“Still sitting,” he said, his voice starting to fade.
“You’re freaking me out.”
“Don’t be alarmed.”
She stood, slicing her hands through the air as if preventing herself from bumping into something while walking to the bed. Carefully she patted the mattress before she sat down so as not to sit on, what? Him? Good grief. “Come back.”
“I can’t.”
“But you were just here.”
“I don’t have enough strength to materialize. It’ll be awhile.” As he spoke, gentle pressure, much like the weight of a hand, rested on her upper thigh. “Nothing will hurt you while I’m away,” he assured her in a masculine, soothing voice.
And it soothed her all the way to her frigging toes. “I need to see you, Niall.” Because this is so utterly unfathomable.
“Shhh, shhh, shhh.”
“Don’t shush me,” she screeched. Really? She was arguing with someone she couldn’t see? She did need to visit a doctor—for a quick brain check.
“I’ll be back soon.”
“How soon?”
“It varies. I have to rest, Shanna,” he said, his voice becoming nearly a whisper.
“Where will you go?” She listened intently, waiting for his response. “Niall?”
The room became too quiet and as she looked around she pulled her feet onto the bed, wrapped her arms around her knees and hugged them tightly.
Scooting into the center, she hid her face behind her legs so only her eyes were visible above her kneecaps. “Niall, are you still here? Hello?”
What just happened?
If she would’ve had a few drinks or a few too many at the bar then this could easily be explained away. But sadly, that wasn’t the case.
She groaned and closed her eyes. She needed the Ghosts for Dummies book or something to help her understand any of this.
She’d love to know Derek’s thoughts right now. Would he admit he’d fled in such a hurry because a ghost had tossed him across the room? How funny. Well, it wasn’t at the time. Actually it wasn’t a laughing matter now either. Ghosts? Eek. What she’d seen on ghost chaser shows on television didn’t represent her experience. Maybe she should consider sending them her story.
Stop it!
This all pertained to a bad dream or something. Hopefully the something was a mild, curable case of brain-shake brought on by too much turbulence. The prior vacation at Tullamore was so beautiful and relaxing compared to this messed-up trip. How could things have been blown so out of proportion? And so quickly? There hadn’t been a serene moment since her arrival.
Niall a ghost? Seriously.
All the facts pointed in that direction, but really? How could he seem so real? She touched him and talked to him and…
And…
Fucked him!
She raised her head and glared at the bed.
Good Lord, it’s true. I really fucked a ghost.
Now that she had proof, it almost seemed an impossible feat. She’d seen that scenario in movies but it didn’t happen in real life. Did it?
At least it wasn’t a demon or monster that’d been nestled between her thighs. Oh, but it was okay for an invisible being? For Niall it is. He’s not invisible. Well, he is. Sort of. Good Lord. And here she thought he’d practiced unprotected sex and he’d been shooting, what? Dust? Air? Is that why she hadn’t had a serious case of drip-crotch whenever they’d made love? Was he even capable of coming and ejaculating? Of course not! He’d acted like he had, but how? At least the threat of an STD didn’t exist.
Holy hell. She jumped off the bed and paced the room, her eyes transfixed on the carpet.
This isn’t happening.
She needed to return to Ohio to reclaim her everyday normalcy. And she swore to God, she’d never complain again about Mr. Tidel, the owner of Tidel’s Deli, who brought an invisible friend along to the office when he delivered his annual tax info. Nor would she say one derogatory word about Sam in maintenance, who always had an outlandish story to tell. Seriously, he could be a fiction writer.
Those men had personal issues but neither had ever told a tale about having been molested by an apparition. That didn’t say a whole lot about her, now, did it?
Maybe she’d subconsciously invented Niall as an imaginary friend too—someone to fill in the cracks in her broken heart. Invisible friends talked and played and ate meals and bathed just like real people. They even knew how to touch. She’d seen this happen in a movie or something. Only, in the movie the friend wasn’t a friend at all, but transpired into a deceptive ghost that tried luring the person to the dark side.
