Love & Curses(12)

Calista tensed. The bird. Damn. She twisted to look at him and grimaced. “It’s a tattoo.”

“I can see that.” His fingertip traced a curvy line over her skin, and she shivered. His eyebrow arched. “So…did the last guy…?”

“Ben. Yes, that’s how I met him.”

He nodded, his gaze shifting to her shoulder.

She cringed inwardly. He must think I’m such a fool. Probably having second thoughts already. “I’m going to get it removed.”

He glanced at her. “Why?”

“It reminds me of him, of how awful he treated me.” She shifted her attention to the blanket, heat flooding her face. “He gave me the tat…like he was trying to cage me or something.”

“No one could ever cage you.” He pressed his lips to her shoulder.

The scent of lavender danced through the air, tickling her nose. Hmm…they hadn’t lit any candles or incense, so why—

“I like it. It’s you. Soaring high and free.” He caressed the area again.

She dared to peer at him. “Really, high and free?”

“You know what I mean.” He grinned. “I think you should keep it…if you want.”

Andy Mitchell continued to amaze her. Lord knows he certainly sent her heart soaring. She smiled, liking the way he always seemed to lift her up. Maybe she would keep the swallow tattoo on her shoulder. Relieved, she snuggled against him and let her eyelids drift closed.

An insistent ringing grated her ears. She forced her eyes to open. Warm breath caressed her neck. A wonderfully hard body wrapped around her in a possessive embrace.

Andy. God, they both must have dosed off.

Too boneless to move, she sighed. Let the answering machine take a message. A short beep clipped the air.

“Calista. Calista, pick up, I know you’re there,” came her aunt’s hysterical voice. “Oh dear gods, baby girl. Pick up the phone. Death is after you.”





Chapter Six



Calista’s eyes shot open. Oh, Lord, it was her Aunt Nadya. The woman meant well, but she was crazier than a bed bug. Wanting to get to the phone before Andy heard any more of her aunt’s ravings, she scrambled to untangle herself from his legs and the comforter wrapped around both their bodies.

Managing to slip free, she reached for the phone, but her right foot snagged the end of the blanket. She tumbled to the floor face first, her naked skin smacking the hardwood with a resounding thud. Wincing, she squinted through the semi-darkness at her hand. Well, at least she’d grabbed the receiver on her way down. She held it to her ear.

“Auntie?” She sucked in a breath while the woman babbled in her ear. “Slow down, Auntie. What has you so worked up?”

“Oh, Cece. Thank the gods you answered. You must come to me immediately. And be aware of your surroundings. Take no chances. Hurry.”

Calista shoved to her feet and walked down the hallway to the bathroom, so she wouldn’t disturb Andy. “Auntie, its dark out, and I have company.” Grabbing a robe from the hook on the back of the door, she shrugged it on. “Tomorrow is Sunday, I’ll come see you after mass.”

“Tomorrow could be too late. I’ve done an awful thing, and we must work together to find a way to make this right. Death is after you, child.”

She rubbed her forehead. Her aunt had always fancied herself a Gypsy and dabbled in the use of spells and magic. It was her ancestry, she’d claimed. Calista had never believed any of the hocus-pocus. However, she’d always loved her aunt dearly and indulged her, pretending to go along with her fantasies. But death being after her? Too much. “What are you talking about?”

“You remember my friend Tobias?”

“The street vendor?”

“Yes. He told me of your two near misses with death, and so I have a confession to—”

“They were accidents. That’s all. I’m fine, so stop worrying.” She peered down the shadowy hallway, the dark outline of the couch visible from the moonlight glazing the window. “Besides, I have my very own guardian angel.”

“You don’t understand. I cursed your Ben. I used my gifts for evil, and now it is coming back at you.” She moaned, a dreadful sound laden with regret. “You are being punished for my wickedness. You must come to me, so I can protect you while I find a solution.”

Anger surged along her nerves. Damn Ben for everything. “First of all, he’s not my Ben, nor was he ever. You should have stayed away from him. Second, I don’t believe in all this stuff, Auntie. I had two accidents. That’s it. Please stop this nonsense.”

“Are you sure it’s nonsense, Calista? Have you had any other accidents in the past two days? Something you might have brushed off as a misstep?” A reproachful tsk-tsk snapped across the line. “And you do believe. I know you do. You have the gifts within you, running through your veins. If you’d only embrace them, you’d see the truth yourself.”