I met her gaze. We’re here to figure out why your town is plagued by Cursed and see if we can help you. “Just touring, really.”
“Well, if you need any guidance on where to visit, just ask. Now here are the rooms.”
She unlocked a door and handed a key to Delta as he peered around the doorframe. He nodded, stepped in, and dropped his bag on the bed closest to the window.
Luka followed him inside and cussed as he took the bed nearest the door. “I prefer the window, you know.”
“We’re not on a plane.” Delta raised his brow.
I peeked inside and saw a well-kept, modest room. The walls were white, as were the sheets, but they were accented with a splash of brown which matched the headboards. Two bedside tables separated the beds, and on top of each was a small lamp. At the bottom of the bed, was a small desk complete with a mirror and stool, and beside that a small cupboard which I guessed was for clothing.
“Your bathroom is just in there.” Mary-Anne pointed.
Luka went to the second door. “This will be great. Thanks.” He beamed.
“This is the second room.” She slid the key into the lock of a room across the hall before I had time to process what she’d said.
As the door swung wide and Vaughn stepped in, I saw the same setup as the first room. White walls, a large mirror at the bottom of the twin beds, with a stool set beneath the desk, and a second door which I presumed led to a bathroom. But that wasn’t my concern. Twin beds. We were sharing a room? Nobody told me that. I assumed I would get my own room again, for obvious reasons. My heart hammered, and I looked at Vaughn. He looked just as shocked as I did.
“Excuse me,” Delta said, behind me.
I was glad he was there, and stood aside to let him in to talk to Mary-Anne.
“There are only two rooms?”
“Yes.” She nodded and looked back into the room, where Vaughn continued to stand with his mouth agape and bags still in his hands.
Delta shook his head. “There may’ve been a mistake when they were booked, but we need three. A twin and two singles.”
“I can check the booking again, but unfortunately these are the only rooms we have. It’s the height of summer season, and we’re fully booked.”
I swallowed.
This just got worse. Not only was I spending an undetermined length of time away with Vaughn, in close quarters, but they were closer than I thought. The idea of sharing a room with him, when I found it impossible to get him off my mind, was damn irresponsible. But I’d heard Mary-Anne like everyone else, and there was no alternative.
“Vaughn.” Delta nodded towards the hallway.
Vaughn stepped past our host as delicately as he could, with both bags still in tow. His arm brushed against mine as he passed, and a spark rushed through me. Even through my jacket the guy gave me chills. How would I stay in the same room as him?
They stepped away from the doorway.
Delta’s gaze flicked to me and then back to his son. “We can speak to Sheila and see if we can sort something out. Some other hotel or—”
“I’m afraid that most of the hotels are booked up and you’ll struggle to find alternative accommodation,” Mary-Anne stood against the door jamb, arms folded.
I looked between Mary-Anne, who looked self-assured that we couldn’t go anywhere else, and the father and son who seemed unsure of what to do. I took a deep breath. This was my decision to make. I looked at Vaughn. What difference would it make if we had to stay in the same room? We were both adults, and I was safe with him. This was more about my ability to keep my hands to myself.
I exhaled. “Delta, I know this isn’t ideal, but I’m sure we’ll be fine for a few nights. Right, Vaughn?”
“You don’t mind sharing?” Delta’s eyes were wide as he moved closer to me.
“I think we’ll manage,” I said.
“Vaughn?” Delta turned to his son.
Vaughn’s gaze flicked to his dad, then back at me, almost as if he was looking for permission. From who, I wasn’t sure.
“As long as Ruby is okay with it, I’m sure we can make it work. But only if you’re sure.” He was looking at me, his lips pressed together as he weighed my expression.
“It’s fine.” I nodded. “We’re barely in our rooms, anyway.”
“Fair point.” Delta nodded. “Okay. Then it’s settled. These rooms will do.”
“Good.” Mary-Anne smiled as she handed me the key card. “Only fair that the lady should keep it. If you need anything, you can use the phone in your room or come down to the counter and ring the bell. Dinner is served at eight, and breakfast between seven and nine.”