Holy freaking eek! Was that his intention? To lead to her the world of the unknown?
This overly active imagination had to stop. Now. Right now. She’d officially gone bonkers.
Unfortunately Niall was everything but imaginary. And she wore the marks to prove it. She’d found a hickey on her neck when she’d showered.
Dear God, what’s wrong with me? How is any of this possible?
She plopped down on the bed and squeezed the edge of the mattress. Who could she tell? Why would she consider telling anyone?
Why was she having this conversation with herself?
At least it was a handsome ghost with huge muscles and a humungous cock. If she’d been given a chance to choose one in a lineup of apparitions, Niall’s exactly who she’d pick.
Too bad things had to end this way. She’d really started falling for him and could see spending the rest of her life with him in Ireland. How could she see that when she couldn’t even see him?
Oh. My. God. Stop it!
How’d she even get to this point? And how could she handle all those people who’d witnessed her interact with no one? Could she write it off as bad medication? Hallucinations? Side effects from prescription drugs? She was not someone they’d forget anytime soon. And they’d possibly carry stories home about the wacky broad renting a room at Tullamore.
She fell back on the bed and flopped an arm across her eyes. How about she stay confined in her room until Friday and avoid all contact with the outside world?
Oh dang it! She hadn’t scheduled a flight home because the computers shut down. Well, if her phone still didn’t work in the morning, it’d constitute at least one more trip outside her room.
She yawned and scooted to the center of the bed and curled into a ball. Tomorrow she’d wake with a fresh start, call for a taxi to find a new hotel and put all of this behind her. Yes, tomorrow was the beginning of a new day. And if this imaginary friend, ghost, lover, whatever it was, returned to further harass her, she’d sever all ties and slap the shit out of it…him. Oh hell.
* * * * *
“Dungeon!”
Shanna jumped awake and her eyes popped open. What the heck? She stared straight ahead. A dark mist floated beneath the entrance door into the hall. She flew off the bed, her heartbeat boom-booming inside her chest, ran into the bathroom and slammed the door.
“Calm down,” she soothed herself. “It’s gone.”
She twisted the faucet and cold water spewed forth. Cupping her hands beneath the flow, she splashed liberal amounts on her face.
This new day was off to one hell of a start. It couldn’t be any later than 8:00 a.m. and she’d already seen an apparition. Was that thing following her? How many times had she encountered it? Too many. And how could she stay inside the room with it coming and going as it pleased?
She tugged the towel off her head and patted her face dry. She refused to spend any more time in the room than necessary, which shattered her previous plan.
Bypassing her makeup case, she stepped into a navy-blue knit dress, wiggled it over her body and shoved her arms through the sleeves. Her bracelet caught the hem.
What little creature was snagging her clothes today? Carefully she maneuvered the metal bull free so it wouldn’t rip the threads. Then she straightened the boat-neck, put on her black booty slippers, grabbed her purse and ope
ned the door to peek into the hallway.
Assured of the shadow’s absence, she trotted to the lift and pressed the button. The door immediately opened but on her way to the lobby the lift stopped on the second floor. The pretty woman with auburn hair she’d previously met stepped inside.
“Hi,” the lady said.
“Hi,” Shanna replied. “Katie, right?”
“Yes.”
Shanna eyed her peculiarly for a long, drawn-out moment. “Can I ask you something?”
“Sure. I guess.”
“I’m looking for Niall, the man who rode the lift with us the other day. Have you seen him?”
Katie’s gaze hit the floor. “I’m sorry, I didn’t see anyone.”
“You were glancing at him from the corner of your eye.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” Katie wrung her hands. “If it appeared that way, I can assure you it was purely coincidental.”
The bell dinged and the door opened. Katie hurried past Shanna and skedaddled down the hall, opposite the lobby.
What a little jitter-bean. She also made a poor liar. If she honestly hadn’t seen Niall that day, why hadn’t she asked Shanna any questions? Shanna would want to know physical detail and anything else that would help locate a missing person.
