“Would you prefer a table or a booth?”
Niall smiled at Shanna. “You decide,” he said with a wink.
Damn, he’s handsome. He must be new to Tullamore because she’d never have forgotten his face.
The hostess cleared her throat, claiming Shanna’s attention. “Ma’am?”
“Yes?”
“A booth or table?”
“Booth, please.” Shanna glanced at Niall’s profile again. He was staring at the hostess, his sensual mouth fixed in a mischievous, one-sided grin, but the hostess didn’t seem to notice because her attention was still focused on Shanna.
“Niall, do you find something humorous?” Shanna asked, hoping to trigger the young lady’s awareness of his presence to provide the opportunity to correct her mistake.
He shook his head.
“Pardon me, ma’am?” the hostess said. She removed two menus from a shelf behind the podium. “Did you say something?”
“I did.” She took hold of Niall’s hand. “I asked him a question.”
The young girl’s gaze wandered to Shanna’s left, where Niall stood. She made a visual sweep from ceiling to floor. “Ma’am?”
Shanna scowled. Maybe she was giving this girl more credit than she deserved. “Him.”
If the little lady wanted to work in the public eye, she should consider having her vision checked.
The hostess’s eyes widened and her brows disappeared beneath reddish-brown bangs. Her lips folded and she shook her head. “Sorry I— Please, come this way,” she said, nervously placing the menus against her chest before she turned and headed into the dining area. She stopped beside a booth in the back of the restaurant and set the menus, stacked on top of each other, on the table. “Can I offer you something to drink to tide you over before the waitress takes your order?”
“I’ll have tea please,” Shanna replied. A basket of biscuits sat on the table and the scent of butter filtered to her nose. Her belly grumbled in anticipation as she scooted into the seat. But she had a problem regarding the current arrangement—it separated her from Niall.
He winked a second time as he took a seat on the opposite side of the booth.
That flirtatious gesture thrilled her to her toes.
The hostess glanced at the empty spot beside Shanna. “What about your friend, ma’am? Would he care for something?”
“Can I give you a little advice?”
The girl nodded, seeming eager to listen. “Most definitely.”
“You should always look your guests in the eye when speaking to them. And never shun a guest by speaking to them or about them through a second party. It’s not polite.” She shifted on the bench, crossing a leg over her knee and looked at Niall as his burning gaze assessed her closely. Another thrill of heat swirled in her tummy. Before she melted into the seat she glanced at the hostess, whose eyes looked ready to pop out of their sockets. Sarah. Her name was Sarah. Why hadn’t Shanna noticed the name tag sooner? “I apologize, Sarah. I’m just trying to be helpful since tips are dependent on courtesy.”
“Yes, I… I’m terribly… Please… I’ll be right back with your tea.” She skittered toward the kitchen but stopped and turned so abruptly she collided with a waiter carrying a large, circular tray of dirty dishes. Shanna gasped as he stumbled backward, fighting to balance the teetering tray. It tilted forward despite his juggling act. Glasses and plates flew off the edge, crashing to the floor. Shards and splinters of glass shot across the tile, landing under tables and near people’s feet.
Niall stood, extending a hand. “Come, love. Let’s get away from the chaos. We’ll go someplace else to talk.”
“Do you have to get back to work?”
“I work when I choose. As long as the grounds are maintained, management doesn’t mind what hours I put in.”
Four patrons sitting at a table beside the booth looked peculiarly at Shanna, as if she’d caused the crash. Their dumbfounded expressions made her uneasy while she squirmed out of the booth. What’s their freaking problem? What would they do if she flipped them off? It wouldn’t be very ladylike but it’d give them something else to stare at.
“Don’t do it,” Niall said, taking hold of her hand. “Ignore them.”
How’d he know her intentions?
“I see it in your eyes, love.”
Her jaw dropped. She blinked and snapped her mouth shut. “Oh wait!” She dug two dollars from her wallet for the hostess’ time, set it on the table and grabbed two biscuits. She then followed Niall out of the restaurant and into the corridor.
