5. CHAPTER 5
CHAPTER 5
F our hours? Cure her psychic curse in four hours? Explore an alternate universe in four hours? How could anything be accomplished in four freaking hours? Hell, the man of her waking dreams was currently giving her his broad back as he walked away.
Lexi’s prescience had somehow veered way off the map. And tonight, there was no relief in that thought.
She checked her wrist. Now more like three and a half hours. “I don’t understand. Why are we limited to a four-hour visit?”
“Because that’s how long the effects of the musical tones will last.” Margot led the way toward the front of the club. “Somehow the music changes our body’s vibrational frequency to match this universe. For four hours we’ll be in phase with this world, and out of sync with our own.”
“Kind of like that episode in Star Trek where two of the characters were out of phase with everyone else and no one could see them.”
Margot rolled her eyes. “I don’t watch Star Trek , Lex.” She stopped to check her lipstick and hair in the closest wall mirror. “Now, ask me anything about The Bachelor and I’m your Google.”
Lexi examined her hands, spreading her fingers and flipping her palms over a couple times. “So, we’re really physically standing here? It’s not just our minds that are traveling? Like astral travel or something? ”
“Yes, yes. You with your curious brain.” Margot looped her arm through Lexi’s and continued their stroll through the club. The sounds of Beethoven floated from one of the study rooms—her favorite symphony, in fact. “Look, if someone were to walk into Taco Shots right now, they’d find an empty bar. When the tones started, and our bodies began vibrating in tune with this universe and not ours, our world slipped away, and we crossed over to… the other side .” She wiggled her fingers with spooky glee in Lexi’s face. “Of course, to the people here it’s just their own regular Philadelphia, and we’re the otherworldly visitors.”
“So, what happens when time’s up? Do they send us back with more music?”
Margot became distracted and restless, and her attention shifted toward scanning the room. “They can do it that way. Usually they just let us fade back naturally when the vibrations wear off. They’ll chime three bells, reminding us to go back to the study room we came in from so we’re in a safe spot.”
“Safe spot?” Margot’s inattention began to grate on Lexi’s nerves. She touched her arm. “Hey.”
“Sorry.” She whipped her head back toward Lexi. “I’m watching for Matt to show up. He always comes over after everyone else once he’s had a chance to lock down his end. But yeah, the layout and architectures of the two Philadelphia’s aren’t the same, at least not anymore. The really old buildings tend to match up, but the histories have diverged over time. You might be standing in a meadow here, but fade back into a four-lane highway on our side. Not so good.” She shrugged, but the thought sent a chill up Lexi’s spine. “There’s a couple places in the two clubs—the study room where we entered, and Matthew’s and Gideon’s offices—that have been purposely designed to match up for smooth portal travel. You won’t slam into any furniture or random people that way. ”
A sudden smile lit Margot’s face. “I heard that once, one of our people stayed too long in a shop here and didn’t make it back to Gideon’s club in time. He faded back right into someone’s bedroom in our world. Got the cops called on him. I can’t imagine what story he gave them.”
Lexi shook her head, the idea both amusing and horrifying. It also reminded her that there was a whole world outside the salon’s doors for her to see, and she was running out of time to do so.
“What’s the plan? Can we go exploring now?” Even to her own ears she sounded like a little kid tugging on her mom’s sleeve, but time was fleeting. She planned to cram as much sight-seeing into this fantasy night as possible. And she had no intentions of being late for her return to the club.
A memory of her recurring vision, the one where she looked at her wrist timer and knew she was late, flashed before her mind’s eye. She pressed her lips tight and silently vowed to make it a non-issue. She had to have control of that much, at least.
Margot checked her platinum wristwatch for the umpteenth time and began to pace. “We can, but I need to…” She stopped, swiveling her head toward the front doors, then back toward the depths of club, squinting her eyes as she peered through the crowd.
“Are you worried about something? Is it Matthew or—”
“Tell you what, baby doll,” Margot cut her off, flipping on a bright smile. “Why don’t you go ahead without me for a few minutes. The bartender will exchange your money for some of their currency and you can go explore on your own a little bit.”
