by Erica Penrod
Levi had to be in control, had to focus on the task ahead of him, and Monica Fallentine was nothing but a beautiful distraction.
Chapter Three
“This way.” Monica tried to stifle her frustration as she huffed up the stairs. She’d done some research on operating a bed and breakfast, and while she didn’t remember everything, Monica was certain there hadn’t been an article on what to do when you strongly disliked your guest. “Your room is up here.”
Was it wrong to hope Levi Hernandez found other accommodations even if she needed the money? Of course it was. This was her first test as a business owner, and she was failing miserably. The miserable part was the heat still pouring through her body from his touch. Monica might be a rookie, but it didn’t take a professional to figure out what was wrong with the situation.
“You don’t have other guests arriving, do you?” Levi’s voice disturbed her thoughts, and her stomach knotted at the condescending tone to his voice. She’d take anger over temptation.
Monica paused at the top of the stairs. Think before you speak. You’re a business owner. She drew in a deep breath and took the last step forward, allowing Levi to join her on the second floor. “Not this week.” They walked down the hall towards the finished room. “I’ve got two more rooms up here, but I had to turn the closets into bathrooms, which took a lot longer than I planned.” Monica stopped in front of the doorway. “Fortunately, for your room, I was able to use the existing hallway bathroom by switching the entry and moving the tub.”
Levi stood beside her, and she tried to imagine the room as he might see it, or at least like she hoped he would. The pale river-rock-colored walls trimmed with crisp white molding complemented the natural look of the oak floors. A white rectangular rug with blue geometric shapes added a modern flair to the room, along with the gold light fixture. The queen bed, dressed in a simple white quilt with yellow and navy-blue throw pillows, looked like royalty beneath the sunlight streaming through the plantation shutters over the dormer window.
Monica held her breath as Levi walked in and touched the base of the lamp on the nightstand. “This is interesting.” He ran his hand along the hunk of natural wood.
“Yes, I thought so too.” She folded her arms across her middle. “I bought it in a little shop in Bentonville. The owner makes them himself.”
“Hmmm.” Levi turned, and a notch appeared between his brows. “Is that the only closet?”
“Yes.” Her jittery insides shook her up more than when the inspector had toured the place. “This is an old house, and back then, they just didn’t build closets like they do now.” Monica walked over and opened the door. “I tried to maximize the available space.” She gestured towards the shelves and racks. “And there are drawers in the nightstand for additional storage.”
“I suppose it will work.” Levi headed towards the bathroom door and pulled on the glass knob. He leaned in, and Monica held her breath. The space wasn’t large, but it was efficient, and she’d spent extra time and money on the backsplash and tile. Levi looked over his shoulder at her. “This is nice.”
Her knees buckled, and if Aunt Gwen blew in her ear from the other side, Monica was sure she would’ve tipped over. “Uh … thank you.”
“I’d like the company’s name who did the work for you. It might be useful for the hospital project.”
“Oh.” Monica brushed a strand of hair behind her ear. “I did it.”
“You did it?” His eyes widened, and his incredulous tone tugged on the angry knot in her belly.
“Well, Alex and I did it.” She wished she didn’t need this man’s approval so much. Monica reminded herself that a good review would be worth the frustration—although she wasn’t sure Levi Hernandez would give her one, no matter how perfectly spaced the tile was.
“Alex?” His chin jutted back, and she thought something flickered in his eyes.
“My neighbor’s great-nephew. He’s been helping me out with some of the finishing work.”
“Oh.” He nodded as he surveyed the tub and walk-in shower. “Alex is a professional?”
“Yeah, I guess. He works for a construction company.” Monica smiled. Doris had made sure Monica was well aware of Alex’s qualifications five minutes after she’d arrived. Levi pivoted around, and Monica backed up. “I plan to work on these upstairs spaces while you’re not here. I’ll try to disturb you as little as possible.”
“I shouldn’t be here for long.” Levi fixed his eyes on her. Monica waited for him to elaborate, but he didn’t.
