Page 22 of Dreams That Bind Us
"Why?"
Anna's brow puckered. "Why what?"
"Why hadn't you connected with a spirit in a long time?"
Her expression became stony. "That's not something I want to talk about."
"Okay." James recognized a wall when he saw one. "Tell me about seeing Amelia. What did she look like? What did she do?"
"Her portrait is hanging in the front parlor of Paradise West. That was Amelia's wedding picture, right before her death. She looks exactly like that picture, but she's happy now. She radiates with pure joy." Anna smiled at the memory, and the sight nearly took James's breath away.
"Her message was that she wished to stay and watch her family grow." Anna shrugged. "So she's still the ghost of Paradise West, and now she’s become more than just an urban myth in Key West. Most guests try their best to get Amelia to reveal herself."
"Interesting. And that's how you met Annette?" James asked lightly, doing his best not to say something that would wipe that smile off Anna's glowing face.
"Yes, she's very persuasive."
James chuckled. "That she is. Annette is a steamroller when she wants to beanda very good friend of mine." His fingers fiddled with the stem of his wineglass. "You know, I've wondered if the house I bought is haunted. I haven't seen or heard anything. But I always have the feeling I'm being watched. It would be interesting to have you walk around and get a read on it."
Her smile slipped, and James felt its loss, suddenly wishing he could take back the comment. He'd pushed too hard and he knew it the moment the words left his mouth. The stretch of silence between them became nearly unbearable before it was interrupted by the waiter delivering their meal.
Anna cleared her throat. "Let me think about it."
James's eyebrows shot up, but he didn't question it. "Okay," he agreed with a smile, but he fully intended to never bring it up again.
"Now let's get down to business." He pulled a folded piece of paper from his pants pocket and spread it out on the table between them. "Based on what we have on the other floors, I wrote down the approximate number of pieces we'll need to finish furnishing the fourth floor."
Anna studied the sheet for a moment, then nodded. "That shouldn't be too bad. It'll take me another two months or so to finish."
"That timeline is faster than I anticipated." He leaned over and wrote a number at the bottom of the page. "Here's the fee I propose."
Anna's eyes bulged, and she coughed lightly. "It's more than generous. Are you sure about that?"
James almost laughed that she was questioning his offer, rather than just agreeing to the bounty he was proposing. This woman was refreshing in every possible way.
"Of course," he commented dryly. "It will demand all your attention for the next couple of months. Precious time that could otherwise be spent fulfilling orders for your other clients." He gave her a teasing grin. "And I know firsthand how much you charge there."
A huge wave of relief crashed over him as Anna's smile returned. He considered it an overall win. "So, this is good?"
She bobbed her head. "Yes. I'll get started right away."
"Great! I'll have my assistant email the contract to you first thing tomorrow." He folded his paper and slipped it back into his pocket.
"Now that we have that done, let’s talk about the pieces I need for my home. The trouble there is that I have no idea what exactly I need from a design perspective. What can I do toconvince you to stop by my house? It'd be easier to explain what I'm looking for, plus your expertise would be beneficial with what I already have. Some days I just wander around and try to imagine what else I need, but I can't quite picture it."
Anna huffed out a laugh and fiddled with her fork. "You don't like taking no for an answer, do you?"
"Not generally, no." James held her gaze, trying to persuade her with his eyes. He wasn't sure why but having her in his home felt like a necessity. He recognized it was more than just sex for him—it was important on an entirely different level.
With a small sigh, Anna dipped her chin. "All right. I'll swing by your house, but only for a little while and not tonight. But nothing more than that."
James bit back his triumphant smile. "A few hours should be plenty."
Anna scoffed. "I give an inch and you take a mile. I should have known better."
James chuckled. "When I see something I want, I don't stop until I get it, Miss Kingsley." He lifted his wine glass to her. "To a fruitful partnership."
Anna's cheek twitched like she was fighting a grin as she tapped his glass with hers. "Cheers.”