After taking a final look at Katie, Shanna headed toward the main entrance, lowering her eyes to the floor as she passed the old lift.
As usual, Áine Byrne stood in the reception area and she greeted Shanna with a warm smile. “Good morning, my dear. Did you sleep well?”
“Good morning.” Shanna tucked her hair behind her ears as she approached the desk. “I need to talk to you,” she said while taking hold of Áine’s outstretched hand. “In private, please.”
“Of course,” Áine replied. She glanced over her shoulder at Mary Coughlin. “I’ll be in my office if you should need me.”
Mary nodded as Áine led Shanna into a room off the lobby. A large desk and chair sat along the back wall, eating up most of the space. Old photographs set in brass frames were strategically placed around the wall, which was canvassed in tan wallpaper patterned with three-dimensional, velvety, burgundy scrolls. Dark wood paneling covered the remaining walls and opposite the desk stood a small credenza displaying a coffee and tea station with all the condiments.
“Please sit down, dear. Can I offer you something to drink?”
“A cup of black coffee, please,” Shanna replied, taking a seat in a large brown leather chair that nearly swallowed her hips when she sat down.
Áine ambled to the credenza and lifted a brass carafe from the center of an organized cluster of ceramic mugs and tea cups. She set two aside and filled them three-quarters full.
“What’s on your mind, Ms. Haden?” she asked as she set a mug on the desk in front of Shanna.
“Tell me about Niall.”
“What would you like to know?”
“Everything.” She lifted the cup and took a tiny sip, eyeing Áine over the rim.
“I’m not at liberty to discuss hotel staff with guests,” Áine stated. She glanced at Shanna awkwardly while she walked around the desk and sat down, folding her hands on the polished surface. “You do understand, don’t you, my dear?”
Shanna set the cup down, scooted to the edge of the chair and crossed her legs. “Let’s just cut through the crap, shall we? I know Niall is unique.”
“I’m afraid I don’t understand.”
“Don’t play with me, Ms. Byrne. It isn’t fair to take people’s money for a freak show.”
Áine’s brows arched inquisitively. “Are you asking for a refund on your room?”
“No. But maybe you should inform the guests exactly what they’re getting.”
“I clearly don’t see where you’re going with this.” She tsked and sat back in her chair. “Tullamore is a five-star facility. We strive to please our patrons and we treat them with the utmost respect.”
“Then tell me about Niall and the dark shadow that won’t leave me alone.”
Áine laid a hand on her pearl necklace and toyed with the beads. “A dark shadow? In this hotel? Bah.”
What a bad actress. It was almost comical. “Yes, and it shouts at me.”
“It speaks to you?”
“Shouts,” Shanna corrected.
“I’m not sure how to respond to these allegations.”
“Are you telling me you don’t believe any ghosts walk these halls?”
“My dear, Tullamore is a mystical castle. An enormous amount of history is confined within these walls,” Áine said, emphasizing her statement by opening her arms. “But I can assure you,” she lowered her hands to her lap, “any paranormal activity is undoubtedly a manifestation of your mind. Please, do not disrupt my patrons by blubbering such nonsense.”
Shanna uncrossed her legs and leaned forward, folding her hands on the desk. “Niall informed me that it was you who led me to him the morning you practically shoved me outdoors.”
Áine grinned impishly. “I cannot take all the credit. I simply helped fulfill his wishes.”
“Do you see him on a regular basis? Talk to him?”
“Yes. He and I have worked together for many years.”
“Really?”
“He maintains the most splendid gardens, wouldn’t you agree?”
Shanna cleared her throat. “Well, Ms. Byrne,” she said matter-of-factly, twiddling her thumbs. She leaned a little farther over the desk. “Niall said he’s a ghost,” she continued, lowering her voice. “Which means you just blatantly lied to me.”
Áine jumped to her feet. “I did no such thing.”
“Yes, you did.”
“A ghost?” Áine folded her arms at her waist and drummed her fingers nervously on her biceps, and Shanna knew without a doubt she was trying to weasel her way from the truth.
