Page 54 of Be Our Ghost
Lovey-dovey.Not an expression Knox would use to describe himself, but it fit. After the excruciating buffet at the yacht club and the reconciliation that followed, he and Charlie had grown closer. Squeezing in overnight visits when they could, trying to snatch a half hour here and there during their breaks, and sending flirty texts. He hadn’t felt this happy in years.
His nephew, Jordan, scooted in just as the grandfather clock in the corner struck seven. Knox was glad he’d shown up on time, given the size of the crowd pouring into the bar. Everyone was dressed up, in costumes ranging from the bare minimum—three guys clad in cowboy hats and fringed vests—to the elaborate, like the group of women dressed as characters fromAlice in Wonderland. Within minutes, Knox was up to his elbows in drink orders, working frantically with Miles and Jordan to keep the cocktails flowing. When he started getting overheated, he stashed his hat and coat in the back and rolled up his sleeves.
Occasionally, Charlie came by to check on him, but she spent most of the time circulating among the guests and hanging out with the Damsels. Seeing her so bubbly and cheerful, so clearly in her element, filled him with a pang of uncertainty. Once the novelty of dating him wore off, would his introverted behavior frustrate her? Events like this weren’t to his liking. After tonight, he’d be happy to go back to his regular gig, tending bar at a cocktail lounge that was rarely crowded, except during happy hour.
Don’t dwell on this now. You don’t have the time.
Instead, he kept his focus on the bar as his muscle memory kicked in. Take the orders, mix the drinks, rinse and repeat. Two hours in, the place was packed to capacity.
Drew grabbed a mic and announced the rules of the costume contest. Once everyone had voted and turned in their ballots, the public judging would begin.
Preston sidled up to the bar. “Great party, eh? I can’t get over the size of this crowd.”
“It’s something, all right,” Knox said. “Need a drink?”
“Just a Coke. I’m on duty.” Preston puffed out his chest. “Did you notice my costume? I’m one of the original ghostbusters.”
“I noticed. You ready to go tackle the ghost in the haunted storage room? Be careful, or you might get locked in.” Knox filled a glass with soda and slid it toward him.
Preston laughed. “Yeah, right. You don’t honestly believe that room is haunted, do you?”
“Are you serious? Why else wouldCanada’s Most Hauntedbe filming an episode here?”
“Because we’re an old hotel. And because you and Charlie played up the grisly details of that murder-suicide. But I don’t believe in ghosts. I never have.” Preston sipped his Coke. “I just thought it would be a great way to draw interest in the Duchess. And it paid off, didn’t it? I’ve gotta admit, it was a genius idea.”
A genius idea that had required a lot of work. “Yep. But do me a favor. Don’t tell anyone from the show that you’re a total skeptic. We don’t want to piss them off.”
“Don’t worry. I know how to keep a secret. After all, I’ve kept yours, haven’t I?” Preston held up his glass in a salute before heading back into the crowd.
While Knox didn’t appreciate the reminder, it no longer sent a chill down his spine. Now that he’d told Charlie about his past, he’d started wondering if he still needed to keep it hidden. Maybe it was time he shared his story with the rest of his coworkers. Once he got through tomorrow night’s gala at the Grand Duke, he’d consider it.
After Preston left, Knox caught sight of a young woman sitting by herself at the far end of the bar, clad in a costume that must have been marketed as “sexy pirate,” with an off-the-shoulder blouse, tight black bodice, and red bandanna.
“Hey, there,” he said. “Can I get you anything?”
She looked up from her phone. “I’m not sure yet. Is that okay?”
“Sure. Just let me know when you’re ready.” He was about to turn away, but her expression gave him pause. Her dark eyes were glistening with tears. “Are you all right?”
She shook her head quickly. “Not really.”
In the past, he would have done little more than nod in acknowledgment. But he thought about the compassionate way Charlie listened to everyone. “I’ve got a few minutes if you need to talk about it. I’m Knox, by the way.”
“I’m Yvette. My friend was supposed to meet me here. She’s the one who suggested dressing like this. And now she’s not answering my texts, and I…um…feel sostupidwearing this costume.”
He offered her a warm smile. “Nothing wrong with dressing like a pirate. I’m supposed to be Captain Hook, but I had to ditch my jacket and hat because it’s so damn hot in here.”
“Yeah, it’s kind of warm.” She glanced at her phone again. “I’m not sure if I should bail or wait for her. She’s been flaking out a lot lately, so it’s hard to know what to expect.”
“Maybe she’s running late. I’d give her a few more minutes. If she doesn’t show, then you don’t have to stay. No shame in leaving the party early.”
She nodded. “Right. Thanks.”
A trio of women dressed as the witches from the filmHocus Pocusapproached the bar. “I need to take care of this group,” he said to Yvette. “But let me know if you want anything.”
As he mixed three blood orange martinis, he glanced back at Yvette, who was staring at her phone in dismay. Maybe he should ask Charlie to come over and chat with her. But once he’d served the witches, a group of young guys dressed in colorful T-shirts displaying matching condiment labels—Ketchup, Mayo, and Mustard—clustered around Yvette. At first, he was relieved, thinking they were friends of hers, but her anxious expression set off alarm bells.
He eased down to her end of the bar, side-eying the group as he cleaned up glasses.
