by Lexi Post
Bryce stood. “Now wait a minute. I invited him in. Surely I can have who I want in my room.”
“True, but I doubt having a criminal visit you is what you want. Right, Eric?” Synn raised a brow at the ghost. “Did you tell the man of the rapes you committed?”
Eric’s hands were holding on to Synn’s wrists, but he smiled slyly anyway. “I didn’t want to bore him with minor details.”
“Details?” Bryce visibly swallowed.
Synn shook his head. “It wasn’t only women he raped either.”
At that piece of information, the man paled considerably.
Eric squirmed. “You’re no fun. Now let me down.”
Synn nodded to Bryce. “If you don’t mind, I will remove this vermin from your presence. Goodnight again.”
He dragged Eric with him into the hallway. “It appears you can’t keep away from the living, so I will have to ensure you do.”
Eric grinned. “You can’t.”
Synn shook his head. “Actually, I can. You see, Trent and Darby have volunteered to watch over you. Isn’t that kind of them?”
Eric gulped and all lifelikeness slipped away, leaving him skeletal and barely solid. “You wouldn’t.”
Synn walked down the hallway, dragging the man with him. He would. Having Eric to themselves was Trent and Darby’s favorite pastime. Since each of them had former lovers who had been raped by the man, they extracted their own special type of revenge whenever they caught the bugger, which was rare. Synn didn’t care.
He had one goal, and one goal only, and heaven help any man or ghost who stood in his way.
* * * * *
Rena entered the dining room and breathed a sigh of relief that Bryce had yet to make an appearance. When Valerie learned he was here, she would—
“Have you lost your mind?” Valerie stormed into the room and threw herself into the chair next to Rena. “What were you thinking letting that man in here?”
She shrugged her shoulders. “What was I supposed to do? It was two o’clock in the morning.”
“Throw him out. He’s poison, Rena.”
She leaned forward and smiled. “It’s okay, Val. I’m fine.”
Valerie raised her eyebrow. “Yeah? So why is he here?”
Rena shook her head. “Can you believe that Lloyd Enterprises sent him here to ask me to go back to work for them? I’m shocked.”
“You shouldn’t be. That was smart thinking on their part. They know you always did whatever Bryce said.”
She stilled. Of course. That’s why they sent him. Well, they had a made a grave miscalculation. “That may have been true, but I don’t anymore. In fact, I’m more likely to do the opposite.”
Valerie nodded. “Good. So are you ready to tell me why he broke it off?”
“Let’s just say it had to do with sex.”
“Huh?”
Mrs. McMurray brought in their coffee with a plate of raisin scones, a perfect interruption as far as Rena was concerned. After thanking the woman, she returned her attention to her friend. Valerie actually glowed. “So is he good in bed?”
Valerie spit coffee across the table. “What do you—okay, yeah, he is. Is Synn?”
Rena pretended to contemplate that. “I don’t know. We haven’t exactly been in a real bed yet.”
They looked at each other for a moment, then laughed.
Rena reached across the table and held Valerie’s hand. “I’m so happy for you. I wish…”
“You wish what?”
She took another sip of coffee. “I wish it could be as easy for Synn and me. Remember how you’ve always said he was hiding something and we figured it was him being a ghost?”
Valerie nodded, her attention focused.
“The fact is, he isn’t a ghost, he’s alive.” She pulled away and looked out the dining room window, unable to meet her friend’s concerned gaze. “He’s been alive for over one hundred fifty years.”
“What?” Valerie grasped her wrist. “Okay, you need to explain everything.”
Rena nodded. She understood Val’s shock. For herself, it had been different, scary, but also a relief to learn Synn wasn’t a ghost, wasn’t dead. She told Valerie everything, making sure her friend understood the difference between Synn, the cursed man, and the ghosts.
Valerie remained quiet, listening attentively without interruption, but she finally spoke. “Wow, what a mess. So, what about you and Synn? You said all you wanted was a rebound lover. What exactly do you feel for him, Ree?”
