The Curse of Redwood (Ivy Grove #2) - Jaclyn Osborn Page 0,124

shirt under it.”

“Thanks.”

“You’re going to New York, right?”

“Yes,” he answered. “Lady in Black is creating quite the buzz. Shane wants me to do some interviews over the next several days to promote the book before it releases in February. I always hate these things. I’m better at writing words, not speaking them.”

“You’ll do great. Is Taylor going to hang out with Theo while you’re gone?”

“Yes. I’m afraid I’ve created a monster with that one.”

“Taylor or Theo?” I asked, laughing.

“Both,” he answered. “How is Zeke handling being back at Redwood?”

I looked over at him, seeing him smile as he spoke to Chris. Beneath the smile, I saw the tension he so carefully hid.

“He’s okay,” I said. “I think it’s a lot for him to take in, but he’s handling it well.”

“Good. Well, I won’t keep you any longer. Oh! You two are coming over for breakfast in the morning, right? My flight isn’t until one.”

“We’ll be there.” After putting my phone away, I walked back over to Zeke and Chris. “Sorry.”

Zeke linked our fingers. “Chris was just telling me about his plan to add to the garden in the back. I said it was an excellent idea.”

“There’s a lot we want to do,” Chris said. When he smiled, he kind of resembled Zeke. His hair wasn’t the same silvery shade of blond, but it was still paler than most. “All in good time.”

“Hey, babe?” Dalton asked, walking up to him. “I need to check on the cookies. Can you watch the front?”

“Of course.” Chris kissed his husband before turning to us. “It was nice chatting with you both.”

Zeke watched him leave the room, then turned to me. “That was odd.”

“You have a living relative,” I whispered, excited.

“Not much good it will do me,” Zeke said, guiding me over to a table with cups. He grabbed one, filled it with coffee, then handed it to me. “If I told him the truth, he’d think I was mad.”

“You’re probably right.” I took a sip and felt all tingly inside. The wood crackled in the fireplace, and as I stared out the window at the snow, I smiled. I never thought Redwood would feel so homey and warm. “But it’s still cool.”

“Indeed, it is.” Zeke poured hot chocolate for himself before walking around the parlor. He glided a hand along the piano in the corner of the room. Then, he went over to the mantel, moving his hand along the top of it before stopping at the clock I’d often caught him staring at.

“Any special meaning to that clock?” I asked.

He shook his head. “Not really. Mother bought it from an old clockmaker when I was just a boy. So many families have come and gone from this house, yet the clock has never moved. It was the one constant in my life. Each second that ticked by was a reminder that life did go on, even when I felt so trapped.”

“You’re not trapped anymore.” I kissed his shoulder and rested my head there.

“I have never felt more free.” He slid an arm around me.

Over the past month, we’d gotten Zeke a social security card and an ID. It had been challenging, but a guy I used to bang helped me figure it all out. Best part was he never asked me why I needed it—mainly because he always did shady shit and had no room to talk. Zeke had been amused when I explained how I knew the guy.

“I used to be a bigtime whore before meeting you, okay?” I had told him.

He had laughed and pinned me against the wall before taking me hard. Staking his claim. Not long after that, Zeke had gone to the bookstore and saw that they were hiring. The owner recognized him from all the trips there and had hired him on the spot.

I was proud of him. He was getting pretty good at this whole being human thing.

“Remember when you took me to your library for the first time?” I asked, as we left the parlor and moved at a slow pace down the hall. “You showed me all your books and said they helped keep you company in your isolation.”

“I remember.”

“You finally got your wish.” I turned to him. “You get to live like you’ve always wanted. Free and among the living.”

He reached up and caressed my face. “Have I told you how much I love you?”

“Maybe. But tell me again just in case.”

“I love you truly and deeply, Carter Jones. And when we get home, I will show you exactly how much.”

My pants got tight as all my blood rushed south. “Promises, promises. I’ll believe it when I see it.”

He smirked. “Are you challenging me, little dove?”

“Always,” I said.

Zeke grabbed my hand and led me down the corridor and back to the entrance hall. He stared up at the Christmas tree with wonder in his eyes before placing a hand on the railing of the stairs. Almost like he was saying goodbye. And then, he turned toward the door and walked outside.

I followed him and shivered when the cold air nipped at my face.

“Don’t you want to stay longer?” I asked, slipping my hand into his.

Zeke turned back once we were in the courtyard and stared at the mansion. “No. I have the closure I need.” His blue eyes moved to me. “I’m ready to begin the next journey in life.”

“Oh yeah?” I unlocked the car and cranked the heater once we were inside. “What kind of journey is that?”

“The one where I get to spend every moment with you.”

“Even though I’m a pest?” I asked, leaning over to him in the seat.

He chuckled before pressing our lips together. He tasted like chocolate and spice, and I dipped my tongue into his mouth, deepening the kiss.

“Careful, little dove,” he said with a growl. “You know how much I adore your wicked little tongue.”

Grinning, I flicked my tongue ring against my teeth to tease him, and then I put the car in reverse. I drove through the open gate and flipped on the windshield wipers as it started to lightly snow.

Zeke cast one final glance at Redwood before moving his gaze forward and grabbing my hand. “Let’s go home.”

Neither of us looked back again as the mansion faded in the distance.

One chapter had come to a close, but we still had a whole book left of adventure. Of love. And I couldn’t wait to treasure every page.

The End

The series continues with

The Haunting of Lockton.

When ghost hunters come to Ivy Grove to investigate the abandoned Lockton asylum, mysteries will be revealed and hearts will be put to the test. Join a set of new characters, plus Taylor, Carter, and Ben as another scare-tastic adventure unfolds!

About the Author

Jaclyn Osborn was born and raised in the state of Arkansas. When not writing, she can be found binging anime and reading manga. Writing is her passion and she’s thankful for each day she’s able to live her dream.

All types of genres in the gay literature world interest her, in both reading and writing, and she hopes to delve into them in her writing career. So far, she has written contemporary, medieval fantasy, paranormal, and historical.

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Other Works

Standalone

Brighter Shades of Light

Tangled Up In You

Cheater and the Saint

Dear Adam

Historical

Axios: A Spartan Tale

Eryx: A Spartan Tale

Unexpected Love Series

His Temptation (Book 1)

His Surrender (Book 2)

His Courage (Book 3)

Tales of Fate Series

Found at Sea (Book 1)

The Nymph Prince (Book 2)

Love in Addersfield Series

Declan (Book 1)

Royal (Book 2)

Ivy Grove Series

The Ghost of Ellwood (Book 1)

The Curse of Redwood (Book 2)

Christmas Books

Hensley Manor (A Snow Globe Christmas)

A Gift of Time (A Christmas Story)

The Awakening Series

-Michael’s Awakening (Book 1)

-Zack’s Awakening (Book 2)

-Benji’s Awakening (A Companion Novella)

-Kane’s Awakening (Book 3)

Port Haven Series (Young Adult lgbtq+)

Noah’s Song (Book 1)

Reaching Avery (Book 2)