“You didn’t need to be so rough on her, Shanna,” he said. “It was an honest mistake.”
She halted and glanced at him in disbelief. “Maybe so, but she was terribly rude.”
“I don’t mind. As a matter of fact, I prefer to be unnoticed.”
“That’s perfectly fine, but there’s a difference between unnoticed and blatantly ignored.”
He winked again. “It doesn’t take much to light your fire, love, does it now?”
Love? Mmm, that sounds nice. “Not when there’s a legitimate reason.”
“So tell me why you kicked the gentleman out of your room,” he said, his gaze caressing her lips. “Another spark in your wick?”
“Well, I, um,” how could she concentrate with him eyeing her like that? “We had a disagreement.”
“You mean a fight?”
Nodding, she glanced down at the floor. “You could call it that.”
He lifted her chin. “Take off your sunglasses. I want to see your eyes.”
Oh no. She couldn’t show him her monster eyes. He’d probably run off screaming like a frightened child. “I don’t think that’s a good idea right now.”
“Shall I take the liberties?”
Maybe she should do the running. “They look bruised.”
He stiffened. “He didn’t strike you, did he?”
“No.” Gosh no. Though he tried—right before he went sailing through the room. How in the heck had that happened?
“Then let me see.”
Shoot, he wasn’t going to give up. She transferred the biscuit in her right hand to the left and latched on to the glasses. “Promise you won’t run?”
His demeanor relaxed. “I promise, love.”
Ah, that endearment was so, so darn provocative. Reluctantly she slid the shades to the top of her head. Her hair lifted with them then sections of shorter bangs softly fell forward, partially concealing her forehead.
“Turquoise. They’re exquisite, Shanna.”
He stared so long and hard at her she actually grew nervous and her palms started sweating. “Do I still look like I got beat up?”
“I see a gorgeous woman with a broken heart, who’s confused and scared.”
If her peepers revealed that much, it was time to put the glasses back on. As she reached upward he grabbed her hand. With a smile that be-stilled her heart, he brought her fingers to his lips.
“Didn’t you sleep last night?” he asked.
“Barely.”
“He upset you so much you couldn’t rest?”
Not Derek so much as the overly endowed, horny ghost running around the place. She seriously needed to make flight arrangements home and get out of there. “Can I trust you won’t make fun of me if I ask you something?”
“I assure you, you can trust me with your deepest secrets if you so choose.”
And she didn’t doubt his gentle manner and smooth antics could draw them straight from her soul. She retracted her hand and rubbed the bare spot on her ring finger with her thumb. It felt naked and strange and would obviously take a while to get used to.
Before she spoke she glanced around the hallway for inquiring ears. A middle-aged woman who Shanna had seen in the restaurant walked by, grumbling to herself about clumsy kids. “Niall, have you ever…” Shanna paused to lower her voice. “Has anything strange ever happened to you in the hotel?”
“That depends. What do you mean by strang
e?”
“Like seeing and feeling things that realistically aren’t there.”
“I’m not following.”
She looked around at their surroundings once more. “Ghosts?” she whispered.
He studied her closely for a long moment as if contemplating an answer. “No.”
All that thinking for such a modest response?
“You’re not crazy, Shanna. People see ghosts around here all the time.”
“Do you believe in them?”
Slowly he lifted his hand and gripped his chin between his thumb and index finger. “Yes.”
“There was one in my room last night but I couldn’t see it.”
His brows scrunched and he frowned. “Then how do you know it was there?”
“I felt it.”
His lids narrowed into sexy slits. “What did—” He paused as an elderly couple exited the restaurant and stopped a few feet away. “Shanna, let’s escape to a private place.”
“But where will we go?”
“If we walk outdoors, the heavy winds might blow us to the outskirts of Donegal County. The only sensible place without prying ears and eyes is your room.” He glanced at crumbs on the floor that’d dropped from her hand. “We’ll order room service so you can enjoy a hearty meal.”
