Page 41 of Ghostridden
“Other than her time and expertise,” I said dryly.
He waggled a finger. “Time and expertise have no inventory. Besides, haven’t you heard? Talk is cheap.”
“Depends on who’s talking. There are some people I’d paynotto listen to.” I leaned back, the swing’s slats cradling my spine. “But as somebody who makes his living with words, I take exception to them not having the same value as bacon or orange juice or… or coffee just because you can’t hold them in your hands. Besides, isn’t Carson a real estate agent? Heliterallygets paid for his time.”
“I don’t think that’s how he sees it. He’s getting paid for thehouse, which you have to admit is pretty dang physical.”
“I suppose.”
“Maz.” Ricky’s voice was a little hoarse when he said my name, which did interesting things to my insides. He cleared his throat. “I know you don’t know me well. You don’t really know anyone in town yet, although you probably know more about them now.”
I winced. “Sorry. Was I being nosy? Occupational hazard. I’m hard-wired for research.”
“Not a problem.” His face was so close. I could see the gleam in his dark eyes by the glow of the porch light. “But since I’ve answered your questions, could you tell me one thing?”
“S-sure.”So close. Was he going to ask if he could kiss me? Should I ask if I could kisshim? We were both thirty-year-old gay men. Approximately. Surely this shouldn’t be so awkward. But consent was a thing. “Ask away.”
“Why are you afraid to leave your cat alone in your house?”
I jerked back. “What?”
He glanced down at Gil, who had folded his front paws under him, his eyes slitted nearly closed, probably in a chicken-liver coma. “He doesn’t seem skittish. Quite the opposite. Are you afraid he’ll damage something in the house?
“No. No, that’s not it.”
“Then what?” He placed a gentle hand on my knee. “I’d say to trust me, but trust is something that’s built over time, not something that’s granted by default. But I’d like to be your friend.” His lips quirked. “Maybe more, if things work out. So if there’s anything you want to share, anything that I can help with, I’m here.”
Could I tell him about Avi? He hadn’t been able to see him, although he’d seen the results of the library tornado. But it was one thing to see physical evidence of something—something I might just as easily have staged myself. It was another to blurt outI see dead people. One dead person anyway. Oh, andincidentally? He was a friend of yours.
I dropped my gaze to his hand on my knee. Would he think I was hallucinating? In need of medication? Of psychiatric help? Heck, didIthink that? I was strongly attracted to Ricky and thought he was attracted to me, too. But if I expected us to act on what seemed to be a mutual feeling and take it further, I didn’t want to hide things from him now that might come back and bite me on the butt later.
Building trust. Yeah, that. Might as well start now. His reaction might give me all the answers I needed.
“The thing is,” I said, my voice probably a little too soft because he leaned closer. Not that I was complaining aboutthat. “I’m afraid the house is haunted.”
“Yes. Saul and Professor DeHaven seemed very excited about the… event. Is that why you don’t want to leave Gil there alone? In case something similar happens?”
That was the truth, as far as it went. I could stop there and he’d understand.But I’d still be hiding something. The Big Thing. “Yes.” I swallowed hard. “Because he’s unpredictable.”
Ricky’s brows snapped together. “Gil?”
“No. I can pretty much predict what he’ll do. His repertoire isn’t that large. Eat. Sleep. Shed.”
“Then who?”
Here goes nothing.“Avi.”
He stared at me blankly. “Avi. The Avi who lived in this house? Avi Felder?” I nodded. “You sawAvi’s ghost?”
“Actually, I saw him twice. But, um, you didn’t.”
The frown was back. “What do you mean?”
“Remember when you thought I was asking about the blinds?”
“That was just yesterday, so yeah.”
“Avi was at the table, staring at my laptop. He, um, objects to the quality of writing on a prospective project.”
