Page 72 of Be Our Ghost
Not going to happen.“I can’t sing worth a damn. That’s why I never do karaoke.”
She leapt up from the settee. “I’ve got it. There’s an old-timey phonograph in here. I wonder if it still works.”
“I’ll bet it does. You have to crank the handle first.”
The player sat atop the dresser, still collecting dust. He wound it up, and Charlie pulled a 78 record from a faded paper sleeve. “Try this one. It’s from the 1930s.”
When he put it on the turntable and set the needle down, it gave a satisfying crackle. A woman’s sultry voice filled the room, and he instantly recognized the tune from an old Steven Spielberg movie. “This is ‘Smoke Gets in Your Eyes.’ I love this song.”
She gave him a bemused smile. “Youlovethis song? You realize it’s very sappy, right?”
He didn’t care. Nor did he pause to consider his actions when he beckoned Charlie toward him. “Dance with me.”
She stepped closer and put her arms around his neck. He grasped her waist, pulling her tight against him, and swayed with her. The fragrant aroma of her lavender shampoo was like a balm to his senses. He didn’t care how long they were stuck in this room. He was just so fucking grateful to have her back.
“I was going to wait until next month to tell you,” she said. “But I can’t hold out that long. I’m head over heels in love with you.”
“Me, too, sweetheart. This time, I’m not letting you go.”
With a pop, the key burst out of the lock and clattered to the floor. The door swung open. Knox released Charlie and scrambled to grab the door before it misbehaved again. He leaned against it, letting a wave of fresh air into the room.
Charlie clasped her hands together. “We did it! And you danced with me!”
“If you tell anyone, I’ll deny it.” In actuality, he’d enjoyed every second, but he had his grumpy reputation to uphold.
“Your secret’s safe with me.” She took the record off the turntable, placed it back inside the paper sleeve, and set it on the dresser. “Let’s get out of here before Maeve changes her mind.”
He scooped up her key from the floor and waited until she was safely in the hallway before closing the door behind him. He still couldn’t figure out Maeve’s endgame. Was she vengeful or just plain lonely?
Charlie pulled out her phone. “It’s working again! Good thing since the front desk just left me a message. The crew is here.”
Taking her hand, he ran with her toward the elevator. A lightness flowed through him, like a weight had been lifted from his shoulders. At the front desk, Logan and the four members of the film crew stood chatting with Preston. After a quick round of introductions, the clerk on duty handed the guests their key cards.
“Let me know when you’re ready to check out the storage room,” Charlie said to them. “I’ll take you up there so you can see the space and set up your equipment.”
Knox handed her one of the brass keys. “You need me to come with?”
“I’m good. I’m going to contact Joe from Facilities and have him meet us there. I need him to set up a barrier around the room so no one tries to get in. He can also make sure the door stays open while the guys are setting up. But thanks. I’ll stop by the Lily when I get a break.”
While the other members of the ghost-hunting team left to go up to their rooms, Logan lingered behind. “Got a minute?” he asked Knox. “I have a few updates for you.”
“Sure.” Knox gestured for Logan to follow him toward the Gilded Lily. “The bar’s not open yet, but I can fix you a drink.”
Logan grinned. “I wouldn’t say no to a cocktail.”
The entrance was closed off with two metal stanchions and a thick velvet rope, along with a sign declaring the lounge opened at four. Knox pushed past it. “I’ll be going on duty soon, but if your team needs anything tonight, let me know. Another bartender’s coming as backup.”
“If Charlie’s good with taking them to check out the haunted area, then we’ll be fine. After we break for dinner, we’ve got three interviews scheduled. You’re not doing one, right?”
Knox flicked on the lights and headed for the bar. “Nope. I didn’t experience any psychological turmoil when I was stuck in there. It seems like the room doesn’t affect men the same way it does women. Charlie, Celia, and Gertrude all said the storage room messed with their emotions. That never happened to me.”
“Interesting. The female member of our crew couldn’t make it for this visit, so I hope we still get some kind of ghostly activity. At least the others have plenty of experience with the paranormal.” He settled himself on a barstool and picked up a laminated card with the happy hour specials. “I’ll take a bourbon cranberry cocktail.”
“Good choice.” Knox went behind the bar and grabbed the bourbon. “One other tip about the storage room—if the negative energy gets too overwhelming, music seems to help. Charlie and I were locked in there just now, but when we started dancing to an old record album, the door opened.”
“You were dancing? Voluntarily?” Logan laughed. “What has this woman done to you?”
“Hell if I know.” Knox couldn’t help smiling. He slid the drink over to Logan. “You said you had some updates?”
