Shadow Kiss: Ghostly Shadows Read online

  “From the beginning.” Terrance gave Rexton a long stare. “I don’t even know what that is. Strange things have been happening in that house since the beginning.”

  Rexton said nothing.

  Marist continued, “At first it was the temperature we noticed. It would get cold with no warning. And then hot.”

  “And then things would move, like curtains and doors,” Terrance jumped back in. “Of course, we didn’t think it was anything at first. Just a big old house.”

  “But it’s gotten worse.” Marist folded his hands in his lap.

  “Worse how?” I broke my silence. I hoped that was okay with Rexton, but it wasn’t like he told me I had to stay quiet or anything.

  “Worse in the starting to get strange visions when we spend too much time inside.” Terrance downed several long sips of the wine. “Very strange visions.”

  I looked at Rexton. Was this typical? I guess I didn’t know what it was like to be in a haunted place when you didn’t have the gift or curse.

  “What kind of visions?” Rexton asked. “Can you describe them at all?”

  He was good at this. Asking questions that kept them talking without coming across as too pushy.

  “Visions of death. Of our own deaths to be specific.” Marist stared into his mostly untouched glass of wine. “We’ve talked about this together at length.”

  I gasped. I hadn’t meant to.

  Terrance set his glass down on the coffee table. “Is that not a typical thing?”

  “It is,” Rexton clearly assured them and covered for me. “But Ms. Palmer here is new to dealing with clients. She is less experienced in hearing these sorts of stories first hand.”

  “Are you sure you are up for the challenge though?” Marist looked at me.

  “Yes,” I answered yes even though I certainly didn’t feel confident about it.

  “When did these events start to happen?” Rexton thankfully pulled the conversation off of me.

  “For as long as I can remember. It’s why I hate the house.” Terrance polished off his wine.

  Rexton walked to the kitchen and returned with a bottle of the same wine. “And who was living there? Before you decided to sell it.” He refilled Terrance’s glass.

  “Our parents.” Terrance looked down as he talked.

  “And they are where now?” Rexton set the bottle down.

  “Dad is dead. Mom’s in assisted living,” Marist explained.

  “Did your dad die in the house?” Rexton asked.

  “Does that matter?” Terrance bristled. “The episodes started before he died. Years before.”

  “I take it he did die there then.” Rexton refilled his wine glass.

  “Yes. He did,” Marist said matter-of-factly. “About a year ago now.”

  “And under what circumstances?” Rexton sipped his wine as if we were discussing something as mundane as the weather, not the death of their loved one.

  “He fell down the stairs.” Terrance made his way through his second glass of wine.

  “Oh.” I let the word slip out. If I was going to continue to work with Rexton, I would have to get better at checking my reaction.

  “What time of day did this occur?” Rexton reached behind him and turned on the lamp. “The death.”

  “In the middle of the night.” Marist took a small sip of his wine. “Why does that matter?”

  “All the details matter.” Rexton stretched his legs out in front of him. “All of them.”

  “It was the middle of the night. At least that’s what mom said. He got out of bed saying he heard a noise.” Terrance swirled the wine around in his glass. “Mom heard a loud thump and got up. She found him lying on the floor at the landing.”

  I shivered. How awful. To find the one you loved dead like that.

  “Is there a history of other deaths in that house?” Rexton looked between the brothers.

  “Maybe.” Terrance shrugged. “I don’t know.”

  “You thought the house was haunted, yet you never researched it?” I regretted the words as soon as they were out of my mouth.

  “Yes, I suppose that does seem silly.”

  “Not silly. I’m sorry. I don’t know why I said that.”

  “Because it’s what you would have automatically done,” Rexton reached over and patted my leg. “She’s a natural.”

  A natural. Right. A natural at putting my foot in my mouth. I was fantastic at that.

  “Do you think there were other deaths there?” Terrance set down his empty glass.

  “Ghosts seem to be generally tied to where they die.” Hopefully I could redeem myself by providing some information. “At least in my experience.”

  “It’s generally the case. Not always. But usually,” Rexton expanded.

  “So, what now? Will you take care of our problem?” Marist set his glass down and leaned forward.

  “Now Ms. Palmer and I prepare for a visit to the house. And yes. I’m quite confident we can take care of your problem.”

  I wished I were as confident as he was.

  Gabriella

  “Are we really going over to that house?” I asked as soon as the brothers left.

  “Yes. Of course we are.” Rexton picked up the wine glasses, two to a hand, and carried them into the kitchen.

  I picked up the bottles, one empty, and one half full, and followed him. “After we do research.”

  “Oh. I’ve done the research.”

  “Wait. What?” I set the bottles down on the counter. “Why didn’t you say something earlier?”

  “Because it wasn’t the right time to reveal it. Initial client meetings are designed to get the information we need from the clients and to put them at ease.” He turned on the sink and proceeded to start washing out the glasses. The action surprised me. He didn’t seem the type to clean things up right away. But maybe that was just part of his go-getter personality. He didn’t put things off.

