Okay, so not an attack or a break-in… “Goingto think?” he teased. “That assumes I don’talready.”
He was relieved when she gave a short laugh. “Right. I can only imagine what you think ofme.”
“I actually think quite a lot of you,” he said before he realized the words were even forming. Then he froze, his eyes widening as she looked up in surprise. “It’s true,” he added to hide the surprise at his voice’s betrayal. “You’ve accomplished a lot in your life.” Now that just sounded lame. Like he was introducing her at the chamber of commerce or writing her obituary or something.Damn.
“Thanks.” Her cheeks appeared a little pinker than they had been a momentago.
“So are you going to tell me what’s going to make me think you’recrazy?”
She drew in a deep breath and pulled herself back from where she’d had her arms and elbows on the table as she leaned forward. Settling back in her chair, she looked right at him and said, “I’m pretty sure I saw a ghost lastnight.”
“All right,” he said after the briefest of pauses. “Tell me what yousaw.”
She looked at him with suspicion. “You don’t believeme.”
“You haven’t told me anything yet, so I can’t decide whether I believe you or not.” He put down his coffee. “Are you in the habit of seeingghosts?”
“No.”
“Have you ever seen onebefore?”
“No.”
“Do you believe inghosts?”
“Y-yes…well, maybe…well, probably. Oh, hell, yes, I guess Ido.”
He controlled a grin. “Then if you say you saw one last night, I tend to think you did. I have no reason not to believeyou.”
The suspicion was still in her eyes, but her shoulders—which had drawn up closer to her ears—eased back down. “I was asleep, and something woke me up at about two o’clock. It was a loud noise, coming from the foyer. Like something had fallen down—down the stairs or from the ceiling to the floor. I got up and went out there to look, and I saw…something…glowing. Standing. At the far end of the balcony, at the top of the stairs. And the room was really cold. Unusually, oddly cold. And I heardmusic.”
Declan was very careful to keep his expression blank, not to betray any of his thoughts while she spoke. “Goon.”
“I had brought my pepper spray and my phone— Hey, I never thought of that—I wonder what would have happened if I’d sprayed it with pepper spray?” she said, her brows drawing together. “Anyway, I shined my phone’s flashlight toward it. I was still on the ground, just coming out from the hall, and I called out to it—I figured either someone was playing a big joke, or the ghost had finally made itsappearance.”
“Theghost?”
“Cherry and Orbra claim the place is haunted, that people have been saying it for years.” She shrugged. “I’ve been living here a month and haven’t seen a sign of anything paranormal—until lastnight.”
“So what happened after you shouted out atit?”
“It—came at me. Down the stairs, and I heard that same noise that had woken me up—as if it were running or tumbling down the stairs. It was loud, really loud, and there was music too…and then it disappeared. And afterward, everything was quiet, and I smelled a lady’s perfume in the air. It’s not the kind I wear.And…”
“And afterthat?”
“After that, nothing else happened. Everything was quiet for the rest of the night. But I didn’t sleep much atall.”
“I can understand why.” Declan lifted his coffee to sip, aware that she was watching him without trying to appearanxious.
“You think I’m nuts, don’tyou?”
“Not at all. Look, I’ve worked in a lot of old houses like this—on a lot of different locations that have…well, histories. I’ve had my share of strange experiences. Doors slamming when no one’s there. Creaking floors. Unexplained sounds. Even sudden changes in temperature, like you experienced.” He spread his hands. “I have an open mind, and I’mcurious.”
Leslie’s eyes suddenly turned very soft and warm. She glanced down at her tea as if to hide the expression. “Thank you for saying that,Declan.”
Well, sure. Anytime, babe if it makes you look at me like that.“Mm…have you had a good look around this morning, since all thishappened?”
She shook her head. “I finally fell asleep just before dawn, and I think you woke me when you drove up the driveway. So, no, I haven’t ventured out there yet to see if…to checkaround.”