“Your reservation was for two months.” She hated the panicked pitch to her voice. He’d paid in advance, and if she had to return the money, she didn’t know what she’d do.
“Yes, I know. I meant I won’t be here at the house very often during my stay in Eureka Springs. Most of my time will be spent at the hospital. I’ll just need a place to sleep.”
“Would you like breakfast and dinner?” She had planned to set herself apart from the other B&Bs in town by offering breakfast and dinner. The extra meal gave her another opportunity to enjoy her passion for cooking. Monica hadn’t thought about accommodating her meal schedule for guests and decided she’d need to make some rules. Shuffling things around for one person was one thing, but what about when the house was full? Monica prayed she’d be faced with the dilemma soon, and she understood that her stress level would drop significantly if she were prepared.
“I prefer a protein shake for breakfast.” Levi crossed his arms. “And I’m not sure I’ll be here for dinner.”
“I’ll have a shake ready at seven in the morning, and if you will be here anytime between five and six in the evening, please text me and I’ll have dinner prepared for you.”
“Thank you.” He sounded genuine, and Monica observed him closely, noticing a softness to his eyes, like a summer moonlit night. Perhaps he wasn’t as bad as she thought. “However, I think I should tell you, as someone who manages businesses for a living, that you really need to be more prepared, especially with your reservations and bookkeeping, if you want this place to be successful.”
So much for that thought. “Thank you.” Monica coughed on an insult and swallowed her pride. “And once again, I am sorry about the reservation mix-up. I’m not sure what happened, but I’ll look into it.” She forced her lips into a smile. “Do you need any help with your luggage?”
“No, I’m fine.”
“Would you like something to eat?” Monica remembered the tuna casserole. “My neighbor brought over a casserole, and it’s ready to eat anytime.”
“People do that?” Levi gawked at her like she’d just announced she’d be serving a meal from Mars.
“In Eureka Springs, they do.”
He shook his head. “No thank you. I grabbed a bite to eat after the flight.”
“Oh.” Monica lifted her brow. “But your car.” The fancy sports car didn’t look like any rental she’d ever seen.
“My assistant purchased the car, and it was waiting for me when I arrived.”
Of course it was. Some people had money and cars in every state, but not her. She just had an aunt who couldn’t decide which state of existence she wanted to be in. “Well, then, I’ll leave you, and if you have any questions, don’t hesitate to ask.”
“Thank you.” Levi gave a polite smile. This would all be so much easier if his facial features didn’t look like they were hand-chiseled by Michelangelo himself.
“You’re welcome.” Monica turned towards the door, her mind whirling, and headed towards her office. Something she’d ignored until now nagged at her, and she had to check on it.
She’d worry about her guest later. Right now, she had a mystery to solve about a reservation mix-up, and she had a sneaky feeling that her meddling ghost might be the reason for the problem.
Chapter Four
Levi watched Monica leave and expelled the air from his lungs. After his trip through the hallway, where he’d discovered that his rational mind didn’t always
curb his desires and he’d enjoyed Monica’s touch, he planned to contact Bates at once. He had to find somewhere else to go, and the sooner, the better. This Eureka Springs Healthcare assignment was the one he’d been waiting for, and he couldn’t get sidetracked, no matter how pretty the detour was.
He looked at the space around him once again. Levi recalled the pride in Monica’s voice as she’d pointed out the room’s features and the way her eyes had lit up when he’d inspected the bathroom and was pleased. He could relate to hard work and determination, and he appreciated people with the same ethic, even if the rest of the place was in disarray. Monica had mentioned that she needed the money from his occupancy to continue the remodel, and Levi didn’t want to be the reason why work halted at The Red Pearl. He was in the business of revitalization, and in a way, Monica Fallentine’s agenda aligned with his own.
His phone vibrated in his pocket. Levi pulled out the device and saw the picture on the screen. He swiped and smiled. “Hey, Mom.”
