Love & Ghosts: Crescent City Ghost Tours

by Pulkinen, Carrie

  She’d convinced herself never seeing the mystery man from the ball again was a good thing, because no one could be so charming and wonderful in real life. It seemed she was wrong about that.

  She finished the sandwich and attended to her patients for the rest of the afternoon. The evening lulled with long stretches of downtime, and the temptation to call him had her reaching for her phone. But she refrained. On her walk home, she wandered through Jackson Square, checking out the tour guides, but he wasn’t there. As lunchtime approached the next day, she found herself hoping he’d show up to surprise her again.

  Trish sat at the computer, filing an insurance claim for a patient. She hadn’t flashed her any secretive smiles or smirks, so she didn’t seem to know about any surprises today. Still, it wouldn’t hurt to ask.

  Emily leaned on the desk next to her. “Sean didn’t happen to call today, did he? If not, I’m going to order lunch.”

  “No, he didn’t. Why don’t you call him?”

  Her heart fluttered at the thought. “Oh, I couldn’t do that.”

  “Why not?”

  She opened her mouth to answer but paused. Why couldn’t she? He’d surprised her with lunch yesterday, showing he obviously liked her. Maybe she should reciprocate. Let him know she was thinking about him. It was the logical thing to do. But was she bold enough to just call him up?

  “You could always text him.” Trish shrugged her shoulders and turned to the computer.

  A text. That was more her style. She shuffled to the break room and pulled out her phone. Thank you again for lunch yesterday. Are you busy? Her finger hovered over the send button. She chewed her bottom lip and deleted the Are you busy? part. That sounded too desperate. She hit send before she could change her mind and scrolled through her other messages.

  A text from Robert said he still hadn’t found the key, and that bothered her more than she cared to admit. Last night she’d lost an hour staring at Jessica’s box. Just staring at it. Her mind had wandered off somewhere dark and empty, and by the time she came back to coherence, she’d missed the latest episode of Law and Order. If Robert didn’t find that key soon, she was going to break the damn thing open. She’d have to.

  She deleted Phillip’s latest text. Her ex kept begging her to come back to Houston so he could see her. Her response to that had been a big hell no. Why on earth would she want to see that jerk again?

  As she laid the phone on the table, it buzzed with Sean’s reply. I wish I could bring you lunch again today, but I’m in meetings all afternoon. Call you tonight?

  She sighed and typed in her response. Sounds good.

  * * *

  Sean parked his car in front of the clinic exit and leaned against the hood. He’d told Emily he’d call her tonight, but seeing her in person would be much more fun. She stepped through the door and stopped, tilting her head and lifting her eyebrows in a look of surprise.

  She strutted toward him. “Nice car. Is that a Tesla?”

  “It is. Would you like a ride home?”

  “Can I drive it?”

  He chuckled. It had been a long time since he’d been this interested in a woman, and he’d do almost anything to make her happy. But he drew the line at letting her in the driver’s seat, especially along these narrow French Quarter streets. He shuddered as the image of Emily running his precious car into a hitching post flashed in his mind. “Maybe another time.”

  Her gaze flicked to the car for a second before traveling up and down his body. She was only looking at him, but her eyes held so much heat, he felt like he would spontaneously combust.

  “Well, I would love to have a ride in your car, but it would be over in five minutes if you drove me home. It’s a nice night. Feel like walking?”

  “Walking’s good.” He pressed the remote to lock his car and offered her his hand.

  She accepted and laced her fingers through his. “I didn’t expect to see you tonight.”

  “I didn’t expect to come, but when I finished work, I realized a phone call wouldn’t do. I wanted to see you again.” Though his insatiable need to be with her felt foreign, it was something he’d like to get used to. Just holding her soft, warm hand had his body buzzing.

  “I’m glad.” She paused at the corner of Dauphine Street. “We can turn here, or we can take the long way home.”

  “Hmm.” He tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear. “The long way would probably take longer.”

