held out his hand to her. “It’s nice to meet you, Gigi.”
“You too.” She smiled and then fluttered her eyelashes as she stared up at him. “Oh, my. You’re a pretty one.”
Owen sputtered out a laugh. “Thanks.”
Grace chuckled when she noticed Owen’s cheeks turning pink. “Why don’t we go in and take a look around?”
“Yes, please.” Gigi took a moment to glance around at the dilapidated porch. “I see the spirits are still trying to run people off.”
“Spirits?” Grace asked. She had no doubt the place was haunted, but she didn’t know by who. If Gigi knew something she didn’t, then she wasn’t going to miss an opportunity to get informed.
“Oh, come on, Grace. Everyone knows this place is haunted. But that doesn’t bother me.” She waved an unconcerned hand. “I’ve always had a fascination with ghosts. The only real question is will they accept me?”
“That’s…” Grace nodded. “Yeah. If you’re really interested in a haunted house, I suppose that’s the best way to approach things. Let’s see what they have to say.”
She opened the door for Gigi and Vince. Grace and Owen followed them in.
Owen squeezed her hand briefly. “I’m just going to quietly take a look around while you do your thing. Okay?”
“Okay.” She smiled at him and watched as he disappeared up the stairs.
Vince hung back near the entryway of the house. There was a nervous expression on his face, and he kept looking at the front door as if he was ready to bolt at any moment. Grace ignored him and watched as Gigi moved to the sliding glass doors at the back of the house.
She unlocked and then pulled the door open, letting the sea salt-scented air filter through the house. Her honey-colored hair lifted slightly in the breeze as she stood there staring at the dramatic coastline.
Then a strange thing happened. A glowing gold outline of shimmering light seemed to coat her skin, and the walls around her seemed to shift to a brighter shade of white while the wood floors gleamed as if light was shining through the boards. The breeze turned warmer, inviting, and Grace felt the unmistakable tingle of pure white magic filling the home.
Whatever was happening, it was clear the house had fully accepted Gigi. The spirits who had been keeping everyone else away obviously welcomed her.
“This is my happy place,” Gigi said with a sigh as she turned around and smiled at Vince and Grace.
A surge of excitement went through Grace. She wasn’t one to get worked up about offers. People were often very unpredictable when searching for a home. They could fall in love with a place, promise an offer within the hour, and then change their minds ten minutes later due to something silly like the color of the home. On the other hand, she’d shown more than a handful of houses where the buyer complained about every single detail, including the neighborhood, and then made an offer the next day that was equal or at least close to the asking price. She’d learned quickly to curb her expectations.
But Gigi and the house at 5 Seaside Drive had a clear connection, and Grace knew this house not only wanted her but would scare away anyone else who came poking around. The magic was that strong.
“How soon are you looking to move?” Grace asked, just to get an idea of where Gigi was in the buying process.
“As soon as possible,” she said, lightly trailing her fingertips over the white quartz countertops. Her gaze met Vince’s, and some unspoken understanding passed between them.
Grace desperately wanted to ask more but decided to keep her questions to herself. She didn’t appreciate when other agents hounded her clients, and she wouldn’t do it to theirs. After they left, she’d have a private conversation with Vince to find out if she could expect an offer soon.
Gigi walked back over to the sitting area and started pointing out how she’d arrange her furniture and where her grandmother’s side table would go. At first Grace thought she was talking to her and Vince, but Gigi stared into the fireplace and giggled when she said, “Stop. You’re making me blush.”
Grace’s eyebrows shot up. Was she talking to the spirits?
Footsteps sounded on the stairs, and Grace glanced up to see Owen descending down to the main floor. He’d just joined her when the front door banged open and a tall man stormed in. His hair was styled with an excessive amount of gel, and he was wearing