“Thank you,” Delta said.
Mary-Anne strolled back down the corridor and down the stairs.
I looked between the three guys as we all stood in the corridor. I didn’t want to make the first move, and I felt my cheeks heating under the scrutiny.
Finally, Luka spoke. “How about we take half an hour to get settled, then head into town?”
Vaughn nodded. “Sounds good.”
I stepped into the room, as behind me, Delta and Luka disappeared into theirs. Vaughn crossed the threshold for the second time and shut the door. Our eyes met across the length of a bed, and we were silent. I wondered whether he was thinking the same thing as me. Whether he was wondering if he could keep his hands off me. I doubted it.
“Are you sure you’re okay with this?” he asked.
I smiled. “I have to admit, I didn’t expect it. I was thrown for a bit.”
“Me, too.” He laughed as he put his free hand on the back of his neck.
“But it’s fine. We’ll manage, right?”
“Sure.” He nodded. “Which bed do you want?”
“Can I take the window?”
He nodded, and I dumped my bags at the foot of my bed. I dropped to the bed, feeling it spring under my weight and then mould to my shape. I watched as Vaughn began to unpack, stashing his clothes in the small wardrobe that we would be sharing. The muscles beneath his t-shirt worked, and his jaw tightened as he concentrated.
Sharing a room with Vaughn. Never did I think this would be a thing, yet here I was. I grinned as I imagined what Barbara would have to say about this.
I unpacked my bag as well, stashing my toiletry case in the small bathroom at the foot of the room, where there was a standalone shower complete with miniature soaps and fluffy white towels.
It didn’t take long to unpack. I left my unmentionables stashed in my duffel bag. Finally finished, I sat on my bed and looked out of the window, onto the street. Bridgendale, we’re here.
A knock came at the door, and Delta and Luka stepped in. I glanced at Vaughn and wondered if that’s what we’d have to deal with all week.
Chapter Fifteen
“Okay, guys,” Delta said. “I thought it was best just to get started. We’ve got a lot ahead of us, and we need to start figuring this out so that I can send Sheila the initial report.”
Luka pushed the door shut and leaned against the wall, one knee bent against the wall, arms crossed.
Delta continued. “As usual, we’re going to start with recon. It’ll give us scope of the town, and we can get our bearings.”
I nodded.
“I don’t think we’ll need much in the way of gear for this afternoon. Let’s play our role as tourists and do this properly. We leave in five, okay?”
“Fine with me,” I said.
“Me, too,” Vaughn said.
Delta and Luka left the room and shut the door. I stared at it for a minute. Something told me Delta wasn’t okay with us sharing a room.
“What do you think we’ll need?” I asked.
As I stretched, I felt my top ride up my stomach and Vaughn’s gaze fell to the strip of skin just above the waistband of my jeans. I hurried to pull it down. Something felt different about his eyes being on me when we were in a bedroom.
“Just the usual.” He shrugged off the tension between us an
d stood up. “Plus, I’ll take a camera. Every good tourist has one of those.” He grinned.
“Sounds good.”
I picked up my bag and slung it across my shoulder. I glanced down at myself. I wore black jeans and a plain vest that rolled down over my hips. My hair was loose, the auburn strands finishing with a slight curl. I snuck a quick peek in the mirror. My skin was pale but not drawn, and I thought I looked better than I did at five this morning. I considered picking up a jumper but thought better of it. The sun was blazing, and I figured I’d be warm enough through the day at least.
It wasn’t long before we were both ready, and after I grabbed the key card, we headed out the room and met the others in the corridor. Delta and Luka were already waiting. Delta wore a t-shirt, showcasing the muscles beneath. Luka wore his traditional tank top over a pair of combats. As Vaughn shut our room door and stepped into view, I realised he looked like a younger version of his dad. I bit my lip and exhaled. I was heading out on a Demon Hunting expedition with these three guys. I was one lucky girl.
