by Powell, C. G. ; Lavender, Cait; Rayns, Lisa; Hardin, Olivia; Nelson, Stephanie; Schulte, Liz
“No matter, I don’t want you upsetting the spirits,” Betty advised with a stern voice.
“Why would you assume we would?” Gwen countered. If I had to guess, I’d say that the spirits were the only thing keeping this place in business. It catered to the whackado’s who thought they were experts in the paranormal. If only they knew the truth.
“Spirits don’t like to be hounded,” Betty said. “If you’re here to track them down for training, then they could get upset and leave,” she paused. “Then where would Clover Grove be? In foreclosure, that’s where! We offer our guests the chance to have a real life ghost experience. Without that, this place is just a dusty old home.”
Gwen walked down the couple of steps and over to Betty. “We’re not here to cause trouble or offend you or the spirits. But aren’t you afraid of them? Don’t they do more harm than good?”
Betty’s eyebrows arched. “Of course not! They go about their business and we about ours. What do I care if they open a few doors or move a couple knick-knacks?”
“Alright,” Gwen said shaking her head. “I’m just here to study them, nothing more.” Her involvement with my fake story surprised me. “I need to talk to you,” she said turning her attention towards me.” Perhaps she wasn’t as on board as I thought.
We said goodbye to the old couple and headed up stairs. Once the bedroom door was shut, Gwen snorted at me. “You’re a piece of work.”
“Like a masterpiece?”
Gwen rolled her eyes. “Why did you lead me here under false pretenses? And I know you and that ghost have something going on, I heard you talking to him.”
I rubbed my chin, trailing my hand to the back of my neck. My tension always seemed to settle there whenever I was around Gwen. “You needed to get out of the house, you’ve been mopping for days. Besides, it is good practice to interact with ghosts. Of course all that training goes right out the window when you’re faced with one. You didn’t even try to control Eddie. What were you thinking twirling about as you tried capture him? You could have just ordered him to obey.” I knew Gwen wasn’t dumb, that wasn’t the reason for why she’d forgotten the lessons I’d taught her. Her forgetfulness was all because she held no interest in tracking down spirits and ordering them. She was a beautiful woman, even a talented witch but she, for lack of a better word, sucked as a spirit walker. I couldn’t always hold her hand and amp her up. One day she’d be on her own and I wouldn’t be there to guide her.
“Well if you don’t like seeing me “mope” then leave.” Gwen advised using air quotes to emphasis the word I’d used. “Don’t drag me across the country and lie to me about getting rid of a ghost that you have no intention of banishing.”
With slow, calculated steps I moved towards her. There was something about the fire that burned within her when she was angry that stirred the fire within me. Only this fire wasn’t angry, it was hungry.
I stopped just in front of her and tilted my head to the side. “You’re right, I should have been honest with you,” I told her in a hushed tone. “I thought you’d appreciate getting away from Flora and your thoughts for a while.” I reached my arm out, my fingers curling around her small palm and brought her hand to my lips.
“I’m sure this setup had nothing to do with my wellbeing and everything to do with getting in my pants,” she said. Her voice came out quiet, a contradiction to the annoyance on her face.
“Is it wrong that I want you, Gwen? Do you fault me for something I have no control over?” I leaned down so that our lips were close but not touching and spoke against her mouth. “You feel it too, don’t try and deny it.” I pressed a soft kiss against her bottom lip and looked her in the eyes. “You like kissing me. I’m sure you even think about it.” I pressed another kiss to her lips. Her mouth moved against mine with equal urgency. I broke away and watched her again. “We’re pulled towards one another, destined to collide. Is something so profound, something we both feel, wrong? Should we ignore it all because it’s bad timing for you?”
Gwen watched me, words failing to form on her swollen lips. She didn’t need to speak; I could see the truth all over her face. Just as she was about to say something, a clatter sounded from the other side of the room. Gwen broke eye contact with me and searched for what made the noise. Eddie hovered by the window, a smile on his translucent face.
“Did I interrupt something?” Eddie said and I frowned at the nosy spirit.
“Jigs up, she knows about the plan,” I told him in hopes that he’d leave us and we could pick up where we’d left off.
“I know, I heard. I have another proposition for you,” Eddie said mischievously.
“What are you doing making deals with ghosts?” Gwen asked. Eddie floated towards her and she took a step back, bumping into me. I reached my hands out and settled them on her shoulders.
“I keep him around because he’s helped me find spirits before. But if he should ever become useless, he’ll score a one way ticket to the ghostly realm,” I cocked an eyebrow in his direction in warning.
“Take it easy man, I’ve been nothing but accommodating,” Eddie said holding his hands up in surrender.
“So what do you want?”
“Take me with you. I can be of more use if I’m your sidekick, by your side all the time. This place…well let’s just say it’s not all that exciting for a spirit like me.”
Gwen snorted but I had to admit, it was a thought. There were multiple tasks that he could help with and having him in Gwen’s apartment would save time and energy.
“Deal, but you will follow mine and Gwen’s orders, understand?”
“What? He’s not coming with us; my apartment is full enough without bringing home a souvenir!”
“He’s a ghost, what space could he possibly take up? Besides, he will be helpful.” I squeezed her shoulders and she stepped out of my grip. Looking between me and Eddie, she shook her head.
“Alright, but at the first sign that he’s more trouble than he worth, he’s gone. Is that clear?”
“Crystal,” I told her with a smile.
