Page 10 of Ghost
There was a huge misunderstanding, I didn’t want his job. “Um…”
“You don’t even look that intelligent.” Norman ignored my stammering. “I’ll show you. I’ll showhim. Don’t you know who I am? I’m a Peterson. All those years of practice and training. I’m as deserving as the rest of y’all. You, girl, will never beat me. This position is mine.”
The more he ranted, the stronger his Southern accent began to break though. I wanted to ask him about it, considering I had lived in the south for a time. But it didn’t seem like a good moment. Just like I also wanted to ask him why being a personal assistant meant so much to him. It seemed personal, the way he needed to work for Damen.
The root of his emotions could be simple. Like, maybe, Norman was in love with Damen. How terribly sad. I wondered if Norman knew that Damen had taken a vow of chastity?
Or perhaps Norman did know, and that was why he had so much anger. Being Damen’s personal assistant meant he probably knew about Damen’s abilities. After all, Damen was rather liberal in showing off.
So, Norman did know about Damen’s situation. Perhaps that was why he chose to work for Damen instead. An unfulfilled romance. That was why he couldn’t give up his job—it was the only way for him to remain close to his one true love.
The big question was, did Damen love him in return?
“Alright.” Damen was back, checking something off on a memo pad of his own. “Norman, I need you to interview the woman who found the body. Tail her for the foreseeable future. Her name is Michelle Nolan. You know the rules, no asking the witnesses out on dates. Contact me once you’ve made contact.”
My heart felt for Norman as he only frowned deeply in response before stomping off the patio. Damen turned toward the door, touching my arm as he led me toward the entrance. But at the last second, I glanced backwards.
Norman was glaring at me—at Damen’s hand on my arm. When he saw me looking, he sneered in my direction and made a quick ‘watching you’ motion with his hand. Then, without further ado, he spun on his heel and disappeared into the crowd.
I couldn’t help but to feel sad for him. All he wanted was love, and he was forever destined to be alone. However, I couldn’t reflect on those thoughts before Damen began speaking to me again as he held back more yellow tape from the front door.
“It is my job to evaluate anintactcrime scene. I was late today, and the commanding officer on scene had decided that they didn’t need any further investigation. But, thankfully, Norman only let them get so far. One of my tasks is to determine the nature of the criminal.” He guided me past him as I stepped into the house. His palm trailed down my arm, and he captured my elbow in his warm hand.
I watched him, confused, as he ducked his head closer to my ear.
He was extremely close now. Close enough to where I was becoming self-conscious about the fact I hadn’t used mouthwash this morning. Why the thought crossed my mind, I had no idea. But somehow it seemed fitting.
I blinked at him stupidly, my mind leaving the strange fantasy that I couldn’t even explain. And I realized that Damen had actually been speaking to me. “What?”
Damen grinned—my dazed state seemed to please him. “I was going to ask you not to touch anything if you decide to look around.” His grin grew wider. “But I also don’t mind if you want to look only at me instead.”
His words were as shocking as a bucket of ice water over the head. “Yeah, no thanks.” I wondered if my voice sounded as high-pitched to him as it did to my own ears. “I’m going to go look…” I glanced around, trying to find a location far away from where Damen would probably be.
There was a doorway across the room from the alcove. I pointed to it. “I’ll go look over there. It seems much more interesting than anything here.”
Damen’s grin faltered, and I wondered if I failed to keep the nervousness from my voice.Stupid Bianca.
This was completely out of my element, and we were supposed to be platonic. I couldn’t have Damen getting doubts about his decision to befriend me. Clearly, I was being tested. I needed him to be one hundred percent confident about my dedication to the cause.
If killing romance forever and ever was good for our friendship, then I was more than happy to oblige. Outside of that ill-thought-out crush on Finn, I had no desire to be in a romantic relationship anyway.
But that didn’t mean I couldn’t admire a work of art. As long as it stayed far, far away from me, I would be fine.
I would have to be careful.
Damen’s expression cleared as someone near a pile of rope called to him. The resulting change that took over his expression was jarring.
He was now calm, collected, self-assured. Completely confident.
And his purposeful strides made him even more attractive.
I swallowed. It was hard to breathe, and it was quite possible I was suffocating. I wasn’t sure, but I did know I needed some air.
Without a second thought, I rushed from the room. Stumbling through the small kitchen until I stepped outside onto another patio.
The backyard was in worse condition than the front, but there was the distinct lack of police presence there. But at the moment, that hardly registered. I only needed to get rid of this feeling.
The cool air was soothing. But as I fell to my knees in the grass, the pounding in my chest refused to dissipate. My breathing didn’t come any easier either, but clarity finally did.
