by Erica Penrod
“I don’t believe in ghosts.” Levi straightened his shoulders.
“That’s cool.” Monica didn’t want to upset her first guest any more than she might have done already. “But just so you know, it’s one of the hazards of living in Eureka Springs. One day you might become a believer.”
“I don’t think so,” he said in a matter-of-fact tone.
“Either way, you should know most people around here are.”
“Thank you for the warning.” His eyes brightened, and easiness seemed to fall over his features as if he were beginning to find the whole situation amusing. “I’d better go grab my luggage and get settled. I’ve got a big day tomorrow at the hospital.”
“Okay.” Monica smiled. He didn’t believe her, but that was alright. All she needed from Levi Hernandez was his money and if possible, a good review. Monica prayed her pesky ghost might take a holiday along the beaches of a heavenly shore. She had work to do.
Chapter Five
Levi raked his hands through his hair as he walked out of the house and towards his car to collect his things. The sky, a marbled shade of orange and red as the sun made its slow descent in the west, calmed his nerves. He took in the tall trees and listened as a slight breeze whistled through the leaves.
A deep breath in, followed by a long exhale, steadied the uneasiness in his mind. His attraction to Monica bothered him, and that was before he’d discovered she was a crazy girl. If what she said was true, and the rest of the town believed in their ancestor’s ghosts hanging around, Levi’s host might not be the only loony he’d be dealing with.
Forget about it, he chided himself. Levi had come to Eureka Springs with a job to do, and if the people were a little nuts, he’d deal with the insanity and be out of here once the hospital was operating like a new machine. A capable staff was the key to a healthy business, and Levi was grateful that he’d talked Kyler Rockwood, his friend and skilled physician, into accepting the job as medical chief of the facility. With such short notice about his assignment to Eureka Springs, Levi had stressed about finding a suitable replacement for Dr. Evans, but the timing was perfect. He’d reached out to Kyler, who said he needed a change and Arkansas was as good as any place for something new.
Thinking about Kyler, he pulled the phone from his pocket and called his friend. He glanced at his watch, hoping he’d catch the doctor after his shift. Three rings later, Kyler answered.
“Hey.” Levi leaned against the passenger door. “How’s it going?”
“Good.” Kyler huffed. “Just finished up my shift. Sorry, I’m a little out of breath. Took the stairs.”
“Everything still on track?” Levi observed the grey siding on the house and glanced up at the dormer window of his room. “You’re still good to start next Monday?”
“Yes. I’ve got three more days here at Thomas Memorial, and then I’m all yours.”
“Good.” Levi scratched his chin. “And you found a place to stay?”
“Yeah. I’ve got a cousin in Bentonville, and I’ll stay with her until I get something else.”
“Okay.” Maybe he should ask Bates to check for lodging in Bentonville for him as well, but he wanted to be close to the hospital. Traveling any distance after working long hours day after day wasn’t what he wanted. “You won’t mind the commute?”
“No, it’s less than an hour, which I can manage for a little while.” A beep echoed through the phone, and Levi imagined Kyler hopping into his jacked-up Jeep. “I also found out about a new housing development between Bentonville and Eureka Springs from an old college buddy of mine.”
“Yeah?”
“You remember me telling you about Koven Kent and how he moved to Seattle?”
Levi searched his memory. “Vaguely.”
“Yeah, he moved to this high-end, private neighborhood called The Cove situated on the Sound. Apparently, the same guy who developed the place has done the same thing around some lake in between Bentonville and Eureka Springs. I think it was called Beaver Lake.”
“Hmmm.” Levi didn’t know of the place, but apparently there was a lot of things he didn’t know about this area. “Never heard of it.”
“Me neither, but maybe we could check it out if we get a chance.” A door shut in the background. “I hear it’s a great investment. Most of the places are second homes, but there’s also some full-time residents.”