  “That’s generally how it works.”

  “The long way it is then.” He pulled her to his side and continued strolling up Canal Street. They hung a left on Chartres and headed toward the square. Was this the same path she’d taken the night she wound up on his ghost tour? “Where did you live before you moved here?”

  “Houston. My parents still live there.”

  “Were you a nurse practitioner in Houston?”

  “Yes. I worked at a clinic similar to this one.”

  “Why’d you move?”

  She inhaled a long, deep breath and pressed her lips together. He’d hit a sore spot. “I was in a rut and needed a fresh start. I almost moved to Dallas, but Trish convinced me to come here. I had already accepted another job, but when she called and said there was an opening where she worked, it was a no-brainer. I needed a friend nearby after…” She dropped her gaze to the ground and chewed her bottom lip.

  “After?”

  She blew out a hard breath. “After I caught my boyfriend cheating on me.”

  “The bastard.”

  “Tell me about it. We were together for two years.” She shrugged. “But he got tired of me. I…wasn’t myself for a while. I don’t know, maybe I’m boring.”

  He stopped and rested his hands on her hips, trying to catch her gaze. “You are anything but boring.” How could any man get tired of such a beautiful, spirited woman? He sure as hell couldn’t. She was all he thought about anymore.

  “No. I’m pretty dull. That’s another reason I moved here.” As her gaze flicked to his, she took his hand and kept walking. “I thought the excitement of the city would get me living again, but I haven’t done much since I got here.”

  “Well, we can change that. If, after our date, you’ll agree to more than just dinner.”

  She smiled and squeezed his hand. “I’ll let you know.”

  “I’m glad you didn’t go to Dallas.”

  “Me too.”

  They entered Jackson Square and strolled toward the cathedral. Moonlight glinted in the puddles left over from an afternoon rain, and a guitar player stood on the corner, adjusting his instrument. The usual psychics had their tables set up offering tarot readings, and he quickened his pace as they approached the old fortune teller. Her gaze bore into his back as they passed, but thankfully she kept her mouth shut this time.

  Sydney stood on the cathedral steps, preparing to give a tour to six customers. It was a small group, but Mondays were usually slow. He waved, and she grinned in return, giving him a thumbs up.

  He turned to Emily. “Do you walk home this way every night?”

  “A few times a week, depending on how tired I am. Why?”

  “It’s odd I haven’t seen you before. I’m here a lot around this time.”

  She chuckled. “I tend to shy away from crowds. I prefer to blend in. Like I said, I’m boring.”

  “You have an adventurous side, though. I’ve seen it.” And he planned to do everything he could to help her see it too.

  “Maury’s back!” Emily pulled him toward the hot dog vendor. “Nice cart, Maury. It’s good to see you again.”

  The old man smiled. “Yes, ma’am. Mr. LeBlanc bought it for me. Look here. It even has a bun warmer.”

  “Wow. Who doesn’t like their buns warm?” She looked at Sean. “You bought this?”

  He shrugged. “Seemed like the right thing to do after I destroyed his old one.”

  She playfully poked his side. “Figures you’d choose my favorite vendor’s cart to demolish. I was worri
ed about him.”

  “I didn’t choose it; the dog did. And I righted the wrong.”

  “That you did, sir.” Maury prepared two hotdogs and offered them. “Here. On me tonight.”

  “Oh, thank you. But I couldn’t take one for free.” She reached into her purse.

  “You’re my best customer. I insist.”

  “Thanks, Maury.” Sean took the sandwiches and handed one to Emily. “I’m glad the new cart is working out for you.”

  Emily took a bite of her hot dog and closed her eyes as she chewed. “Mmm…so good.”

  He grinned as he watched her savor the food. “You’re his best customer? I didn’t know you had a thing for hot dogs.”

  “Guilty pleasure.” She took another bite.

