I blame them. They lived here first after all.”
Grace let out a small gasp of surprise. “The Hannigan sisters? That’s who’s here?”
The forms of the two ghosts solidified briefly, showing Grace two lovely young women dressed in high-waisted dresses with untamed curls that would have been completely out of the norm for women of their social class. But witches never really did follow the rules. The one on the right smiled at Grace, while the one on the left smirked.
“It’s nice to meet you both,” Grace said, meaning it. “I apologize for the smudgings. Dealing with occupied homes is new for me. But I’m beginning to understand that finding the right buyer is far superior to forcing friendly spirits out of their homes.” Bill had been afraid of ghosts and had actively turned down clients trying to sell haunted real estate, so it wasn’t something she’d run into before. “I know better now.”
The two ghosts faded back into the ether, leaving Gigi looking angelic with the light glowing around her.
“I’m ready to sign the paperwork, Vince,” Gigi said, moving toward the counter where there was a folder waiting. The glowing light moved with her, and it was then that Grace realized the light was actually coming from Gigi and not the sun outside.
“I don’t think I’ve ever seen a witch look so radiant,” Grace said.
Gigi glanced up at Grace and said, “You know, I could say the same about you.”
Grace glanced down to see a tiny sheen of golden magic clinging to her skin. She let out a small gasp. “Where is that coming from?”
“It’s a gift from the Hannigan sisters. It means they like you.”
Warmth blossomed in Grace’s chest, and she had the thought that maybe she’d found her calling. That dealing with haunted properties could be her specialty. Real estate had always come easy for her, but matching challenging properties with the right buyers made her feel useful in a way she hadn’t before. For the first time since her divorce, she started to feel settled. No matter what happened in her personal life, she had a career she loved, wonderful friends, and a niece she adored. Life was only going to get better.
Grace watched as Gigi pulled a fancy ballpoint pen out of her bag and opened the folder with the contract. After scanning it, she put her pen to the paper and signed.
“Gigi!” James Martin stormed into the house and stalked toward his wife. “What are you doing here?” Before she could answer, he glanced down at the paperwork and let out a low growl as he grabbed it and tore it up.
“James!” Gigi tore the paper out of his hands. “What do you think you’re doing? This doesn’t have anything to do with you.”
“I’m your husband,” he bellowed. “I told you no. We aren’t getting this house.”
All of the good feelings that had filled Grace a moment earlier vanished. She’d thought James was going to be a problem. Real estate transactions never went smoothly when spouses weren’t on the same page. She cleared her throat, intending to offer a cooling off period, but before she could get the words out, James grabbed Gigi by the arm and started to drag her across the house.
“Whoa, man,” Vince said, rushing over to them. “What are you—”
James’s fist flew and landed on the side of Vince’s head, sending him crashing to the ground.
Grace stared at Vince in horror as blood ran from a cut on his cheek. She rushed to his side, using the hem of his shirt to staunch the bleeding. “Vince?” she said softly. “You okay?”
The other Realtor opened his eyes and winced. “Jesus. What the hell just happened?”
“Gigi’s husband just clocked you.”
He groaned and rolled to his side.
“That’s what you’ll get too if you don’t mind your own business,” James warned Grace as he grabbed Gigi with both hands and hauled her off her feet.
“Oh my god! Let go of me,” Gigi demanded at the same time that Grace cried, “Hey! Get your hands off her.” Grace didn’t give one flying pig if he was Gigi’s husband. No man had the right to lay hands on a woman.
James threw Gigi over his shoulder in a fireman’s carry and started to run out of the house.
Magic sprang to Grace’s fingertips. Before she could think too hard about it, she rushed after the couple and grabbed James’s arm. Her magic shot into him like a bolt of lightning, causing him to immediately let go.
Gigi fell from his