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Page No 1
Page No 2
Alexis Hart
2
Devlin's Wicked Wish
By
Alexis Hart
Echelon Embrace
Time Travel Romance
Page No 3
Devlin's Wicked Wish
3
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places,
and incidents are either the product of the author's
imagination or are used fictitiously. Any
resemblanc
e to actual events, places, organizations,
or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.
Copyright © 2003 by Karen L. Syed
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be
used or reproduced in any form without
permission, except as provided by
the U.S.
Copyright Law. For information, please address
Echelon Press™, P.O. Box 1084, Crowley, TX
76036.
Published by arrangement with the author.
ISBN 1-59080-258-6
Cover Image Copyright © 2003 K.L. Syed
Printed and bound in the United States of
America.
P.O. Box 1084 Crowley, TX 76306
Page No 4
Alexis Hart
4
~*~
Halloween
Devlin Wilde strolled along Rampart Street,
making his way home. He nodded politely to
several dark-
skinned women who bobbed their
heads in respect as they rushed by, baskets
tucked unde
r their arms. The heels of his boots
clicked on the stone walk as he picked his way
onto Canal Street.
All about him, revelers moved in carefree
groups. Devlin watched them with a sense of
disquiet. Being back in New Orleans usually
soothed him, but ton
ight he couldn't seem to
shake the feeling that something wasn't quite
right.
The rancid smell of stale whiskey and food
left too long in the sun wafted through the
streets and added to the roiling in Devlin's
stomach. He pulled a small kerchief from his
Page No 5
Devlin's Wicked Wish
5
vest pocket and wiped the beads of sweat from
his brow. Blasted heat, he thought, and this late
in the year. When would the blazing summer
give way to the cooler temperatures of fall?
Devlin skimmed the crowd with his gaze,
noting the Creole vendors who
hawked their
words and wares from behind makeshift kiosks
lining the walks. Trinkets and tools used in
their realm of magic sat in cluttered displays.
The sellers' wares would change with the rising
of the moon, for on this night the elixirs would
bear t
he kiss of voodoo. Stopping in front of a
battered cart, he tucked a copy of the Picayune
under his arm and fingered a corked vial of dark
liquid.
"You want to buy, Mister?"
Devlin looked into the young vender's face.
In complete contrast to normalcy, th
e boy's dark
eyes glowed with a smoky brightness. "No.
I've no need of such things." He lowered the
vial back onto the cart and walked away.
As he continued to make his way along the
street, the scents in the air changed, now bearing
a distinct Creole q
uality. Devlin inhaled the
tantalizing spices boiling in oversized pots of
Page No 6
Alexis Hart
6
jambalaya and heard his stomach growl. The
Creoles took their own form of Christian
religion seriously and after their ceremonies,
there would be rabid appetites to appease.
Soon,
small bonfires would burn along the
paths leading into the square and pulsating
rhythms of the bamboula would fill the peaceful
night. The sounds called men and women alike.
Come, the drums would say. Lose your pain
and your misery. Worship, for tonig
ht belongs
to no one.
Devlin watched as several of the whites
who lived in the elite neighborhoods, mere
streets away, scurried from the Creole's for the
protection of their shuttered homes. The urge to
do the same nearly overwhelmed him. Since
he'd talk
ed to the boy, unease brewed in the pit
of his stomach like bad indigestion. Devlin
frowned and rubbed his hand against his
brocade vest. What bothered him? And why
tonight? In years past, Halloween never
concerned him. It was just a night when Creole
s
and slaves practiced their superstitions and
religious beliefs. Nothing more. Even though
New Orleans' law prohibited the practice of
Page No 7
Devlin's Wicked Wish
7
voodoo within city limits, it still lingered,
uncontested.
Several feet ahead of him, a group of dark -
skinned women fo
rmed a circle beside a
fountain. Two slaves he recognized from a
neighboring plantation caught sight of him and
crouched down behind the group. He could
clearly read the fear glistening in their wide
eyes. Devlin tipped his hat and strolled past
them wi
thout another glance. The gesture
indicated their secret would be safe with him.
Even with more slaves being set free, those who
had not gained the right to live their own lives
had to obey the rules of the white men who
owned them. He abhorred slavery
and would
never offer his neighbors the opportunity to
inflict more cruelty on the humans they chose to
own.
His father had willingly paid each of their
servants for as long as Devlin could remember.
Payton Wilde's loyalty to the rights of all
humans had
been the sole inspiration for Devlin
becoming a lawyer. Many of his acquaintances
were also lawyers, but none practiced law for
the sheer pleasure in it as Devlin did, seeking
Page No 8
Alexis Hart
8
justice because it was something that needed to
be done. His friends did it mo
re for the status or
the notoriety.
Drums suddenly echoed in the night,
announcing the arrival of more important
members of the gathering. The women he'd just
passed hurried toward Congo Square. Soon
revelers would begin their ritualistic dances. He
wis
hed the women well. Lord knows they didn't
have much to look forward to in life these days.
Devlin almost smiled. He considered how
his fellow bar members of Louisiana would feel
when they found out he'd just spent the last two
weeks discussing the merit
s of equal rights for
all, including women, with a group of
Northerners. Granted, he may not personally
agree with the Creoles' unusual practices, or the
slaves' mystic ways, but, thanks to his
governess' insistence that his education be
complete, he'd gr
own up learning to understand
what motivated people. Right or wrong, beliefs
needed to be respected.