  They finished the food as they walked through the square and turned onto St. Ann Street. She slipped her hand into his and lightly brushed his bicep with her fingers.

  “How’s your arm?”

  “Better every day.”

  “That’s good.” She chewed her bottom lip like she was thinking. “So, I have to ask. Did you and your mom have this whole thing planned out?”

  “What do you mean?”

  “The brunch. Your mom saw us dancing at the ball. Did you talk to her about it?”

  “You mean did I use my mom to find you after you told me you didn’t want to see me again?”

  She flashed an apologetic half-smile. “Well, when you say it that way, it sounds bad.”

  “She offered. Hell, she all but insisted, but I told her no. I wasn’t going to pursue someone who wasn’t interested in me. But then you showed up on my ghost tour.”

  She cringed. “Ugh. That was a mistake.”

  He stopped walking and turned to face her. “Was it?”

  “Not seeing you again. That wasn’t a mistake.” She slipped her hand from his grasp. “Just…going on a ghost tour in general. I don’t believe in ghosts. I don’t know what I was thinking.”

  “What is this aversion to spirits about?”

  She shrugged and rubbed her arms. “I just don’t believe in ghosts. It’s not logical.”

  “I think there’s more to it than that.”

  She sighed. “I had a bad experience with someone who believed in them, and I don’t want to talk about it.”

  “Okay. We won’t talk about it.” Not now, anyway.

  “Doesn’t it bother you that I don’t believe in ghosts? Your whole company is based on the paranormal.” She shook her head and gazed at the ground, brow furrowed.

  He was losing her. He could feel her pulling away, putting up a wall. Yes, her nonbelief bothered him, but not enough to stop him from pursuing her. It was an issue, but nothing they couldn’t work through with time.

  She shrank into herself and clutched her arms. He could almost see the second thoughts swirling in her mind, driving a wedge between them, and that would not do.

  “Hey.” He stepped toward her and lifted her chin, raising her gaze to meet his own. “It’s okay.” Before she could pull away, he lowered his mouth to hers. She stiffened at first, but as he stroked his thumb across her cheek, she leaned into him, parting her lips and accepting the kiss. A tiny whimper emanated from her throat and vibrated across her lips as his tongue brushed hers. Dear lord, the woman was sexy.

  She rested her hand against his chest and pulled back to look at him. “You’re very good at that.”

  “At what?”

  “Making me lose my train of thought.”

  He pressed his forehead to hers and slid his fingers into her hair. “It’s hard for me to think about anything but you lately.”

  She smiled and kissed him again. Crisis averted. Thank goodness he was able to derail that locomotion of disaster. If she was that hung up on the existence of spirits, their relationship could’ve ended before it even began.

  * * *

  Emily closed the door and leaned against the frame. That man had her head spinning like a tilt-a-whirl, and she wasn’t sure if she should jump off or go along for the ride. Every time the topic of ghosts came up, the ball of fear she’d wadded up in the back of her mind tried to untangle itself. And every time he kissed her, he managed to shove it back into the corner for her.

  He didn’t seem the slightest bit obsessed. In fact, he rarely mentioned the subject. As long as they didn’t talk about it, she could pretend it wasn’t an issue.

  She pulled her phone from her purse and sat in a chair at the kitchen counter. She’d heard a text notification chime on her walk home, but she’d been more interested in the gorgeous man by her side than whatever the interruption could’ve been. She entered the unlock code and found a message from Robert.

  Found a key. Don’t know if it’s the right one, but it’s in the mail.

  Her pulse quickened, and she ran a hand over the top of the box. “I’ll get you open soon. Don’t worry.”

  She set her phone down and rested her chin on her hand. The woman at the antique shop had said evil lived inside the box. That was the most ridiculous thing she’d ever heard. Even if spirits were real—which they weren’t—an evil one certainly wouldn’t be living inside a box. And if something evil did live inside this box—which it didn’t—her sister definitely wouldn’t have kept it to begin with. Jessica was convinced ghosts were real and that she could communicate with them, but she wasn’t a devil worshipper. She wouldn’t have played with something she thought was evil.