She played with her napkin. How did she feel about him? “I don’t know. I didn’t want a relationship. It’s not as if this could go anywhere. If he’s existed this long, he’ll be around long after I’m dead. How should I feel?”
“Shit. I don’t know.”
Rena let her head fall to her arms as they rested on the table. Was she doomed to hopeless relationships?
Valerie patted her shoulder. “Listen, kid, affairs of the heart are never easy. When they are, they turn out like Bryce. The tough ones are worth keeping.”
She lifted her head. “You mean like Jamie?”
A blush crossed Valerie’s cheeks. “Well, it’s not like we’re a done deal. Just a work in progress.”
“Uh-huh, and boy, do you love your projects. Speaking of, any idea when the hot water tank will be hooked up?”
Valerie rolled her eyes and took a bite of scone.
“Hey, I really want a hot shower. Washing this mass of hair in the tub isn’t easy.”
Valerie leaned back in her chair and took her coffee in both hands. “Jamie thinks he can bore through the last two walls in your wing today, but he wants to confer with Synn again. By the way, how does Synn know so much about what’s in these walls?”
Rena smiled. “He was the architect. I imagine he can tell you anything you want to know.”
Valerie let out a low whistle. “Wow, that’s good to know. I bet I can have the plumber run the piping to a few bedrooms upstairs by the end of next week.”
“Excellent.” Rena took another sip of the delicious coffee, her appetite returning.
Footsteps on the stairs indicated Bryce was awake. Synn never made noise.
Bryce paced into the room as if he were on a power-walk. His short golden hair was slicked to the side and his face was devoid of any whiskers. Had he ever had whiskers? She didn’t remember seeing them. His gray slacks and white oxford shirt were casual for him. Guess she didn’t rate dress-up wear. Then again, all she wore was a pair of white jeans and her pink Henley.
He hesitated at the head of the table, which was piled high with Valerie’s notepads and catalogs. “Good morning.”
Valerie glared. “Well, it is morning.”
He continued around to sit across from them. “Nice to see you too, Val.”
She stood and grabbed her coffee. “I’ll let Mrs. McMurray know we have another guest for breakfast.”
Before Rena could delay her, Valerie left the room, leaving her alone with Bryce. The familiar feeling of inadequacy surfaced, and she struggled to tamp it down. It was only Bryce, her ex-fiancé.
Bryce steepled his fingers on the table, something he always did when starting a meeting. She hated that habit.
“Rena, Rena, Rena. What are you trying to do here? This place is a mausoleum. I’m surprised it isn’t crawling with ghosts. Do you really think this town can support a bed-and-breakfast? You’ll close before the season even begins.”
Oh God, he knew right where to hit. “I don’t think that will be the case. We don’t have to be a huge success right out of the gate. We have kept our renovation expenses low, so our income does not need to be too high in the first year.” The last thing she wanted to tell him was that she was banking on the ghosts to be the draw. He’d only laugh at her.
He glanced around the room. “You call this keeping your expenses low?”
She shrugged, taking a sip of coffee to avoid answering him. He didn’t need to know the elegant décor had been
here before she arrived.
“I can see you have your heart set on making a go of this place. I guess in your own way you are branching out.” He shuddered. “Let me make you a proposition.”
Oh hell. She hated his propositions. He’d made them when they were a couple, and she was always on the losing end.
He leaned his chin on one hand while the other tapped out his conditions on the table. “You come back with me tomorrow and resume your old job. I’ll even give you a ten-percent raise.” He punctuated that point with a raising of his eyebrows. “In return, once the Harvest Ball is over, I will set three of my best marketers to design materials, a website and a marketing plan for you to help you get this baby off the ground. And if it doesn’t make it, you will still have your job at Lloyd Enterprises. I promise.”
She expected to agree with him as was her habit, but this time she saw through his offer of help. He would sabotage her efforts with faulty marketing and she would be forced to make her living off his company. Why hadn’t she noticed his pattern before? Because she assumed he loved her and would help her. What an idiot she was.
Mrs. McMurray came in and brought them a pot of coffee. After Bryce rejected her eggs and complained that there was no yogurt, he agreed to try a scone. “So, what do you think, Rena? Do we have a deal?”