More drums echoed into the night's air, this
time louder and with a haunting rhythm. Chills
danced along Devlin's arms. The sounds carried
Page No 9
Devlin's Wicked Wish
9
an ominous wa
rning for all those who walked
the streets to beware.
Devlin glanced around and then quickened
his step. Many believed that witches existed
and attended events like tonight's. Normally,
he'd scoff at this, but tonight, he knew better
than to loiter about
Canal Street. Witches or
not, Halloween brought out its share of true evil
and pranksters. He had no intention to fall prey
to either.
On any other night, he wouldn't have
hurried toward Wildewind. Why should he?
Most, if not all, of the servants woul
d be out for
the night. He would be alone, a state he was
growing more accustomed to, but not altogether
happy with. Granted, he couldn't say that he
was completely alone in this world. He had
family, mostly relatives who needed his help,
but he had no
wife to greet him at the door, or
children running about and filling his home with
laughter, not even a pet to offer companionship.
His life centered solely on his practice, a few
friends, and his relatives. Nothing else.
Devlin frowned. Lately, he'd co
me to
recognize the law as a poor substitute for a wife.
Page No 10
Alexis Hart
10
And the silence of his empty house weighed
heavy on him, willing him to do something
about it.
A young couple rushed past him, anxious to
be on their way. Devlin watched them go,
unable to suppress
the envy digging at him. The
man held the arm of his lady and guided her
safely through the crowd. The stunning beauty
would surely do a fine job warming her mate's
bed. Lucky man, he thought, and silently
wished for a beauty to warm his bed.
Several m
ulatto women spun in circles in
front of him, then moved to step around him.
When they parted, he found himself eye -to-
eye
with a familiar café au lait -
colored face. The
colorful turban wrapped about her head
enhanced the piercing black eyes staring up a
t
him. He'd met her once before when an
associate offered fortunes at a costume ball.
Her African heritage gave her an exotic
appearance not easily forgotten.
Her hand lifted as if to tell his fortune.
Devlin cursed under his breath and stepped
aside. H
e had no desire to have his palm read or
anything else she offered.
Page No 11
Devlin's Wicked Wish
11
She must have anticipated his move, for she
stepped in the same direction and stopped him
again. "Fortune."
"Madame Laveau, I've no time for a
discussion right now. I must get home right
away."
"I only wish to give you what you desire,"
she whispered.
She waved her slender hands before his
face, and then boldly scratched one long red
painted nail down his cheek. The stubble of
whiskers gracing his jaw trembled under her
temerity. Even m
ore to his horror, the feeling
oddly stimulated him. He blinked against the
buzzing in his ears, and attempted to gather his
scattered wits. "Away, woman."
"A wish for a mere coin?" she whispered.
Her voice blew through him like a soft
wind, sending pinp
rick shivers dancing across
his skin. Devlin pulled himself up to his full
height. "Save your wish. I intend to keep my
coin within my pocket."
His words went unheeded. She reached out
and took his hand in hers, turning the palm up.
As she stared at i
t, her gaze heated the surface
Page No 12
Alexis Hart
12
of his hand. "'Tis the night you have longed
for."
Devlin frowned with annoyance at her
cryptic remark. "Stop it, woman. I'll make no
wishes."
He attempted to pull away, but her grip
tightened. She leaned over his hand an
d
whispered words he could not hear. Then she
looked up at him and spoke clearly, her voice
laced with practiced seduction. "You may not
speak them aloud, but time will know when the
wish has been made. Then a deeper desire will
bring a true love to sha re your life."
"True love?" Devlin scoffed as he pulled
his hand free. He couldn't keep scorn from
coloring his voice. "There is no room in my life
for love." The lie didn't come as easy to his lips
as it had in the past. Disgusted with her keen
insigh
t, he grumbled at her. "Furthermore, I
sincerely doubt there is a true love anywhere in
my future."
"You should not doubt. 'Tis only a word
away."
He stared at her for a moment, then shook
his head to clear the jumbled thoughts she'd
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Devlin's Wicked Wish
13
placed there. No, h
e would not fall for tricks of
the wicked. The last thing his life needed was
mumbo jumbo. "Be gone, woman."
She bowed and slowly backed away. "I've
said my piece, but know this, Devlin Wilde, 'tis
that very wish that will lead you down the path
of true
love. Fight not your destiny." She
winked at him and disappeared into the crowd,
her words lingering in the steamy night.
He stared after her, unsteady at the sheer
audacity of the publicly proclaimed voodoo
priestess. He finished his walk home in
dist
racted contemplation. The woman had
touched far too close to his true feelings. His
trip to Chicago had been one of many in an
effort to forget the sad predicament of his life.
Twenty years had done little to lessen the loss of
his mother and two sister
s. And since the death
of his father, the loneliness had become nearly
unbearable. He wished to God he could be as
happy now as he was as a child.
A streak of lightning flashed across the sky.
Moments later a clap of thunder followed.
