Callahan made sure the door was locked, then grabbed my hand. “Come on. Let’s go back to bed.”
My heart rate increased. Okay, yeah, maybe it wouldn’t be so hard to forget about the shadow after all. When he looked at me with that hunger in his eyes I could forget about everything and just live in the moment. I felt the desire coming off him in waves and I wanted nothing more than to be close to him.
When I walked down the foyer toward the bedroom, Mr. Fine was leaning against the wall in the corner of the room with a smug smirk spread across his face.
I released Callahan’s hand. “Give me just a second, okay?”
I held up my index finger indicating I needed a little time before making my way back to the bed. Not that I wasn’t in a hurry to get there, because I definitely was looking forward to it. Callahan touched my cheek, then smiled and walked away toward the bedroom.
When he was out of view, I said, “Were you responsible for the noise?”
I was so mad I had to take my frustration out on someone. My words might have seemed hostile, but I couldn’t help it. It was late and I had been interrupted. Yeah, I was a tad cranky. Hey, if ghosts could be crappy then so could I.
Mr. Fine shook his head innocently. “It wasn’t me. I thought when you brought me here tonight that you’d entertain me. You know, we can chat and share stories.”
I stared at him blankly. “What gave you that crazy idea?”
“Well, I could have talked to myself in your crazy friend’s attic.”
“Who are you calling crazy? You’re the one who likes to hang out in attics. Last time I checked, my friend doesn’t hang out in attics.”
“Touché,” he said, flicking off more ashes from his cigarette.
“And will you please stop doing that?”
“What? They really don’t get on the floor or anything. They’re invisible.”
“I know, but it still freaks me out.”
“Listen, at least I don’t hang out in closets and jump out at people.”
“Yeah, that’s real comforting, thanks.”
He shrugged. “What can I say, I’m a nice guy. I do what I can to please people.” He smiled.
“If you pleased people you wouldn’t be hanging out at my house right now.”
He snorted.
“Just remember that I’ve got my eye on you. No funny business during your stay at my home.”
He held his hands up in surrender. “Do I look like I’d try any funny business?”
Before I had a chance to respond, he disappeared. Typical jerk ghost behavior. He knew I wouldn’t give the most flattering answer. I had better not hear another word or noise out of him for the rest of the night. I had to find a way to get rid of him in the morning. If he’d only share his reason for being there, then I could help him cross over into the light.
As I made my way down the hall, thoughts of the shadow ran through my mind. It had been dark, human-shaped and wearing a cape. Well, maybe it was a little skinner than a human with slightly longer arms, but it was hard to tell in the dark. Whatever the shape, it was enough to make the hairs on the back of my neck stand up and a chill run up my spine.
What kind of creature had been lurking outside my house? Karyn had said the shadow I’d seen before was just Becky Schultz playing tricks on me with a magic spell. Was someone else still playing a trick on me? Or was this sighting something else? With any luck, I wouldn’t have to think about it ever again and this thing would never appear again.
Chapter Five
The next morning after kissing Callahan goodbye, I made my way through the living room toward the kitchen. Mr. Fine sat on my sofa with his feet propped up on the coffee table. A cigarette dangled from his lips.
“What’s with all the toss pillows?” he asked with disdain. “A little excessive, don’t you think?”
“What’s with all the cigarettes?” I smirked. “A little excessive don't you think?”
He blew out a ring of smoke that circled his head like a halo. He was no angel though.
“I don’t allow smoking in my house. I have an allergy,” I warned.
He blew out another ring of smoke, but didn’t offer a response. It looked exactly like a ghostly mist floating toward the ceiling.