“Yeah, sure.” Levi stood tall and walked toward the trunk of his car. He triggered the sensor as he rested the phone on his shoulder. “Sounds good.” Two suitcases and a duffel bag waited, containing most of his belongings. He’d come back for the garment bag hanging in the passenger seat, which reminded him he’d have to check with Bates on the arrival of his other suits. “I’m glad to hear everything is still on schedule. Let me know if something comes up.”
“Sure thing. See you next week.”
“Looking forward to it.” Levi would be relieved to have someone he already knew working with him. After his experience with Monica and the mixed-up reservations, he worried she might not be the only person along the Ozark hills to blame their mishaps on a ghost. “Bye.”
He hung up and grinned. There wasn’t a cause for concern. If Monica—or the whole town, for that matter—was a couple cookies short of a full package, so what? Levi wasn’t gullible. But what about the feeling in the hallway and the words he thought he’d heard right before Monica had screamed earlier tonight?
Man, you’re losing it.
Maybe it was the altitude and climate change affecting his brain or the stress of starting a new project. There was a rational explanation for everything; he was sure of it.
Beep, beep, beep. The car alarm sounded.
What the heck? Levi fished the key fob from his pocket and clicked the button. Silence. Levi shook his head and laughed as he threw the duffel bag over his shoulder and scooped the suitcases from the trunk. The Ghostbusters theme song played through his mind as he closed the trunk and made his way to the house. “I ain’t afraid of no ghost,” he sang along.
He paused at the red front door and drew in a breath. He might not be afraid of a ghost, but the enchanting, clumsy, and somewhat absentminded girl inside—now she could haunt his dreams for weeks to come if he wasn’t careful.
Monica tiptoed up the stairs and paused. The hallway was quiet as she leaned around the entryway to catch a glimpse of the door where her first guest resided. A sliver of light escaped the gap between the door and the hardwood floor.
She gritted her teeth, but she’d shouldn’t have expected anything else. Of course Levi wasn’t asleep—it was only half past nine—but she wanted to make sure the nightlight she’d installed for the hallway was working, even if the last thing she wanted was to disturb her guest—or even worse, run into him again.
A flick of the switch, and the small nightlight sconces lit up. Good, at least one thing had gone right today. Monica gingerly took a step back, careful to avoid the squeaky slat just to the right, and exhaled.
Hhhhhzzzzz … Hhhhhzzzzz … Hhhhhzzzzz …
Monica threw a hand over her mouth to stifle the scream. Her eyes darted left to right. There was no sign of Great-Aunt Gwen. Although her great-aunt made her appearance known through writing, moving objects, and the occasional voice in her head, Monica had never actually seen her ghost. Now would not be a good time for her great-aunt to start haunting the hallways of The Red Pearl in her floral muumuu and purple-framed glasses. Some people found the sight frightening enough when her great-aunt was alive.
Hhhhhzzzzz … The sound came again.
She glanced towards Levi’s door, where she realized the noise originated. Monica pressed her hands over her chest to steady her racing heart and listened.
A smile cracked across her face, and this time she had to stifle a laugh. The frightening sound didn’t belong to Aunt Gwen. Levi was snoring. The noise got louder and louder, the pitch rising with each passing second. The man sounded like he was calling hogs. Oh wow, this was hilar
ious. Levi Hernandez, in his three-piece suit and with his fancy sports car, snored like her grandpa Will, who checked off most every redneck criteria Jeff Foxworthy had ever come up with. She would never be able to look at him the same again.
She shook her head and laughed to herself as she turned back towards the stairway. Perhaps the unfinished rooms upstairs were a blessing. There was no way a person could sleep with that kind of ruckus going on all night. In all her research about B&Bs she’d never come across what to do if one of your guests snored loud enough to raise the roof. Maybe she’d include earplugs in the welcome basket she planned to place in the room upon each visitor’s arrival.
In her own room, she tossed herself across the bed and considered the day’s events. Nothing had happened the way she’d planned. She’d imagined that her first official day as a B&B proprietor would go quite differently.