Another round fol
lowed. Devlin paused under a
large oak and looked at the sky. Strange, a
Page No 14
Alexis Hart
14
patch of dark clouds covered the glowing moon,
but that was all. He took a step toward home,
but before he could take another, a third bolt of
lightning flashed, then an ear -splitt
ing crack of
thunder followed. The force of nature splintered
the sturdy oak branches, sending a shower of
sparks into the dark night. Devlin watched in
horror as one of the large branches fell toward
him. Instinctively, he ducked and rolled, but
still
wasn't fast enough to avoid the blow to the
back of his head. An instant later, darkness
enveloped his world.
Page No 15
Devlin's Wicked Wish
15
~*~
He had no idea how long he lay
unconscious, but he must have been out for
some time for his clothes felt damp and
clammy. He looked ove
r at the broken tree
branch. Devlin groaned and rubbed the back of
his throbbing head, then checked his palm for
blood. Nothing. Thank God. It could have
been much worse.
Slowly, so to give his groggy mind time to
adjust, Devlin stood and made note of
his
surroundings. Surprisingly no one was about,
nor could he hear the sounds of celebration he'd
heard earlier. Undoubtedly everyone had
moved indoors the moment the storm appeared.
Devlin stretched the muscles of his neck
and winced against the pain.
Indoors, that's
where he needed to be, and fast.
A lone light burned in the lower window of
Wildewind as he hurried up the four steps to the
Greek-
style home. One of the servants must
Page No 16
Alexis Hart
16
have stayed behind to welcome him home.
More than likely, Sadie, his h
ousekeeper. He'd
offer her a coin in gratitude. He'd never said it
aloud, but he hated coming home to a dark
house, and after what just happened, he doubly
appreciated the gesture.
Devlin pushed the heavy wood door open,
just as a wave of dizziness washe
d over him.
He leaned against the door frame and took a
deep breath. His nostrils immediately noticed
an odor of something sweet and wonderful, like
baked bread. His stomach pinched and growled
in response. He'd have Sadie bring him
something to eat.
S
omewhere from the back of the house, he
heard a woman singing. Devlin frowned. No
one ever sang in the house. Not since before his
mother's death. His frown deepened when he
noticed a strange -
looking table sitting in the
middle of his foyer. "Blast,"
he mumbled,
rubbing the bridge of his nose in annoyance.
"Sadie, you know I want the foyer free of
anything."
Devlin inhaled and the sweet smell coming
from somewhere in the house set his stomach to
Page No 17
Devlin's Wicked Wish
17
whirling.
In a swish of shimmering yellow satin, a
visio
n appeared before him. Her bright green
eyes widened when she spotted him standing
inside the door. He looked down in time to see
her stocking-
covered toes peek out from under
her ball gown as she glided to a halt in front of
him. The food she carried o
n a small plate slid
to the edge, and she had to scramble to catch it
before it fell to the floor.
Her bright auburn hair fell in ringlets
around her cheeks and over one shoulder. His
breath caught at her pure loveliness. He opened
his mouth to speak to
the enchantress but was
not given the chance.
"Just who in the hell do you think you are,
barging in here like you own the place?"
Devlin blinked twice, then stared at the
raven-
locked spitfire. The challenging gaze of
her startling green eyes caused the
corner of his
mouth to curve up.
She waved a large knife, the hand that held
it far too delicate to be attached to a raving
lunatic. "Answer me."
He stepped further into the house. "The
Page No 18
Alexis Hart
18
name is Devlin, and I do own the place. Who
might you be?"
She rais
ed a brow, and he watched her hand
tremble with indecision-
or perhaps the urge to
cut him to shreds. He eyed the fine quality of
her gown and hoped against the latter. One
would think that someone as stunning in
appearance, and as obviously of high socia
l
standing as she, would be a tad more meek.
She took a step forward, then tripped over
the hem of her formal gown. Devlin bit back a
sigh of relief when the woman managed to keep
from falling by colliding with the doorframe.
"You might consider being ca
reful with that
knife. I prefer you don't bleed all over my
Persian rug."
"What rug?" She looked at him like he was
a deranged imbecile and then shook her head.
"It doesn't matter. You have no right to be
here."
Devlin looked down, confused to find the
hardwood floors bare of any coverings.
"Bloody hell, what have you done with my
rugs? They cost me a fortune." Something
about the glow of pink in her cheeks made his
Page No 19
Devlin's Wicked Wish
19
heart race. He immediately regretted raising his
voice.
"I didn't do anything with y
our rugs." Her
voice dripped with sarcasm. "And, even if I did
have any, they would be my rugs."
He quit regretting raising his voice. Instead
he considered what act of the Gods had brought
this hellion to his home. He knew of no poor
relations that mi
ght descend upon him and beg
money.
Unsure of what approach he should take
with her, he chose to exert his natural
confidence. "You know my name and that I
own this house, but I am at a disadvantage. As
charmingly eccentric as I find you, I would
prefer to even the odds by knowing your name."
"Why do you keep saying you own this
house?" She stared at him defiantly.
The knife was becoming heavy. Her arm
was starting to lower without her being aware of
it. He watched her set the plate of food on the
tabl
e beside her, and then turn to face him. The
lining of her dress swished as she shifted her
weight from one foot to the other. Devlin gave
her what he hoped was a charming smile. "I
Page No 20
Alexis Hart
20
believe the fact that I inherited this house on the
death of my father
would have something to do
with it."
"That's not possible." Never taking her
eyes off him, she backed toward the hallway. "I
was assured by the realtor that the owner of this
house is long gone. That's why I got a lease -to-
own option on it."