We strolled back down the corridor and chatted quietly as we walked downstairs. When we reached the ground floor, Mary-Anne pranced from the dining room, to the left and grinned at us.
“Heading out?”
“Time to take in this town.” Luka grinned, clapping his hands together.
“Great. You’ll want to check out the community centre. That’s like the hub of Bridgendale. Everybody goes there.”
“Where is it?” Vaughn asked.
“At the old church.”
“The one at the roundabout?” I asked.
“That’s the one.” She beamed, clearly proud of the monument.
“We’ll make sure we head there,” Delta smiled. “I don’t think we want to miss that place.”
“Don’t forget, dinner is served at eight.” She pointed toward the dining room, where several tables were being cleaned after the breakfast run.
“We’ll be back,” Delta said. “Wouldn’t want to miss that.”
“Nope.” Luka patted his stomach and grinned.
“Well, see you guys later.” Mary-Anne waved, then disappeared through the kitchen’s swinging door.
Before the door swung shut, I glimpsed a man in a white apron, scrubbing a pot in the sink.
We headed out into the day. As soon as I stepped through the doors, I was hit by sunshine, and I sighed as I was surrounded in warmth. My shoulders sagged, and I closed my eyes, soaking in the rays as they beat down on my face and bare shoulders.
“Wow, that sunshine is something,” Luka said.
When I opened my eyes, I saw that his face was also facing the sky, dark hair swept back from his face.
“We’re not here to sunbathe.” Delta motioned for us to continue.
I strolled after him, and we began our recon.
“Maybe not, but that doesn’t mean I can’t enjoy it.” Luka caught up to me.
I kept my focus on Delta ahead of me. He paused every now and then to glance at a map he was holding, while Vaughn snapped a few photos. To anyone that looked at us, we appeared to be tourists strolling around the town. I didn’t know how it would tally up when we were in full gear, especially when we had guns holstered at our waists. But I knew Delta would come up with some story to appease the locals.
Vaughn stopped to snap a photo of the distant church spire. It rose up beyond the rest of the buildings, a testament to its age and beauty. I could see why the Bridgendale residents flocked to the place. I hoped I’d get to see the inside, too.
Vaughn and I ended up walking side-by-side. He shot me a smile, which I returned, and his arm occasionally brushed mine as we passed shop after shop. Every time his skin touched mine, a bolt of electricity charged through my body and caused me to break out in goosebumps. But I kept my focus straight ahead, scared what might happen if I looked at him.
I took in the sights. It was much the same as it had been when we drove through. A sleepy outlet full of boutique shops, bakeries offering delicious cakes on display in their windows, and cafes that smelled like heaven. People moseyed along as if they had nowhere to be and nothing to attend to. It felt lethargic, in a good way, in a way the city would never feel.
“I’m thinking that we need to stop at a watering hole,” Luka said, glancing at us.
The words were like music to my ears.
“Me, too,” I said.
The coffee and toast I had first thing had worn off long ago, and I was ready for a shot of energy.
Delta turned to look at us, never breaking stride. “Vaughn?”
He nodded. “I could use something to eat.”
“Fine.” Delta sighed. “But I’m not digging for information this time.”
Luka smiled, displaying a set of pearly white teeth. “Just what I like to hear. How about that place?” He pointed to a sign a little further down the street.
It swung slightly in the breeze and announced hot and cold food. Any place was good in a town where you knew nothing.
I nodded, and we moved towards the café. Luka was the first through the doorway. I found myself in a small boutique café. Sofas lined the walls, worn and spongy. In front of them were small square tables with metal chairs on the other side. Menus were already propped up on the tables, ready for its waiting customers. I spied two middle-aged women sitting in one of the window seats, casting us a cursory glance as the door shut. As if on cue and probably pushed by her boss, a young girl hurried around the counter and stopped just short of running right into us. She took a deep breath and smiled. Her dark hair was pulled into a ponytail which hung midway down her back, and her eyes had been made-up heavily.
“Table for four?”
“Please.” Luka grinned.
