“You’re right that my answer is no. Kalyani, I forbid this marriage!”
“Shut up, Kenneth,” her mother said absently while still examining Kal’s ring. “You’re going to hush and congratulate them.” She finally released Kal’s hand and smiled at Will. “Congratulations, Will. I’m sure the two of you will be very happy. Welcome to the family.” She leaned over, hugged him, and kissed him on the cheek.
Her father’s face reddened. He’d been stunned into silence by his wife’s insolence. “How dare you talk back to me in my own home!” he eventually sputtered.
She looked at him. “No, it’s about time I talked back to you. I’ve put up with you for a lot of years, Kenneth Martin. I’ve let you get away with a lot of things I don’t agree with. Things are going to change around here for the better. You can like it or lump it. I told you that when we got back from Tampa. Our daughter is successful and has a good man who wants to marry her. I would think you’d be happy.” Laura looked at Kal. “Do you have a date set yet?”
“No. I wanted to talk to you about that.”
Kenneth slammed his fist against the table, rattling the silverware and plates. “There is no talking about dates, because I won’t allow this marriage to happen!”
“Shut up, Daddy,” Kal said. Kal felt a second of guilt for that, but when her father threw his napkin to the table and stormed up the stairs, the other three breathed a sigh of relief.
“Now,” Laura said with a broad, beaming smile, “how about some angel food cake and fresh strawberries for dessert?”
* * * *
Kal barely contained herself until they returned to the hotel. As soon as Will had the door closed and locked behind them, she threw herself at him, moaning as he cupped her ass and pulled her hips tightly against his hard erection.
“I thought about pulling you into their bathroom after dinner and then bringing us back here for a quickie,” he admitted.
The thought made her cringe—and gasp with need. How could something so naughty be so dang sexy at the same time?
“I might have let you.”
“Really?” He grinned. “Hmm. Maybe I’ll do it next time.”
* * * *
The next night, the investigators and crew converged on the first location, an old warehouse building being converted to loft apartments and reported to have activity. Kal had learned early on that the boys could tell if there was real activity or not just by being there, but they put on a good show for the audience and clueless investigators. This place did have some residual energy, albeit not intelligent or even reliable in how often it appeared. Whether or not they captured any evidence remained to be seen.
Kal sometimes could feel it, too, she discovered. One of the many changes she sensed taking her over since she’d become Will’s soul mate.
Aidan looked up when two men walked in, one younger and another old enough to be the man’s father. The older man looked pissed and radiated an angry, outraged air.
Aidan put out a silent call. “Purs, Gery, I need you. Now.” “Can I help you, gentlemen?”
The older man looked formidable. It wasn’t until he opened his mouth that Aidan recognized him from dealing with him on the phone. The younger guy…he wasn’t bad looking. A little shorter than himself, nice build, dark blond hair, and cute blue eyes. When he turned to look around, Aidan got a prime peek at how well the guy filled out his slacks, front and back.
Veerrry nice.
“I’m looking for Kalyani Martin. My name is Reverend Martin. Her father.” He might as well have said her jailer or parole officer from the chill in his voice.
Aidan flashed the younger guy a smile. He smiled back. Oh, yeeeaaahh. “Sure, I’ll go get her.” Yuuummm. “Wait here.” Gery and Purs walked in. “Keep them here,” Aidan silently ordered.
Aidan found Will and Kal at the base going over feeds and camera placements. “Want the good news, or bad news?”
Will closed his eyes. “Bad news.”
“Kal’s dad just showed up on set.”
* * * *
“Aw, crap,” she said, not even reddening. She was getting better at swearing without feeling guilty or embarrassed.
Will, however, looked relieved. “If that’s our worst catastrophe, I can deal with it. “What’s the good news?”
“He’s got a cutie with him.”
Kal led the way and stopped, in shock, when she saw Jeff Conrad standing behind her father. Will and Aidan nearly plowed into her. Will gently nudged her out of the way so they could pass.
“Daddy, what are you doing here?”
“Jeff wanted to say hi to you, didn’t you, Jeff?” Reverend Martin grabbed Jeff’s arm and pulled him in front of him.
