Part 6 (2/2)
His gaze dropped to her mouth, then back to her eyes. ”Do you know how beautiful you are?”
Her heart melted.
”Too bad we don't have a camera rolling,” Alastair muttered.
”I knew it,” Shanna whispered, her eyes glistening with tears.
”So do we have a deal?” Alastair asked. ”We can renovate this house?”
”Perhaps,” Shanna answered. ”If I can convince my husband. And if Howard will agree to oversee the project-”
”I will,” he said, never taking his eyes off Elsa. He stretched a hand toward her. ”I'm very happy to meet you.”
Her heart fluttered. ”Howard.” She placed her hand in his.
An instant frisson of electricity shot up her arm. She gasped and stepped back, stumbling on the porch steps. Howard grabbed her by the upper arms to steady her.
She cried out as a flame of heat seared the birthmark on her right shoulder.
”Are you all right?” Howard leaned close to her, his eyes worried.
She scrambled out of his reach, grasping her shoulder. The heat from her birthmark scorched her left hand, forcing her to let go. ”Agh.” Her palm was red. Burned.
Oh G.o.d, no. She curled her injured hand into a fist. It couldn't be real. Her aunt had always warned her this could happen, but she'd never believed it. She curled her injured hand into a fist. It couldn't be real. Her aunt had always warned her this could happen, but she'd never believed it.
She glanced at Howard, who was watching her with a confused look. Oh G.o.d, no! Oh G.o.d, no! Not him. Not him.
He'd activated the curse.
Chapter Six
What the h.e.l.l had happened? He could have sworn she liked him, but now she was recoiling in horror.
”Elsa?” Howard reached out to her, and she jumped back.
Her handbag slipped off her shoulder and she grabbed it, wincing as if in pain.
”Are you hurt?” He could still feel the heat stinging his left hand from when he'd touched her.
”I ... excuse me.” She gave Shanna and Alastair an apologetic look. ”I need to make a personal call.” She rushed down the steps, giving Howard a wide berth, then dashed to her car and climbed into the driver's seat.
Alastair plastered a wide grin on his face. ”The poor girl is exhausted. We started the day in London, don't you know. It's been a dreadfully long day.”
Shanna nodded with a sympathetic smile, then glanced toward the car. ”I hope she'll be all right.”
Howard eased a little closer to the car. With his superior senses, he might be able to hear her phone conversation. It was wrong to invade her privacy, but dammit, he had to know what had happened. He couldn't strategize his next move without more information.
”Shanna, I do hope you'll allow us to renovate this house,” Alastair said. ”It would be perfect for our show.”
Howard turned his head toward Alastair and Shanna so it would look like he was focused on their conversation.
”Aunt Greta,” Elsa whispered urgently into her phone. ”I-I think it happened. You told me to call you immediately if my birthmark ever-”
Howard strained but couldn't catch what the aunt was saying. If only Elsa wasn't closed up in a car.
”Yes, it's burning,” Elsa said. ”Something terrible.”
He flexed his left hand. It was still sore from touching her. Apparently, the mysteriously hot birthmark was on her right shoulder.
”I'll discuss it with my husband,” Shanna distracted him as she continued her conversation with Alastair. ”We'll give you an answer tomorrow night.”
”Excellent,” Alastair replied.
”Our biggest concern is the school down the road,” Shanna added. ”We can't allow any mention of it, and none of your employees can go anywhere near it.”
Alastair nodded. ”Understood.”
Howard knew Roman and Angus wouldn't be pleased to have a production crew so close to the academy. It was a definite security risk, but the prospect of having Elsa so close was too tempting to resist. He refocused his attention on her.
”Yes,” she whispered in the car. ”I did touch someone. We shook hands.”
He tensed, waiting for more.
”No, he was a perfect gentleman.” Elsa gasped. ”Greta! I don't believe it. There was nothing wild or crazy about him.”
He winced.
”I can't go home,” Elsa insisted. ”I'm working here.” A pause. ”No. You don't need to come here. Really, Greta, I'm a big girl. I can take care of myself.”
”We'll be staying at the inn in Cranville,” Alastair told Shanna. ”I'll have a contract ready tomorrow night and hope for the best.”
Shanna nodded and gave Howard a questioning look. ”You're all right with representing Roman and me?”
”Sure. No problem.” He caught the end of Elsa's line.
”I told you I don't believe in that nonsense!”
He gritted his teeth. What nonsense?
”Do we really have to make such a big deal out of this?” Elsa asked. ”He seemed perfectly safe to me. And normal.”
Howard groaned inwardly. The truth was he wasn't normal. And if he pursued Elsa, he'd eventually have to tell her he was a were-bear. Would she be able to handle it? Maybe, if she liked him enough. He could have sworn she had felt an attraction before his touch had caused her to burn. What the h.e.l.l was that about?
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