I laughed. “I like your ghosts a lot more than I did earlier,” I said as I reached up and rubbed my nose.
“Yeah, me too.”
“I should probably get going,” I said, but before I could leave, Damian reached over and took me in his arms. “Can I kiss you at least once before you go?” he asked.
I nodded, dumbfounded, as his gorgeous face closed the distance between us. When his lips touched mine, I felt like my brain exploded. I wanted this man so much. He was like some bizarre drug.
When we pulled apart, I had to look down to catch my breath. “Want to spend the night?” he asked.
“Like here, with all these, um, people?” I asked.
“Or we could go back to my apartment.”
Yes, my brain screamed, but I sighed and shook my head. “Listen, Damian, I like you, a lot actually, and in my experience one-night stands never go further than that. Wouldn’t you rather, you know, take things slower, get to know each other before we cross that bridge?”
Damian scooted his large frame closer to mine but smiled before kissing me again. “I think getting to know you wouldbe fun, but I don’t have any rules about what parts of you I get to know first.”
I laughed and almost said yes. Then I caught sight of one of the ghosts as they slipped through the wall behind us.Emma. I was almost sure it was Emma.
I shook my head and kissed him. “We have an audience here, and that’s not something I’m into. Rain check?” I asked.
Damian frowned. “I wish I hadn’t done whatever I did to show you the ghosts.”
I laughed again. “Good night, Damian,” I said, and he moved back so I could open the door.
“Good night, handsome,” Damian said, gently closing the door behind me.
Chapter thirteen
Damian
When Orville appeared behindme, it seemed as if he was ready to be chastised. I laughed instead. “That was funny. Thank all the ghosts here for that display. I haven’t had that much fun with those blowhards in, well, ever.”
Orville looked perplexed for a moment, then smiled. “We aren’t used to people seeing us. I noticed you gave that power to your companion as well.”
“Companion? Who Owen? No, he’s someone I just met, but I like him. Why? Are you going to do some weird homophobic ghost attitude on me now? ’Cause, dude, that shit won’t fly.”
Orville cringed. “No need for profanity, sir. No, you’ll find that anyone here will have given up such notions of propriety shortly after death. Love and companionship are often difficult to find and even more difficult to hold onto. You will find no judgment amongst the residents of this home, sir.”
I nodded. “Good.” I paused, then sighed. “Orville, I’m going to need privacy if I’m going to live here. It sounds like some of you either live in the walls or at least go through them, which means I can’t see you. That’s too strange for me.”
“I assure you, sir, we all understand that the living need such things,” Orville said, then paused before continuing. “I don’t think any of the residents here would intentionally bother you, sir, but we aren’t used to worrying about appearances these days. Mr. Ericson was able to create barriers when he needed privacy, and I have always been the only one allowed in the attic space. I understand you have access to the quill and parchment, which I should’ve already told you should be stored in the attic, as it’s your lifeline between your predecessor and yourself. The attic is the one place you have that exists outside of this space and time. When you need sanctuary, you will find it there. Maybe you should ask Mr. Ericson how to create the boundaries to ensure you maintain your privacy.”
I nodded, then walked up the stairs toward the attic. “Thank you, Orville,” I said. “We got off to a bumpy start today, but now I’ve spent the day with you, I’m glad you’re here. I think I’ll also enjoy the other residents once I get toknoweveryone.”
I emphasized the know, hoping he understood my meaning. When he bowed and turned away, I walked up the stairs, letting the door close.
The attic felt much more welcoming. Okay, welcoming wasn’t the word. It still felt foreign. This house didn’t feel like home. It felt like a stranger’s house, but it also felt like it wasmine as well. I had brought the manila envelope with me into the house and left it on the table on the landing right outside the attic’s stairway.
I’d grabbed it on the way up the stairs, and now I was in the attic, I went to the ancient-looking library table under the Lake Washington window, which was so dark now I couldn’t see its design.
I pulled the parchment out and placed the quill in a holder I instinctively knew it belonged with. I yawned deeply and realized I wasn’t in the mood for more discussion with ghosts, be they the ones who occupied the house or the one who talked through the parchment and quill. I was just about to go back downstairs to leave when I noticed a little bed in one of the alcoves.
How would it be to sleep here tonight? I didn’t have to think twice. I knew just like I’d known how to heal Owen that the bed was clean. I also knew I was alone and that Orville wouldn’t bother me up here, so I stripped off my clothes and climbed into the bed.
“Memory foam?” I asked as I crawled under the covers. I hadn’t expected the mattress to be modern or to have a new smell. I smiled, realizing this was part of what the parchment had told me. My predecessor had gone to great lengths to ensure I’d be comfortable.
I fell asleep the moment my head hit the pillow. I dreamed so much that night about the house, the design,and the décor changing as I walked through it. I kept seeing the ancient, uncomfortable-looking furniture turning modern.