If this was on TV, Kal would laugh. Unfortunately it was Kal’s reality, and she didn’t know if she should laugh or cry. Her father obviously wasn’t giving in.
Jeff’s eyes had settled on Aidan. Kal didn’t miss how Will did his best to hide his amusement. Kal, sensing something going on, finally tuned in to Will’s thoughts. She bit off her amused laugh.
“She said he’s probably an asshole, Aidan,” Kal heard Will silently tell Aidan. “Better watch it.”
“I’ll watch that tight ass of his as much as I want, trust me.”
Jeff looked like he’d rather talk to Aidan than Kal. His eyes never left Aidan’s honey-hazel gaze. “Hi, Kal. Long time, no see.”
“Hi, Jeff. This is my fiancé, Will Hellenboek.”
Jeff shook hands with Will, but he still stared at Aidan with a cross between adoration and lust.
Her father either didn’t realize his plans had gone horribly awry or was doing his best to ignore the fact.
“Nice to meet you, Will,” Jeff said. “Congratulations. Love the show. Watch it all the time.”
Will took the initiative. “Well then, you no doubt recognize my cousin and cohost, Aidan Faust.”
Jeff’s face lit up as he shook with Aidan, perhaps holding on a little longer than necessary, as if reluctant to release Aidan’s hand. “Nice to meet you. You’re amazing! I think your shirts are so neat!”
Aidan seemed equally enamored of Jeff. “Thank you. At least someone appreciates my fashion sense. Want to see the equipment? I’d be happy to give you a private tour.”
Kal wondered if Aidan really meant their gear or a different kind of “equipment.”
“That’d be great!” The two quickly left—Kal would use the word “scampered”—and that was when her father finally realized what happened to the best laid plans of mice and men when those men and mice really want to get laid.
He glared at Kal. “I hope you’re happy,” he hissed. “His eternal soul is damned because of you!”
Will stepped forward, crossed his arms, and glared. This time, Kal was more than happy to let Will fight the battle for her. “Do you have a problem with my cousin, Reverend? Because I can assure you, he’s a fine man.”
Purs and Gery stood to the side, watching but not getting involved in this family squabble unless asked to intercede.
The Reverend turned his angry gaze to Will and jabbed his finger at him. “This is all your fault. She was a good girl until she met you. You’ve ruined her, and now that poor boy will end up in Hell because of you and your cousin!”
Kal felt the air shift in the next room. Then she picked up a hint of a familiar scent. Ryan walked in, carrying a clipboard as if he belonged on set. “Kal, I’ve checked all the upstairs camera positions like you asked. Ah, hello, and who are you?”
Ryan knew dang well who the Reverend was. Kal stifled another amused laugh. Will might dislike Ryan, and she loved Will with all her heart, but she couldn’t bring herself to hold a grudge against Ryan. Especially not now. She honestly considered him her friend. If he had acted the same way with Abby that he did with her, she could understand why they’d gotten along so well even if no one else did. She knew she got to see the kinder, gentler side of Ryan that no one else saw.
Reverend Mart
in directed his ire at Ryan. “I am Kalyani’s father. I’m here to take her home where she belongs.” He rubbed his forehead as if he had a headache. Kal had noticed him doing it at dinner the night before and meant to ask her mom about it.
Ryan consulted his clipboard. “Well, I think you must have received crossed signals, sir, because we’re not done shooting until at least four tomorrow morning. I would suggest not coming back until six because we have a postproduction meeting after we wrap the shoot.”
Kal nearly blew her composure when she exchanged a brief glance with Will. Despite everything, he was desperately trying not to laugh at Ryan’s handling of the situation.
Reverend Martin got in Ryan’s face. Kal fought the urge to suggest he not do that. “I’m taking her home, right now. She’s going to marry Jeff and not this…person who’s led her astray. I forbid it!”
Will’s arm encircled her waist as Ryan reached out and gently gripped her father’s shoulder. A brief frown creased Ryan’s face, then his normal pleasant expression returned. “I’m sure you don’t mean that,” Ryan calmly said in a soft voice.
