She didn’t want to cry anymore. No more roller coaster rides. She was through with the emotional upheaval. It was time to get past her grief. Three years was just too damn long. But, the constant guilt she carried because she thought she was betraying Jack always hung her up.

  This time, the hesitation was a good thing. Ciarra thanked her lucky stars she discovered Trent’s ‘chew toys’ before any real feelings developed. Although, it could be too late according to the slow building ache in her heart. She had to be here to protect him and to solve this crazy case. Nothing more. No becoming another notch on Trent’s calendar of conquests.

  Yeah right. She needed a distraction. She forced her mind to the case.

  She believed in the weird curses and spells. Rick didn’t even believe in heaven or hell much less universal forces at work. If she pushed Rick hard enough, he’d do what he needed to do. Like the magic she believed in, her phone rang. Was it a sign?

  “Hey, Rick. What do you have for me?”

  “We found the phone that called Dr. Moore in a dumpster behind an apartment building up the northern end of town. Jackson had to bail. There was a nightmare of a shooting with a possible hostage situation on the other side of the parish. I’m going to check the apartment buildings around the area here to see if maybe she’s living here. I will keep in touch with the hospital to check on the solicitor.”

  “Great. See what you can find out. I’m at Dr. Moore’s residence retrieving his cat.”

  “Why in the hell would you travel out in the middle of this storm for a cat?”

  “Remember I have a dog? I wasn’t about to let the doctor go by himself. He was determined, and I can understand why. I wouldn’t leave Brutus either.”

  “That’s true. You wouldn’t. Just be careful driving back. Or maybe you should just stay put at his place until this thing ends?”

  No way would she stay here. Not after the whole blonde bombshell episode. Her skin crawled at the mere thought. “No, we are going back to the farm. At least it’s in the middle of nowhere. It’s safer for him.” And for me.

  She would stick this thing out with the sexy doctor. She’d have to guard her heart. She wrapped her jacket tighter finding no real comfort as she spotted the blonde leaving the building looking rather disappointed. But, it would only be temporary, Ciarra had no doubt. As soon as she solved this case and the curse lifted, Doctor Hunk would go running back to the bombshell. The slight ache grew stronger in her heart at the thought.

  The woman was gorgeous. No wonder he’d said Ciarra wasn’t his type. No platinum blonde with a well-endowed chest here. Ciarra didn’t have it in her to strut into her own living room wrapped in a racy laced bra and thong undies. Although, time and again, Jack had bought little negligees she’d been quick to put on and jumped immediately under the covers. She wasn’t ashamed of her body. She simply didn’t feel sexy and was shy.

  Once the woman turned the corner, Ciarra climbed out of the car and made her way to the entrance. Trent came out the door with a fluffy ball of fur the moment she climbed the steps. “I was coming to give you a one minute warning. I’m parked where a snow plow will no doubt bury my car, and I certainly don’t want to be stuck here.”

  Trent was gentle pulling her toward him, and he crushed her lips with his. His tongue plunged to gain entrance, but she wouldn’t give in, even though the shockwaves traveled from her mouth down to her toes. She instantly pulled away. “Don’t you ever do that to me. I’m not one of your now-and-agains. I’ll leave you to your own fate, and you know very well the end result.” Using the back of her glove, she wiped her swollen, wet lips with it. “Get in the damn car before I can’t make it back to my own pet.” Ciarra spun around and made her way back down the slippery steps and across the street to her car.

  The kiss had warmed her core. The electrical tingles lingered in the tip of her lips and tongue.

  Damn him.

  Chapter 9

  Trent laid his head against the rest mentally kicking himself in the butt. Grabbing her and kissing her the way he did had been a stupid move. She drove him cra
zy, going from one extreme to the next. But, he had to show her Miranda meant nothing to him. What mattered to him at the moment was the spitfire detective standing in front of him. He was damn lucky she didn’t swing and knock his block off.

