Page 31 of Road Trip With the Ghost Hunter

“Good,” she said, her confidence back.

Laughing, I rolled her on her back. She squealed again when I peppered kisses all over her neck and chest, pulling myself up to get rid of the condom. Kissing her belly button, I said, “Be right back.”

Washing my hands, I walked back into the room to find Li hugging the pillow, much like the first night at Heartstone, we slept in the same bed. I ached for her then. And now, she was mine. And I didn’t think she truly understood how she had all of me in return.

If she wanted to stay here in Rustic Junction, we’d find a way. We’d make it work. I knew I had a good woman in my hands. And I believe Uncle Filip led me to her. I wasn’t letting her go.

CHAPTER Fifteen

Li

My body felt like jello, and I’d never been happier. Lucas came back from the bathroom, scooped me in his arms, and rested us comfortably in bed, where he told me everything that happened in Basic Plaines before coming to find me. I mostly listened, ignoring the gnawing in my gut at my homeless/jobless status.

I adored this bubble we were in, but what awaited us outside this room? It already went against the odds that we fell for each other while barely knowing the other. His life was back in Virginia, running his uncle’s construction company. And me? I had nowhere to go. Rustic Junction wasn’t even a forever stop, just a wait for my next move, stop.

“Hey,” he raised my chin. “What's bouncing around in there?”

Sighing heavily, I drew imaginary shapes along his strong, massive chest. Seriously. My guy was huge. That brought a smile to my face, making the uncertainty sting that much more.

“It was all for nothing.”

“What was?” His fingers combed through my hair, which made focusing very difficult.

“This entire road trip. The job was already filled. She sent me an email two days ago. I just haven’t been checking them.” I avoided his eyes. I felt the shame of being twenty-nine and not having my shit together.

“Hey.” He waited till I looked at him. “It wasn’t for nothing.” I wrinkled my nose. “How else would we have met each other?”

“Hmm.”

“Yeah. Hmm,” he grinned. “You know. I think your lao lao had something to do with this.”

“What?” My eyes widened.

“Think about it.” He turned into me until I was on my back, and he rested on his forearm above me, running his fingers over my collarbone. “It’s like they had a hand in helping us find each other.”

Surprised by this theory, I passed my fingers through his deliciously disheveled hair. “You really believe that?”

Suddenly, a vulnerable young man was before my eyes. He shrugged, focused on the paths he was making with his fingers over my skin. “The coincidence at the bar. My uncle’s favorite saying knocked my senses and brought me back to you. I don’t know.” Those winter eyes I loved so much pierced mine. “If he was at play, surely, your grandmother was too.”

I didn’t hate the idea. “She would do something like that,” I chuckled. “She would’ve teased you, only speaking Chinese in front of you when she could speak English perfectly.” I smiled, remembering how innocent she played, but I got my mischievous side from her.

“He would’ve loved you,” he said, taking my breath. “For real. You two would’ve ganged up on me. I already know.”

Laughing, he kissed me. A sweet, heartbreakingly healing kiss.

“I have his ashes,” he said softly.

“This whole time?” I didn’t know he was carrying them the entire trip.

Nodding, he continued. “I was thinking, heading back to Virginia, stopping at Heartstone. There was this awesome spot by the river. I think,” he stopped to clear his throat. “I think he’d like it there.”

My heart tugged, for more than one reason. I loved that he found somewhere he felt he could release and let go of his uncle. At the same time, it hurt not being the one to go with him. I’d be stuck here, figuring out what to do with my life.

“You could maybe,” he started. When I looked at him, he said, “You could also give some of the shards back to the earth. We can leave them there to rest?” Seeing my confused reaction, he cupped my face. “Do you want to stay here?”

“I don’t have anywhere to go. I have to figure that out.” I stared at his neck, running the tip of my nail through the light hairs on his chest. “I don’t have a home anymore,” I said so softly, I barely heard it, yet somehow, it felt like the loudest thing I’d ever said.

“Come home. With me,” Lucas said.

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