  Unless she didn’t know it was evil. She ran her hand over the box again and shook her head. That was a train of thought she wasn’t about to board. Emily was a sane, logical person. Now more than ever she needed to get this box open to prove—at least to herself—that it was just a box.

  What would Sean think about it, though? He was so adamant his “proof” of the paranormal was real. Did he honestly think he could see ghosts? Did she want to get involved with someone like that?

  She pulled the box closer and rested her chin on top of it. If Sean were anyone else, she’d walk away now while she still had her heart intact. But the red flag his belief in spirits threw up couldn’t compete with the fire that raged in her soul every time their eyes met. She’d burned for him the moment she saw him, and the flames were only getting hotter.

  “I don’t know what to do.” She rested the side of her face against the box, closed her eyes, and prayed for some sort of guidance.

  An image of Jessica flashed in her mind. Her sister wore the same jeans and light pink t-shirt she’d found her in when she died. She raised an arm toward her and opened her mouth. “Don’t.” Her voice sounded strangled.

  Sucking in a startled breath, Emily raised her head and rubbed her sore temple. She sat up and stretched, her back aching from the awkward position she’d been in. A dull pain stretched from the top of her neck up to her forehead. As she squinted her eyes, the glowing-red clock face came into focus. Midnight.

  “I must’ve fallen asleep.” She pushed the box against the wall and slid out of the chair. A wave of dizziness washed over her, and she squeezed her eyes shut, grasping the edge of the counter for support.

  When her equilibrium steadied, she shuffled into the bedroom. She knew better than to fall asleep anywhere but her bed. She poured a fresh ring of salt around her mattress and crawled beneath the covers. She was lucky she’d only dreamed about her sister this time. It could have been worse. Much worse.

  What had Jessica said in the dream? “Don’t.” What could that have meant? Was her subconscious trying to tell her not to go out with Sean? Maybe it meant “don’t blow it with Sean.” Or maybe it didn’t mean anything at all.

  Chapter Nine

  Emily sat on the edge of the reception desk, linking paperclips together into a chain. The two o’clock lull had turned into a long, quiet afternoon, which was fine with her. After passing out with her head on the box and dreaming about her sister, she’d hardly slept once she made it to bed. The busy morning hadn’t helped her headache, but after two rounds of ibuprofen, it had
finally subsided.

  “I don’t know, Trish. I’m having second thoughts.”

  Trish dropped her pencil and looked at her like she was crazy. “I don’t know him, but any man who’ll go to that much trouble to see you, bring you lunch, walk you home…is worth taking a chance on.”

  “It’s happening so fast. I haven’t had time to process everything.”

  “So what? He likes you. You like him. What’s wrong with moving fast?”

  She wound her paperclip chain around her hand and unwound it again. Trish had a point. In every other way, Sean was amazing. But… “He believes in ghosts.”

  “Lots of people do.”

  “I don’t.”

  “So you say. And I still don’t see the problem.”

  “You should. You know what happened with Jessica…”

  “And you came here to move on from that. Whether or not ghosts are real, you have a life to live, babe.”

  She sighed and laced the chain through her fingers.

  Trish arched an eyebrow at her hand. “You’re going to unclip all those when you’re done fidgeting, right?”

  “His whole job revolves around spirits. He runs a ghost tour company, and he does investigations. I’m not sure I want to get involved in that.”

  “Who says you have to get involved in his job? I don’t see him coming to work with you. Except the time he brought lunch, which was really sweet.”

  “I guess you’re right.”

  “If I had a good-looking guy after me—who was also nice—I’d be all over him. I wouldn’t let something silly like whether or not ghosts are real get in between me and that hot body. What happened with Jessica happened, and nothing you do now will change that. Do you like him?”

  “I do.”

  “How much?”