  “What about putting us at ease?” I wasn’t sure why I was admitting my discomfort to him. I generally didn’t want anyone to know I was afraid or worried. But somehow here I was letting the last person in the world I should know how vulnerable I was. Then again, I was showing him that time and time again with how I responded to his touch.

  “You have no reason to worry. I’ll be with you.”

  “Oh? And that’s going to protect me from everything?” I eyed his muscular arms even though I knew this kind of protection would need to go beyond the physical. The brothers had talked about visions; I sure wasn’t looking forward to thoughts about my death.

  “From everything? No. But I’ll make sure you survive this. If things get bad you leave. End of story.”

  At least he wasn’t lying. He wasn’t pretending I could be shielded from everything. “Like I’m going to leave you in a bad situation?”

  “You going soft on me?”

  “Not soft. But I don’t leave people. It’s not who I am.” I had plenty of flaws, but that wasn’t one of them.

  “Hence why you get so attached to your ghost friends.” Maybe. He was right whether I wanted to admit it or not.

  “Do we really have to go down that train of thought again?”

  “Are there other trains of thought you’d rather go down?” He set the glasses down to dry.

  “No. Stop. But I don’t need you telling me how I mess things up.”

  “It’s not messing it up. You just get attached. You can’t get attached to these ghosts.”

  “Trust me. I’m not going to get attached to a ghost that murders people.”

  “Knowing ghosts the way you do, do you think it was murder?” He put a stopper in the half-full bottle and tossed the empty one in a bin.

  “How would I know? I thought I knew ghosts, but then you told me they might actually be dangerous.”

  “I’m asking you your gut feeling going into this assignment.”

  “Assignment? Is that what you call them?”

  “Do you have a better name
?”

  “Fine. I don’t have a gut feeling. Unless you count the way my gut is churning with nerves.” I’d been nervous since the brothers shared their story, but I was also fascinated. I knew there was no way I was going to pass up the opportunity to check out the house.

  “It’s going to be fine.”

  “I guess I should be going home. It’s late.” I wasn’t wearing a watch, but I knew hours must have passed.

  “You could stay here.”

  “Yeah… that’s not happening.”

  “I have a guest room.”

  “Still not happening.” I shook my head.

  “Fine. I’ll take you home.”

  “I could get a cab.” I needed space from him, and I needed it fast.

  “I’ll take you home.”

  “It’s okay.”

  “What? Afraid to get in a car with me again?”

  “No.”

  “Oh.” He put a hand on my hip. “Are you sure?”

  “I’m positive.”

  “You sure?” He brushed his lips against mine.

  A moan escaped. He bit down on my lip, and I was a goner. Pure and simple. His tongue tangled with mine as his arms tightened around me, pulling me against him. His body was hard, and there was no question what he wanted.

  I wrapped my arms around his neck, pulling him toward me. I stopped caring about what I was supposed to want. I only focused on what I needed.

  And then he stopped and stepped away. “Ready to go?”

  “Are you serious?” I stared at him with disbelief.

  “I’m never going to do anything you don’t want. And you wanted to go home. Isn’t that what you were just saying?”

  “Yes, but…”

  “What? Have you changed your mind?”

  “No. Of course not. I’m ready to go.” I pushed away the burning need. There was no way I was going to admit he was right and I was wrong.

  * * *

  “You’re home late.” Ronny waited with his arms crossed when I walked inside my apartment.

  “Nice to see you too.” I stepped around him and set my purse down.

  “I was getting worried.”

  “You don’t have to worry about me. I can take care of myself.” I kicked off my shoes and left them by the door to my room.

  “How was the business dinner?” He took his usual spot on the arm of the chair.

  “We met with some clients.”

  “And was it those clients who messed up your hair?”

  “What?” I ran a hand through my hair.

  “That’s hair that’s been tussled by a man. Just saying.”

  “How do you even know that?”

  “I am a man.” He put a hand to his chest. “I know this stuff.”

  “I’m going to bed.”

  “Come on. You have to tell me something,” he pouted.

  “I don’t have to tell you anything.” I wasn’t even fully able to process the evening. I certainly wasn’t telling Ronny about it.

  “You don’t have to, but as your friend it would sure be nice to know.”

  “And as my friend you should respect my privacy.”

  “So there is stuff you want to keep private?”

  “I’m tired. I have a busy day tomorrow. I’m going to bed.”

  “You’re falling for him.” Ronny said it as a statement. Not a question. “At least admit that to yourself.”

  “I fell for him months ago,” I wasn’t sure why I was admitting it, but I was.

  I grabbed my clothes, walked into the bathroom and turned on the shower. Maybe some hot water would help me make sense of the day.

  Rexton

  Mixing business and pleasure was dangerous. But I liked danger. I also liked both business and pleasure. The later more usually, but the money one can make from business and the rush from a lucrative transaction brought its own kind of pleasure with it. When it came to Gabriella, I would really enjoy mixing the two.

  I knew I couldn’t go directly home after dropping her off, and that was probably a good thing. Very little good was going to come from me being alone with my thoughts.

  I needed to go by the bar, but first I made a pit stop by Lost & Found. I needed to pay Stacy a visit.

