Page 559 of Flirting with Darkness

He had come out here several hours early of the dinner rush, in the hopes of missing the usual crowds. Maybe a third of those tables had been filled when he first arrived, but now they were all full, every seat he could see apart from those on the bench directly across from him. He could even have made room for a third passenger by sliding closer to the window or nearer towards the aisle.

Now he realized the woman staring at him stood alone, apparently unable to find a seat. She timidly looked around, clearly waiting for a diner to take pity on her and vacate a seat so she might order her meal.

Ghost looked her over shrewdly.

Truthfully, he was grateful for the distraction.

He’d already noted her interest in him was more than simply hunger.

But that wasn’t entirely unusual for him.

Both Maggie and Augustine had noted, each on more than one occasion, how Ghost’s best disguise was his own face. It wasn’t only his face, though, and Ghost knew that, too. He suspected Mags and Augustine knew it as well. Something about Ghost drew people; it always had. His mother noted it, even when he was a small child.

That quality of Ghost’s only grew more pronounced the older he grew.

It also changed flavor, turning noticeably more sexual.

After taking in the girl’s slim waist, long legs, and shapely breasts, he indicated to the waiter with a few flicks of his fingers that she might share the table with him.

As already noted… he could use the distraction.

Frankly, he would havepaidfor a distraction right then.

As she walked over to him, he removed the hand-painted card with the clock face on it and disappeared it to an inside pocket of his coat.

She sat across from him, even as he adjusted his jacket and shirt, uncomfortably aware of the fabric sticking to his back and neck.

She appeared nervous.

She also looked excited, and just the tiniest bit daring.

He realized that for her, coming to sit with him was an adventure.

“Thank you, sir.” She smiled, those warm brown eyes shining at him. “It’s most kind that you would share. The entire car is full.”

He smiled politely.

“Can I get something for you?” he asked, motioning over a waiter. “A drink perhaps? Something to eat?”

She nodded, and he motioned subtly to the waiter again.

The man knew his business, thankfully. He stopped halfway to Ghost’s table and reversed direction, heading back towards the galley. Within a few seconds, he disappeared through the latched door on the other end of the car.

Ghost could feel his heart finally slowing in his chest.

More importantly, he noted his mind reverting back to its usual calculated calm.

He let the woman look him over without challenging her stare. Pretending not to notice her eyes on him, he took his time closing his book and pushing it carefully to one side. He wondered if he would break his previous agreement with himself and coerce her back to his sleeping quarters, give himself a distraction for real.

But he knew this one was no good for that.

This was no young widow or independently wealthy spinster, likely to welcome the diversion as much as he.

This one was a child.

No doubt, she traveled with an older female relative, one likely asleep on laudanum in a back carriage somewhere. At the very least, she would have with her a watchful maid.

No way would one like this be traveling alone.

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