  Princess, his Turkish Angora, had exacted revenge before Ciarra could react by clawing Trent’s neck. Ciarra had mumbled something along the lines of ‘my thoughts, too.’ The sudden move he’d made toward Ciarra and trying to juggle the cat in his arms hadn’t been the smartest one. But, if females stuck together, even across species, he would be in trouble. Princess hadn’t taken to any female friend he’d had over. The jealous feline had to have his full attention most of the time. It would no doubt be interesting to see how she reacted to the beast, Brutus.

  And he was. But from the time spent being around the Rottweiler, Brutus had been pretty laid back. He lay mostly at Ciarra’s feet or followed her wherever she went. But Trent was able to get him to ‘rough house’ a couple times. Trent was sure he had made a friend for life.

  The silent ride back to the farm grated on his nerves. Princess had her ‘talking’ moments, wanting Trent’s undivided attention, typical when he left for longer periods than normal. She slept curled upon her owner’s lap for the last part of the drive.

  Ciarra hadn’t said a word to him. She didn’t even glance in his direction. Her tight lined lips along with the creased brows were a sure sign she was not happy with him. Was it because of Miranda? How did she have the right to be upset about anything? There was no relationship here between him and Ciarra.

  What the hell did he have to feel guilty for? Like a kid caught with the forbidden cookie. It had to be the sudden fever having come on within the last half hour of the ride. No emotional connections were allowed in his rulebook.

  But, as he stole a glance at her, his chest tightened. His jaw nearly dropped watching as she licked her still swollen lips. She raised her hand and touched them with her fingers. His solid steel wall was tumbling fast.

  She glanced sideways and dropped her hand back to her lap. “What?”

  “Umm . . . nothing.” He turned back to the window and wiped the perspiration off his forehead with the back of his hand.

  Her response sounded like a disgusted huff.

  Ciarra pulled the car up near the walkway that led to the farmhouse. The snow had slowed down to mere flurries. But, by the looks of Sammy’s car, the total had accumulated to around five to six inches, which was near record breaking for Magnolia Valley. Someone, most likely Sammy, had kept the steps and one foot of the walkway cleared.

  Ciarra shifted the car in park, but didn’t shut off the engine. She turned to face him. The creased brows and set jaw had softened. “Look, I’m sorry. I don’t know what has gotten into me. That . . . girl is none of my business.”

  Trent didn’t know what to say. A first for him, being stunned into silence.

  By a woman.

  A very sexy woman.

  The longer he sat there, the hotter it became. The T-shirt under his sweater was sticking to his back. A trail of sweat ran down each side of his face. He wiped it off.

  She got out of the car as he’d held his breath until the driver’s door shut. She stopped at the steps with her back to him.

  A whoosh escaped his lips. He was coming down with something, a bug, or a cold of some sort. Climbing out of the car with Princess and her carrier in hand, he made his way toward Ciarra needing to tell her no other woman mattered. The short distance from the car to the steps sure seemed a lot longer. He shuffled, his breathing grew labored. His heart slammed against his rib cage. More sweat trickled down from his forehead and his vision blurred.

  Something was no doubt wrong. He went to speak, but nothing came out. Opening his mouth wider didn’t help either as only jumbled noises escaped. He cleared his throat and tried one final time. The heat rose beneath his skin and the dizziness hit him full force as he reached the steps. Everything happened in slow motion. He wrapped one arm around the porch column attempting to pull his body up the two remaining steps almost dropping Princess in the process. The cat carrier had tumbled, but managed to land up on the porch. Princess hissed her disapproval.

  Ciarra had spun around at his garbled attempt to tell her and rushed to him. Leaning against the railing, he huffed out, “I’m fine.” Finally, his voice worked.

  “The hell you are, you stubborn goat.” She grabbed the cat carrier, put the feline inside it, and set both down near the coat stand inside. “Now your turn.” She guided him through the door. She picked the cat and carrier up once again and headed for the stairs.

  Brutus met them at the bottom of the staircase growling while the cat hissed from behind the cage door.

  “Brutus, behave yourself.”

  The beast stepped aside allowing them through, however he still rumbled.

  Taking it slow, they’d made it to the top step where Trent nearly tripped. Ciarra held him steady. For such a tiny frame, she had some strength behind her to be able to hold up his six-two frame.