Had Will not held Kal, she would have cried out a warning to her father.
Will silently spoke to her. “He won’t hurt him, Kal. Trust me. You know he won’t.”
She nodded, worried, watching.
Her father’s eyes clouded, suddenly confused. “Don’t mean what?”
“I think you meant to ask if Jeff could stay and watch the shoot, didn’t you?”
Her father nodded, still looking confused. “Yes. Can Jeff stay and watch the shoot?”
Ryan, still holding his shoulder, nodded. “Of course Jeff can stay and watch the shoot. We’d be honored to have him here. We’ll make sure we get him home safely in the morning. You know, Reverend Martin, you’re a very lucky man to have Will Hellenboek as your son-in-law.”
“I am?”
“Why, of course you are. He obviously cherishes Kal very much.” Ryan’s voice dropped even lower. “He would die to protect her. He will never betray her. He loves her with all his soul, and she loves him. You cannot ask for more than that as a father, can you?”
Fighting her tears, Kal tightly gripped Will’s arm.
Her father slowly shook his head. “No. I can’t ask for more than that.”
Ryan wasn’t quite through. “I think you should go home and get a good night’s sleep, sir. You’ll feel great in the morning, very happy for all that’s happened, won’t you? Like a huge weight has lifted from your soul.”
He nodded. “Very happy.”
“Excellent.” Ryan released him. Her father swayed a little on his feet and looked bewildered.
Seizing the advantage, Kal stepped forward and hugged her father, kissing him on the cheek. “Thank you for giving us your blessing, Daddy. It means the world to us.”
“What? Oh, yes. Blessings. He loves you.”
She nodded, trying not to cry. “Yes, he does love me. And I love him.”
Her father finally looked at Will. “You’ll protect and love her?” He still didn’t sound normal. Ryan watched from a few feet away, not interfering.
Will nodded. “With my life, Reverend Martin. You have my word.” He looked into Kal’s eyes. “She’s my soul mate.”
Reverend Martin nodded. “That’s nice, very sweet thing to say. That’s good. Okay. I need to go home and go to bed. I’ll feel good in the morning. Good night.”
“Good night, Daddy.”
She waited until her father left, then flung her arms around a very surprised Ryan. “Thank you,” she whispered in his ear.
He hugged her back. “Quite all right, love,” he whispered in her ear. “And thank you for the cologne, it was correct, although I’m not sure how you knew.” He hesitantly patted her on the back before releasing her and stepping away. He looked at Will. “You can handle the evening from here?”
With begrudging respect, Will nodded. “Thanks, Ryan.”
Ryan disappeared. Purs shook his head. “Never thought the bastard had a generous bone in his body. Maybe I should play Powerball tonight? It didn’t get a little chilly around here, did it? Did Atlanta just freeze over?”
Will had his doubts as to the generosity of Ryan’s actions but it didn’t matter. Kal was happy, and Aidan had possibly met a new love. He wouldn’t question it.
At least, not tonight.
* * * *
Alone at base without the film crew in sight, Will nuzzled Kal’s neck. “Are you okay?”
“Yeah. Even though I didn’t really know him, I guess I always suspected Jeff wasn’t like the other boys.” She smiled, then it faded. “My father will be beside himself if whatever Ryan did to him wears off.”
“I think this falls under the heading of ‘humorous irony.’”
“I’d be willing to bet my father flunked irony in school. He probably didn’t even take humorous as an elective course.”
“I thought you said Jeff was a smarmy jerk.”
“I thought you said Ryan was a smarmy jerk.”
“Point taken.”
“Besides, I’m sure I didn’t come off as the homecoming queen to Jeff, either. I resented my father’s attempts to matchmake as much as Jeff probably did. Neither of us saw the other in the best light.”
* * * *
Will was alone upstairs checking a stubborn IR camera that kept shutting down when he felt the air pop.
He didn’t look up from where he squatted next to the chair the camera was taped to. “Hi, Ryan.”
“Keep that off for a moment, Will.”
Will turned. “Why?”