“Really? Gideon said we needed an escort to go out and—”
She waved off the idea. “Matt and I will be your escorts, and you’ll only be out there alone for a few minutes. Seriously, it’s not that different a world. Market Street is Market Street in both places. In fact, there’s an awesome clothing shop right next door. Go check out their super cool calfskin leggings or some of those knee-high boots, and I’ll come find you there in about fifteen minutes. You’ll be fine. Okay, doll?”
Before she could respond, Margot gave her a peck on the cheek and strode off toward the back of the salon.
Well, okay then. Lexi looked toward the bartender, but didn’t bother with a currency exchange. With her current checking account status, there’d be no buying of leather anyway. Just viewing this new world— a parallel dimension! —was more than enough to satisfy.
Glancing around the room once more before heading out, she sought Gideon’s form among the crowd. Considering he seemed to have his plate full for the evening, he’d probably already forgotten his promise to assist with her psychic problems.
With a shrug, she turned and stepped to the elegant hand-carved doors leading from the club out onto the streets of Philadelphia— this world’s version of Philadelphia. As she reached for the handle, another hand whipped around to open it for her.
“Going off by yourself?”
Gideon Ashe.
“Just stepping out front while I wait for Margot and Matthew to join me.” The corded muscles of his forearms flexed as he held the door open for her, a magnificent gemstone band at his wrist sparkling in the torchlight. “That a problem?”
“Well…”
She missed the rest of his response as her eyes focused on the scene before her. Just as in her dreams, the cobblestone street was busy with activity. Horses pulled ornate carriages, bicycles and pedestrians bustled by, not a car in sight. Up and down Market Street stood the magnificent three-story brick Colonial houses and shops she was familiar with from home, but the windows all glowed with actual candles rather than fake electric ones .
As in the club, people dressed in a modern, more comfortable Victorian style, with elaborate crystal designs worn over their body’s energy centers. Yes, that’s it! She hadn’t realized until now, but the crystals specifically sat over chakras and pulse points. It varied from person to person, but the placement wasn’t random, she was sure of it.
They stepped further outside just as a young man, dressed in fine pinstripe slacks, crisp white shirt, and cobalt and silver brocade vest, came toward them. Probably on his way to a first date, Lexi thought as she noted the bouquet of flowers he held in one hand. With the other he fumbled with a masculine styled, rose quartz broach sitting right were his shirt collar came together, over his throat. For better communication, she assumed, and mentally applauded his effort.
He smiled at her as he passed, and Lexi lifted a hand to wave when she realized the young man’s feet weren’t actually touching the ground. He was gliding smoothly and quickly a couple inches above the street as if wearing invisible skates. Levitation. The dude was freaking levitating! Not just parlor tricks here—this world had seriously leveled up on the psychic talents.
“Gideon!” she said, not realizing she’d placed a hand on his arm. “Look at that.”
All along the street, vendors with carts sold flowers or baked goods, some of them even singing as they peddled their wares. Not a Starbucks in evidence.
Standing there, everything was as surreal as it had been in her dreams. More so even, because there’d been no floating people in them.
Beaming, she looked back at Gideon. He was staring down at her hand on his biceps, his eyes wide enough that you’d have thought she’d burned him with her touch.
She snatched it back to her side. “I’m sorry. ”
He continued to stare at the spot on his biceps where her hand had just been. “Not… a problem.” His shoulders relaxed and his eyes returned to hers with a twinkle. A smile spread across his full lips. “I’m glad you’re enjoying the sights of my world.”
She fought to pull her gaze from those lips. Lips she’d tasted so many times before, yet never truly touched. And since blurting out, “Hey, I know you’ve just met me, but I’ve been kissing you for months in my dreams,” didn’t really seem like a great plan, it was hard to see the path from “nice to meet you” to his lips on her neck. Especially with the growing reticence he’d shown to her touch.
But he held her gaze now, his smile doing all kinds of tingly things to her anatomy, and the instinct to reach up and pull his face to hers grew stronger. She clasped her hands behind her back to keep them out of trouble. “I thought you had an appointment to go to?”
His expression dropped, as if her reminder had slapped the fun right out of him. “I did. I mean, I do.” He glanced toward the club entrance, pausing before turning back to her. “But I promised to get you some answers tonight. About your gift.”
