Page 42

“Relax, Rocky. I’m not bulldozing your mansion. Especially since I technically own it”

I leave that website and go back to my original search. Scroll through several advertisements for psychics and other paranormal sites. I find another that promises solutions for any curse, modern or ancient.

“Let’s see. There’s a tea blend you can make with some herbs, but that’s nothing we could try tonight as I’d need to buy the necessary ingredients,” I say. “Then you have to take a bath in the tea for seven days leading up to a harvest. That feels very complicated.”

“Agreed. But if nothing else works, perhaps we could give it a try.”

Poor guy. He might be bossy and arrogant and cranky, but I probably would be too if I’d been imprisoned for nearly 150 years while being fully aware of it.

“Of course,” I say. “I don’t suppose the woman who cursed you is still alive. Or maybe a relative of hers?”

“I don’t believe so. That was a very long time ago.”

“You’re probably right.” I scroll more. “Oh duh, this is like in every cartoon fairytale movie ever. True love’s kiss.”

Gabriel makes a strangled sound.

I turn around. “What?”

“Nothing.”

“That sounded like something.”

“It was nothing.”

I grin.

“Oh, come on. You’ve heard of true love’s kiss.”

“I’m familiar with the concept.”

“Snow White? Sleeping Beauty? Beauty and the Beast?”

“I have no idea who those people are.”

I stare at him.

“Wow. We have so much cultural education to do.”

“April.”

“What?”

“Please tell me you aren’t suggesting that a children’s fairy tale holds the answer to my predicament.”

“Hey, don’t knock it. Those people know their curses.”

“Well, I mean, it couldn’t hurt to try.”

He goes very still. “Try what?”

I smile. “Kissing you.”

Silence. Complete, absolute silence.

For the first time since meeting Gabriel Winchester, I have rendered him speechless.

Admittedly, I like it. I like it a lot. “Unless you’re opposed,” I add.