“I don’t want Kal to see us talking.”
“So you’ve been frigging with it?”
“Yes. I’m sorry. I needed to talk to you alone for a moment and I didn’t wish to risk her sensing me converse with you.”
Will sighed. “Before we do, thank you for earlier. Seriously, no ball busting or sarcasm intended. I appreciate you doing that for her. And for Aidan.”
Ryan nodded. “I hope you still feel that way in a few minutes. You’re not going to like this next part.”
“Not when you talk like that, I’m not.”
When they finished their chat, Will hung his head. “Shit.”
“I’m sorry, Will. I figured you’d want to know.”
He nodded. “Yeah. Dammit. It’s going to tear her up.”
“I wouldn’t tell her if I were you. There’s nothing to be done at this point. Perhaps a few years ago, maybe. Not now. It’s too progressed.”
“How soon?”
Ryan shrugged. “I don’t know. Maybe a year, but don’t look too much past that. I would suggest setting a wedding date sooner rather than later. I’ll arrange for her to spend a lot of days in Columbus at the network as an excuse, that way she can spend time with her parents. I’ll provide her a car to use while up here.” He extended his hand to Will to help him up from the floor. The other man finally took it. “I’ll help you get her back and forth, she can travel through my office, be home every night with you. That way she can plan her wedding with her mother and spend time with them both.”
“I don’t understand you, Ryan. Just when I get to the point I want to turn your teeth into a pair of maracas, you go and do something nice. Twice in one night, that’s like a record for you.” Will smiled, softening his sarcasm.
Ryan smiled in return. “I know. I’m complicated.” He disappeared. The IR camera gave them no further trouble that night.
Apparently Kal never suspected Will held new knowledge.
* * * *
Kal softly laughed as she stared at one of the monitors. She wasn’t miked, but Will was.
“What is it?” he silently asked.
Aware of the camera crew filming, Kal barely nodded toward the bank of monitors. “Number five.”
Will looked. He softly laughed. “That’s a good sight.”
On the monitor, they watched Aidan and Jeff standing alone in one of the upstairs rooms. A
idan had given Jeff an EMF meter and was explaining it to him. He’d casually slung one arm across Jeff’s shoulders as he leaned in close and pointed to the meter, explaining it.
Jeff was eagerly listening to Aidan, leaning into the taller man.
“They look good together,” Kal silently said to Will.
Will nodded, still watching the screen. “Real good.”
Fifteen minutes later, Cabrio’s voice came over the two-way. “Kal?”
She grabbed it, finding him on monitor eight. “Yeah, what’s up.”
“Anything showing on our feed?”
He was upstairs with another investigator. “No, why?”
“I think I caught something on the FLIR.”
Kal glanced at Will. Mindful of the cameras, he subtly nodded.
“Good job,” she told Cabrio. “Bring it down and let’s take a look at it.”
Sure enough, when they replayed the footage, an apparition clearly manifested for a few seconds on the FLIR camera.
“Okay,” Kal said. “Let’s get another crew up there, start filming, do some EVPs and EMFs and hopefully catch something.” She looked at Will, who wore a broad smile. “Unless you want to do something different?”
He winked. “Nope, that sounds good to me.”
Chapter Twenty-Five
Days bled into weeks. The show continued to grow in popularity as people speculated about if, when, and where Kal and Will would marry. The date had already been set but only her mother and the guys knew. They wanted everything prepared in secret to keep craziness to a minimum.
Rumors buzzed through the blogosphere that Aidan might be batting for the other team when he was frequently spotted out with Jeff—who’d moved to Tampa and come to work for the Otherworlds show. It spiked their ratings among curious viewers who wouldn’t normally watch, and sparked vigorous fan site debates amongst straight women and enamored gay men.
A good kind of crazy enveloped them, with Kal’s father suddenly eerily quiet on the issue of her personal life. Her mother, happily confused by his change of heart, didn’t question it. He even decided to retire.
Good Will Ghost Hunting: Demon Seed [Good Will Ghost Hunting 1] (Siren Publishing Classic) Page 27
