Page 22 of My Inherited House Might be Haunted

I did a double take. Damn, he really did know something of my world if he was asking that.

Rhett laughed, eyes sparkling. “I just shocked you. I told you, I had a good friend. We lost contact when I went to college, but it’s not like we had a falling out. She told me a lot.”

“She must have told you a ton. And yes, I do consider myself a kitchen witch, mostly because I’m constantly making up something. I’m also a fire witch, though, as fire is my best affinity.”

“Dude, that’s metal as hell.”

I preened. “I do try. My turn. When you first came into the shop four months ago, I was under the impression you were an employee only. Then Robbie just disappeared. What’s the full story there?”

“He did.” Rhett rolled his eyes heavenward. “Robbie’s one of those guys who’s all for a get rich quick scheme. He didn’t really have any technical background, which was why he was hiring guys like me to do the job. He had no idea how to fix more thanbasic tech issues. After he hired me, he popped in and out of the store, but he wasn’t really running it. I saw him less and less and then he just…disappeared. I didn’t see him again. Couldn’t reach him by phone. I think he just washed his hands of the place and walked out.”

My eyes crossed at that. “My god, that’s so irresponsible.”

“Tell me about it. Once I realized what he’d done, I sat on it for a hot second, then called my stepdad. Asked him for advice. He instead asked me a question—was the shop making decent money? And it was. Honestly, it makes a pretty good living. So he said, why not take over? And I couldn’t think of a single downside to doing so.”

I blinked at him. “So you just…did?”

“Basically. I contacted the landlord for our building, explained the situation, asked if I could take over the lease. Macy didn’t really care who paid the bills as long as someone was.”

I could totally see that. Macy was in her sixties and preferred playing with her grandchildren over everything else.

“With her blessing, I then went down to the county clerk office and filed a business license. Thirty-five dollars later, I was a businessman.” Rhett shrugged like this was no big deal.

The sheer moxie of him was amazing. I wasn’t sure I would have done the same in his shoes. Also, Robbie, what the hell? How stupid can you be to walk away from a business that was doing well?

“So how long have you owned it?”

“About two weeks.”

“Do you think Robbie was out of his depth and that’s why he walked out?”

“Man was totally out of his depth. But here’s the thing. Eighty percent of the clientele who walk through my doors don’t actually have a complicated problem. If I take the computer or phone apart, clean it, and put it back together? It works fine.”

“Wait, dirt is that destructive with machines?”

“A-yup,” he confirmed, popping the P.

Robbie, seriously, you stupid. I’m glad he was stupid, though, don’t misunderstand me. I wouldn’t have gotten this close to Rhett otherwise.

“Well, I’m glad you did step up.”

“Easiest thing in the world, honestly.” Rhett’s expression turned soft and sweet. “Also some of the best luck I’ve ever had. I’d never have met you if not for that. And I’m really, really happy to know you.”

If this man got any sweeter, my heart wouldn’t be able to take it. My voice came out husky. “Me too, Rhett. Trust me, me too.”

Ten

Rhett

After dinner, Calix suggested walking through the park and getting ice cream for dessert, and it sounded great to me. We hit up the ice cream shop first, each getting cones, which was why I dared what I did.

The second we hit the park, I slipped my hand into his. Calix’s hands were attractive in their own right. He had long, pianist fingers, blunt at the tips, with strong cords that flexed whenever he moved.

Yes, I fantasized about his hands on me, don’t judge.

Calix immediately twined his fingers around mine and shot me a smile that threatened to melt my kneecaps. I smiled back on reflex and wished like hell my house wasn’t filled with nosy ghosts. I couldn’t invite him back to my place because of it. I was very, very upset about this too.

The park was peaceful, and basically empty, which wasn’t a surprise at this time of the evening. I liked the privacy because it let me focus on him.

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