Spirit [New Crescent 2] (BookStrand Publishing Romance)

by Mary Lou George

  He gave her an apologetic look, and when she waved him off, he said, “This is the third fight this week.”

  Reggie used the distraction to her advantage and slipped past him into the house. Over her shoulder, she called back to him, “Good luck with that.”

  Standing in the entrance to Bennett House, Reggie took a deep breath to settle her nerves. There. It was done. She’d seen him and managed to avoid blubbering all over his shirt. With resolve she vowed to bury her feelings. She’d done it before, and she could do it again. But, damn, he looked hot. Just being near him, Reggie felt a heat that had nothing to do with the readings on a thermometer.

  Why was she shaking? No sense asking the question when she knew exactly why. Damn it! She still wanted Chase McCann. She longed to get her hands on him and to feel his hands on her. She ground her teeth at the thought, and her stomach made its way into her throat. For the hundredth time, she asked herself, how it could have happened and when.

  Had it been anyone else, she could have handled the physical desire without question or hesitation…but with Chase? Her skin felt electrified when he was near, and all she wanted to do was get closer. Not for the first time, Reggie cursed her body’s wayward response to him.

  Squaring her shoulders and pushing Chase from her mind, Reggie glanced around at the renovations made to Bennett House so far. It was remarkable. There must have been a veritable army of craftsmen working round the clock to achieve such results. Excitement pulsed through her veins. At last, someone was doing it justice. All major work to the upper floors had been completed. They just needed to be decorated. She was pleasantly surprised to note that the master bedroom was almost as she’d imagined it could be. Two smaller rooms made into one large one, with a dressing room and private bathroom. It was magnificent. Standing in the spot where she’d envisioned a high, king-size, four-poster bed, Reggie felt a joy she couldn’t contain. Her laughter sounded right as it echoed in the empty space.

  Still smiling, she descended to the main floor. The grand staircase needed work, but she could see its promise. Through a wall of windows opposite the living room, she caught a glimpse of Chase outside talking to one of his men. He’d successfully broken up the fight, but she could see the tension in his shoulders. He wasn’t pleased. She knew the signs. Running her hand over the smooth oak of the window seat in the great room, she watched him. It was a pleasure.

  Memories washed over her. She couldn’t help wondering what would have happened between them had circumstances been different. Shaking her head, she sighed and stood up. Too much time had been wasted on what-ifs.

  Reggie looked down at the paper in her hands and reread her notes. Jotting down a few more thoughts, she moved from the window seat into the hallway that led to the library.

  This particular room she approached with anticipation. She’d always imagined it—every wall filled, floor to ceiling, with books of every kind, on every subject. Reggie smiled when she thought of the research she’d have to do to find the right kind of ladder system to provide the best access to the shelves. She had a million ideas and couldn’t wait to start hunting down the endless number of old books she’d need to do the room justice. Good thing the new owner was a writer. Reggie had good reason to think Pat Somers would appreciate a room overflowing with books.

  The hallway still smelled of neglect. She wrinkled her nose at the odor and shivered in the dampness. Hesitating in front of the library doors, Reggie was filled with an unexpected reluctance she couldn’t quite explain.

  Disquieted, she had to force her frozen hands to turn the door knobs. Stubbornly, the doors stuck. She used a hip and, with an unladylike grunt, shook them free. Propelled into the room, Reggie stumbled and regretted the decision to force her way inside. What greeted her was unexpected.

  Work hadn’t begun here yet. She grimaced. The air inside the library was more than stale, it was rancid…aggressively so. It assaulted her senses, disorientating her. Reluctant to breathe the foul smell, she put a hand over her nose and mouth. The thought of filling her lungs with something so putrid was repugnant. But in the end she had no choice. She took a breath and gagged.

  Her stomach dropped as something vital inside her drained away, leaving behind a sucking void. It was as if the disgusting air she’d been forced to breathe into her body had chased away all the hope she possessed and left behind a gaping despair. She wanted to crumple to the floor and weep.

