A Tempus Institute Story
by
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Should he change the past for love?
As an agent for the Tempus Institute, Jason Adams’ task is to observe the past, not change it. But when he’s sent to 21st-century Wellington, New Zealand, during the last week of aspiring songwriter Sean Henderson’s life, Jason finds he can’t just watch from a distance. He and Sean quickly become friends and then lovers, and when the song that's haunted Jason for years connects them in a way he never anticipated, he'll risk changing history for the chance of sharing a future with Sean.
Author’s note: This story was originally published in 2012 by another publisher. This edition has some added content, and uses UK/NZ spelling to reflect its setting.
- 1 To Be Read list
- 2 Read lists
Publisher: LaceDragon Publishing
Editors:
Cover Artists:
Genres:
Tropes: Time Travel
Word Count: 19017
Setting: Wellington, New Zealand
Languages Available: English
Series Type: Same Universe / Various Characters
Tropes: Time Travel
Word Count: 19017
Setting: Wellington, New Zealand
Languages Available: English
Series Type: Same Universe / Various Characters
Jason smiled, trying to put Sean at ease. “Thanks for the compliment, by the way. It’s been a while since anyone’s made the effort or shown any interest.” No one since Rex, but that was history in every sense of the word. They hadn’t spoken to each other since they’d broken up three years ago, and the last he’d heard Rex was on assignment in the mid-1940s. Very hush hush.
“I’m usually a little more subtle.” Sean sighed. “For all the good it does me.”
“I’m surprised.” Jason leaned over and placed a hand on Sean’s arm. Sean’s skin felt warm, fine dark hairs smooth under Jason’s fingers. He thanked the powers that be that it was warmer today so that Sean’s shirtsleeves were rolled up above his elbows. “You’re a good-looking guy.” Jason made a point of looking Sean up and down. “I’d even go as far as to say hot.”
“Really?”
Jason could almost see the steam coming out of Sean’s ears at the idea.
READ MORESean shook his head in disbelief. “Me?” He shook his head again. “Hell no. Now you….” His voice trailed off. “Um, can we change the subject onto something else? Are you from around here? I hadn’t seen you before the other day.”
“I’m from… overseas.” Jason nodded, thinking through what was left of his cover story. “I’m a journalist, travel, mostly. This looked like an interesting place, so I thought I’d look around for a few days, take notes, that kind of thing.”
“Where overseas?” Sean settled back into his chair, relaxing as the conversation moved onto a safer topic. “I’ve been to Aussie once, but apart from that I haven’t been out of New Zealand. It’s on my list of things I’d like to do one day.” He laughed, but there was a self-deprecating air to it. “Perhaps once I’m rich and famous. Can’t see it happening otherwise.”
Jason latched onto the first country that came to mind. “Canada.” He hoped Sean wouldn’t ask for anything more specific. Giving the truth wasn’t an option. He couldn’t very well explain that although he was a local, the Wellington he was used to was very different from how it was now. It was better this way; there was less chance of slipping up and referring to something that didn’t exist yet.
“It’s on the list.” Sean sipped his coffee thoughtfully. “I’m a mainlander myself. Christchurch. My parents are still down there, don’t want to leave. They reckon they’ve spent their whole life there, and it’s going to take more than a few earthquakes to make that change.” He shrugged. “They’re one of the lucky ones. Their house is still relatively intact.”
“Have you been to see them recently?” Jason hoped Sean had. Closure was important. He’d seen too many families who’d missed out on that. They couldn’t be there at the end, but at least having had some contact beforehand helped.
“Yeah. I went down as soon as I could after the first big one and spent some time.” Sean wrapped his long slender fingers around his cup. “I offered to move back, but they wouldn’t have anything of it. My life is here now, has been for a few years. I’ve got my music, and I work in the café part time. Never going to be rich, but it works for me.”
“You’re a musician?” A familiar not-quite tune whispered to him. He ignored it.
“Yeah, although more of a songwriter than a performer.” Sean shrugged. “I doubt you’ve heard of me, although a couple of local bands are willing to play my stuff. I play keyboards for them on the occasional gig, too, when the usual guy is off sick or whatever.” He glanced toward his pile of papers, his mouth twisting into a half grimace, half-shy smile. “I’m working on a new song but having trouble getting it quite right. That happens sometimes, then when it’s the right time, it all falls into place. It drives me crazy until it does, though. I swear I eat, drink, and sleep the thing.”
“I’d love to hear what you’ve got so far.” Jason could have kicked himself for not taking the time to listen to the sound files attached to Sean’s dossier. He reminded himself that Sean’s role at the café was the focus of the assignment, not his music.
“That settles it.” Sean grinned. “I knew you were crazy with all your talk of hotness. Now you want to hear music composed by a guy you’ve only just met.” He schooled his face into a solemn expression. “I think that’s about the fourth sign of madness isn’t it? After all, my music could be really bad. You could be in danger of losing your hearing and good taste for the rest of eternity.”
“And here I was thinking the fourth sign was being a true believer of the sanctity and healing properties of coffee,” Jason deadpanned.
COLLAPSEThe duty of an agent at the Tempest Institute is to observe happenings at different points in time and the last thing an agent is supposed to do is interact with a subject or to change history. As soon as Jason sees a picture of Sean in a case file, he knows this case will be like none other.
The book opens with the ending of a dream that Jason is having. He can see beautiful gray eyes and hear the remnants of a song that he can’t get out of his head. It is the same dream over and over and can’t make any sense of it. He is sent on assignment to New Zealand in the city that he lives in, but 200 years in the past, to observe Sean in the last days of his life. It doesn’t take long before the ‘no contact’ rule goes out the window.
Sean works in a small coffee shop and spends his time composing music. When he drops his bundle of sheet music on the floor Jason comes to the rescue and helps to pick up the papers. After noticing Jason stare at him the day before, Sean uses this opportunity to buy Jason a cup of coffee and to sit and chat. He and Sean have such a strong connection that Jason decides to spend every moment possible together before his assignment is over at the end of the week.
Both Jason and Sean are lovely people and I really enjoyed watching them fall in love. It is because of this love that when the time comes for Sean to be murdered, Jason can only do one thing, put himself in his lover’s place. Little did Jason know, he was always supposed to be there at that exact moment.
I really enjoyed this story very much. It is only 49 pages on my reader and yet it still packs an emotional punch. I would recommend this to anyone who enjoys a date with destiny and a wonderful HEA.