Her gift? Oh, right. Her curse. Her constant embarrassment. Her life-ruining affliction. Yeah, that gift.
God, maybe she didn’t want to talk about it tonight after all. Maybe she just wanted to explore this amazing, unexpected, mind-blowing world and forget all about her damn gift for a few hours. “Oh, thank you, but you really don’t—”
The door to the club burst open and out popped a vibrant bundle of energy disguised in the form of a rather stunning man.
Wearing a dark red linen shirt worn loose over black leather pants, and gold rings inlaid with citrine and emerald adorning every finger, he conjured up images from a fairytale. His skin was dark, his hair a glossy black, in waves brushing the tops of his shoulders.
And the man was nothing but smiles and movement .
He clapped Gideon on the shoulder. “I assume this is the lovely lady you were telling me about?”
Gideon’s cheeks colored. “Vikkras Knight, meet Lexi Cross.”
“My lady, nice to meet you.” He made a formal bow at the waist, his graceful movements a perfect match to the charm of his British accent. “And please, call me Vik.”
Lexi responded with a dainty curtsey, already enjoying his company.
“Vik and his wife, Alana, are close friends of mine,” Gideon said. “He’s also our local weatherman and general thorn in my side as often as he possibly can be.”
“Eh, don’t listen to him. He’s merely envious of my good looks.”
Everyone laughed, including Gideon, though he made a point of rolling his eyes.
“You have a lovely accent,” Lexi said.
Vik beamed his radiant smile. “I was raised in London. My father is British and my mother from India.”
“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Vik.”
Gideon’s face shifted back to serious. “I took the liberty of telling Vik about your ability,” he said. “He and Alana would be happy to talk with you tonight.”
“I’m about to join up with my beautiful wife for dinner. There’s a new place we’ve been meaning to try, and we’d love for you to join us.”
Wait. This was all happening so quickly. Would Gideon be joining them, or was she being shuffled off and out of his hair? His behavior with her kept flip-flopping; one moment he seemed to ooze interest in her, the next he acted as though she were an annoyance to be dealt with.
“Why don’t you come too, brother? All four of us. It’ll be fun.” Vik zigzagged his gaze between the two of them. “We might need you as buffer. You know Alana will want to fawn all over Lexi and we’ll need to rein her in before she smothers our girl here.”
Gideon studied Lexi, then looked back toward the club, pausing long enough that she considered waving a hand in front of his face. “No, I’m already late for my appointment to see the papyrus. And I need to stay around the club, especially in light of Alana’s concerns this week.”
“You’re probably right about that. No worries, we’ll take great care of Lexi.” He cast a conspiratorial nod her direction. “And we’ll pretend he did not just throw you over for some dusty Egyptian grocery list.”
Great. So, she was being shuffled off, and with people she didn’t even know. Curiosity and desire were quickly giving way to annoyance. The entire evening, starting with Margot springing this huge surprise on her, she’d been pushed and pulled at the whim of other people.
Powerless , that was her middle name. Apparently in every universe.
Vik offered her a warm smile and the crook of his arm. “What do you say?”
She glanced up and down the street. Horse carriages. Floating men. No cell phones. No electricity.
The weight of the timer tugged at her wrist. Margot said she would hang with her, but she was currently nowhere to be seen. And dream boy was apparently not an option. She might as well try and learn something about her precognition, if that really was a possibility.
Lexi hooked her arm through Vik’s. “It’s a date.”
She fixed Gideon with a stare, her chin lifted in a dare. “Will you please let Margot know that I’m taking off with Mr. Knight? ”
He returned the look, and then his eyes roamed over her arm where it linked with Vik’s, his jaw muscles clenching tight behind those full lips. He nodded, the dare not taken. “Of course.”
Gideon raised his face to his friend. “Thank you, brother.” Then he turned back to her. “I’ll see you later tonight when you get back. Have fun.”
He gave them a quick nod and strode back toward the club.