What was it
about this particular day that
made it impossible for a woman to say anything
that made sense? "I don't know about this lease-
to-
own you speak of, but I assure you I am the
owner of Wildewind." Devlin remained
standing in the foyer, undecided as to whet
her
he should follow her or go look for Sadie. "I
would still like to know who you are."
"Not that it's any of your business, but my
name is Alayna." She switched her weapon
from one hand to the other and walked
backwards down the hallway. "I made sure
I
did everything legally so no one could come
back on me later." She eyed him suspiciously.
"Is that why you're here?"
"Of course not." Unwilling to lose sight of
her, Devlin cautiously followed her into the
Page No 21
Devlin's Wicked Wish
21
library. In place of his dark velvet draperi
es
hung soft white fabric. With fists clenched at
his sides, he took in the most peculiar, but not
altogether unpleasant, changes to his favorite
room as calmly as he could. The thought that
someone dared to redecorate his house without
his permission as tounded him.
Devlin studied the room with a critical eye.
The sheers billowed from the floor -to-
ceiling
windows, opened ajar to the night air.
Thankfully, his large mahogany desk sat
majestically in its rightful place. His leather
chair stood guard behi
nd it. He stared at the
strange post filling the room with bright white
light. He'd seen a taller version on the street
corner as he came up the street. Devlin turned
and took note of the large settee across the room
offering yet another feminine touch.
He walked
to the window and raised his hand to the sheer
draperies. How strange. They were so different
from the designs his father had chosen.
"Stop moving around." Though her words
demanded that he do as she said, her voice
quivered slightly.
The fe
ar in her voice pulled his mind back
Page No 22
Alexis Hart
22
to the present. He turned and faced her. She
still stood with her knife pointed directly at him.
Torn between annoyance and curiosity toward
the delicately demented intruder, he vowed to
put the fear of God into his
staff for allowing
any of this. In spite of the small danger, he
found himself amused. His homecoming was
turning out to be much more than he'd expected.
And, here he'd been thinking his life needed a
change.
He watched as Alayna gathered her massive
sk
irts in her free hand, allowing her to move
behind a small chair in the corner of the room.
Devlin held his grin, wondering how long
before she would notice her mistake. He
obviously outweighed her, and backing herself
into a corner was not smart, even i
f she held the
knife.
"Are you going to tell me how you got in
here?" she asked as she shuffled through the
drawers of his desk. She dropped the knife and
swore as she scurried to retrieve it. "Where are
those damn papers?"
No longer feeling any real thr
eat, Devlin
looked down at his feet and laughed aloud. The
Page No 23
Devlin's Wicked Wish
23
silly girl obviously had no heart for killing.
How good it felt to laugh. "Obviously, I
walked."
Her cheeks blushed crimson with anger as
she stormed from around the chair. Her arm
hung down to
her side, the knife dangling from
her fingers. "Well, you better walk right back
out before the police get here. I'm calling them
right now."
He watched her carefully pick up a strange
object and hold it to her head. She spoke into
the device. When sh
e wasn't shrieking at him,
her voice held a lilting tone and almost soothed
his slightly frazzled nerves. If only she were
speaking to him so calmly.
"There's a prowler in my home." She paced
in front of the small table. "Yes, I'm sure it's a
prowler.
I'm standing here looking at him. I've
asked him to leave, and he won't go." Her voice
grew sharper. "Well, no, he's not threatening
me. He just keeps insisting that this is his
house. Of course, it's not his house. It's mine.
He's the prowler."
Dev
lin crossed his hands over his chest and
leaned against the frame of the library door.
Page No 24
Alexis Hart
24
"How can I be a prowler in my own home?"
"Shh
." She hissed and raised the knife
again. "Will you be quiet? I'm talking here."
He held up his hands in compliance.
She
went back to speaking into the
contraption. "What do you mean he can't be
dangerous if I'm looking and talking to him?
For all you know, he could be holding me at
gunpoint." She suddenly glared at him. "No, he
doesn't have a gun."
He nodded in agreeme
nt and patted his
chest and thighs. "I have no weapon."
"Oh sure, send someone out as soon as you
get the chance. Yes, I know it's Halloween and
all hell is breaking loose." Her shoulders
sagged. "Fine. Forget it. But don't be surprised
if you find m
e dead in the library when you do
decide to show up. And, when you do, I
promise I'll haunt you guys forever."
She slammed the small object down onto
the table and turned her full attention back to
him. "Imbeciles."
"Why are you so certain I don't belong
here?" Devlin asked quietly.
She stood for a moment, considering him
Page No 25
Devlin's Wicked Wish
25
openly. "You don't. I spent my last penny on
this house. It's mine." She paced back and forth
several times without taking her gaze off him.
"It's the first place I've ever truly be longed."
"I've only been gone a month's time. Not
even my overpaid solicitor could make a
transaction so quickly, and without my signature
on the deed. Wildewind has been in my family
for years. It's I who belongs here."
"No," she argued. "I've spent e
very minute
of the last month planning tonight. I've only
slept a few hours each night so I could get this
house in shape for the Halloween ball."
"I don't doubt how hard you've worked to
make such changes, but the fact remains I own
Wildewind." Devlin l
ooked around. He had to
admire her initiative. She'd made remarkable
changes to the house. Oddly, he believed her
when she said she belonged here. Despite
knowing he owned the house, her presence
offered a different kind of feeling, one he didn't
think he understood.