  The room was very, very wrong. Unnatural? She didn’t bother to look around more. She knew she had to get out. Turning on unsteady legs she faced the open and mocking doors. With a burst of speed she rushed out of the library and into the hallway. A sour gust slammed the offending doors shut behind her. She didn’t bother to investigate the source. Gasping for untainted air, Reggie sought refuge.

  Chapter 3

  Chase found her in the kitchen. She reached out to him, and almost before she could register movement, he was by her side. His embrace brought the warmth back to her frozen limbs.

  Why was his body so warm when his words could be so cold? Reggie wondered as she rested her head on his shoulder. He could certainly move fast when the situation warranted it. Would it always feel so right in his arms? Perversely, she pulled away from him and stood on her own.

  “I’m fine.” She ran her hands through her artistically messy, short hair and shook her head. “That’s just nasty. There’s something really wrong in that room.”

  “What room?”

  “The library. It’s sickening, cold, damp…and the smell…whew, it’s hard to put words to it except to say that it smells like death in there. Something sucked at me. You know when you haven’t eaten anything and your stomach growls?” She didn’t wait for him to answer. “Well, my soul felt empty the same way. Only your soul doesn’t growl, it whimpers. If I were the dramatic sort, I’d tell you I was lucky to make it out alive.” Missing his warmth, she wrapped her arms around herself and rubbed her hands up and down.

  “You? Dramatic? Never,” he said with sarcasm and pulled her back into his arms.

  She struggled for a minute, but he felt so good that she gave up and let his warmth seep into her. Reggie rested there until her nerves got the better of her and she needed to talk or to eat. At that particular moment, with Chase’s strong arms around her, she decided food was the more prudent remedy.

  “I’m hungry.”

  “Of course you are,” Chase said with a gentle smile. “Come on, I’ll share my lunch with you.”

  Part of her wanted to refuse. It was safer to stay away from him, but as usual, her appetite outweighed her caution. Together, they walked out of the kitchen.

  Summer was over, but obviously, the sun hadn’t received the memo, because it was a deliciously warm day. Autumn was Reggie’s favorite time of the year. When September came around, she’d never wanted to be anywhere but New England. The leaves had just begun to turn color, and the nights held an exhilarating chill that made her heart beat faster. In fact, Reggie reveled in her senses in the fall. The fragrance in the air promised a bountiful harvest. With a palette of colors that could never be reproduced, nature painted her world. Fallen leaves made music as they danced in the breeze. The earth felt moist and rich and mysterious, its gifts sustained and added flavor to all life. Yes, it was good to be home.

  Chase, carrying a large bag, two bottles of water, and a carton of milk, joined her in the garden. Her stomach growled as he placed fruit, sandwiches, cut veggies, and cookies before her. They sat on a stone bench that had withstood the test of time and, like the house itself, was just as solid as it had been in the 1700s. Straddling the bench, they faced each other. Chase smoothed a napkin down between them and unwrapped the feast.

  Laughing at the huge spread, Reggie said, “You must have known I was coming.”

  “I eat too, you know.”

  He looked so cute sitting there, all six feet seven inches of him, munching on p. b. and j, and drinking milk as the cowlick at the back of his head bobbe
d in the breeze. She half expected him to sport a milk mustache when he put the carton down.

  He raised his eyebrows, but said nothing when her hand went straight to the cookies. She paused and gave him her best don’t-you-dare look. Reluctantly, she offered him one. With an indulgent smile, he shook his head.

  After biting into an apple, he chewed, swallowed, and said, “You looked pretty shaken in the kitchen.”

  She shuddered. “Don’t remind me.”

  “That bad, huh?” At her nod, he continued. “I’ll talk to the contractor and have him clean it up.”

  “Don’t bother, I can do that. I have to talk to him anyway. I see Duncan’s company’s doing the work on the house.”

  He nodded and waited for her to continue talking. She didn’t disappoint him.

  “I’m afraid it might take more than a few of Duncan’s men to clear out what’s in that room.” Between bites, she explained her experience in the library and summed it up by adding, “That room is wrong, on a level we can’t even comprehend right now. It’s messed up. There’s something mad and unnatural in there.”

