“Yeah, that’s what I thought.” My voice was brittle. Thunder echoed again across the lagoon as the storm approached from the ocean. The wind hissed through the trees, and I heard the hooting of an owl.
I nodded at his outfit. “You dressed up for clients?”
“No. Family dinner. I wanted to look … professional for what I had to say to my dad.”
“Sounds pretty formal for a family dinner.”
“Tonight it was, yeah.” He took the few steps up to the porch and stood beside me in the dim light of the faux candle lanterns flanking the door. “Look, Kayla, can we not dance around whatever it is that has you upset? I’m no good at games.”
“You’re not good at games?” I laughed bitterly. “That’s rich.”
He took a step closer. Now there was no doubting the worry in his eyes. “Tonight, I told my dad I was leaving the business. Setting up my own company specializing in all the stuff I told you about. Renovation. Vintage homes.”
“Starting with this one?”
“What? This will look good on the resume, sure, but—” He stopped mid-sentence, and his eyes widened. “You heard us talking, didn’t you?”
“About the Milkweed condo project? Only I’m sure it will have a different name, won’t it? Like ‘Chianti Estates’ or ‘Tuscany Towers.’”
“Holy Christ. You think I wanted anything to do with that? Why do you think I’m leaving my dad’s company now?”
For the first time since this conversation started, doubt crept into my mind. “You said it would be perfect. Perfect for cutting down the oak trees and putting up river-view condos and—”
“I was humoring him, that’s all. Maybe you didn’t hear the sarcasm. I’m not sure how much you heard, because I told him that night there was no way in hell I would help him get into this place, let him work with you.”
“You did?” Tears were starting to well in my eyes.
“Yes, Kayla.” He grabbed my hands. “This place is special. You’re special. There’s no way I’m going to let anyone take it away from you.”
I yanked my hands from his and ran into the house.
Chapter 26
“Kayla!” Landon was right behind me as I ran inside the dim foyer. Thunder and a gust of wind rattled the antique windowpanes.
Only it wasn’t just the windowpanes rattling.
I froze. Landon screeched to a halt next to me. “Kayla? Did you hear what I said?”
I just stood there, listening. There it was again — not just the house sighing, but that strange tinkling, like laughter, only more melancholy. And then an eerie shriek — or creak. I shivered.
He stepped in front of me, put his hands on my shoulders and gave me a little shake. I looked into his eyes. They glimmered with chandelier reflections.
“What is it?” he asked.
“I think it’s the ghost.”
He cocked his head, a half smile playing on his lips. “Can we stick to the subject at hand?”
“I believe you.” I answered his half smile with one of my own. “I know now you didn’t try to sell this place out from under me. I just — oh, Landon, I couldn’t believe it even then, butI heard you say it.I’m sorry I doubted you.”
His smile broadened. “It’s OK. Just — talk to me next time, all right?”
“I will.” I looked around as a sigh shivered through the house. “Also, I’m not kidding about the ghost.”
“Maybe it’s the props from the haunted house. There’s all kinds of weird stuff in here right now.”
“It’s all turned off. Do you hear anything else?”