Her tummy vaulted. My room? With him? Alone? Okay! Oh God. I can’t. I’m too frightened to return there so soon. Her mouth dropped open but she quickly snapped it shut.
Niall draped an arm across her shoulders and tucked her beside his ribs. “Let’s go.”
“Niall, I don’t know if going to my room is a good idea.” She nibbled a piece off the top off a biscuit.
“I’m sure it’ll be perfectly fine while I’m with you.”
What a huge insinuation. “I think there are two of them.”
“Two ghosts?”
“Yes.”
“You have nothing to fear. Trust me.”
She’d love to trust him, but common sense dictated she steer clear of the room. Although, if he accompanied her upstairs it would grant her the opportunity to grab her luggage now rather than doing it alone later. They didn’t have to stay long and then she’d leave for good—no looking back. “Okay, but I’m out of there if anything strange happens.” His smile comforted her as they headed toward the main lobby. “I’m staying in room 338, but please, avoid the old lift,” she sputtered. “That thing gives me the creeps. Yesterday I saw a dark shadow drift from the compartment.”
“A dark shadow?”
“Ghost.”
He seemed to contemplate that for a moment. “Are you positive?”
“Yes. And I saw it again in my room.”
He halted. His shoulders stiffened and brows were clenched when he lowered his gaze to hers. “Did it touch you?”
She shook her head. “No, that’s why I believe I’m dealing with two spirits. I couldn’t see what actually touched me.” Correction—what’d fucked me. For some odd reason, relief flooded his expression and his features softened. That wasn’t an expected reaction to what she’d confessed she’d experienced last night. Honestly, she’d rather suffer a few minutes of fear while watching an apparition, whether white, black, gray or blue, quickly come and go instead of being at the mercy of an invisible force. Not that she minded, because the good Lord knew she enjoyed every moment, but not being able to see what had lain between her legs was a whole lot disturbing. What if it was a demon or a two-headed monster or something? Or even that thing with the claw that’d appeared in her bedroom all those years ago? Good God, she felt ill.
However she hadn’t gone into detail with Niall about that, so he wasn’t privy to her actual level of fright. “Would you mind if we just grab my luggage from the room then go someplace else? I really don’t want to stay there, Niall.”
“I promise, Shanna, the moment you sense another presence, we’ll leave.”
She took a deep breath and reluctantly nodded then gobbled down the rest of the biscuit.
Just as they reached the lifts a young woman with auburn hair, dressed in jeans and a blue sweater, rounded the corner from the main corridor. A friendly smile lit up her beautiful, bluish-green eyes but the moment she glanced at Niall the smile faded and her gaze hit the floor.
“Do you mind if I join you on the lift? I’ve forgotten my purse upstairs,” she said.
“It’ll be a pleasure,” Niall replied, his lips upturned in a quirky grin.
The woman’s eyes broadened as she glanced at him from the corner of her eye. Appearing to intentionally ignore him as if he had the plague or something, she offered Shanna a shaky hand. “I’m Katherine. Katherine Ward. Known to many as Katie.”
Why would Katie purposely avoid him? Shanna gazed at her in disbelief but despite her disdain, she reluctantly slid her palm against Katie’s. “Hi.” The woman’s touch was strikingly warm and genuinely affectionate despite her nervous demeanor. “I’m Shanna Haden.” Known to everyone as Shanna. Except for her dad, may he forever rest in peace, who used to call her Shane. Gosh, her mom hated that, but Dad said it was an appropriate name for his little tomboy.
Whereas Adrienne played with dolls and was a cheerleader through junior high and high school, Shanna played baseball and soccer. She’d spent most of her adolescence in a treehouse in their backyard and came out only when it was time to eat and sleep. She was everything her dad wanted in a son. He’d even coached her little league coed softball team.
Poor Dad, he’d only enjoyed retirement for a year before he passed away two years ago from a massive heart attack. He ate the proper foods, didn’t smoke and stayed active—everything the doctors dictated he do to stay healthy. Sometimes life wasn’t fair.