"That's impossible. You can ask any of my
friends. They've worked as hard as I have.
Tonight's event will give me the money I need
Page No 26
Alexis Hart
26
to get the house registered in the historical
society." She hurried to the desk and rummaged
through the
drawers. "Now I remember where
they are."
"I don't need to see any fake papers."
Devlin started toward her, but stopped when he
noticed the sheen of tears in her eyes. A soft
blush spread across her cheeks, and her hands
trembled as she clawed at the de
sk drawer.
"Found them." She jerked a sheaf of papers
from the lowest drawer and slid them across the
desk. "See? All the papers are right here. I did
everything necessary to make this legal and
binding."
She swiped a hand across her cheek,
creating a
smudge of black that had appeared
beneath her eyes. Devlin had an inexplicable
urge to reach out and gently wipe away the
smudge. He stiffened and curled his hands into
fists. Now was not the time to go all soft.
"Even if I look at your papers, it doe
sn't
change anything. Wildewind belongs to me."
"I love this place."
Devlin understood her whispered words.
Wildewind was home to him and in the entire
Page No 27
Devlin's Wicked Wish
27
world he had nothing else to love as much as he
did the time he spent here. He reached up and
raked a
hand through his hair. What was he
going to do? Despite what he knew as truth,
there was something about her that touched his
heart. He had the greatest urge to help her, see
that she got what she wanted. Devlin looked at
her again. Since he'd first
seen her, he felt
something -
something strange and yet
exhilarating. "None of this makes sense. We
cannot both own this house."
"I know that. But...I wished for this house.
Don't you understand about wishes? They're
important. They come from one's hea
rt and are
meant to come true."
Wishes! Uneasiness swept over him.
Tonight. Hadn't the witch said something about
a wish? Devlin stepped toward the far side of
the room. The light did little to alleviate the
shadows across the room. He hoped the
darkness would hide his confusion.
"Where are you going? What are you
doing? Stay where I can see you." Alayna
followed him. "Oh my --"
Devlin stopped and turned to face her.
Page No 28
Alexis Hart
28
"What is it?"
Alayna's eyes grew wide, and she stared
past him. The color draine
d from her cheeks
and she wobbled on her feet for a moment
before crumpling to the ground.
Page No 29
Devlin's Wicked Wish
29
~*~
Alayna opened her eyes against the
throbbing protest in her head. She saw him first
and squeezed her eyes shut again. Oh, God, it
can't be real. She push
ed herself up a little and
leaned to look past him. Plain as day, this
Devlin -or a portrait of him -
hung boldly over her
fireplace in all of his --rather, its -
magnificent
splendor. She considered for a moment that he
could merely be a distant relative, but
the
roaring in her ears and the beating of her heart
told her otherwise.
The cold she'd felt upon seeing his face in
the portrait disappeared under the warmth of his
touch. She leaned deeper into his embrace,
excited and frightened by the hard ridges of
his
muscular chest. The fabric of his wrinkled
jacket brushed against her cheek, rough and
damp, but not all unpleasant.
"What can I do for you? Are you injured?"
he asked.
Page No 30
Alexis Hart
30
She started at the sound of his voice, caught
even more off guard by the concern
she heard.
Emotions warred inside her as she remembered
that he was a stranger. His arms tightened
around her, and she tried to scoot away while
searching frantically for her knife.
"I've secured your weapon. I felt it to be in
both our best interests."
The curves at the
corners of his mouth deepened when he smiled.
Nothing about his behavior indicated he
would hurt her. In fact, with his arms wrapped
around her, she felt safe. How odd, she thought,
but gave in to the feeling. She went limp in his
ar
ms. "I'm lucky I didn't fall on the stupid
thing."
"We're both lucky." He caressed her cheek.
Alayna stared at him. "I'll just bet you
think so. I don't know what your game is, but
I'm not playing." She paused. "Did my step -
sister and her slug of a b
oyfriend put you up to
this? She hates me living in this house."
"Why is that?"
"She thinks I am being a snob."
"A snob?"
"Yes. She says I am playing at being rich,
Page No 31
Devlin's Wicked Wish
31
something I'm not."
His dark brow lifted and disappeared under
a wave of ebony hair hangi
ng carelessly across
his forehead. The growth of whiskers on his
cheek begged for her to reach out and feel their
roughness. He leaned closer, and she darn near
swooned under the scintillating effects of his
breath on her cheek. What the heck was she
th
inking? For Pete's sake, she was laying in the
arms of a total stranger -
well not so much a
stranger as a man who didn't really belong -
her
thoughts stopped, not sure whether he belonged
here or not.
"I assure you, my presence is no game.
Although I am not
altogether sure how I came to
be with you."
"I could guess, but it can't truly be real."
Alayna's heart raced in spite of the unreality of
it all. Her friends had been fooling around.
None of them believed in ghosts, or in bringing
dead people back to
life. That was it. They'd
set her up and were off somewhere getting a
good laugh. "All right you, guys. Come on out.
I'm laughing with you. The joke is over."
"I don't understand."
Page No 32
Alexis Hart
32
"I don't know how they pulled this off. I
watched them all drive awa
y. Boy, this will be
some story to tell my grand - children."
"Humor me with your tale," he said calmly.
