Ghost of a Promise (27 page)

She stared at him, trying to absorb his words. It took her too long to realize his intention. The real reason he
’
d come. The disappointment hurt.
“
So you thought you
’
d bring her here to help me with the B&B?
”

“
Yes.
”
Suddenly, he bent down and retrieved what looked like a rolled-up poster from the bag by his feet. He removed a rubber band and handed the roll to her.
“
I also came because of that.
”
He jerked his chin toward the poster.

Okay, fine. She
’
d bite. She unrolled the poster and looked at the blueprint. It appeared to be the plans for an old house. She shook her head, confused.
“
I don
’
t understand.
”

“
That
’
s our house, or I mean, it will be if
…”
He ran his hand through his black hair, clearly frustrated. Briefly, he closed his eyes.
“
I
’
m going about this all wrong. I had this all worked out in my head what I
’
d say.
”

Her heart started to pound. He was babbling, which he rarely did unless nervous. Something close to hope shifted inside her chest and the only thing she wanted in that moment was to find out what he was building up to before her world crashed down a second time.

“
You
’
re worried about me being in the house long-term with the history of Trumble mansion.” He threw the words out like a challenge.
“
So I designed a house to build on your land on the other side of the cemetery where we could live. You were worried about staffing Trumble
’
s B&B, so I brought you an innkeeper. Someone you can trust who has both our interests at heart. Mum wants to be closer to me, to settle down somewhere. She
’
s not afraid of the spirits and
…”

Holy crap. No way was Jackson Granger standing before her and
…
She nearly pulled her hair out at the roots.
“
For crying out loud, Jackson. Tell me what you
’
re saying. In English, please.
”

He scrubbed his hands over his face.
“
You
’
re right. I
’
m terrible at this.
”
He hastily bent down yet again and pulled out a present from his bag. He handed it to her.

A Christmas gift? He goes from blueprints to presents and expects her not to scream?
“
Jackson,
”
she ground out.

“
Please, Ava. I know I
’
m not making sense right now, but I assure you there is a point. Open the gift.
”

She sighed and tore at the paper, thinking all she
’
d need is one scorned woman on the jury to get her acquitted. She tossed the wrappings aside. Inside were two Blu-rays:
The Princess Bride
and…
the original
House on Haunted Hill
. The Vincent Price version. Every muscle in her body tensed in recognition. He remembered. Remembered they were her favorites. Which meant he remembered…

“
I thought we could watch those here in the house on our first date. You
’
d have to supply the popcorn, however. I didn
’
t bring any.
”

Her breath wheezed out of her lungs.

He took a step closer, crowding her back against the doorframe.
“
I quit the show and I
’
m selling my New York apartment. I haven
’
t looked at another woman or wanted to since I met you. I can
’
t stop thinking about you. You
’
re everything I
’
ve always wanted and it took a pair of ghosts to open my eyes.
”

A sob rose in her throat.

He wrapped his arms around her. She crushed her face into his shirt, meeting the soft fabric covering his hard chest. She fisted her hands in the material bunching his shoulders and held on.

He pressed a gentle kiss to her temple and spoke into her hair.
“
I love you, Ava. I should
’
ve started this whole crazy thing by saying that. I love you and I missed you like mad. It wasn’t a spell. It was you. I found home.
”

Whatever words he
’
d rehearsed to get her to cave worked.

Damn, did they work.

Not only could she keep her dream of converting the mansion to a B&B, but she could have the family she
’
d always wanted too. Because of him. Because of Jackson, who tore down her defenses and found a way to make this work and was ready to give up everything to be with her. And in return, he
’
d get the home he
’
d secretly craved and a sense of security he
’
d never known.

She didn
’
t think happiness could feel so wonderful it hurt.
“
I love you too.
”

He stared at her, a smile crinkling the corners of his beautiful blue eyes.
“
And?
”

“
And what?
”

He shrugged.
“
I
’
m just waiting for some snarky remark to follow.
‘
I love you, Jackson, but you
’
re too sexy for me.
’ ‘
I love you, Jackson, but you only want me for my spooky house.
’ ‘
I
—’”

“
I just love you.
”

The dimple on his left cheek appeared.
“
How long before we can get rid of our parents?
”

She laughed into his kiss, so drugging and potent and
…
right
. She let herself sink into him, into his desperate, demanding kiss for a moment before reality closed in. With regret, she pulled away and took a few steps back.

“
We
’
d better get back in there.
”

His eyes were trained to a spot over her shoulder.

“
What
’
s wrong?
”

He shook his head once, confusion wrinkling his brow.
“
I thought the house was quiet, that the spirits were gone.
”

She crossed her arms and took a step closer.
“
They are. I mean, I
’
ve heard some residual-type noises, but the active spirits seem to have left. What makes you
—”

Lavender. So strong it was as if the room had been bathed in it.

Her head reared back. Their gazes locked.

It couldn
’
t be.