“You were supposed to call when you got in. I assume you’re in … in …?”
“Eureka Springs, Arkansas.” Levi sat at the edge of the bed and rubbed his temples.
“Oh yes, Arkansas.” A dog barked, piercing Levi’s eardrums.
“Sounds like Dufus is jealous.” Levi imagined the toy poodle pacing the floor without his mom’s undivided attention.
“I wish you wouldn’t call him that.” The barking ceased, and more than likely, the dog was seated on his mom’s lap, ready to rip the phone from her ear. “Dudley really is a sweet dog, if you were ever here long enough to get to know him.”
Levi doubted an extended stay would change his feelings about the large yapping rodent, but his mom loved the animal and he loved his mom, so he’d keep his comments to himself. “I’m sure he is.”
“How is the place you’re staying at?” Cooing sounds and soft whispers played in the background.
“It’s—” Levi didn’t know how to explain The Red Pearl to his mom. “Unique.”
“How’s that?”
“It’s an old house, being renovated into a bed and breakfast.” His mother was a good woman, accustomed to luxury, and The Red Pearl wouldn’t meet her standards.
“What do you mean, being renovated?” Worry rang in her voice. “You mean it’s not finished?”
“My room and bathroom are finished quite nicely, but the rest of the house is a work in progress.”
“Levi, you shouldn’t be staying somewhere like that. You need a nice place to rest and recoup after a long day at work.”
A smile tugged on the corners of his lips. He was a thirty-one-year-old man, and his mom still fretted over him like he was a ten-year-old on a campout. Levi’s body relaxed, and his heart warmed. “Mom, I’m fine. An inspector had to give the okay for Monica to rent the room, so I’m sure everything is structurally up to code.”
“Monica?”
“Monica Fallentine, the woman who owns the B&B.” Levi prayed that his mom wouldn’t ask too many questions about the owner. If she detected the slightest hint of interest on Levi’s part, she’d attack. The only thing she loved more than her family and Dufus was the idea of grandchildren. His older brother Jarrett and his wife hadn’t had any yet, and his mom was constantly on the lookout for someone suitable for her “baby,” as she liked to call Levi.
“What’s she like? Is she married, divorced, or a widow?”
Tread carefully. This was like the time he’d got caught sneaking out his bedroom window to meet Carly Wheaton in the backyard and he’d had to smooth-talk his way out of a long-term punishment. Yes, he was going to meet Carly to make plans about the upcoming dance, but Levi omitted the part where the meeting would begin with a make-out session. “I don’t know much about her.” Maybe his mom might picture Monica as an elderly woman. “Bates told me a single woman owned the place, but I’ve only talked to her about my reservation and room.” He left out the part where he’d tripped, fallen into her arms, and liked the feel of her hands on him.
“Hummpphh. I guess you’re a grown man and can take care of yourself.”
“It’s about time you noticed.” Levi stood up and checked his reflection in the mirror above the dresser.
“You’ll always be my baby, even when you’re fifty years old.”
“I know.” Levi saw the dark circles beginning to form beneath his eyes in his reflection. “I’d better go. I’ve still got to unpack.” He needed rest if he planned to be at his best tomorrow, which he did.
“Okay, honey. Stay in touch.”
“I will. Love you, Mom.”
“Love you too.” She hung up.
Levi slipped the phone back in his pocket. He looked around and remembered that he still needed to get his luggage from the car. Levi walked into the hallway and paused as a feeling tickled along his skin, leaving goose bumps. He tilted his head as words echoed through his mind.
Help her.
Then Monica screamed.
* * *
Monica landed with a thud. “Uhhhh.” She sat on the floor and for once was grateful that her backside wasn’t as small as it used to be.
“Are you okay?” a frantic voice called, and Levi appeared in the office.
Great. Falling off the step stool was bad enough. Her butt hurt and she was frustrated, but now she had to add humiliation to the pot. Add one more thing to the list of living with strangers: witnesses. Monica’s talent, as her mom liked to refer to her tendency to trip over a rug or fall off the heel of her shoe, wasn’t an issue when she lived alone, but guests might think otherwise, and a clumsy manager might be bad for business.