"I'd like to hear it, as well."
"A simple story really. I wish for you and
poof, here you are." Alayna snapped her fingers
and feared what little co
ntrol she had would
soon snap as well.
"You--
you wished for me?" The handsome
man's hands trembled as he set her out of his
arms.
The loss of his warmth reminded her of the
situation. The only logical explanation didn't
seem at all logical. Alayna had n
o idea what
she should do, but allowing a complete stranger
to stay in her house didn't seem an option.
"Something is wrong here. I don't know what it
is, but it's wrong."
"I couldn't agree more. And, I intend to
find out what." He stood suddenly and l
eft the
room.
Alayna watched him go and sighed with a
mixture of relief and regret. She heard the front
door open, but it didn't close. She struggled
Page No 33
Devlin's Wicked Wish
33
with the layers of fabric and pushed herself up
off the sofa. The tulle under her skirt rustled as
she
made her way out onto the porch. Her
breath caught when she saw him.
He sat on the top step with his head hanging
forward and his shoulders sagging. "Everything
is different looking." His head lifted and he
cried out. "What the bloody hell has happened
to me?"
No longer did she feel any threat from this
man. Worse yet, a slow flame ignited in the pit
of her stomach, threatening to consume her with
something sweet and frightening. She reached
out and settled her hand on his shoulder. "You
must remembe
r how you got here. How long
did it take?"
"I was on a business trip," he explained.
"What kind of business? What do you do?
Did you have to come far?" Alayna couldn't
stop the questions pouring from her. If her
instincts proved right, she was staring
at a man
from another century. The enormity of the
situation left her lightheaded with excitement.
She'd read about things like this, but never in
her wildest dreams did she imagine it could
Page No 34
Alexis Hart
34
truly happen. "Do you remember how you got
here?"
"No." He e
yed her curiously. "Do you
know me?" He turned quickly and pulled her
down to him. "I mean, truly know me. You
must, if you summoned me. How did you know
to call for me?"
She sucked in her breath. "I didn't know I
was calling you. Or why you came.
I don't
even know who you are."
"Then let me enlighten you." He leapt to
his feet and with a flourish of lost gallantry, he
bowed and the light of the bright moon flickered
across his hair, casting an eerie light around
him. "I'm Devlin Wilde, master of
Wildewind
Manor." His hand trembled as he bent over and
gathered her hand in his, then brought her
fingers to his lips.
She pulled her fingers free and stood as
well, refusing to believe that fate had sent this
magnificent man to her, no matter how much
she'd wished for someone just like him -
only
from her own world. "It was a joke. Halloween
and all, you know."
"Yes, I know of the night."
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Devlin's Wicked Wish
35
She began pacing the length of the
verandah, muttering to herself. "Why you? I
may know your name now, but I don't
really
know you."
"Do you not?" He gave her a look that was
so filled with longing that it touched the deepest
recesses of her soul. "For me, it's as if I've
known you forever. I recognize the sparkle in
your eyes, and yet I don't know your face. I fe
el
something deep inside me that knows how
perfectly your body would fit against mine.
Yet, I've never lain with you."
Alayna shivered. Not only did his words
seem to ring true, they filled her with a need
she'd never known before. "You're right. It
doesn't make sense."
"No, it doesn't," Devlin said softly. "My
mind is reeling with the possibilities."
The tip of his finger brushed along the line
of her jaw as he gazed down at her. The longing
in his eyes mirrored the feeling inside her. He
opened his
hand, and she leaned into him,
enjoying the feel of his smooth palms against
her cheek. She closed her eyes against the
yearning, struggling to make sense of
Page No 36
Alexis Hart
36
everything happening. When she opened them,
he appeared different.
His eyes turned dark, yet sh
e could read the
confusion and loneliness etched in the faint lines
of his face. How could she even begin to
understand this or him? She had to admit
though, he made a dangerously handsome
impression in his fitted breeches and black
waistcoat-far too han
dsome to be real. "There is
one possibility that has brought you here."
He pulled his hand away slowly.
"Explain."
"Well, it's sort of complicated." She
flushed, almost embarrassed to even admit
aloud what she was thinking. She'd asked the
spirits to b
ring her true love to her. Someone to
share this house with, and her life. When she'd
asked, she never imagined him. She expected
someone more like Bobby Frazier, not --
she
glanced quickly at Devlin --
not someone who
was so very handsome and may very well
have
built her house a century ago. "It's possible I
brought you from the dead, or from the past. To
be here now, with me. Just in time for the new
millennium."
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Devlin's Wicked Wish
37
His face darkened. "I assure you I am far
from dead, chere." He stopped. "Or am I? Is i
t
possible that I died from the blow to my head?
Or could I have fallen ill and lost years of my
life?" He stared at her, his gaze moving from
her head to her toes.
"Ill? I can't answer that. I don't know."
She put a hand to her brow. "Oh, I don't kn
ow
what to think any more. This is all too unreal."
This time, Devlin paled. "The feelings and
desires you stir inside me are real." He pinched
the bridge of his nose. "There has to be a
rational answer for all this. All we have to do is
figure out wh
at it is." After a moment, he, too,
started to pace.
His obvious agitation brought her own
jittery nerves to a peak. "Are you all right?"