  Chase narrowed his eyes and paused before saying, “I believe you. I’ll check it out myself after lunch.”

  Her stomach dropped, and she regretted taking such a big drink of water as her throat clenched. She didn’t want him to go near that room, but she didn’t know what to say to stop him. She’d sound so stupid, and knowing Chase, he’d surely ignore her concerns.

  Inspiration hit. She said, “I’ll go with you.”

  Bless him. He walked right into her trap. “No, you won’t.”

  She almost began to enjoy herself. “Oh, yes I will.”

  “No, you won’t.” His voice was firmer this time, and he ignored her provocative smile.

  “Oh yeah? If you’re going in there, then so am I.”

  “Reggie, you’re not going into that room again.” Chase’s jaw clenched revealing an agitation that only spurred her on. Excitement flickered in her eyes.

  Standing inches from him, and just for the hell of it, she challenged him.

  “You can’t stop me, so accept it.”

  “No.” He stood.

  With her heart racing, she did the same.

  “And how in hot and humid hell are you going to stop me?”

  The tension between them was a writhing, tacile thing as they faced off. She knew he was just as keyed up as she was. She could see it coming and did nothing to prevent it. Damn it, she wanted it.

  He took her by the shoulders. At the same time he pressed her body to his, he took her lips. He wasn’t gentle, and Reggie was glad because that was the last thing she wanted. She returned his passion, kiss for kiss. His mouth made love to hers, his tongue, teasing, demanding, exciting, all in one. He even used his teeth. It was glorious. Lost in each other, he was hot and hard and more than ready. Reggie wanted him to sink into her right there in the garden in broad daylight.

  A low whistle permeated their sensual haze, and they pulled apart just far enough to peer into each other’s dazed eyes. They ignored the whoops and cheers of the amused workers around them and stared at each other.

  Without taking his eyes from hers, Chase told their enthusiastic audience to get back to work. After a few more taunts, they moved off. Still, he held Reggie.

  Her heart broke just a little when he shook his head as if clearing his mind of something unwanted. When he looked at her again, he’d reverted to the Chase she’d always known, the damnable frustrating one. He backed away from her in embarrassment. She saw the apology in his eyes and before he could say anything she said, “If you apologize, I swear, I will find something really heavy and hit you with it...twice…and just for the hell of it, I’d hit you again. Trust me. I’d go for the triple.” She poked his chest with a finger.

  He raised his eyebrows and smiled. “What would you have me do then, Reggie?”

  “I don’t know. Admit that it felt good maybe?”

  He looked down at his still-aroused body. “I would have thought that was obvious.”

  She gave him a little smile. “Good.”

  His laugh was filled with self deprecation. “For you maybe. But I’ve got to face my guys like this.”

  Their shared laughter broke the tension, and they sat down on the bench again.

  He avoided her eyes when he said, “I should explain myself.”

  Amusement gone, she tilted her head and challenged him. “Do you want to?”

  “Honestly? No.” He held up a hand and prepared to continue.

  She didn’t want to hear it and ignored his gesture. His grudging desire for her wasn’t something Reggie felt up to discussing. She interrupted him and changed the subject before he could say anything that would smart. “What I felt in the library sure proves I’m back in New Crescent with a vengeance.”

  “Yeah.” he nodded and swept out his arm. “Alas, people, I give you our hometown, the source of all things strange. I still don’t want you going into the library again.”

  “And I still don’t want you to go there without me.”

  He nodded with defeat. “How about a compromise?”

  When she looked at him, she narrowed her eyes, and he chuckled. “No tricks, I swear. I’ll get Duncan’s guys to clean it out and we’ll go in together when they’re done. Deal?” He held out his hand to her. She hesitated a second then placed her palm firmly against his, and they shook on it.

  For a split second, she saw her hand and his joining and becoming one. She thought she’d been hallucinating until she looked up and realized that he’d seen it too.