“I’m fine.” She smiled as her face burned, and she was sure she looked like a clown with painted cheeks. “I fell off the step stool.”
Levi extended his hand. Monica glanced at his outstretched fingers and remembered the zing she’d felt when she’d touched him earlier. Probably not a good idea to accept his offer, but the sooner she got up off the floor, the sooner she might be able to salvage some of her dignity.
She placed her hand in his and tried to focus on the act of rising and not the current zipping through her body. “Thanks.”
“You’re welcome.” Levi didn’t let go, and Monica met his stare. Her heart jumped and banged around like a caged animal, begging to run free. “You should be more careful.” He looked down at the foot-tall stool, and the corners of his mouth twitched into a teasing smile. “That was a long way to fall.”
She took her hand back and rubbed her backside, where the pain had dulled to an ache that promised a nice bruise in the morning. “Yes, I know.” Monica leaned over and picked up the stool. “I have a natural ability when it comes to such things.”
He laughed, and judging by his wide-eyed expression, she wasn’t the only one surprised by the sound. Levi Hernandez didn’t strike her as the type of person who laughed a lot, and she was glad to hear it for herself. “Do you need me to reach something for you? I wouldn’t want you to try again when I’m gone.”
“No.” She shook her head. “I cleared a couple things from my desk and put them on the top of the bookshelf.” Monica didn’t want to look at Levi’s face, because she didn’t think her thoughts about his perfect bone structure were professional. “After I checked on your reservation, I thought I might clean up a few things while I was in here.”
“Did you find out what happened?” Levi crossed his arms and took a step back when she scowled at him. “Just for future reference, so it doesn’t happen again.”
“Yes, I know what happened.” She wasn’t sure why she felt so defensive. “But I can’t promise it won’t happen again.”
Levi’s brow arched in question. “Oh, why is that?”
“Because it was my great-aunt Gwen.” Monica shrugged her shoulders. “She’s always liked things done her way, and she thinks she knows best.”
Confusion appeared as lines scribbled across his forehead. “Your aunt?” He took a look around the room. “I must’ve
misunderstood. I thought you said you inherited this place, and I assumed your aunt had passed on.”
“Oh, she has.” Monica leaned her hip against the desk. “But that doesn’t seem to stop her.” She turned and pointed to the large calendar splayed across the desktop. “See this?” Monica pointed to tomorrow’s date, where his name was clearly written. “That was her.”
“Wait, what?” Levi’s ink-black eyes widened.
Maybe she’d said too much. Maybe telling your first guest about the ghost in your house wasn’t the best way to procure a good review.
“Oh, don’t worry.” Monica grinned. “She’s harmless. Aunt Gwen just likes to keep me on my toes, although I’m not very happy about her messing with my calendar.”
“Let me get this straight.” His chin fell slightly as he continued to gawk at her. “You think a ghost switched the dates on your calendar?”
Monica shrugged. “I don’t think it; I know it.” She hit a button on the PC positioned on the far corner of the desk. “I make the reservations online, and then I transfer them to the calendar just so they’re right in front of me. I triple-check the date when I write them down.” Levi’s reservation appeared on the screen.
“But my name is written on tomorrow’s date.”
“Yes.” Monica turned her attention back to the calendar. “But that’s not my handwriting, and if you look closely, you can see where your name was erased from today’s date.”
He peered over the desk as if something might bite him. Levi nodded slowly as he eased back up. “I’m sure there’s some other explanation.”
“You don’t need to concern yourself about Aunt Gwen.” Monica waved her hand through the air. “She won’t bother you.” Levi gaped at her, and she worried he might bolt. “You should know that in Eureka Springs, the people feel very close to their ancestors. They love to share stories from the past and are thrilled to tell you about the ghosts still lingering about the town.”
