"Right. So I guess, I'd be a little more worried about this ghost than I'd previously thought." He turned the dial. "The thing was off."
She tried to think back to what she knew about ghosts. Her grandma had been big on respecting the dead. Witches and lots of other paranormal beings always left bits and pieces of themselves, but they weren't actually ghosts. Ghosts were something very different.
"I did forget to put out the herbs that I usually keep around. Maybe I'll do that tonight." She took a step away from him, his musky scent and the energy between them making her forget her frustrations and insecurities. Maybe that wouldn't be so bad except she couldn't figure him out. He ran hot and cold, and her life was already a mess.
He backed away from the wall unit. "There are a few pellet stoves on the main floor. I'll go deal with those then start on the railing."
She lifted a brow. "What's a pellet stove?"
"Stove's similar to a fireplace, but they are safer and burn wooden pellets. The shed out back should have quite a few. If not, I stock them at the store."
Right. Caleb wasn't her friend. He was doing this as a business.
"Right. Of course. What do I owe you? For everything? Will I get a quote for the door?"
She couldn't read him. Her magic traced him from a distance, timid and bouncing along him. She could see he had secrets, or well, something he didn't want to tell her anyway.
"What? Nothing. The door I'll fix since I broke it. I stacked wood out by the kitchen door. Just get this place up and running. I'll be downstairs when you're, uh, dressed."
Narrowing her eyes as he walked away, she called after him, "I am dressed."
His voice muted as he mumbled down the hall. "Girl gone wild videos show less skin."
Her face heated and she wanted to slam the door, only it wasn't attached to the wall anymore.
Whatever. If Caleb had a problem with her well-endowed cleavage and thighs, then he could screw himself. She snorted.
A man like that probably didn't have problems with getting screwed. Ugh. Why. Why am I thinking about him?
Only she couldn't stop. He was a mountain. She couldn't ignore him; it was doubtful anyone could.
Her phone rang again. She took a second glance at the door and rolled her eyes.
Picking it up, the one number she didn't want to see, was the one that flashed on the screen.
"Mother."
"Marci dear? Is that any way to greet me?"
"Why are you calling."
"Jeff has secured the venue for your reception. You have another month, so enjoy this little vacation."
Do not swear at her.
"Mother. Thanks, but no. This isn't a vacation. I moved."
Marci heard the hiss of breath over the phone and could only imagine what this was doing to her botox-frozen face.
"You will return to this city before the wedding. You do not embarrass Jeff's family or me like this."
"Jeff took care of embarrassing everyone all on his own. You'll excuse me, but I have an inn to run. Oh, and Mom? I'd see about getting that deposit back if I were you."
She punched the end on the screen and threw the phone on the bed. Her heart threatened to jump out of her chest. Her legs shook as she fought off the anger resurfacing. As soon as she figured out where her pants were, she'd be paying a little trip down the street to figure out what Annie had to say for herself. She didn't need to have someone trying to control her life; her mother was running it all on her own.
"So, I -"
She jumped at the sound of his voice. The ghost scared her less than her mother, putting her on edge.
"Don't you knock?"
"Hey. Sorry. You okay?"
She turned to see Caleb. "Yeah. Fine."
He didn't move. "You're sure?"
She didn't want to keep lying to herself, or anyone else for that matter. She was tired of living in a picture-perfect family that was only that. Just a photo of what her mother wanted her to see.
"Maybe not. But you can't help me."
Finally, he took a few steps in the room. Nothing was worse than feeling watched.
"Okay. Just thought I'd come start the fire for you if you want before I go open the shop. Pay attention this time."
Her mouth gaped open. "I paid attention the first time. I'm just not exactly experienced with starting fires."
He strode past her. "Okay." He crouched by the hearth. "You should probably come practice then."
Marci waited for him to finish. He held a bit of gray, fluffy dryer lint if she remembered correctly, playing with it between his fingers.
He tossed in the lint. "Do you think maybe you should go home?"
She stomped her foot. "You know what? I don't know what your issue is. One minute you're kissing me and then the next you barely look at me. I mean, okay, sure that was a first for me. But, why do you keep trying to tell me what to do? What did I do to you? It doesn't matter. I'll take a ghost over going home and having to marry some cheating asshat. I refuse to be a subservient wife to a warlock whose best claim to fame is making millions on the stock market and conning stupid humans who think magic can fix their lives. Did my mother call you? Did she pay you to tell me to leave?"
He turned around at this.
"What? Married? I just have a bad feeling about everything."
She threw her hands in the air and started to pace. "Yes. Married. I can't go back. Even running to the opposite side of the country, they still think I will do what they think I should. I've lived my life trying to make my mother proud.
