“I’ve had enough, too,” Shirley said. “I need a beer and a smoke. It sounds like the storm might be moving on.”
“I agree with Shirley,” Jen said, getting to her feet. “Megan doesn’t have the guts to show herself.”
The door behind Casey slammed shut with such a crash that someone let out a startled cry before Jason started laughing. “Tell me that wasn’t Megan. You had all better watch your backs.”
Finn opened the door. There was no one in the hall. Just a chill wind. Ben had apparently left the back door open on his way out.
Jason put away the Ouija board. “Who’s going with me to the bar?” Jen said she would go. Shirley, too.
“Count me in, too,” Patience said.
Finn figured they just wanted out of the hotel. It did sound like the thunderstorm was moving on.
“Have fun, but I’m calling it a night,” Casey said as she started down the hallway.
Finn might have gone after her, but sensed she needed to be alone. After they had all left, he stood in the kitchen. He’d read in Anna’s journal that she’d completely remodeled the space about five years ago. He blinked at the bright overhead lights, all the stainless steel and white cabinets, now that the shadows had all scurried away.
He could see Casey as a girl, propped up on a stool, watching the chefs cook. According to her grandmother, she’d loved the activity, the sound of pots and pans, the smells of the food. The cooks always fed her treats and told her stories about meals that had been served to the rich and famous over the years.
If there were ghosts in this hotel, they were here in this kitchen, he thought as he turned out the lights and headed up for bed.
CASEY TRIED TO shake off what had happened in the kitchen. Her rational mind told her that it had all been a show, orchestrated by Jason. Like Megan, he liked to fool with people. He especially liked to fool with her.
As she got ready for bed, she thought of Finn. It had been so sweet of him to suggest the ice cream. He was so protective and caring. By tomorrow, she would have signed away the hotel and have no reason to stay any longer. Leaving had been all she’d thought about. Until Finn.
It was late when she heard a door open across the hall. Finn must be having trouble sleeping as well. She swung her legs out of bed, moving to her door as if drawn like metal to magnet. She cracked it open, thinking she would thank him again for the ice cream.
“Hey,” Finn said and looked glad to see her. He wore a T-shirt and running shorts, his hair wet as if he’d just showered. That certainly brought back some memories. “I like your pajamas.”
She realized that she hadn’t grabbed her robe. She’d been in a hurry. She hadn’t just wanted to thank Finn for the ice cream; she’d wanted to tell him how glad she was that he was here. She couldn’t imagine what it would have been like without him even if he hadn’t bought the hotel. She also wanted to say that she was glad he wasn’t upset with her about Megan’s diary.
But he smiled at her, and all the things she wanted to say went out of her head.
“Are those moose?” he asked as he stepped closer.
She looked down at her pj’s and laughed. “My grandmother bought me these Christmas before last. At least they don’t have feet in them.”
“I like them.” He was close now, so close she could smell the soap from his recent shower. Her memory shot right back to that first day and him naked as a jaybird with water and soapsuds rippling over that incredible body.
“I just wanted to thank you,” she said into the tense silence that had fallen between them. “For the ice cream. For...everything.” Her skin felt hot, her heart a drum in her chest; she felt as if she didn’t dare breathe. He was so close that he would barely need to move to kiss her.
She wasn’t that inexperienced girl who’d gone into the woods with Jason. She was a woman who could appreciate a real man’s kiss.
“You’re most welcome,” he said with a slight bow. He hesitated. “We’ve both had quite the day.” He took a step back.
She nodded, hating the stab of disappointment that pierced her chest.
As she started to turn toward her room again, she heard him mutter, “Oh, hell.” He caught her hand. She felt her pulse jump as he turned her back to him. Eyes locked with hers, he pulled her closer. Her breath caught again in her throat. She felt as if she’d been headed to this point her whole life.
“I’ve been wanting to do this from the first time I saw you standing in my bathroom holding a gun on me,” Finn said, his voice thick with desire. He encircled her in his arms, drawing her into him as his mouth dropped to hers.
The kiss was tender and sweet, tentative and then fierce in its need. She lost herself in him. Time seemed suspended. She could feel his heart pounding like her own, just as she could feel the heat of him.
As he slowly drew back from the kiss to meet her gaze, his voice was rough with emotion as he said, “I’m not going to let anything happen to you.” He cleared his throat. “I just want you to know that I’m here for you.” Just across the hall. Just a few steps away.
“You really aren’t angry about the diary?” she had to ask.
He looked surprised by the question. “No. I’m just glad you told me. I hope you feel better having done so.” She did. Their gazes locked, stealing her breath.
He drew back, letting her go. “Sleep tight,” he said with a slight bow. “Watch those bedbugs.”
She grimaced. “Not funny.”
“Better than ghosts,” he said, then