Devlin faced her, his eyes shadowed. "Not
bloody likely." He resumed his pacing. "How
is it that you still wear t
he clothes of my time if
I have come from the past?"
She twisted her fingers against the layers of
her lacy dress. Her long hoop skirt was a bit
outdated, but obviously not altogether
unfamiliar to his time. "This is a costume, not a
Page No 38
Alexis Hart
38
normal attire for th
ese days. I didn't have time
to change out of my costume after the ball."
"What ball?"
"The one I had tonight. It ended hours
ago."
"That's it." He slapped his palm against his
forehead and sighed. "I must have been
drinking and forgot about it. I'm b
loody drunk.
This is all a dream." He held the same hand in
front of him. It remained steady as a rock.
"Pinch me. Maybe I'll wake up."
She obliged him, and he looked shocked by
the charged contact.
"It's not a dream, is it?"
"No. You're here with me . In my time."
He raked a hand through his hair. "You're
time. When is that? You mentioned something
about the millennium. Is this the year 1900?"
She laughed nervously. "No, it's almost the
year 2000."
Page No 39
Devlin's Wicked Wish
39
~*~
All color drained from his face. He
g
rabbed her upper arms and drew her close.
"Don't toy with me, woman. Are you telling
me, I've come forward over a hundred and sixty-
three years?"
Where his hands touched her, a bolt of
energy surged through throughout her body.
The intensity was not un
like that of the lightning
that was starting to streak across the sky above
Wildewind Manor. "That many? I --
I don't
know, Devlin. It's only a possibility that's what
happened. I--"
She gasped suddenly and brought a hand to
her mouth. "It couldn't be t hat."
"What? Tell me, woman."
"It was the psychic."
"What psychic?" His fingers tightened on
her arms. "Tell me."
"Marie something. She swore she was a
descendant of Marie Laveau."
Page No 40
Alexis Hart
40
"Oh, God..."
Alayna pulled from his grasp and twisted
the fabric of her
skirts in her hands. "It was
supposed to be for fun, you see. She stopped
me in the quarter and said something about
wishes. When I said no, she said she would tell
fortunes for a fee. I thought of the party and
asked her to come. I thought it would
be a nice
touch, considering the history of the city."
Devlin dropped to the top step of the porch.
"What have you done?"
"I didn't mean to do anything. It was to be
a joke." She dropped on her knees beside him.
"Only a simple Halloween joke."
"Your si
mple joke destroyed my life." He
covered his face with his hands. "Thanks to
you, I've been brought forward in time and I
don't know if I can ever go back."
Tears welled in Alayna eyes. It nearly
broke her heart to see how desolate he looked.
"What if you just wish yourself back?"
Devlin's head jerked upward. "Do you
think it could be so simple?"
"Well, maybe. I suppose so." She took a
steadying breath. "I just don't know."
Page No 41
Devlin's Wicked Wish
41
"But, you can." He jumped to his feet and
forced her to stand. "Make a wi
sh. Send me
back."
"Me? Why me?"
Devlin tried to pull her closer. Alayna
lifted her hand and pressed it against his chest.
His heart beat under her palm, matching her
own rhythm. Could she send him back? Was it
possible?
"Alayna...please." Devlin's
voice shattered
her thoughts. He loosened his hold on her, but
did not let go completely. "I don't belong here.
I have a life where I came from. People rely on
me. I have servants and my law partner is just
beginning to practice and doesn't know much.
Plus, I have relatives to consider. Wish me
back."
Alayna barely breathed. What if what he
said was true? That meant her original wish
was nothing, just an accident of time. What a
fool she'd been in hoping that the old woman
had some magical powers
just for her own
happiness. She inhaled deep and then slowly
released it. "What if I can't send you back?
What if wishing doesn't work anymore? Would
Page No 42
Alexis Hart
42
that be so bad? You said you feel as if you
know me. Maybe this was supposed to
happen."
He shook hi s head. "The wish will work."
"Devlin, I --"
"No, Alayna. As much as I feel that, I also
know in my heart that I don't belong here." He
reached up and gently caressed her cheek with a
finger. "We don't have to be apart. Come with
me. Wish us both back ."
Alayna jerked from his embrace. "Come
with you? You have to be joking!"
"Something like this, I'd never joke about."
His eyes softened. "I think I love you, Alayna.
Whether you want to believe it or not. I've been
searching for you all my adult li
fe. I didn't
know it before, but I do now."
Alayna swiped at the tears warming a trail
down her cheeks. "I can't go back with you."
"Why not? You have nothing here to keep
you. I heard you myself. All you have is a few
friends, and a sister who only w
ants your
money."
"Which I don't have," she said bitterly.
"No, Devlin. I won't go back with you. But it's
Page No 43
Devlin's Wicked Wish
43
not because I believe you're wrong about me.
It's because I know about your time. Women
were treated like chattels, with no rights or their
own.
I am a woman of this time. Women today
are raised to think and provide for themselves if
they so choose."
Something resembling regret flashed across
his features. "You're right. You would not fit
any better in my time than I do in yours. It was
fooli
sh to think otherwise." Then he smiled.
"But, I believe you could make a difference in
how women are treated in my time. How all
people are treated. There's something strong
about you, whether you want to admit to it or
not."
