Roan smiled. “Sounds like my kind of sleep.”
We headed inside, neither of us talking, but the intimacy of our bodies—his chest to my back—portrayed more than words ever could.
The next morningI headed out of the inn after an amazing breakfast of waffles topped with fresh strawberries and cream. Roan served them to the tourists visiting Haunted Hollow, and I got a free breakfast after spending the night.
I considered that a win.
I gave him a quick kiss and hug goodbye and headed home in my Cruiser, where I changed clothes. I was about to head out the door when my phone rang.
It was Alice.
“Morning, Alice. Everything okay?”
“Blissful, you’ve got to get over here.”
“To the store?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
Alice’s voice filled with panic. “No time to explain now. Just get over here.”
I grabbed my purse and headed out, reminding myself that I still needed to call Tart.
When I arrived at Southern Ghost Wranglers, my jaw dropped. Picketing in front of the store was Birda. She held a sign that read GHOST FAKES. Another one of her “paranormal investigators” pumped a sign up and down that read DON’T BUY INTO THE LIES.
I groaned. “You’ve got to be kidding me.”
I parked the Cruiser and approached. Alice and Ruth had their faces pressed to the windows. Alice saw me and pointed to Birda as if to say that’s what she’d called me about.
“Really? I never would’ve figured,” I murmured.
Birda’s giant beehive hairdo was almost as tall as the sign. “They’re ghost fakes,” she yelled. “Don’t buy into their lies.”
I mean, this lady knew exactly how to tick me off. She was just lucky I’d already had my coffee that morning; otherwise I couldn’t be held liable for what I might’ve done.
I yanked the sign from Birda’s hands.
She stumbled back. Against my better judgment I grabbed her arm. After all, I didn’t want an old lady to fall on my account.
“Just what do you think you’re doing? You already got Devlin to post a nasty story about us. Why are you picketing?”
“What’s it to you?” she said.
“It’s my company too,” I exploded. “Why? Why are you here?”
Birda glared at me with evil in her eyes. “Because you’re charlatans and everyone should know it.”
I scoffed. “You’re kidding, right?We’recharlatans? Have you looked at the original photos that went into some of your books?”
Birda’s chin quivered. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“I think you do.” I jabbed her chest with my finger. “Don’t you even think about destroying us. If you do,” I said, my eyes narrowing, “I’ll be sure to do the same to you.”
“Don’t you threaten me, little girl.”
I shook my head. “It’s not a threat. It’s fact.”