  Super detective. If Trent had the strength, he’d laugh at himself. His nephew, Ben, had it correct last night at dinner. She was a superhero.

  From somewhere below them, a baby cried. The single hallway blurred becoming two as he lost his focus. He stopped short. “What’s wrong with me?”

  She shuffled him down the hallway and into his bedroom. At least he thought it had been his. Seeing double did not help much.

  Ciarra held him firm while he lowered himself onto the edge of the queen-sized bed. “I’m calling a doctor.” She reached for the phone.

  Trent blocked her. “Don’t. Call . . . my brother, Greg.” He was pretty certain he was going to throw up. Not in front of her. He swallowed a couple of breaths waiting for the nausea to pass. “In my phone.” He bent over, his head facing the ground.

  “Is he as closed minded as you?”

  Trent mumbled, “Please.”

  “Fine. How far away is he?”

  Trent pointed to the window and then toward the door. “Over . . . there.” He lifted his head a little as she made her way over to look out. The room started to spin.

  “Whaaat aaammm I suuuppposssedddd tooo beeee loookingngngng atttttt?” Ciarra’s voice dragged along.

  His ears buzzed. Shaking his head was his downfall.

  Literally.

  He swayed and tried to catch himself, but it was no use. Pitching forward, his body sprawled out face first almost knocking into Ciarra.

  He tried to open his eyes, but couldn’t find the energy needed. He heard Ciarra talking to someone else. Lisa, the girl with the baby? He couldn’t make out the words with the buzzing in his head increasing.

  His eyelids opened a crack, enough to make out the angelic face he had fallen for.

  “Ciarra . . .”

  Then, his world went black.

  Ciarra straddled the chair close to Trent’s bed resting her head on her hands. His cheeks lacked color. His eyes appeared sunk in. It seemed as if he’d aged within the last two hours.

  Gregory came in from the hospital, which was where Trent was attempting to point out through the window just before he passed out, and said Trent probably had a touch of the flu as it was going around, and he was dehydrated.

  Flu her ass. More like a damn curse. Ciarra called Tiesha back in. He wasn’t protected. Ciarra looked for the amulet he’d received last night, but never found it.

  Trent’s sister in law, Sammy, prepared chicken noodle soup downstairs.

  “Oh wow,” Tiesha said upon entering the room. “He doesn’t look very good. About as bad as the other one. I must say your partner’s unbelievable. He’s over there wearing gloves and a mask. I tried to explain to him he couldn’t catch it. But, he won’t listen to a crazy ape like me.”

  Ciarra rolled her eyes. High time to give Rick some eye opening life lessons. “What do you think?”

  “You should try a shaman or a Vodun priestess. You need to break the curse.” She placed the bac
k of her hand against his cheek. “No fever. If anything, he feels cold and clammy.”

  Ciarra eyed her best friend. “So, you know a Vodun priestess I suppose?”

  “And a shaman. Which do you prefer? You don’t have a lot of time left.” She pulled out an amulet and handed to Ciarra. “Here is a new one. Place it under his pillow.”

  “Thanks for the reminder . . . and the amulet. I guess the best bet would be Voodoo.” Ciarra reached out and ran her hand across the top of his head. She swore she wasn’t going to fall for this man. Yet, she teetered on the edge of a very high cliff with Trent. If only she could just let go and fall.

  Jack, oh Jack. What do I do?

  Her heart ached, being torn between the dead and the living. How had it happened? Trent lived like a playboy.

  But, she could see a side of him he didn’t let out too often. One he wouldn’t really show. But then did a couple of times without knowing, he had.

  Ciarra and he were like night and day. They could never last. But, the same could be said for Princess and Brutus. Yet, there the two misfits lay. Brutus the big baby on the rug and precious Princess curled up near his head, as if they had been the best of friends forever. Animals could teach humans a thing or two.

  “Hello, Ciarra?” Tiesha waved her hands in front of Ciarra’s face. “Where were you just now?”

  Ciarra shook off her thoughts. “Nowhere promising.”

  “Oh boy.”

  Ciarra raised an eyebrow. “What?”

  “Oh this isn’t good. You have fallen flat on your face, huh?”