Page 23 of Looking for Love in All the Haunted Places
“Well. Rebel just went to bed, so this is actually the first chance I had to call. She’s probably not even asleep yet.” He paused. “What are you doing?”
“Fairly positive I’m not supposed to tell you that until our interview tomorrow.”
“I thought so.”
Tense silence stretched between them until she said, “I should get going—”
“Or I could stay on the phone with you. I’ll keep you company while…you do whatever you’re doing.”
Feeling spicy, she joked, “Oh yeah? I could be masturbating. What then? You still want to stay on the phone with me?”
“Uhh—” He stuttered for a few seconds before recovering. “I don’t kink shame. If that’s what you’re into, um, okay. Yeah.”
“You don’t sound too sure.” She laughed. “I’m sorry. That was inappropriate. I’m not doing that.” As she checked the time on her watch, she could’ve sworn she heard him sigh in relief.
“Earlier you mentioned your plans, and after what happened with the flower and in the dining room, I figured—”
“Thank you, but I’ll be fine. I don’t need a babysitter, Maverick.”
Having a clear head feltmarvelous. Without his emotions doubling the intensity of her own, focus returned to her. Priorities lined up in order. This was why she moved into Hennessee House—Maverick was a bonus. A very attractive, kind, and considerate bonus, that she would most definitely be thinking about later. But not now.
“I never said you wouldn’t be, but that doesn’t stop me from worrying.”
She sighed. “Why are you worried?”
“I want to make sure you’re okay.”
“Why?”
“Because Hennessee House is legit. You shouldn’t be alone.”
“Not sure if you heard, but that’s the premise of the show.”
“Doesn’t mean I agree with it. There’s safety in numbers. On my show, we stay together for a reason.”
“Well, I’m used to going at it alone. This is what works for me and how I want it on my show.”
When he didn’t immediately reply, she realized her mistake. She could practically feel him processing her words through the phone, putting two and two together and adding one to finally make five. A hot wave of frustration flooded her face and chest. How did he keep tricking the truth out of her?
Softly, he asked, “Have you done this before?”
She decided to play it cool. “Last night, I stayed in my room, as instructed.”
“And before that?”
“Before that…maybe.”
“Let me be your second,” he said. “You deserve to have someone watching your back.”
Lucky blinked in surprise. She expected him to be mad and threaten to report her to Stephen, not continue to offer his help. “Is that even allowed?”
“It’s better to ask for forgiveness than permission.”
“Like daughter, like father, I see.”
“Seems that way.” He laughed. “Don’t tell me what you’re doing or anything that happens. I’ll stay on the line as your outside contact until you go back to your suite.”
Nearly all her group expeditions ended in disaster. At the first hint of activity, everyone started screaming, crying, throwing up.Meanwhile, she stood in the middle of it all, staring at them and getting more irritated by the second. What did they expect?Thatwas what they signed up for—the entire point of the trip. What did theythinkwas going to happen?