She motioned for us to follow her despite that most of the seats were empty. We were seated halfway up the room. Vaughn slid into the cushioned seat at the back, and I followed suit, narrowly missing banging my knee on the metal table leg.
“Can I get you any drinks?” She pulled a pad of paper from her top pocket and stood poised with a pen.
We all ordered coffee, and with a smile and a flick of her hair, she spun and hurried back towards the counter.
The café was quaint. The smell of coffee and the terracotta walls made me feel cosy.
“Want a menu?” Vaughn held out a single card sheet out to me.
As I took it, his finger brushed mine and sent flashes of electricity through my hand. I took a deep breath and tried to focus on the menu. It didn’t work for long. I was all too aware that Vaughn was right beside me, shoulder pressed against mine. I shuffled in my seat, hoping it didn’t look suspicious, and manoeuvred so that I was sitting apart from him. Better.
The table was quiet as menus were studied. My stomach grumbled as I eyed the tempting delights, but I was indecisive. When my phone beeped, I welcomed the distraction and clutched it from my bag. Opened it to find a message from Becca.
How you doing?
It had only been half a day since I left, and I figured she was bored. My fingers skittered across the touchpad.
All right. Stopped for lunch in a café. Can’t wait for this coffee! What you up to?
She replied a few minutes later. Nothing to do. Texted Jenny but she’s not responding.
Vaughn leaned in close to me, looking at the menu clutched in my hand as if he didn’t have one of his own, and nodded towards it. “What you getting?”
His breath was hot on my neck and sent shivers spiralling down my side. If I turned my head, our faces would’ve been in the perfect place for a kiss.
I took a deep breath, forced my eyes down at the menu and shook my head. “I haven’t decided.”
“I’m getting a panini,” he said, straightening back up.
I let out the breath I was holding. He was making it hard to focus.
Across from me, Luka nodded. “They look pretty good, actually.”
The waitress emerged from behind the counter, balancing a round tray. She
tiptoed across the room, eyes on the coffees that sloshed with every movement. After arriving at the table and setting the tray down, she gave a smile of satisfaction before doling the coffees out and setting a tub of sugar sachets in the middle. Then she tucked the tray under her arm and fetched the pad of paper out of her pocket.
“Are you guys ready to order?”
Delta said, “I’ll take a jacket potato with tuna. Thanks.”
“I’ll have a tuna melt.” Luka rubbed his stomach.
She looked at me.
“Um, I’ll take a tuna melt, too.”
Then her gaze rested on Vaughn. She smiled, and her body language changed as she dropped her weight onto one leg and cocked her head. Her hair swished over her shoulder and fell down her chest.
“And what can I get for you?”
She couldn’t have made it any more obvious if she’d batted her eyelashes.
“Cheese and ham panini, please.” He set the menu down.
“Great.”
She made a scribble that I doubted resembled anything of his meal order, but then again, something told me she wouldn’t have any trouble remembering what he wanted.
“I’m Summer, so just give me a shout if you guys want anything.” Her gaze lingered on Vaughn.
She gave him one last glance before she tucked the paper away, turned, and strode towards the counter, hips swaying.
I felt a streak of anger as I watched her glide into the kitchen. Every now and then, her gaze would dart to the table. I forced myself to look away from the kitchen and focus on the table. There was no reason she couldn’t appreciate Vaughn. Only she’d have to go through me first.
“I think you have an admirer, Vaughn.” Luka grinned, clasping his hands together on the table.
Vaughn’s eyes snapped to the kitchen then back again, and I noticed his cheeks had been dusted pink. Was he embarrassed because of her admiration?
White-hot rage flashed through me, overtaking everything. I shoved it away. I had no right to be mad at her.
We were the only customers, barring the two women who seemed content to sit and cradle their coffee cups, and it didn’t take long before our order reached the table. It was laden on a large circular tray. She handed the dishes out expertly, her gaze periodically flicking to Vaughn, and she saved his for last, her fingers lingering on his plate.
Tainted Souls Page 8