Ghost of a Promise (13 page)

Chapter Twelve

The
Phantoms
team had gone into the town square for a late lunch so Ava could meet with Gerard, the fire chief, and go over how to get the mansion up to code. Step one in converting the house into a B&B. The city inspector was coming in an hour.

Before Gerard left, he said a sprinkler system needed to be installed. Code mandated a fire extinguisher on every floor by each exit, plus one in the kitchen. Two on the third floor because of the kitchenette.

She let out a relieved breath. It didn’
t seem so bad.

As she waved goodbye to Gerard from the front door, the voices from the
Phantoms
crew coming down the walk a block away drifted over to her. She decided to start coffee. What she needed was a caffeine IV inserted directly into her vein. Since they started these night investigations, she’
d been an insomniac.

By dinnertime, she had the information she needed to get an occupancy permit, which wasn
’
t the ordeal she
’
d imagined. The city inspector went over Gerard
’
s report and did a walk-through of the house, noting things here and there. Once she complied with everything, they
’
d need to do a walk-through again.

Ava ordered pizzas from Mario
’
s down the street and collapsed in a kitchen chair, listening to the muffled voices of the crew talking in the dining room.

“
How did it go?
”

She didn
’
t bother opening her eyes, but hearing Jackson
’
s voice and delicious accent had her girl parts zinging. Damn him.
“
Better than expected. Now we just need a miracle to keep the house.
”

He pulled out a chair and sat next to her.
“
We? I was under the impression you were going into business alone.
”

Yes. Always alone.

She looked at him and shrugged.
“
Habit, I guess, to say
we
. The ghosts could help me make the beds since I wouldn’
t get anyone else willing to employ. Think they clean bathrooms too?
”

The look he gave her bordered on pity.

“
That was a joke.
”

“
Didn
’
t sound like one.
”
His voice was low, concerned.

“
Yes, well. We can
’
t all be clever and witty like the great Jackson Granger, can we?
”
She stood.

He grabbed her arm.
“
Why are you getting defensive?
”
He rose and cupped her cheek, stepping into her space, all hard and smelling like yummy male.

She could not have him touching her right now. She just couldn
’
t. Trying to comfort her and be nice and standing there looking all sexy and crap. Eventually he was going to go back to New York or London or wherever and she
’
d just be a bleep on his radar as someone he knew in passing. Meanwhile, she
’
d be here
…

She took a step back.
“
Why do you care?
”

He drew air in slowly through his nose and murmured something that sounded like
red Jell-O.

“
What?
”

He shook his head, looking for all the world like a dejected man. A look not fitting and out of place. It made her stomach clench.

“
Just reminding myself of something, luv.
”

Her eyes narrowed, but her fight was dwindling. She was so freakin
’
tired. And mean. He didn
’
t deserve that, no matter how insecure she was. He was just trying to help. But damn, he wouldn’t be here next month to help and that made her heart hurt.

“
I
’
m heading to town for an hour for some errands. Please tell the crew I ordered pizzas.
”

He straightened.
“
I
’
ll go with you.
”

Didn
’
t he understand that she didn’t know how to accept help, even in this small capacity? He was crowding her. She learned long ago never to depend on another for anything of importance.
“
I
’
m quite capable of
—”

“
No one
’
s questioning your capability,
”
he barked, then sighed and closed his eyes as if seeking patience.
“
Perhaps I
’
d just like the pleasure of your company.
”

The pleasure of
…
Who talked like that? And why did it make her heart bounce around like an unfettered jackrabbit? Guilt took over for upsetting him. He didn’t understand at all. Men like Jackson come and fix and leave. Why did he even want to was the question. What did he get out of it?

“
Okay,
”
she said at length, still confused.

“
Okay? No biting retort?
”
His lips quirked into a half-smile, irritation abating and his eyes hinting at mischief.

She went liquid inside.

He held her coat for her before donning his own. At the front door, he slipped her white knit hat on her head and brushed away a strand of hair from her cheek, his touch lingering. His gaze roamed her face, his expression unreadable. They were so close she could count every one of this thick, black lashes, could see the varying color spectrum in his amazing blue eyes. The heat radiating from him pulled her closer. And it dawned on her she
’
d never wanted anyone more. He
’
d said that to her in the library a few nights ago. She
’
d thought he was lying, but the truth was in his face now. This wasn
’
t just chemistry, it was combustion.

“
So lovely, Ava.
”

She exhaled the gale-force wind from her lungs. She couldn
’
t read him. Couldn
’
t tell if he was just that good at seduction or if she was different from his other conquests. She supposed it didn
’
t matter.
“
Thank you.
”

His brows rose to his hairline, a smile playing at his lips.
“
I
’
ll add this to the win column. She accepts my compliments.
”
He continued his exploration of her face before dropping his gaze to her mouth.
“
There are no cameras here in the entryway.
”

Before she could process that, his mouth was on hers and her back against the wall. He pinned her with his body, her hands trapped between them. A growl rumbled from his throat seconds before he cupped her face and wove his tongue against hers. Need shot through her, so fierce her knees almost gave out. His thigh slid between her legs as if knowing she needed the support and she ground against it trying to ease the humming, pulsing ache. She
’
d never needed anyone. There
’
d been passion with other men, but this
…
This was insanity.