She sat back and pretended to contemplate his offer. She had never denied him anything and she wanted to savor the moment. As she stalled, she noticed other things about Bryce she hadn’t before. His skin, though smooth, was a pasty white. His nostrils were too large for his nose, and his hands were effeminate. Maybe being with Synn and his raw masculinity had cleared her vision. She was thankful for the revelation. “You know what, Bryce? I think I will have to turn down your kind offer.”
His cup rattled in its saucer as he sat up straight. “What?”
She grinned now, unable to suppress the feeling of freedom coursing through her veins. “I said thanks, but no thanks. I’m good right where I am.”
His face grew paler, if that was possible, and he reminded her of a vampire, which suddenly seemed appropriate. “You can’t turn me down. You need the money. Your savings has to be wiped out by now. I imagine you have a loan on this place as well.” He sat back, his lips pursed together before he continued, his disdain evident. “This bed-and-breakfast idea is a complete joke. You’ll never make the money you need. I’m offering you an out.”
Damn him! He knew her weakness was her lack of confidence, and he would exploit it if it helped his cause. Her triumph turned to a familiar tightening of her stomach that had started over a year ago when he had crushed her first new idea at the company in front of three coworkers. That feeling had grown when he interrupted her at a gathering with his friends, as if what she had to say was unimportant. That inadequacy finally overtook her as he belittled her and undermined her in every aspect of her life.
She shoved her chair back and stood, trembling with anger, finally not caring what he thought about her. “Bryce, I’m going to make this abbey a success. I’m not returning to Lloyd Enterprises, ever. Even if this were to fail, I wouldn’t go back there with people like you running the business. I can see the potential in this place, and I know in my gut this is going to succeed. It won’t be easy, but we can do it.”
Bryce stared, his mouth open before he crossed his legs and took another sip of his coffee. “And who is going to help you? The local yokels in town?”
His attitude had her grinding her nails into her palms to refrain from smacking him. This was her home. The people in the town were her neighbors and they had done nothing to deserve his slander. She gritted her teeth. “I will do this with the help of Valerie, and Jamie, and Matt—”
“And me.” Synn walked in, his confidence transferring to her raw nerves, soothing her edges. What was it about him that calmed her?
Bryce’s eyebrow rose. “Really?”
Rena smiled. Synn rarely made an appearance in the morning, but today he had and was dressed in the height of Victorian fashion complete with black tails, vest and coat. He carried a top hat in his hand and exuded high aristocracy at its best. She could kiss him right now.
He flung his tails aside as he sat and crossed his own legs, setting his hat on the table. “Really. And in fact, all of us locals here in the Abbey have been helping because we want Rena to succeed. Isn’t that what you want? Or rather what you used to want as her fiancé?”
Bryce flushed.
Why couldn’t she think like Synn and put Bryce in his place? She resumed her seat and took a bite of scone to settle her stomach.
Synn brought her other hand to his lips and kissed the back. “How did you sleep last night? I was concerned for you.”
The pleasant shiver that raced from her hand found a home in her heart. This man from a century ago made her feel more important than the one sitting across the table had for two years, and that one had told her he loved her. Bastard.
She winked at Synn. “I slept like the dead. No need to worry.”
He nodded solemnly, but his eyes twinkled with mischief.
Bryce had to interject. “If you are that worried about her, you should tell her to come back to work. She is going to go bankrupt here and then she’ll be out on the street. Unless, of course, her parents take her in.” His final remark was so snide, she tightened her hold on Synn’s hand. He responded by stroking her palm with his thumb.
He studied Bryce. “I don’t think so. After all, this building alone is worth quite a bit of money.” He turned toward her. “I would very much like to meet your parents. Do you think they would be interested in coming for a visit?”