*
Twenty minutes later we were packed and on our way back to the airport, with Eddie hovering nearby. The excitement of leaving Clover Grove was clear on his transparent face. I only hoped that I’d made the right decision in bringing him with us. Of course if he caused any problems either Gwen or I could handle him.
“So where’s home?” Eddie asked. “I bet it’s posh and groovy. You look like a hip chick.” I snorted and Gwen shot me a displeased look.
“Thank you, Eddie,” she began making sure to send me another glare. “But home is in a little town called Flora and a nine-hundred square foot apartment. If you’re looking for more fancy accommodations feel free to haunt someone else.” She turned her attention towards me and said, “Same goes for you.”
She knew how much I disliked the tiny apartment. What she didn’t know was that I was so enamored with her that I’d stay in a cardboard box if it meant being next to her. I was dangerously close to vomiting from the absurd obsession I was forming for her—I didn’t do mushy or get obsessed about anything.
“Nah, so long as I’m away from the smell of moth balls, I’m good,” Eddie replied with a wide smile.
“How exactly have you helped Dorian?” Gwen asked as she turned in her seat to face the ghost.
“I’m not a rat, if that’s what your insinuating,” Eddie said offensively. “He asks if I’ve seen whatever spirit he’s looking for and I reply truthfully. If it keeps me out of the realm of the dead, then no sweat of my back.”
Gwen turned back around, a grin dimpling her cheeks. I had a feeling that her and Eddie would get along a little too well.
“So the big bad Angel of Death needs a sidekick, huh?” I tried and failed, not to smile from the humor in her voice.
“I’d be happy to trade him in if you’ll take his place.” I glanced over and smiled at her. “I think you’d fill out spandex nicely. The cape can be optio
nal,” I winked.
Gwen snorted. “So, you’re what? A superhero now? You’re ego knows no bounds.” She shook her head. “And I don’t do spandex.”
“Pity.” I’d already created the image of her in a skintight bodysuit and felt my body harden in response.
“You two a couple?” Eddie inquired. My eyes found his in the rearview mirror and I frowned. Is that what we seemed like to him? A couple? How long before the minivan and white picket fence happened?
“Do I look like the type of man that has girlfriends?” I shot back at the inquisitive ghost. The fact that his statement bothered me hadn’t gone unnoticed. Gwen rolled her eyes, crossed her arms and stared out the window.
“No?” Eddie said unsure. Ignoring him, I glanced over at Gwen. Did she want a relationship with me? If not then why did she seem upset by my comment? After living countless years, I still didn’t have an inkling as to what women wanted.
*
After an hour and half drive, filled with awkward silence and even more awkward questions from Eddie, we arrived at the airfield. Gwen hadn’t spoken much and when I’d catch her gaze it was filled with an unnamable emotion. I thought I caught disappointment in her sapphire eyes but I couldn’t be sure.
Once we boarded the small jet, Eddie reappeared in the seat in front of us. There wasn’t flight attendants so he could manifest until we landed.
“So, what’s this Flora town like?”
“Small,” Gwen answered.
“As in, filled with hillbillies small?” Eddie floated up so that he could see us more clearly. Gwen shifted in her seat, crossing one leg over the other.
“As in, you’re lucky I’m allowing you into my home.”
“Yes, that’s very nice of you…but details would be nice,” Eddie pressed.
I felt her rising power before she threw her hand out. Eddie’s floating body became stiff, his mouth snapping shut and his eyes wide orbs. Gwen shared his shock; her eyes too had gone wide. When realization set in, her face relaxed and a smile curled her lips.
“I guess controlling spirits does come in handy,” she said to me. “I do believe you’ll be quiet for the rest of the flight,” she told Eddie.
About the Author
The only writing Stephanie Nelson was ever interested in was writing poems. She filled notebooks full of them and even submitted some for contests. Books never held her interest and when a book report was due she’d simply read the back flap. It wasn’t until she heard about sparkly vampires that her curiosity got the better of her. Once she finished with the saga, an addiction was born. She rushed to the bookstores to find more paranormal romance books and spent her time falling in love with their worlds. Soon her own stories began to form. She began writing just for the fun of it, always scraping one book to start another. It wasn’t until one Halloween when she decorating her yard that the story of vampires and witches developed. She quickly hopped onto her computer and began writing the Gwen Sparks series. Seven months later, Craved was published where it became #1 on the Amazon’s bestseller’s list and #6 on the Barnes & Noble’s bestseller’s list.
When Stephanie manages to pull herself away from the computer, she enjoys spending time with her family, fishing, watching movies and reading. She lives in the Midwest with her husband and furry children but dreams of trading in cornfields for the beauty and tranquility of the mountains someday.
If you enjoyed Dorian Hade & Gwen Sparks
Make sure to check out Stephanie Nelson’s Gwen Sparks Series.
Craved – Book 1 in the Gwen Sparks Series
Deceived – Book 2 in the Gwen Sparks Series
Coveted – Book 3 in the Gwen Sparks Series (Coming summer 2012)
Taming the Wolf – Book 1 in the Anna Avery Series (Coming spring 2012)
Her books are available through Barnes & Noble and Amazon
Follow Stephanie to keep up with her releases and contests!
Facebook
Website
Twitter - @stephnel1
Table of Contents
Sweet Little Lies
By Liz Schulte
Autumn’s Call
By Lisa Rayns
Tell A Soul
By Olivia Hardin
The Siren Sarina
By C.G. Powell
Fool Moon
By Cait Lavender
When Opportunity Haunts
By Stephanie Nelson