A few weeks ago, she’d given up on the idea that the house would be completely finished by the time she had to open. That she could handle, but not in her wildest dreams had she thought that her first guest would arrive a day early (thank you, Aunt Gwen) or that the house would be in such disarray that her guest would trip and fall and she’d be the one to catch him. She’d planned to open with a tidy space and fresh-baked bread filling the house with a welcoming fragrance. Not once had she seen herself falling off the footstool because she’d lost her concentration when the image of Levi’s onyx eyes and crop of dark lashes entered her mind.
Dang it. She had to put things in order around her, and fast. Everything was on the line. Monica had to make this business work. Rules had to be followed, and look where one day of unruly behavior had left her: her pride with a bruise, to match the one on her backside. That was it. Tomorrow she’d take a quick trip into town and pick up some embroidering material and thread. Monica would hand-stitch her own platitude upon muslin cloth and hang the frame above her bed where she could see it every night. “Never want to kiss a guest.”
A peaceful feeling ebbed out the restlessness, and she smiled. She’d witnessed firsthand the power of an embroidered mantra. A sign hung above the toilet in her grandma’s bathroom, reminding all who entered of their civic duty, and never once in all Monica’s life had she forgotten to flush.
Chapter Six
Levi woke feeling a little disoriented as his mind sorted through his thoughts and he remembered he was in Eureka Springs at The Red Pearl. He stretched and yawned, noticing the subtle difference in his body. He’d slept soundly, judging by the energy coursing through his blood and fueling his muscles. After yesterday, a good night’s sleep was the last thing he’d expected, but here he was, recharged and ready to take on the day. After a quick shower and shave, followed by a protein shake (if Monica remembered), he’d be out the door for his first day at the Eureka Springs hospital.
Monica. Her face, the copper tones of her skin, and the mystery of her hazel eyes floated through his mind. Levi shoved the thought aside as he kicked off the sheets and headed to the shower. The woman blamed her inorganization on a ghost, and Levi lived his life based on facts and numbers. Her allure had to be a physical reaction; he was an adult male, after all. The draw was natural and could be explained by science. Reality based on data cleared away any confusion in Levi’s mind in any situation. He’d put the sitcom shenanigans of yesterday behind him and move on. The days itinerary flashed in his mind. I’ve got a hospital to conquer. He smiled and closed the bathroom door.
She was singing and she’d forgotten his shake, Levi mused as he descended the stairs, on his way to the kitchen. Honestly, he didn’t know how he’d ever give the woman a good review if she continued to run her business this way. Monica was the one who’d asked what he wanted for breakfast, and the aroma of fried bacon filling his nostrils hadn’t been his response. Levi walked into the kitchen and stopped in his tracks.
“There you are.” Monica pressed the button on the blender. The mixing sound made it hard to think. “I was beginning to think you’d slept in.” She pressed the button one more time, and a green substance shot into the air. “Oh shoot!” she hollered, hitting the stop. “Forgot about the lid.”
Levi furrowed his brow as he studied the concoction she poured into a tall glass.
“This shake tastes much better if you drink it right after it’s made.”
He nodded and prayed the potion tasted better than the thick liquid appeared. Levi’s stomach was as particular about food choices as he was with suit cuts, and he might not be able to feign his way with polite responses. “Thank you.”
Something sizzled in the pan behind her. “I’m making an omelet.” She picked up the spatula from the counter. “Would you like one?”
Levi’s mouth watered as he shook his head. The smell was intoxicating, and the chopped vegetables, a visual feast of bright colors, made his shake look less appealing with each passing second.
Monica crumbled slices of bacon in her hand and sprinkled them into the egg concoction. “I’ve got some fresh salsa to go with it as well.”
He cleared his throat and remembered the cold glass in his hand. “I always have a protein shake for breakfast.” Regimen was the key to success in his mind.
“Okay.” Monica picked up the small cutting board and showered the veggies into the pan. “Enjoy your shake.” She added shredded cheese. “I hope you like it. I added some celery.”
