Page 12 of Dragon Detective

I was grateful I’d remade my bed and tidied this morning. No reason I needed to look like a slob. I’d even placed decorative pillows on the bed, and I had to admit, it looked lovely. I’d peeled off the wallpaper in this room, choosing to take care of my own quarters first. I needed a nice place to retreat to at the end of the day, and the pale green walls contrasted nicely with the darkly stained antique wooden trim. The bedspread and pillows featured a seaside theme I planned to carry though the house. Shells. Sea glass. Beach grass. And seabirds.

The windows remained closed, yet I felt a sudden rush of cool air, chilly enough it made a shiver shoot through me.

“I’d put heat pumps into my bedroom first as well,” he said, taking pictures of the ceiling. “I imagine the AC is wonderful at night.”

“I haven’t installed any heat pumps here yet.”

He turned a frown my way. “Then where’s the cold air coming from?”

“Oh, that’s Justin.”

“Justin?”

“Blakemore. The resident ghost. But I swear, he didn’t cause this,” I nudged my chin toward the dark water stains on the ceiling, “and I don’t believe he uprooted my flower beds either.”

Reylor came over to stand in front of me, his sharp gaze meeting mine. “A ghost sent cold air through the room?”

“Why not? That’s the most common paranormal activity.” I’d looked it up online. “He doesn’t communicate verbally, just in other, subtle ways. It’s more about feelings.”

“There’s no such thing as ghosts.”

Another gust of cold air swept through the room.

Reylor’s eyes traveled to the door I’d shut when we entered the sitting room. He strode over to the bathroom opening again.“Those windows are closed as well. Where’s the cold air coming from? Are you piping it up from the basement?”

“It’s Justin.”

His low growl rang out. “And what is Justin saying with the cold air?”

“That he likes you.” I waved to the bed. “He left you something.”

Reylor sucked in a breath before he strode over to lift the pocket watch lying on the bedspread. “This wasn’t here a moment ago.” He glanced at me over his shoulder. “Did you put it here?”

“I haven’t moved.” A smile flickered across my mouth. “I was stunned at first too, but you get used to it.”

“There’s no such thing as ghosts,” he said again, staring at the antique watch lying on his palm.

“So says the dragon shifter.”

Chapter 6

Reylor

“This isn’t possible.” I almost flung the pocket watch back on the bed. It looked old. Worn in places, as if it had belonged to an old man who’d died six years ago.

Hannah shrugged. “You get used to it. Hold onto the watch, though, or he’ll keep putting it in front of you. I discovered that when he placed a single daisy beside my plate in the dining room. I tossed it in the trash only to find it on my bedside table later that day. If you think too hard about it, it’ll creep you out. I’ve chosen to just say thank you and leave it at that.” She tipped her head back and lifted her voice. “Thanks, Justin. I’m sure he loves the watch.” The smile she gave me socked me in the chest like a fist, making my heart flip over and my pulse surge.

Fated mate.

If only she wasn’t on a dating hiatus. But that was okay. I was a patient shifter. And I wasn’t above a bit of persuasion. I hadn’t missed the way she quivered when I pressed her against the wall.

And she had asked if Monsters, PI detectives could date clients. Who else could she be thinking of but me?

“Show me the bathroom overhead,” I said, focusing on the investigation. I had some ideas already, and I’d look into themonce I left, but it made sense to look the entire place over before I started snooping further.

As for the pocket watch? As we left her bedroom, I placed it on the low table beside the door.

Ghosts? No way.

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