Page 32 of The Hermit on the Hill

"You think your grandmother was aware of folklore from around the world?"

The wind shrieked outside, and a book flew from the bookshelf and hit the wall on the other side of the room. Jenna's eyes widened, but there was no fear in them, just excitement.

Keeping this woman alive long enough to have our baby was going to be a full-time job.

Jenna walked over to the book like there was no chance of more books flying from the shelves like bullets. She clearly had no concept of what my Nana was like when she was riled.

I leapt to my feet and walked next to Jenna, between her delicate body and the bookcases.

Jenna flipped through the book. "Folklore charms from around the world," she muttered as she turned the pages. She closed the book with a smack and held it up. "Why didn't you use this book instead of stealing from me?"

"I just found it last month in a box of Nana's things at my aunt's house."

She leaned in so close I could smell the vanilla and lemon of her shampoo or lotion. "Yet, you were still using my credentials as of last week. I checked."

"Those databases have more information than these bookshelves."

Mostly.

Somewhat.

I may have used her credentials because it was easier to find things in the databases, or I might have been hoping she'd track me down in person and we could have a second one-night stand. I'm not going to lie. Being a mountain man hermit can get lonely.

"They really do." Her shoulders drooped. "I'm going to miss them."

"You don't get to keep your access to them?"

"Not after the end of this month. My job with Atlanta College officially ends August first. All my accounts will be closed then."

It felt wrong that this woman, so obviously obsessed with history and folk traditions, would be shut off from the information she needed. "I'm sorry, baby."

She gave me a sad smile, her cheeks going pink. "It is what it is. Maybe if I get a good enough job, I'll pay for access myself. There are one or two more books I'd like to write, but I can't do it without those databases."

Before I'd gone to that conference, I hadn't even known such databases existed. Jenna had been the one to clue me in. "You should get access for free."

"Not the way the world works, unfortunately. If you want, I could help you with this treasure hunt. I could take that charm bag home tonight, and I might have an answer for you by tomorrow."

"That would be amazing." I took a step back, not sure I could be the asshole I needed to be with her standing so close. "I'd love for you to help me. You can read my grandmother's journal cover to cover and have access to everything I have of hers related to folklore. Plus, if my grandmother's legacy includes anything related to folklore or folk magic, I'd be willing to let you borrow it whenever you want."

"Really? Thank you. If you have a computer I could use, I'd love to do my research here. My laptop is seven years old and on its last legs."

"Of course," I said, my plan snapping into place. It was even better than I'd hoped for, but I still found it hard to say the words. Jenna looked so happy and excited. Bursting her bubble was akin to ripping the wings from a butterfly. "In exchange, all I ask is that you move in here with me." The woman couldn't remember to eat. She needed me way more than I needed her.

She stared for a long moment, chewing on her full bottom lip. I swear I could remember the taste of that lip so vividly it made my mouth water. "Will Brittany be living here, too?"

"There's no telling. She could be here a day or a month. I doubt Brittany knows."

She paced across the room and back again. "On the one hand, you set me up and are trying to bribe me. You don't deserve to get what you want." Back across the room, she went and back to me, her movement filling the room with her scent. I stuffed my hands in my pockets to stop myself from grabbing her and holding her in my lap, just to keep her still. "On the other hand, I figured you were up to something and, as manipulations go, this is a pretty fun one." She stopped and faced me. "A treasure hunt involving folklore? I mean seriously, it couldn't be better unless…" She narrowed her eyes. "Did you create this mystery just to convince me to live here?"

"That's a hell of a long game, professor. Considering I met you at a conference five months ago because I was trying to get answers for this mystery."

She tapped her chin. "Good point." She paced some more, but there was a bounce to her step. She spun to face me. "Let me get this straight. You're asking me to stay in a haunted house and help you with a wild goose chase that could end with us finding absolutely nothing."

"I wouldn't put it exactly like that. I—"

"You've convinced me." Her smile was as wide as her big emerald eyes. "I'm in. I've never stayed in a house with a ghost before. Think of the papers I could write. Have you ever tried a seance?"

"No. Nope. No fucking way." I held up a hand. "We are not inviting Nana in to offer more of her opinions on what we're doing. I draw the line at seances."

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