She slid her hands under his coat, up his sides, exploring every ridge of muscle underneath. He thrust his hips forward, his arousal evident. Pride rose that he was just as affected. Their kiss grew frantic, desperate, and she couldn
’
t tell if the room was spinning or if the loss of oxygen was to blame. Who needed air anyway?

He tore his mouth away and she whimpered. His erratic breaths fanned her cheek.
“
You drive me mad, woman.
Mad
.”
His voice was hoarse, husky.
“
Bugger, Ava.
Stop
.”

She realized she was still riding his thigh like a horse and her hands had slid down to cup his glorious ass. She froze.
“
You started it.
”

His laugh was grating and tormented and ended in a moan. He pressed his forehead to hers.
“
So I did. Can
’
t bring myself to regret it either. However, unless you want to finish it right here in the doorway, we should be on our way.
”

When did he become the voice of reason?

He stepped back and straightened her hat. Then her coat. Her hat again. Stared at her mouth. After several seconds, he made a feral male sound and opened the door.
“
Out we go, then.
”

…

Later that afternoon, Ava cupped her mug of coffee and drew her knees to her chin. Jackson noted how comfortable she looked here in the dining room with his crew as they told stories of past cases. Ten empty pizza boxes were scattered on the table between them and she’d only eaten one piece. She looked content enough, smiling at the others, avoiding eye contact.

It was becoming harder and harder to hide how much he wanted her.

“
Remember that Irish pub we investigated?
”
Sammy asked.
“
The pint of beer we set out slid right across the bar. Amir, if I remember correctly, you screamed like a little girl.
”

The hysterics started again, but he watched Ava. Her smile was infectious. Her gaze followed each of them, all but him, with humor and wistfulness. He wondered what she was thinking about in that beautiful head of hers.

“
Yeah, so?
”
Amir said without heat.
“
And I
’
d scream again. That place was freaky.
”

“
Total waste of a good beer,
”
Terrance said.

“
How does my house compare to the others? On a one to ten scale, how scary is it?
”

They looked at each other and in unison said,
“
Ten.
”

Ava smiled over the rim of her cup and looked at him for the first time since getting back from town. He tried to swallow and failed. He
’
d yet to see tomfoolery in her eyes or that easy smile she
’
d given freely to everyone but him. But it was there now. Something expanded in his chest, both painful and pleasant. She broke first and looked away.

“
So what do you make of that male EVP?
”
Paul asked, pushing up his wire-framed glasses.
“
He said he died alone.
”

She shrugged.
“
Could be anyone. There have been several deaths in the house. Suicides, accidents.
”

He wanted to keep the hope in her eyes.
“
You want it to be Peter Trumble.
”

She appeared to think that over, even though they both knew what she
’
d say.
“
Yes, I do. A direct link to him may get answers. Answers mean I can keep the house.
”

“
Well,
”
Sammy said,
“
whoever it is likes you. They wanted you to stay.
”

She seemed unimpressed.
“
Chances are it
’
s one of my relatives. One would hope they
’
d like me.
”

“
You know,
”
Kerry said,
“
we should play on that. Tell the spirits you may lose the house. Maybe it
’
ll help.
”

Paul nodded.
“
Good idea. And you seem to get the most response, Ava.
”

She smiled with a nod.
“
Well, they know me. I
’
m in their comfort zone.
”

He
’
d like to be in her comfort zone.

Ava stood.
“
I
’
ll get out the extra cot for you, Paul.
”

Paul, now that he was back, was going to share his bedroom.

Jackson rose.
“
I
’
ll help you.
”

She deigned him one of those killer looks, but said nothing. They left the others to clean up and ascended the stairs. She pulled a folding hideaway bed from the hall closet and struggled to drag it down the hall. As much fun as watching her cute little rear was, he reached over and picked up the cot. She blew out a breath and followed him into the bedroom.

He set down the cot against the wall and straightened.
“
What
’
s wrong?
”

She
’
d stopped just inside the doorway, her face pale.
“
Do you smell that? Lavender.
”

Sure enough, she was right.

Three things happened simultaneously. The door behind Ava slammed closed, he was pushed into her, and the smell of lavender disappeared.

Neither of them moved. He couldn
’
t tell if it was because of arousal or shock. Both, he decided. He looked down his nose at her. She was plastered to him, her fingers clutching his biceps, their thighs brushing.

He dropped his hands to her waist.
“
Seems we have a matchmaking ghost in our midst.
”

Her gaze darted to his and back to his chest. He watched her swallow, wanting to kiss her there at the hollow of her throat where hours before she made those addictive noises.

Footsteps pounded down the hall. The crew.

With great regret, he set her away from him and opened the door before his team could find them in a precarious position.
“
We
’
re fine. Give us a minute.
”
He shut the door again.