She grabbed her purse and traced the outline of the room key in the interior pocket. That was a miracle she could thank the ghost for. She shivered and strode across the room, opening the door.
He turned and frowned. “Ready?”
She crossed her arms over her chest. Her whole body was clammy. And chapped. Wet undergarments were a whole other level of torture. “Yes, let’s go.”
With each step, she held her breath. She wasn’t exactly sneaking out, which was good because her wet shoes weren’t conducive to stealth. She wanted a clean getaway before Steve came back. Not that she was threatened by Steve. He was sweet and sincere and conspicuous. He couldn’t plot, plan, or scheme. That’s why they’d never work and why she had turned him down in middle school.
But she worried why he had stepped out of the room. He had probably called Carl. If she could avoid one man for the rest of her life, it would be Carl Prim. That was another reason for emphatically checking thenobox in seventh-grade math when Steve had slipped her a note asking her to be his girlfriend.
She followed Christopher out of the hospital, stopping for her official discharge papers at the front desk. She was forced into a wheelchair. He left to get his car. An orderly wheeled her outside to wait.
She fought to keep from sighing or rolling her eyes. She wouldn’t fuss or fight. She wanted to leave, and any prolonging wasn’t helping her cause.
Christopher parked the SUV at the curb. He hopped out of the vehicle, leaving the engine idling, and opened the passenger door.
She smiled, pleased by the little courtesy. Until she spotted the towel spread over the seat. Not so much a gentleman that he didn’t put his car’s interior above her pride. She knew where she stood. She hopped in and buckled. In the same position, she might have behaved similarly. But she would have given the terrycloth to the person for warmth and not to shield the upholstery from a soggy bottom.
He climbed into the driver’s seat, reversing from the parking spot and driving toward the Inn.
For several moments, she drifted in the silence. She’d finally found someone who believed in the ghost. Steve’s fervent attitude frightened her. She wouldn’t try to pretend nothing had happened.
And at least the latest incident stalled any sort of real talk for a little while.Did the d-word linger on his tongue every time he said hello?She could stall with a topic he’d dismiss. But the longer she stayed, the less she could explain away the odd goings-on. She turned in her seat, studying him. “Do you think there could be a ghost? I was alone in the lighthouse today, but I had some sort of... And just before the fire. I still have questions.”
“You started the fire by accident,” he said slowly. “I didn’t notice any structural issues at the time, but I’m not a fire marshal. The blaze must have done more damage than either of us realized. The stones were weakened and fell apart like dominoes.”
She scrunched her nose. That answer just didn’t work. She knew what she’d felt. Her mind didn’t invent what she had heard. A loud pop or bang. A clear, deliberate noise. For several moments after the blast, she’d listened to the world like she was underwater. Her hearing had returned. The explosion hadn’t been fatal at least. It had definitely been intentional.
She stroked her chin. “To what end would someone sabotage the building?”
“You mean besides yourself. Now that you’re not there trying to scare me off.”
Her cheeks burned. “Who else could possibly gain anything from bringing us both down? Because either way, one of us owns the resort.”
“I don’t know. I can’t think this was anything more than a terrible accident. Thank goodness you weren’t hurt.”
She half-listened, turning to stare at the passing scenery. The old treasure story poked up in the middle of every explanation. Besides ghosts. “I just don’t get why someone would do that in broad daylight. Wouldn’t someone looking for treasure wait until nighttime?”
“Unless they know what they are looking for is under the lighthouse, and destroying the building during the day allows them to search through the rubble at night.”
She faced him and grinned. Finally, they were on the same page. And shenanigans had been one of the hallmarks of their relationship. She might not get more than one last chance to share a little fun. If they solved a mystery in the midst, all the better.
His stomach growled. Hers joined in.
He pulled into the parking lot of the hotel. “How about I’ll grab us some food and bring it up to the office, okay? We can discuss upstairs.”
She liked that. She’d like it even more if they could plot at a fancy restaurant. A curl of anticipation and nerves settled low in her belly. In the past ten years, she’d forgotten the sensation. At an off-property place, she could flirt with her husband properly. After all, she could segue into being a double agent. Zach would most likely approve.
But Christopher wouldn’t. He’d have some well-thought-out counterargument ready. So, she’d take what she could get and run with it. “After I take a hot shower? Maybe put on some dry clothes.”And makeup. Like a date.
His amber eyes flashed, burning bright.
She almost added the suggestion to the end of that question. She wouldn’t put herself through the pain of his rejection again. No matter how sweet the potential pleasure if he accepted. It made everything about the last few weeks almost bearable. Like dealing with the fervent townsfolk and Soupy.
Her stomach dropped. She forgot about Soupy. If she put off her meeting with Seth, she wouldn’t win him to her side. Not that she was so sure how she was playing anything anymore. Who was a friend? A foe? Why pick sides if her homecoming was forever? Couldn’t she have it all?
“Everything okay?” Christopher asked, frowning.
She shook her head, plastering on a smile. “Yes, everything is fine. It’s just… Can I get a raincheck? Can we meet in your office later? I have a meeting that I almost forgot about. I’m late.”