"Oh, Devlin. How unfair t
his is." She
hurried back to his side and touched his arm. "I
wish I had never wished for you. Then neither
of us would --"
Alayna cried out and flung her hand to her
lips. The wish had left her mouth before she
realized it. Horrified, she watched his
body
blur. "Devlin! I didn't mean to say it. Please,
don't leave me."
His shadowy image was just barely visible,
Page No 44
Alexis Hart
44
but as it disappeared, Alayna saw his hand lift as
if searching for her.
Alayna tried to grab his hand, but she felt
nothing but air. "Oh,
God. This can't be
happening. What have I done?" She swallowed
past the lump in her throat and tried to ignore
the burning in her chest. "I've lost him forever."
She closed her eyes and tried to conjure up
the image of Devlin Wilde. He'd been gone
onl
y the short span of a few seconds yet she
already missed him --
uncontrollably,
unexplainably and whole-
heartedly missed him.
Had she made a mistake? Should she have gone
with him, or try harder to get him to stay with
her?
A bolt of lightning flashed, ill
uminating the
sky around her. Thunder rumbled an instant
later. The tropical storm that had threatened
New Orleans all day had finally arrived ashore.
Alayna shivered and rubbed her arms briskly.
She hurried inside and closed the door behind
her. When
she entered the library, it seemed
colder, lonelier now that Devlin was gone.
Thank God, at least, she still had Devlin's
portrait. He wasn't gone from her completely.
Page No 45
Devlin's Wicked Wish
45
Outside, the storm increased in its fury.
Lightning streaked the sky, followed by de
ep
rolling thunder. The lights dimmed, then
flickered, the power lines struggling to remain
operative against the wind. Alayna went to
stand in front of Devlin's portrait.
She lifted her hand and lovingly touched
the bottom of the frame. "Oh, Devlin. I
miss
you so. I wish I had asked for happiness with
my true love, rather than just calling him to me.
That way we would have been together in the
place where we were supposed to be."
The library's tall shutter doors suddenly
burst open. Wind and rain fi
lled the room with
a near roar. All around her, the library seemed
to shift and swirl. At that same instant, the
library lamp blinked once, then went out
completely. With a cry, Alayna ran to the
library shelves next to the portrait. She kept an
antiqu
e oil lamp and box of matches for just this
sort of emergencies.
She quickly lit the lantern and lifted it high
so she could see. When the warm glow of the
lamp spread across the library, her eyes widened
with shock. Everything looked different. The
Page No 46
Alexis Hart
46
walls, the curtains. Just about everything.
Alayna turned suddenly and stared at
Devlin's portrait. The portrait had also changed.
Instead of standing alone, Devlin now stood
with...his family.
Alayna swayed and grasped at the edge of
the table with her fr
ee hand. She stared up at
the portrait with wonderment and hope. Was it
possible? Could she have been given her
greatest wish? One she never dreamed of
wanting?
Page No 47
Devlin's Wicked Wish
47
~*~
A streak of lightning flashed across the sky
as Devlin stood on the walk outside h
is home.
A sudden shift in the winds brought a sprinkling
of rain with it and rushed him up the steps. He
wondered at the new sense of home surrounding
him. He'd never noticed how much he wanted
to be here.
A lone light burning in the lower window
of Wi
ldewind greeted him as he climbed up the
four steps to the Greek -
style home. He paused
when a wave of familiarity washed over him
and he leaned against a white pillar. The rain
fell harder and a strong wind blew it toward
him, urging him inside.
He pushe
d the door open and entered into
the foyer. He stepped over a scattering of toys
and listened as the sound of a child's laughter
echoed through the halls.
"Devlin, is that you?"
His heart burst with the joy of seeing her.
Page No 48
Alexis Hart
48
He opened his arms and Alayna ra
n into them.
With natural ease, he covered her mouth with
his. Amidst the roaring in his ears, his mind
became aware of someone tugging on his pant
leg. He broke the kiss, stepped back, and
looked down into the deep brown eyes of his
sweet Marie.
"Papa,
you've been gone too long. I've
missed you."
He lifted the little girl into his arms and
hugged her tightly. "And I have missed you,
chere."
"My birthday is today, Papa. I thought you
would miss my party. I have a beautiful dress
that Sadie made for m
e special. Did you
remember to bring me a present?"
His heart warmed with each word she
chattered. "Oh, my Marie. How could you
think I would miss the most important day of
the year? Halloween is the best day to spend
with your true love." He hugged h
er with one
arm and wrapped the other around Alayna.
"I know, Papa. That's why I wished you
here."
"A wish indeed." Alayna looked at him and
Page No 49
Devlin's Wicked Wish
49
an eternity of love passed in her knowing smile.
The End
Page No 50
Alexis Hart
50
Meet the Author:
Alexis Hart is your standard
over-a
chiever. Her most
recent release, DARK
SHINES MY LOVE, was
recently a featured book in the
RT BookClub Mr. Romance
Cover Model Pageant in
Kansas City, MO. Since her
first sale as part of a charitable anthology,
VOICES, she has gone on to sell numerous
bo
oks in a variety of genres, including
paranormal, contemporary, and historical
romance. Her future works include mainstream
paranormal and straight mysteries. As a
featured author, Alexis was a proud contributor
to ROMANCING THE HOLIDAY'S Volume I,
a Rom
ance finalist in the 2001 Independent
Publishers Award.
You can visit Alexis Hart at
Page No 51
Devlin's Wicked Wish
51
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