Her heart hit a double-time beat and she took the final sip of coffee to stall for time. Did he truly want to meet her parents or was it a show for Bryce? She wasn’t sure, and that bothered her. She wanted to know more about him, outside the phenomenal sex. “I think we need to finish the Abbey first, but once there is running hot water and electricity, I’m sure they would love to come.” She looked at Bryce. “If I had known you were coming, I would have warned you of our temporary living conditions here. I know how you hate to rough it.” That was putting it mildly. The man thought a hotel room without a living room and bar was roughing it.
Bryce finished his coffee and pushed the cup forward. “Any chance I can have another cup, or does it have to be made over a fire?”
She couldn’t help squeezing Synn’s hand again as she tried to control her irritation. “Yes, it does need to be made over a fire, but as soon as the second pot is ready, Mrs. McMurray will bring it in.”
Bryce harrumphed before he turned his attention to Synn. “Why are you dressed up today? Going to a Renaissance fair or something?”
That was it! Bryce could insult her all he wanted, but disparaging the town, her friends and now Synn had her steaming. Before she could get a word out, Synn spoke.
“No, I’m trying on my clothes for this evening’s entertainment. There will be a Masque held here. It’s too bad you won’t be able to stay and enjoy the festivities.”
She whipped her head around to face Synn and widened her eyes at him. What was he thinking?
He ignored her and kept his gaze trained on Bryce, a tiny smirk on his lips.
What was he doing? The idea of Bryce witnessing the sexual exploits of the ghosts had her heart beating faster than the hooves of a Preakness winner. “As you said, Bryce needs to get on the road. The Abbey is too primitive for him and since I won’t go back to Lloyd Enterprises, he has no reason to stay. Right, Bryce?”
Bryce didn’t look at her, his gaze locked with Synn’s.
Damn it. Some type of manly challenge was taking place and she had no idea what it was. Panic started to set in. “Bryce?”
He stared at Synn. “Actually, I would love to attend this Masque. It will be interesting to see what you are able to do for people with such limited resources. I know you are a good event planner, Rena, but this appears an impossible task. Is there a certain dress
?”
Synn sat back and looked at her in pure triumph. “Yes, there is, Victorian formal. I can have one of the footmen drop off appropriate clothes for you, and of course your mask.”
She shook her head at him. They couldn’t have Bryce there. He thought all sexual activity of an adventurous nature was plebian at best and downright raunchy at the least. “Synn, I really don’t think Bryce will enjoy the Masque. It’s not his thing.” Desperate, she looked at Bryce. “You would find it slumming.”
How much clearer could she get?
He shook his head before crossing his arms behind his head. “Don’t be absurd. How can formal Victorian dress be slumming? I think I can stay one more evening to enjoy your party. Besides, it will give you time to change your mind.”
She slapped her hand on the table. “Fine. Whatever.” She stood, pulling her other hand from Synn’s warm one. “Now if you gentlemen will excuse me, I have a bed-and-breakfast to plan.” As she strode from the room in frustration, she heard Mrs. McMurray offering coffee to the men.
Crossing the entryway, she made her way through the rooms until she reached the library. When she walked in, the spiral staircase caught her eye and she flushed. What was Synn thinking inviting Bryce?
She sat at her desk and leaned on her elbows, her head in her hands. She couldn’t go to the Masque tonight, not with Bryce there. She’d finally begun to feel comfortable with her sexual curiosity, with Synn’s help. She didn’t need to confirm for Bryce how far she had sunk, according to him. She shouldn’t care what he thought now, and her brain didn’t, but there was still that niggling doubt that maybe he was right.
She shook her head. No. The ghosts would have to enjoy the Masque without her because there was no way on earth she would go into the Violet Room with Bryce in attendance. No way.
* * * * *
Rena worried the deep-purple silk of the Victorian gown she wore. She wasn’t exactly sure how Synn had convinced her to participate in the Masque. He had promised her a life-changing experience, but whether that had something to do with the sex or Bryce, he wouldn’t say. Both reasons enticed her, so here she was, in the Violet Room, or game room, as it appeared at the moment. Small gatherings of chairs and tables were arranged around the room for various games to be played. Most had decks of cards on them, and Synn assured her poker was common. Could it be something so simple after midnight as strip poker?