Jackson
’
s eyebrows rose.
“
Guess they like it here too.
”
He laughed after a moment and draped an arm over her shoulder.
“
Come on, Ava. The sooner we eat, the sooner we can be alone.
”

She rested her head in the crook of his arm.
“
I don
’
t think we
’
ll ever be alone and I
’
m okay with that. But, Jackson.
”
She paused and looked up at him.
“
Don
’
t tell my mom the house is still haunted.
”

“
You have my word, luv.” He kissed her. “And my heart.”

Did you love this Covet? Check out more of our paranormal romance titles
here
!

And for exclusive sneak peeks at our upcoming books, excerpts, contests, chats with our authors and editors, and more…

Be sure to like us on
Facebook

Follow us on
Twitter

Sign up for our
newsletter

About the Author

Kelly Moran
gets her book ideas from everyone and everything around her and there’s always a story playing out in her head. No one who knows her bats an eyelash when she talks to herself. She is the winner of the 2013 Catherine Award and earned one of the 10 Best Reads of 2013 by USA Today’s HEA blog. She also placed as a Finalist in the Readers Choice from RT Magazine. Her interests outside of books include: sappy movies, MLB, NFL, driving others insane, and sleeping when she can. She is a closet caffeine junkie and chocoholic, but don’t tell anyone. She resides in Wisconsin with her family.

Sign up for our
Steals & Deals newsletter
and be the first to hear about 99¢ releases from Kelly Moran and other fantastic Entangled authors!

Reviews help other readers find books. We appreciate all reviews, whether positive or negative. Thank you for reading!

Discover more paranormal romance titles from Entangled…

Haunt Me

a novel by
Heather Long

Successful architect and paranormal skeptic Justin Kent returns to Penny Hollow to fulfill his father’s dying wish of revitalizing their small town. To do that, he needs the allegedly haunted estate at Summerfield. MacKenzie Dillon, the new owner, may be gorgeous and spunky, but she refuses to sell. Justin and Mac have a dangerous history that spans the ages, but will they discover the truth in time to save their lives?

Love Potion
s

a
Warlocks MacGregor
novel by
Michelle M. Pillow

Erik MacGregor, from a clan of ancient Scottish warlocks, isn’t looking for love…until he moves in next door to Lydia Barratt. Lydia just wants to be left alone. The last thing she needs is a demanding Scottish man meddling in her private life. But a love potion prank makes her the target of Erik’s sudden embarrassingly obsessive behavior. They’ll have to find a way to pull him out of the spell fast, because evil lurks within the shadows and it plans to use Lydia, alive or dead, to take out Erik and his clan for good.

Parts & Wreck

A
Parts Department
novel by
Mark Henry

Wade Crowson, a brutish and brooding playboy and veteran vivisectionist for the Parts Department, runs into more than he bargained for in new partner, Lucid Montgomery, a quirky beauty with a bizarre secret and a string of psychiatric diagnoses she tries hard to keep hidden. Loving Luce will stamp a demonic target on her back and thrust Wade into a frenzied whirlwind of hilarious misunderstandings and, quite possibly, a stripping gig for emptynesters. Can they withstand the savagery of an exorcism (with or without the split pea soup) and come out alive and…in love?

Bewitching the Enemy

a Vieux Carré Witch Sister novel by
Dawn Chartier

Contractor Storm Morgeaux has accidentally set off a series of dark spells hidden in her grandmother’s portrait. Desperate to get the spells for themselves, a clan of shape-shifting warlocks have kidnapped Storm’s sister to get them. Doctor Nathan Davis is distracted by his stunning new contractor—until she sets off his Paladin medallion. Nathan’s first responsibility is eliminating the woman who wields new and dangerous magic. But in order to save her sister, Storm must trust the man who’s torn between loving her...and killing her.

Dragon Her Back

a
Las Vegas Dragons
novel by
Susannah Scott

Ice dragonshifter Darius Dachien commands respect, but the beautiful Mei Chen refuses to be anything less than hostile to him. Unfortunately, she’s also his dragon mate, and he needs her. Mei can’t deny the fierce chemistry that simmers between them. But if Darius were ever to discover who—or what—she really is, she would lose everything. When her past comes crashing into her present, Mei is forced to reveal her true self...and risking both her life and her heart with the one man who could destroy her.

Protecting His Witch

a
Keepers of the Veil
novel by
Zoe Forward

Despite her telepathy and the uncontrolled “dimension-hopping,” Veterinarian Kat Ramsey hasn’t a clue that she’s a witch. Then she accidentally hops into the next world and runs into her seriously hot one-night stand from years ago. Billionaire and former druid Matthew Ryan hasn’t forgotten Kat...or the curse she gave him. Her unexpected return means finally breaking the hex. Unfortunately, his libido has other ideas—like how to get her back into his bed once last time. And worse yet, he suspects that Kat is the seventh Pleiades witch. Now he’ll have to protect the woman who made his life hell...