Page 34 of Real Fake Hauntings

“How did the Halloween preparations go?” I asked, drawing a circle on my duvet that looked suspiciously like a heart.

“I wouldn’t know.” His tone turned suddenly serious.

“Give it up, Ian. You’re interested in the tour.”

“I’m making sure they don’t mess with the graves too much.”

I could just imagine his frown as he lied about his interest in the tour to both of us. “Did they mess with them too much?”

“They did okay.”

“High praise!”

He grunted. “They’re like kids in a candy store.”

“How did Key do? Did she practice the tour?” Key really wanted to prove herself after the carriage debacle.

“Come see her for yourself tomorrow when they do the last rehearsal.”

The reminder brought a huge smile to my lips. “Oh, I will.”

“You still have the seance?”

Veva had invited me to one of the special seances she booked during Halloween. I had no idea of why I was needed there, but she had insisted it’d be a good business opportunity. People who liked ghosts often liked witches.

She made a good point.

“Yeah, but I’ll be good after. I should be there in time for the rehearsal. Did they fix the spotlight yet?”

“Define ‘fix.’”

“That bad, huh?”

“Alex’s friend is on it.” He sounded so grumpy it warmed my heart. I wanted to be there and turn that frown upside down.

“Ian?”

“Yes?”

“You’re awesome.”

“Oh?”

Another laugh escaped me. “Fishing for more compliments, I see.”

“You do owe me a couple of big favors.”

“Are you cashing in one?”

“Come around tomorrow and I’ll tell you.”

Warmth filled my belly in that funny way that happened whenever Ian’s voice got deeper and husky and intimate.

“I’ll be there,” I whispered into the phone.

“Let me know if you need anything.”

Oh, but I needed so many things from him right now—kisses, and endearments, and repeating the night he’d spent here but in a very different way.

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