The bell chimed and doors slid open. Katie stepped inside the lift first and scooted into the immediate corner. “I’m going to the second floor,” she said, pushing the corresponding button. “What level would you like?”
“Three, please,” Shanna replied.
“Three,” Katie repeated almost too quietly to hear. After she punched the button she squeezed herself into the corner, running a hand up and down her arm. Although she’d tilted her chin toward the floor, Shanna witnessed her awkwardly gaze on and off at Niall.
In contrast to the earlier ride on the lift, it halted to a jarring stop and the doors opened. Now wasn’t a good time for it to malfunction.
“It was nice meeting you,” Katie said as she scurried through the doorway and skittered down the hall.
The doors closed and the lift ascended to the third floor. When it came to another jarring stop and opened, Shanna took hold of Niall’s hand and led him to her room. A laundry cart with fresh linens stacked on the top shelf sat alongside the outer wall and her door hung partially open.
They walked inside and stopped. A short, chubby woman with brown hair stood beside the bed, changing the sheets. She looked up. An unbreakable frown gathered between her brows. Her brown hair was twisted in a bun but a mixture of silver and white framed her face. “Good morning,” she said. “I’ll be out of your way in a few moments.”
“That’s okay. Take your time,” Shanna replied. She yawned while removing the sunglasses from the top of her head. Rather than set them on the desk or dresser, she dropped them into her purse so she wouldn’t leave them behind in case she bailed in a hurry. One could never be too prepared. And she’d lost enough pairs to realize good ones were hard to come by.
She glanced around the room, ensuring she hadn’t misplaced any of her belongings. Since she hadn’t unpacked much, everything remained in the suitcase other than the few articles of clothing she’d left in the bathroom. “Niall, I’ll be right back. Make yourself comfortable while I gather my things from the restroom.”
She entered the room quickly then tossed the remaining biscuit in the trash. After she wadded her clothes in her arms, she raced to her suitcases and stuffed them inside.
Niall sat at the desk, watching her traipse around like a nervous hen. The housekeeper was fl
uffing the bed pillows when Shanna darted to the window, gathered her phone and turned it on. Still no darn service. What the heck? Shrugging, she unplugged her charger from the outlet and bolted to the desk.
“Shanna, calm down, love,” Niall soothed.
She wrapped the cord around the adapter prongs and took a deep breath. “I’m sorry. I don’t want to forget anything.”
“Come sit with me and relax.”
Again she inhaled a mouthful of air. “I fear I may fall asleep.” She headed toward the luggage but he intercepted her halfway by grasping her arm and guided her to the plush chair.
“Over here, where it’s more comfortable.”
Before she sat down she dropped the phone and charger into her purse and gave him a friendly hug, snuggling her cheek against his bare chest. “Please don’t let me doze off. I have to make flight arrangements.”
He tilted his head and frowned. “You’re leaving so soon?”
“There’s no reason to stay. I can finish my vacation at home and do something productive, like paint my apartment.”
Niall slipped behind her while she slid the purse strap off her arm and set the purse on the floor. As she sat down, folding her legs beneath her butt, he took a seat on the armrest.
“Why not stay in Ireland? I’d love to keep you company and show you the sights.”
She inhaled a contented breath while slipping her hands between her knees. And when she looked at Niall’s muscular thighs then higher, she spotted a huge bulge along the outside of his zipper. She blinked, opened her mouth to speak, but snapped it shut instead.
The housekeeper cleared her throat. “Are you all right, lassie?” she asked.
Shanna glanced across the room into a befuddled expression. “Yes. Thanks for asking.” That at least gave her a reprieve from gawking at Niall’s nether region. Oh hell, one more peek wouldn’t hurt. She fidgeted in the seat, drawing her hands from between her knees and folded them in her lap, trying inconspicuously to steal an eyeful.
And that’s when she felt his eyes on her.
Her head snapped upward as heat rushed to her cheeks. In spite of her embarrassment she looked up, but her gaze locked on his kissable, sensual lips. The corners upturned in an impish grin.
Phantom Mischief Page 5
