Tell Me I'm Dreamin' by Eboni Snoe Page B

as he looked searchingly into the hazel eyes that watched him.
    Passion and panic rose simultaneously within her, and Nadine searched for something that would provide an escape from the rapid change in circumstances. Two gold busts of Egyptian origin caught her eye and she started toward them, then stopped abruptly. “My goodness. What is that?” she asked, pointing to an intricately carved bronze chest.
    â€œThis container houses my pride and joy.” Ulysses allowed his attention to be diverted. “If you are good to me, one day I will show it to you.”
    Nadine felt a quiver run down her spine, a natural reaction to the seductive invitation lying beneath his ambiguous words. She began to babble. “It is most intriguing. I’ve heard so many stories about the islands from my grandmother that I’ve always dreamed of coming to a place like this. I wanted to find out if her stories were true. You know, launch my own private treasure hunt. It’s why I love my work.” She kept her eyes on the case covered with figures and symbols that somehow looked familiar, but she had no inkling why. Bending closer for a more detailed assessment, Nadine saw the symbol that was tattooed in the cliff dweller’s hand. The ancient cross was carved on a thin bronze shield covering the lock.
    â€œThis has something to do with the cliff dwellers, doesn’t it?” she asked, pleased with herself and wondering what could the container possibly hold that was more precious to Ulysses than anything else among the slew of priceless pieces. Nadine looked at him with expectation, but Ulysses’ face had changed from soft and yielding to a distrusting mask.
    â€œHow do you know that?” The words were low, threatening.
    Before Nadine could answer, Ulysses had grabbed her by her arm and was leading her toward the door as he badgered her. “That case is none of your concern, do you understand me? And if I find out you are here for reasons other than you have told us, you will regret it!”
    He forced her out of the room, shutting the large door in her face. Shocked by his reaction, Nadine stood listening to Ulysses turning the key in the lock from the other side. She was shaken by his actions, and her arm actually ached where his hand had held it in a vice grip.
    Her eyes burned with tears of confusion for the second time that day. Nadine took the stairway nearest to her to put as much distance as she could between herself and the irate man. Once she considered herself out of harm’s way, Nadine loosened the button on her cuff to see what damage had been done to her arm.
    What is wrong with him? One minute he is trying to get next to me, and the next he’s acting like some fool off the street. I’m not going to be bothered with this kind of insanity, she fumed, her eyes still glistening with unshed tears. Nadine pushed up her sleeve, searching for evidence of the pain she was still feeling.
    â€œThere you are.” Madame Deane’s voice reached her through an open door. “Come here. Right now! I’ve been waiting for a moment alone with you.”
    Nadine wanted to disobey the shrill voice that called to her, but she thought better of it. Catherine had already warned her of madame’s moods. She wished someone had warned her about Ulysses.
    â€œHurry up! Close and lock the door before somebody sees you,” Madame Deane ordered in a conspiratorial tone. “She told me to tell you that you should be thanking us for keeping this safe until you returned. We have kept it hidden for years.” A dangerous, somewhat demented gleam accompanied her irrational claim. “This story is one of the reasons I am in this wheelchair today.” She looked up from the dirty object she held wrapped in her lap. “They thought they could get rid of me, but we were smarter than they were.” A perturbed look descended on madame’s wrinkled features. “What is