As they watched him re-enter the salon, Vik tipped his head. “You know, for a moment there I thought he was actually going to come with us. I’ve never seen him that close to walking away from a scientific opportunity in favor of some fun.” He spun to face her, his smile bright enough to clash with the torches bordering the club doors behind him. “You might just be the first woman in nearly a hundred years to have him good and truly muddled. I’ve never seen him fuss over an otherworlder like he did about you when he came and got me just now.”
Lexi blinked. Did he just say a hundred years? That had to be a figure of speech. Gideon mentioned they lived longer here, but she’d figured it meant they were still playing a hearty game of tennis into their nineties, not that they tacked on an extra century or two.
And she had Gideon muddled? If so, the feeling was certainly mutual.
She looked back towards the club, shaking her head. “I can’t figure him out. Nothing about him makes sense to me. Hell, he doesn’t even look like a scientist.” Maybe the sexiest, most physically imposing scientist she’d ever seen.
Vik tipped his head back and laughed, then swung them around and began to head down the sidewalk, his countenance growing more serious with each step. “He was a soldier once, you know. We all were. Taught from a very young age to be fighters. Unfortunately, he felt he came up short in that regard a long time ago, so he’s trained hard in the defensive arts ever since. But make no mistake, Lexi, that’s not the essence of who he is. He’s a scientist, one who works with sound. A master musician. It’s his work that opened the portal, you know.” He stopped and turned to face her. “Gideon Ashe is a lot of things, but first and foremost, he’s a creative genius. And he’s madly in love with our world.”
He resumed their stroll down Market Street, pointing out things of interest, but her mind was filled with Gideon. He’d been a soldier. Like the ones in the vision she’d had a few minutes ago. Had that been Gideon’s memory? She’d never had a psychic interaction like that with another person before. This night was full of firsts.
“I can’t wait to tell Alana how you’ve already managed to turn our boy arse over teakettle,” he said. “She’s going to die.”
Fantastic.
Gideon entered the club, letting the door bang shut behind him. Not that anyone would notice the sound above the din of excited voices, glasses clinking against table tops, and snippets of what sounded like his favorite Beethoven symphony coming from one of the study rooms.
What the hell was wrong with him? Why was he so damned distracted by the brunette? No question how delicious she was with that long, shiny dark hair, deep blue eyes, and a figure that could make any man crazy. But he’d turned his whole evening upside down, looking like a royal jackass to the Princeton academic, all because he couldn’t tear himself away from her for reasons that felt, oddly, much more than sexual, as if he somehow was supposed to know her.
What. The. Fuck .
Normally he was a man in control of his world. Hell, control was his goddamn middle name. But tonight, from the portal to his concentration to his cock, he was losing it.
He checked the time as he wove through the room, ignoring everyone he passed, even as several called his name or stretched out an arm to shake his hand.
True, he’d wanted to make good on his offer of help with her psychic abilities, but he could’ve just sent Vik directly over to her. He’d had no reason to stand with her on the street, appreciating the way her face lit with joy as she took in the wonders of a new universe. Absolutely no reason to have contemplated, even for a second, spending his evening with her and his friends rather than attend to his multiple appointments and responsibilities at the club.
No reason to think any further about whether her touch was or was not responsible for the unexplained emotions and sensations that had plagued him tonight. Whether or not she was doing any of it on purpose, turning it on and off at will. She’d be out of his club, his life, and his universe in a few hours.
But reason be damned.
He wanted to think about her. Wanted to contemplate her hands on him again. And again.
The bartender cut off his path. “Gideon, Professor Van Dyke’s been waiting in the library for almost thirty minutes now. The papyrus is spread out and ready for viewing. He’s growing rather impatient.”
Gideon scrubbed his hands down his face, a pounding beginning behind his eyes. “Thanks, Duncan. Please tell him I’ll be there imminently. I just need to get my notes.”
The bartender nodded and headed off.
Gideon dashed toward his office at the back of the salon, where he’d grab his study notes and then head for the Egyptian relic. Hopefully Alana and Vik would be able to utilize the next few hours to give Lexi a bit of guidance, to steer her toward whatever path of study she could pursue in her own world, sparse though it unfortunately would be. Because he’d made the decision, and after tonight, he’d be closing the portal for good.
There was, in fact, absolutely no reason to give the mysterious Lexi Cross another thought.