by Rose Pressey
Chapter Six
We exchanged a glance. In my three weeks at the manor, I’d never had unexpected guests. Now all of a sudden I was hearing my doorbell twice in less than twenty-four hours. Could a little sign out front bring in business just like that? I wasn’t even on Yelp! yet.
“Who’s that?” Annabelle stuffed the lipstick back in her pocket, her eyes wide.
“I don’t know,” I whispered, as if the person would hear me.
I wiped my hands on the towel and made my way through the parlor with Annabelle hot on my heels.
“Make sure to look out the little window before you open the door. Is your guest still here or not? Maybe it’s him?”
“Maybe. He could have left while I was sleeping in the kitchen. But I figured he’d say goodbye first.” I glanced at the staircase as we moved past. I hadn’t heard any movement since the loud bang. Maybe he’d gone out for a walk and was coming back.
I peeked out the window. My pulse quickened. “It’s a man,” I whispered.
“Not your guest?” Annabelle was practically standing on my back. It was like wearing an Annabelle backpack.
“No, it’s a different man. What should we do?”
“Call the police?” Annabelle whispered in a panic.
“We can’t call the police simply because someone is knocking on the door. I’ll open it and see what he wants. He can’t do anything to both of us. We can take him down if we have to. I’m not afraid.”
Yeah, I had to keep up that façade of confidence for Annabelle’s sake. But what I really needed to do was try another protection spell—one from a book that I trusted. Apparently I was going to need it.
“Speak for yourself,” she said. “Okay, okay. You’re right. We’ll kick his ass if he tries any funny business.”
“That’s the Annabelle I know.” I winked and nodded, signaling I was ready to open the door.
“Let’s do this,” she said.
I took in a deep breath, and grabbed the handle. Annabelle picked up Nicolas’ umbrella, which I realized at that moment was still there. With a turn of the knob, I eased the door open.
A tall, dark-haired man stood in front of us. Damn. He was gorgeous too. What the heck was going on around here? I hadn’t seen one good-looking guy in Enchantment Pointe for at least a year and now there were two at my home in less than twenty-four hours. Did they know each other?
I stared into the face of the rising sun as it peered through breaks in the clouds. The leaves whispered in the wind, sending the smell of fragrant blossoms our way. Moss covered the stone fence that surrounded the manor and trees lined the drive. The man’s black sedan was parked in front of the manor. At least he wouldn’t claim that he’d walked here.
The fog and the darkness might have moved along, but the air still held a note of creepiness. This new stranger wore a black suit that was tailored perfectly for his frame. His hair was short and a little curl hung down on his forehead. I wanted to reach up and ease the strand back into place. His blue eyes sparkled in the sunshine.
“Hello. My name is Liam Rankin. I noticed your sign for a bed-and-breakfast. Do you have a vacancy?” He looked over my shoulder into the foyer.
I knew he wasn’t looking at Annabelle, but instead, he was looking at the house. Was he looking for something? Someone? Nicolas, maybe? This was in no way a coincidence.
He blessed us with his gorgeous smile.
“Um, yes, I do have a room.”
“Wonderful. I just got into town. I’m visiting a friend but I refuse to sleep in that lumpy bed of his for one more night. I’ve slept in tents that were more comfortable.” He flashed that dazzling smile again.
I cast a glance at Annabelle, but she was too focused on Liam. Oh, what the hell. What was one more killer? I’d survived the first night.
I’d halfway expected Annabelle to whack him over the head with the umbrella, but her expression didn’t say ‘I want to hurt him.’ In fact, it said the exact opposite.
“Hello,” she said.
Her voice came out as a purr. I knew that look in her eyes. I saw it every time she watched a Johnny Depp movie. I couldn’t say that I blamed her. He was an exceedingly handsome man, just like my other unaccounted-for guest.
“Pleased to meet you.” He kissed her hand just as Nicolas had kissed mine. “Who do I owe the pleasure?”
“I’m Annabelle Preston and this is Hallie LaVeau. She owns this place.” She titled her head in my direction.
At least she’d remembered not to use Halloween.
“What a beautiful name,” he said.
I offered a smile and my hand in the hopes that he’d give it a professional shake, but I got the same kiss too. His mouth left a tingling sensation on my skin. There was no way I could allow him to stay without asking a very important question.
“Are you friends with my other guest?”
He quirked an eyebrow. “Your other guest?”
“Yes, his name is Nicolas Marcos. He just checked in last night and I assumed that you know him since my place is a little off the beaten path and neither one of you had reserved a room.”
I sounded ruder than I’d intended, but it was a legitimate question. I offered a smile to counteract my bluntness.
He scowled. “No, the name doesn’t sound familiar. I’m sorry I didn’t make a reservation. It was a last-minute decision, you understand?”
“No reservation is necessary,” I said.
“You say this man just showed up in the middle of the night?” He looked from me to Annabelle and back to me.
I crossed my arms in front of my chest. “That’s right. His car broke down and he had to walk here.”
“That’s odd. I didn’t pass any stranded vehicles on my way over.”
I smiled, trying to hide my suspicion. “You look as if you could be his brother.”
He shrugged. “Well, like I said I don’t know him.”
I didn’t believe Liam Rankin. Not one bit.
