an expensive-looking suit with a red silk tie.
“Gigi! What the hell? I told you this place was off the table. Why are you here again?” He spun and glared at Vince. “And why are you taking my wife out to showings alone? I told you I didn’t want her looking at homes without me.”
“James,” Gigi admonished. “Don’t berate Vince. He’s just doing his job.”
“And he’s sneaking around behind my back to do it,” James said. “Do you two have something going on?”
“Don’t be ridiculous.” Gigi’s eyes were narrowed and her hands curled into fists as the golden shimmer around Gigi vanished, as did the magic sparking in the air. It was replaced with a cold chill that didn’t have anything to do with the cool breeze still wafting in from outside. The chill crawled all over Grace’s skin, making her want to run from the house and whatever was haunting it.
There was one thing that was clear—the spirits were not happy with James’s arrival.
All the hope and excitement about moving the house vanished. The very idea of James purchasing the house was ludicrous. The spirits wanted Gigi, but it was hard to see them ever accepting James.
Grace glanced over at Owen. The grim expression on his face did nothing to soothe her. She cleared her throat. “Gigi, are you all right?”
The woman glanced at her, but it was James who spoke. “Of course she’s all right. Gigi, come here. We’re going home.”
The front door suddenly slammed shut, and an impressive gust of wind blew in from the open sliding glass doors. It was so strong it actually forced James to take a few steps backward, but interestingly enough, no one else was bothered.
“I want to take a look around upstairs first,” Gigi said defiantly. “You said I should have the vacation home of my dreams. And this house is the place of my dreams.”
“And I told you anyplace but this one.” He moved toward her, his arm outstretched as if he was going to grab for her.
Grace was about to step forward and put herself between them because everything about James was setting off her internal alarm bells, but Gigi handled it. She placed her hand out in front of her in a stop motion and said, “That’s enough.”
James froze, his mouth open in surprise. “What are you doing?”
“Standing my ground.” She narrowed her eyes at her husband. Then they flashed with that same golden shimmer for just a moment before they turned blue again. “I will tour this house. If you want me to leave, you’ll have to physically drag me out of here.”
He let out a low growl. “Gigi, don’t make me—”
“I think that’s quite enough.” This time when Grace moved, she actually did put herself between them. She turned to eye the woman’s husband. “I think I’m going to have to ask you to step off the property now, sir.”
James blinked at her then glanced back at Vince and Owen, who had both moved to form a small circle around the man. He took a deep breath, craned his head to look over Grace’s shoulder, and said, “Gigi, I’ll be outside. Don’t take all night. We have dinner plans.”
“You don’t have to wait. I’ll meet you at the restaurant in thirty minutes.”
James’s nostrils flared and his face flushed with anger, but after a moment, he turned on his heel and stalked out. As soon as the man stepped outside, the oppressive energy vanished with him.
Gigi lowered her hand. And as her bravado faded, her entire body started to shake. “Grace, Vince, I’m so sorry. I had no idea he was going to come here. I don’t even know how he knew.”
Vince cleared his throat. “Uh, sorry. I think that was me. When I returned your call earlier, I hit James’s number by mistake and left a message before calling you.”
Gigi bit her bottom lip and then nodded. “I see. Well, it’s not your fault I had no intention of telling him about seeing the house again until later tonight.” She squeezed her eyes shut, and when she opened them, she pasted on a smile and added, “If you don’t mind, I’m going to get that look at the upstairs. Then I’ll let you nice folks get on with your evening.”
“Take your time,” Grace said. “It’s no problem, really.” She had no illusions that James and Gigi were going to buy the house, not after that interaction, but she felt for Gigi. Her connection to the house was