In an effort to move the evening forward Logan said, “Mr. Kroger, you’ve missed out on a robust port, and a rather stimulating conversation. We are just making our way back to the ladies. I hope you don’t mind.”
Mr. Kroger’s expression flashed intense interest, and then quickly flattened to indifference. “Not at all. I suppose the evening must progress, and we shouldn’t keep the ladies waiting.”
His strangely enthusiastic expression advertised his eagerness to return to the ladies, but why? What were hisintentions? Who was he so keen to see? His cool and intense sister, or Haven?
HisHaven.
When had his subconscious mind laid claim to her?
He feared the answer.
Chapter Thirty-Four
Closing the third door along the hallway that wasnotthe powder room, Haven moved on to the next, desperate to find the one room in the corridor where she could freak out unnoticed. Frustrated with the bunching of her less-than-well-fit borrowed gloves, she pulled them from her hands.
The next door in the hallway was the room she sought.
Tossing her gloves on the hallway table, she entered and closed the door behind her.
Gazing at her flushed appearance in the mirror, she fought the urge to high five her face. Hard.
What the hell is wrong with me?
She didn’t feel right. Her new emotions and urges were out of place in her personality. Since when did she go out of her way to cruelly insult people, especially other guests at a party? That wasn’t her. Sure, she’d get bitchy with people when they got mouthy with her, or deserved a well-placed kick in the ass, but she never picked a fight with another person simply because they looked at her wrong. There had to be something else going on, something deliberately creating tension and situations where there weren’t any.
Her reflection paled as a thought struck. Could all of this mayhem be the work of the spirit inside the watch?
Damn watch.
She was glad she'd found a hidey hole for it in her armoire. Earlier, upon inspection of the large wooden hulk, she’d discovered several little drawers where she could hide something as precious and important as a magically empowered, spirit-possessed golden pocket watch.
With all of the emotional and psychological warfare, albeit one-sided, going on, she was reminded that though it was tucked away, the spirit dwelling inside was free to float and interfere wherever it wanted.
Goddamn meddling troublemaker. I willnotbe jerked about on invisible strings like some sort of puppet.
Petulance rose to poke against her better judgment.
“I’ll show you.”
She’d been her own woman. She refused to go back to being ruled and manhandled by anyone, physical or immaterial. Her life and future depended on it.
Determined to finish the evening without the burden of a guilty conscience, she turned to leave the powder room. She intended to make her way to the music room, bite back her desire to scratch out Kroger’s eyes, and apologize.
She froze.
A prickling tension slammed into her heart. Skittering ice spiders stole the breath from her lungs, weaving diamond-hard webs of fear and uncertainty through her chest.
Someone was watching her.
She spun slowly, scanning the interior of the powder room which held several elaborately framed mirrors, four plush chairs, and a reclining couch, two large bowls, three pitchers of water, and a door—the door to the hallway.
Someone was in the corridor waiting for her.
“Who’s there?” She intended to sound fearless, even if she wasn’t, but her voice was hoarse, raspy, and terrified.
Silence.
She swallowed. “Hello? Who’s there?”