His chin jutted back as he frowned. “Celery?” This was his fault. Levi should’ve given her a recipe. “I prefer spinach.”
The knot of hair on top of her head bounced as Monica bobbed her head up and down. “I added some of that, too, and a dash of cinnamon.”
Now she’d gone too far. He looked at the drink again, his taste buds rioting before he’d even taken a sip.
“Try it. Tell me what you think.”
“I will, but if I don’t like it, you should know I have a very particular palate.”
Monica burst out laughing. “Oh, go on and try it.”
Levi didn’t appreciate her amusement at his remark. He’d tried not to hurt her feelings, and for that he’d been mocked. A scowl rippled across his brow as he raised the glass and pressed it to his lips. The thick shake slowly inched its way into his mouth. Levi would take one swallow and apologize for his lack of appetite this morning.
The thought disappeared as the delicious taste captured his attention. The sweet, but tangy blend of fruit and sweet vanilla surprised him. His eyes widened as he continued to drink, sure he’d never had a shake with this much flavor. Levi glanced over to see Monica grinning like she’d just won a high-stakes poker game.
“I told you.”
At last he tasted the hint of cinnamon. “Not bad.” Levi couldn’t tell her the whole truth. His pride wouldn’t allow it. “Is there something vanilla flavored in the recipe?” This couldn’t be as healthy as the shakes he prepared for himself.
“Vanilla protein powder.” She flipped the omelet over. “In culinary school, we had a chef teach us about protein shakes and smoothies. He said in today’s world, it was important to know how to exploit flavors in a variety of combinations. Smoothie bars are really popular.”
“You went to culinary school?” Levi took another sip but tried to keep his deep-rooted pleasure to himself. She didn’t need to know this was the best protein shake he’d ever had.
“Yes, I love to cook.” Monica lifted the frying pan from the stove and switched off the gas burner. “I’m excited for the chance to hone my skills at the B&B.” She glanced up at him. “I’m glad you approve of the shake.”
“It’s fine.” Maybe he should’ve agreed to share the omelet with her as well.
Monica chuckled as she let the omelet slide from the pan onto a plate. “You don’t like to admit when you’re wrong, do you?”
Her directness surprised him. Her inexperience at placating to customers was evident. Most business owners did and said whatever they had to please a customer, and you most certainly didn’t tell a paying patron they were wro
ng. Apparently, Monica Fallentine had mastered the art of a protein shake but was still a novice in customer relations. “I wasn’t wrong.”
Another chuckle. “But you won’t admit that I was right and that my shake is delicious?”
The teasing tone in her voice and the twinkle in her eyes made it difficult for Levi to stay focused. “Your recipe will do just fine. I’d like you to prepare that same one for me each morning.”
She scrunched up her nose and tiny lines creased the corners of her mouth. “You want the same shake every day?”
Her reaction befuddled him. He was making her job so much easier. “Is that a problem?”
“No.” She shook her head. “Of course not, but I’d hoped to try a few of my recipes out. Are you sure you wouldn’t like a little variety in your life?”
The question could’ve been misconstrued as a jab, but Monica’s soft gaze conveyed that she hadn’t intended to injure his pride. A woman who believed in ghosts probably anticipated the unexpected and may have even enjoyed it, but not Levi. Schedule and routine were the balm to any ache, physical or mental. “I’ve plenty of variety in my life, but not when it comes to breakfast.”
Monica shrugged her shoulders as she spooned heaps of fresh salsa over the omelet. Levi had to clamp his mouth shut before he drooled all over his tie. “Suit yourself.” She picked up a fork and cut into the egg mixture. “You are the guest.”
Levi nodded and gulped down the shake. Maybe Monica wasn’t a total lost cause when it came to customer relations. “Thank you for the shake.”
She lifted the fork. “You’re welcome. Would you like me to prepare dinner tonight?” She took a bite.
Levi knew the answer, but he’d hadn’t anticipated the regret in his gut after having tasted his breakfast and ogling over her omelet. “I expect I’ll be late. Don’t worry about me.”