Page 9 of Haunted Happenstance

Anna gasps, “Kathryn?” She looks to James. “It couldn’t be!” She pulls out her phone, and opens up her book app. After scrolling into tapping for a moment, she pulls up an expert from a title namedUndecided Heiress—the very same book Jen told me about. In the book, a woman named Kathryn warns Anna about how things aren’t always as they seem.

“Tara is an author, maybe she can help us figure it out,” Jen offers.

I let out a defeated sigh. “I think we’re all going to need a drink for this.”

Jen’s bookstore opening is a huge success. The whole town came by to support her, and as strange as the last twenty-fours have been, I can see why someone might want to live here. The thought has crossed my mind—I have the flexibility to write from anywhere.

Greta found her happily ever after in an unconventional way. Could Jen be mine? Whether it was a prank, a ghost, or a fictional woman from another book, I was kept here for a reason.

I’m sipping champagne, taking all of it, when two men to my left are laughing loud enough to pull my attention. One of them doesn’t double take when he realizes I heard them. “Oh, hi there. Are you new in town? Or here visiting?”

“I’m…” I look over at Jen. “New. Just moved here and looking for a place.”

“Is that so?” the other man asks. “We’ve been trying to find someone to take over Tristan’s lease. He has a small apartment down the way, close to shopping and restaurants.”

“Well, that’s quite the happenstance,” I laugh. “The woman I’m seeing also lives around here.”

Tristan and his husband, Myles, continue to try to sell me on the apartment, but I was already sold the moment they mentioned it’s available.

I spend the remainder of the morning people watching and was able to have my hotel room extended for an extra night. It’ll give me time to panic at my impulsive decision and organise a move. Once Jen has a moment to break away from patrons, she makes her way over to me, not stoppinguntil she’s cupping my face and kissing me. It knocks me back a step and I laugh against her lips, “Did you hear?”

“That you’re moving? Are you sure about it? Myles told me that I need to be nice to you, so you’ll stay. I’m sure that’s purely selfish on their part so they don’t have to break a lease.”

I lean in and whisper beside her ear. “It was that or move in with you.” She laughs, and I kiss her cheek as I pull back. “I’m not moving in, and we’renotgetting an SUV, but I’m up for an adventure, if you are… even if this place is haunted.”

See more of the Coal’s Lake crew in Save a Horse.

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