  I knew from experience that Harriet left a key buried in the ferns beside the front door. I inserted the key and pushed open the door to the store.

  “Oh. It’s you.” Stacy materialized as soon as I stepped inside and flipped on the light.

  “Good evening.” I closed the door behind me.

  “What are you doing here?” Her bottom lip quivered. She was nervous.

  “I’m here to talk to you.” I needed to put her at ease. I purposely didn’t walk any further into the store. Hopefully keeping some distance would help.

  “Oh.” She sat on the edge of the front counter. “Why is that?”

  “It’s about Gabriella.” I went straight to the point.

  “Oh.” She smiled. “I like to talk about her.”

  “You two are close. Aren’t you?” I’d stroke her ego. Although that was true. Whether it was smart or not, Gabriella viewed this ghost as a friend.

  “Best friends.”

  “She seems to like you a lot.” I’d push as hard as I had too.

  “Of course she does. She knows she can tell me anything.” Stacy swung her legs.

  “Maybe you could tell me some of the things she’s told you.”

  “That wouldn’t make me a very good friend.”

  “She likes me. Doesn’t she?” I knew from my experience my charm could work on ghosts, but I didn’t want to use it. Somehow that felt like wronging Gabriella. She was driving me nuts.

  “I can’t tell you that.”

  “Aren’t you the one that suggested she come to dinner with me?”

  “Yes. And didn’t you go? How was it?” Her voice lilted as excitement seeped in.

  “It was great. She’s wonderful company, but you already know that.”

  “So, you know she likes you.” She put a hand over her mouth. “I shouldn’t have told you that.”

  “It’s okay. I already knew.”

  “I’m not saying anything else.” She stopped swinging her legs.

  “Even if it’s to help her?”

  “How is it going to help her?” She looked up at me.

  “I know she likes me. I really like her.”

  “That’s no secret. You make that very obvious.”

  I grinned. “Guilty as charged.”

  “I still don’t understand what you want me to tell you.”

  I went right for the punch. I was there for information, and I was determined to get it. “Her family. What do you know about them?”

  “How can that help her?”

  “It can. Trust me.”

  “I may be dead, but I’m not stupid. I’m not going to just tell you things.”

  “I know there are parts of her past she’s trying to hide. I don’t want to inadvertently say something that hurts her.”

  Stacy frowned. “You’re lying.”

  “What makes you say that?”

  “I can just tell.”

  “You’ve lied to Gabriella.”

  “No, I haven’t.”

  “You haven’t lied to her about anything?” I was going off a hunch, and I really hoped it worked.

  Stacy looked down. “About nothing important.”

  “See. You understand. Some lies aren’t bad. They are about nothing important.” I was manipulating her, but sometimes it was necessary. This was for Gabriella’s good. And mine. I couldn't help her without understanding her.

  “I don’t know much about her family.”

  “What do you know?” I’d been able to find out almost nothing about her past before enrolling in school and working for Harriet.

  “I know they didn’t understand her ability.” Stacy pursed her lips. “Ridiculous, isn’t it?”

  “Her ability to talk to and see ghosts?”

 
“Yes. They thought she was crazy.” Stacy sighed. “How horrible. They even got her locked up in a hospital because of it.”

  “Thought?” I asked trying not to let my anger at the information show. How dare her parents treat her that way! She was gifted. It was something to be celebrated and supported, not shunned. “Past tense?”

  “She told them she was fixed.”

  “Oh.” It wasn’t often pure humans developed the kind of gift Gabriella had. I couldn’t imagine how much she went through navigating life with the sight and having no guidance.

  “And it wasn’t just her parents. It was her friends, too. That’s why I’m such a great friend for her. I know she’s not crazy. And it’s why you’d be a good boyfriend. She doesn’t have to lie. She could actually introduce you.”

  The bell above the door jangled.

  I turned around ready to attack.

  “Stand down, cowboy.” Harriet held up her hands. “This is my store after all.”

  “Have a silent alarm set?” I’d expected it, but she’d gotten there quickly.

  “Of course. I didn’t expect to see you here.”

  “I was just having a chat.”

  “With the ghost. Gabriella’s friend?” Harriet set her purse down.

  “Yes.”

  “About what?” She looked in the general direction where Stacy sat. I don’t think she could see her, but my guess is that was Stacy’s usual spot. It’s where she’d been when I’d walked in earlier that day.

  “Does it matter?”

  “This is my store. I could have you for breaking and entering.” She clasped her hand around her emerald necklace.

  “But you won’t.” I called her bluff.

  “No, I won’t. Doesn’t mean I won’t kick you out.” There was a light threat to her voice. She knew there was little she could do to force me to leave, but she did have ways to make my life more complicated.

  “I found out everything I needed to know.” I nodded in Stacy’s direction. “Thank you for the assistance.”

  “Is she going to work with you?” Harriet asked as I made my way toward the door. “Gabriella.”

  “She is.” Nervous or not, I had her attention.

  “Be careful with her.”

  “I will. You know that.” I could be reckless about some things, but not this time.