Page 94 of The Lightkeeper

“She wanted me to see your notes. Your drawings.” The pages fluttered as he thumbed through them.

“All this time… I tracked all the things that stayed the same. Then you came into my life, and suddenly my notes included you. Your knowledge. Your smiles. They evolved—revolved around you. Little by little. Day by day. Until it was impossible to deny how things had changed—how I had changed because of you,” he said low, his gaze capturing mine. “I wanted more—had more because of you.”

I cupped his cheek and pulled him close. “You made me want more, too. More than science and specimens.”

“More than sex?” he teased, his nose brushing mine as he set the journal on the counter.

“You made me want everything.” I looped my arms around his neck and pressed my mouth to his.

The next thing I knew, I was upside down and over his shoulder as he carried me into the bedroom.“Kit!”

He flipped me upright, and my back hit the door. “You know what two weeks without you does to a man?” he growled and flushed himself to me, his hands roaming a path of hot possession over my hips and sides. I shuddered, welcoming back the feel of his massive, hot body imposing on mine, especially the hard ridge of him digging into my stomach.

“No,” I murmured throatily, rocking myself against him. “Tell me.”

He grinned. “I think I’d rather show you.”

And then I was lost, sinking willingly—blissfully—into the possession of his kiss.

One month later…

“Kit!”

He broke the kiss with a groan, pulling away from me and sliding me off the desk in the back of the gallery.

“Oh.” Lou stopped quickly and then looked around awkwardly while I straightened my shirt. “Sorry,” she murmured, her cheeks red.

“What’s up, Lou?”

Her smile spread like lightning. “My realtor just called and said that the buyer just withdrew their offer.”

“Seriously?” Kit’s jaw dropped, and I was equally as shocked.

Sure enough, a few days after I’d returned to Friendship, the Lamplight Inn had been put up for sale.Again.And, as expected, there were several offers placed almost immediately, including Lou’s. According to her realtor, the offer she’d sent was very attractive, but the owner wanted to weigh his options. Days ticked by in uncertainty until Lou got the call that they were going to accept another offer. She was devastated. Her realtor cautioned that there was still time for something to happen—for someone to change their mind—but she didn’t believe it would happen. We could all see it; the entirety of her demeanor changed, and no one seemed more affected by it than Frankie.

And then, a week later, another call came in that the buyer had withdrawn their offer. It wasn’t uncommon. These things happened after inspections and those kinds of things. But what was uncommon were the rumors that started up—rumors of a ghost inside the old inn. As quickly as they swelled, the rumors died off as another offer was accepted.Again, not Lou’s.And she was equally, if not more, devastated the second time around.

“Did she say why?”

Lou opened her mouth and then shut it again.

“Lou…”

“Apparently, they also claimed that the inn was haunted,” she said, folding her arms.

Kit swore and shook his head. “That’s ridiculous. It’s not haunted.”

“Well, whatever it is, it’s closer to being mine,” Lou declared and smiled again. “I have to go tell Frankie.” And then she was gone as quick as she came.

“Do you really think it’s haunted?” I asked after she left.

“No.” He shook his head. “Unless the ghost has a particular grudge against being under new ownership.”

I chuckled and reached for the letter on the desk—the one that prompted a celebratory kiss that quickly devolved into something far less appropriate to be doing in public.

“Congratulations.” Kit pressed a kiss to my nose. “I’m so proud of you.”

I reread the letter stating that I’d passed my final research class and earned my master’s degree, pride swelling in my chest.

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