  With a frown, he said, “I’ll get right on that.”

  Rubbing his other hand against the back of his neck, he gave his head a shake and walked away.

  Alone, sitting on the bench, Reggie looked around. Left to grow wild, the garden still held an undeniable beauty. She closed her eyes and turned her face to the sun. A feeling of homecoming wafted over her—the antithesis of what she’d felt in the library.

  Tearing her face away from the sun, Reggie looked over the vast gardens. Chase had his work cut out for him. They seemed to go on forever reaching out to the rocky shore. Catching a brief flicker of movement in her peripheral vision, Reggie turned her head with a quick snap. Was she imagining things now? She could have sworn she’d seen the graceful movements of a woman out the corner of her eye, but now there was nothing. Where had she gone? Around the corner of the house?

  “Enough of this.” Irritation tinged her voice when she spoke aloud.

  Reggie acted. Kicking off her inconvenient shoes, she sped off after the woman. Careening around the corner of the house, she was brought to a sudden stop by a solid wall that was Chase’s broad back. She bounced off him with a grunt Facing the opposite direction, he hadn’t seen her coming but his quick reflexes enabled him to catch her just before she crashed to the ground.

  Frustrated to have her pursuit thwarted, she looked up at him without apology or gratitude. “Did you see her?”

  Gripping her arms, Chase frowned and shook his head. The three men he had been talking to lumbered off, leaving them alone.

  “A woman. There was a woman. I saw her!”

  “I didn’t.”

  Angry, she rolled her eyes at him and just barely managed not to stamp her foot in frustration.

  “It was probably something blowing in the breeze,” he said.

  Reggie frowned for a moment. “Puhhh. That wasn’t what I saw.”

  His touch spread that special warmth she couldn’t ignore. “Let me go.” She shook his hands off. “I’m fine. I know who I need to talk to.”

  Effectively dismissing him, she walked away and moved toward the driveway. Urgency gripped her as she started the car.

  She wasn’t crazy. She’d seen a woman vanish into thin air and of course there was the library. What was it in there that had made her feel so hopeless? Just remembering it made her flinch. The library had stood untouched for over one hundred years. Was tha
t what made it feel so different? She shook her head. No way. There was more to it than that. There had to be. Standing in that room, Reggie had never felt so empty. Something had sucked at her spirit and she intended to find out what.

  * * * *

  Mmm…the woman. She’d been so lush, ripe, filled to the brim. What a revelation. She had plenty. Ah, it would be sweet to use her up, leave her spent...wasted. It wouldn’t be long now. He was getting stronger every day. She’d be back, and he’d take more. When the other realized what was happening, it would be too late.

  Chapter 4

  Sprawled in the yellow chair in her friend’s living room, Reggie told Gillian Watson about the strange phenomenon she’d experienced. She left out the part about the kiss. She wanted to hang on to that for a while. It hit too close to home. Still shoeless, she used one bare foot to stroke Gillian’s uncanny dog, Hank.

  Gillian looked at her friend and smiled. “You felt nothing unusual when you were sharing Chase’s lunch?”

  Reggie avoided her eyes. “Nothing during lunch.” She wasn’t ready to share yet, even with Gillian.

  “Come to think of it, it’s not so surprising.” Gillian nodded her head, speculating. “You’ve always been deeply connected to that house, and it’s coming alive at last. It’s stirred up, I’ll bet. There’s a lot of history there, you’re New Crescent born, and so is Chase. Maybe your connection to the place is so strong that you’ve drawn him in with you.” Gillian raised a hand to fend off Reggie’s vehement reaction. “Actually, that makes more sense than you’d think. Chase is a landscaper. He works with the earth, gets his hands dirty. He’s been there for weeks. He’s already connected, whether you like it or not.”

  Reggie counted the butterflies in her stomach, and for a moment, considered naming each one. She figured, since they were going to be spending a lot of time together, they may as well be on a first-name basis. Hank whined and put his head in her lap. Stroking his head, Reggie remembered he liked to chase butterflies, an uncanny dog indeed.