A second later Áine dropped her hands and wrung one over the other. “Niall actually told you that?” Her voice squeaked. She clutched her pearls as if to ignore the unladylike noise.
“It’s not every day someone vanishes right before my eyes,” Shanna replied sarcastically. “That was the first telltale sign.”
“I’m terribly sorry, but I hear Mary calling for assistance.” Áine scurried to the doorway. “I must cut our meeting short.”
Seriously? If Mary had summoned her Shanna would’ve heard it since she sat closer to the door, but that wasn’t the case. “That’s the best you can do? Why don’t you lend some honesty to help me understand what’s going on?”
“It’s not my, er, I, um, am being honest.”
Shanna stood, rolling her eyes, and walked to Ms. Byrne. She stopped and gawked at Áine but Áine’s gaze dropped to the floor. “I promise not to disrupt your guests, but if I were you, Áine, I’d treat them with a little more respect and dignity. If I enjoyed being made a fool of, Mr. Williams would still be here sharing my room.”
Shanna stepped over the threshold and into the empty lobby, but she spotted the top of Mary’s head behind the reception desk. The opportunity to catch Áine in another lie was too good to let pass. She sauntered to the desk and slapped her hand on the counter.
Mary jumped and bolted to her feet. Her eyes were rounded and mouth agape.
“Ms. Coughlin, the next time you’re in dire need of Áine’s attention, politely knock on the door rather than rudely yell across the lobby.”
Mary’s brows furrowed in confusion. She snapped her mouth shut and looked at Áine, who remained standing in the office doorway. “Yes, Ms. Haden. My apologies.”
Smiling to herself, Shanna strutted toward the main corridor. Who’s the fool now, Áine?
Chapter Eight
Finally! Shanna rolled on to her side, fluffed a bed pillow beneath her head and smiled at the door. She’d actually booked a flight home. And as soon as her feet hit American soil she’d turn the flash drive in to the authorities and press charges against Derek. She really hated to do it but she couldn’t let him get
away with that type of crime. How many other people had he forged insurance policies for?
Since her meeting with Áine yesterday morning she’d entered the library twice, but the computers had shut down again the moment she’d connected to the airport link. Fed up with that electrical nightmare, she walked around outside until she found a spot where her cell phone gained reception. It died in the midst of jotting her confirmation number on the back of a receipt, but at least it remained in service long enough to schedule the flight.
That heavy burden was lifted from her shoulders and the only thing left on the agenda until Saturday night was to find something to do.
Maybe she should to try to summon Niall. He seemed to appear in her most distressed moments. If she stood and tapped her feet together or wiggled her nose, could she wish him into the room?
How absurd.
The psychic said she could communicate with spirits but she never disclosed having the ability to make love to them too. Shanna didn’t know if that was a good or a bad thing. So far it’d been good. Really, really good.
She rolled her eyes and giggled.
He’d been out of sight for the past fifteen hours. Was it because she was finally at peace, having scheduled the flight, and she no longer needed him as a stress reliever? That tore a little piece from her heart because she enjoyed his company. Whether he was a fantasy or in fact a ghost, geez, she’d miss him. However, if he was a fantasy, she could take him everywhere and never give him back. In that case he could vanish to recharge after they’d made love anytime he wanted to.
That didn’t even sound realistic. Disappearing to recharge. Wow, how whacked was that? What a crazy imagination.
Yet Áine had the ability to see him too. And Mary. And so did Katie. If all four could see and talk to him, it meant he was real, right? Wrong-o. Not according to Niall.
Those ladies couldn’t actually feel him, yet he felt so real to Shanna. Was that wishful thinking on her part? Áine denied that he was a ghost. Katie denied seeing him. And Mary, well, in all her loyal wisdom, agreed with anything Áine said. The only person claiming Niall was a ghost was Niall himself.
But hadn’t Shanna seen him disappear right before her eyes?
Phantom Mischief Page 11
