Page 20 of Heir to a Curse

Yeah, I’d never been a fan of phallic art. But my relationship to sex in general was different than most. I loved men, was attracted to them, but had never had club hopping days or one-night stands. I needed a connection, yet shied away from people. I sighed and took my phone to the chaise, pulling up the search function, looking for stories of any Chinese prince who might have been locked away or mythical bunny ghosts.

I don’t like you being up there all by yourself,Addy texted.

Not by myself, I promised.Lots of people work here, plus the guys for the job, even a cute little chef. Plus a ghost, who might have been a prince or something.

The bubble appeared for a few minutes like she was typing but then all that showed up was:Cute chef vs. ghost, pick the live one.

I blinked at the text.Not here for a relationship.I sent back after a few minutes.Here to fix the kitchen.

And break a curse about true love,she reminded me.

I think that would mean picking the prince.

Not if he’s a ghost.

I smiled and put the phone aside, needing to close my eyes for a minute or two. Hadn’t realized I’d fallen asleep until a knocking interrupted a dream I was having. In the dream I was having tea with someone and they asked, “Will you be staying?”

Vaguely I could recall giving affirmation that I was, though not really speaking the words. I tried to lift my gaze to see his face, but all I could do was stare at the slender long fingers that poured tea for me. Hands of an artist, not a warrior, not a laborer like me. Something in my gut longed to reach out and touch those fingers. And I could almost remember the feel of them, as though I’d done it a thousand times.

“Do you want me to stay?” I asked, feeling almost awake, yet not.

The knocking, a bit more persistent the second time had me shaking off the edge of sleep and rolling out of the chaise to land somewhat awkwardly on the hard floor.

“Just a minute,” I called, pulling myself up and realizing after the day of work I was a bit sore. I made my way to the door and opened it to reveal Montana, another basket in hand. “Oh!” I reached for the basket he’d left me the previous night and held it out to him. “Thanks.”

He set the other one down, keeping a distance, but took the one I offered. “You missed dinner, so I packed up some things for you. I know you were really busy today.”

“I suspect it will be busy until the kitchen is fixed. I can only imagine how difficult it must be to cook for so many without it.”

“It’s okay,” Montana promised. “I enjoy it. Even if it does take a bit longer. One of your men said there will be less people on site tomorrow. So I’ll adjust meals accordingly.”

“You don’t have to cook for my men at all. They can feed themselves. I don’t want you to go to extra work on our behalf.”

“It’s not. I promise. I really do enjoy cooking for others. Keeps me from being too bored.” He looked around, keeping his distance but gazing around the area. “You need to eat. Food is important. I like cooking for you. Is there anything in particular you like?”

“I’m pretty easy,” I said. “I don’t eat a lot of sugar, but will eat most anything else. I didn’t get this big being picky,” I told him half teasing.

He grinned, giving me a shy head tilt, though I felt his gaze roll over me. I wasn’t the kind of guy most men were interested in. Especially not guys like Montana. “I suppose that’s true. Maybe we can sit and talk over breakfast again tomorrow, that was nice.”

Was he flirting? It had been years since I’d flirted with anyone. Or been flirted with, and Montana was young. Maybe he thought because I was the only game in town, he had to play? I didn’t want him to depend on me for company. I was far too jaded for a young man like him. “Tomorrow will be an early work day. Supplies arriving, subfloor and drywall going in. Might not have time to sit down for a meal. But I really appreciate your work.”

He shuffled his feet and glanced back at the path, a small frown on his lips. “Of course. I understand you’re really busy.”

His unease reminded me I’d forgotten to install the solar lights I promised. I’d bought them, since they’d been on my list after all, but been too busy to put them in. Maybe he hadn’t been flirting, instead simply uncomfortable with standing in the darkness. “I have the lights and will put them up tomorrow. Let me walk you back.”

“I can make it back on my own.”

“I don’t mind. It’s my fault the lights aren’t in yet. I got distracted. Let me walk you back.”

The wind whipped up a fuss then, blowing hard enough to make us both raise our arms to our faces. Leaves blew by and for a moment it felt like standing on the edge of a hurricane. Then it was gone. I stared up at the sky, the expanse of it filled with stars and not a cloud to be found. No storm coming. Yet a chill settled over the air that I knew Montana felt too, since he shivered. His eyes were huge now, staring into the darkness, searching for something.

Putting the new basket inside, I stepped out and closed the door behind me, holding out an arm in the direction back to the house. “I don’t mind. Let me walk you back. I think I might set some paving stones down. The dirt and worn grass aren’t much of a path. What do you think?”

“That would be nice, I think. A little less wild, maybe.” He let out a little sigh of relief and let me guide him back to the house. We didn’t speak, and he had his arms wrapped around himself, keeping a proper distance as we walked, but his smile didn’t return until we stood within the lights of the back of the house.

“Thank you,” he said. “I will see you in the morning.”

I nodded and turned back to the path figuring any interest he might have had in me gone. Clearing the rose maze and nearly back to the cabin door, I looked up to find the door to the shrine open again. I sighed and stomped across the bridge. Inside the shrine there was nothing but the sound of water, and moonlight trickling in. It was quiet and still. I stared at Sofia’s urn.

“Are you messing with me?” I asked her as if she were there. “Scaring that boy? I know he’s out of my league. No need to scare him away. The house needs him to cook.” Nothing responded. I sat down on the edge of the fountain staring into the water and for a second the face seemed to appear in the doorway again, but when I turned it was gone. Trick of the moonlight I was sure.

“Not sure I’m the one to break the curse,” I said. “Told you, you should have picked someone else.” I got up to head back to the cabin, securing the shrine door again, and latching it. Maybe it needed a padlock instead of just a latch. I had forgotten I was going to find something to secure it with in my toolbox, but I’d worry about that tomorrow.

Back at the cabin, I kicked off my shoes beside the door inside, and turned to find the basket of food tipped over. Containers spilling out. Thankfully all the food still secure as Montana had used those plastic sort of storage things with snap lids. Had the wind knocked it over? No, I’d put the basket in the house after that big gust.

I sighed and began to pick up the mess, bringing it to the kitchen and sorting out a few things to eat. He’d provided a few cold packs for some of the items. Giving me hardboiled eggs, and some fresh fruits and veggies, as well as a container of coconut crusted chicken tenders and some sort of tasty peanut sauce that I suspected was homemade. I actually plowed my way through the whole batch of food this time. Washed the containers in the sink, then repacked them in the basket before finding my way to my bag and digging out some clothes appropriate for sleep. I needed to unpack and was tempted to sleep on the floor again, so as not to dirty the new mattress, but figured the sleeping bag would have to do on the bed for now because that looked amazingly comfortable right at that moment.

I turned off the lights, padded past the screen set up to separate the bedroom, and crawled into bed. The low platform of it would take some getting used to, but as I sank into the mattress and it seemed to cradle my bulk with ease, I thought maybe it would all be just fine. The curse could be broken, even if it meant finding Montana his true love. The house could function as it always should have. And I’d have a little home to return to in between jobs that didn’t mean moving around Addy’s busy family. Not that I didn’t love being around them. But sometimes the noise was too much, even for me. Maybe that’s what made me the perfect fit for this cursed and middle-of-nowhere house.