Page 18 of Ghost of a Chance
Kirsty waved at her and Gia’s head tipped slightly toward Jasper as if asking what that was about.Kirsty would give her a debrief when they were alone.Talking to Gia always made it easier for her to process her little problems.
Though there was nothing little about Jasper.Jasper pulled Chewie back and turned to the other woman.“The house has a study that I think will be perfect for a séance.”
Ugh.
Just ugh.
That was all she had when faced with Gia’s gold-blond hair.Sometime in the last two days her friend had dyed the tips orange and black.No doubt for Halloween, which was at the end of the month.
“Super.”Not bothering to hide her sarcasm.
Good thing she’d packed the séance book that her mom had from her own teenage years.In her mystery series, she always put a séance in for her sleuth to contact the dead.Readers really loved it, and it was a great way to move the plot forward by bringing suspects onto the page.
Kirsty slung her backpack over one shoulder, her tote bag full of Dot’s books hanging off the other.Jasper forged ahead with Chewie at his side with her duffle and rolling case.
He grunted as he put it on top of the luggage.“I guess that’s your arm workout.”
She couldn’t help her smile as she followed him toward the house.Maybe she’d linger a few days before she “freed” the ghost.Maybe.Just to see if she and Jasper could pick up where they left off.
* * *
How was it possible for her to look even cuter today?
It was hard for Jasper to keep his mind on the job, but that was the only reason they were here.He wanted to show her that he wasn’t the flake she probably believed him to be after everything that had gone between them.
They were officially coworkers now.Not to mention she was his last hope for finally having a normal life.Reigniting their fling could put that in jeopardy.
Don’t fuck this up.
His dog Chewie was an old English sheepdog, big and hairy and friendly as hell but not conducive to filming, so Jasper got him settled in the kitchen and then closed the door.He’d had Chewie at a dog sitter the night of the Dead Boys concert.He and Dan got the first shot set up while she and Gia went upstairs to unpack.
With his shaggy hair, Iron Man–trimmed beard and mustache and baggy clothes Dan gave off an I-might-care vibe.He was about ten years older than Jasper and a tech whiz when it came to capturing shots.
Base of operations would be in the dining room because of the large floor-to-ceiling windows that overlooked the rain-drenched wooded area behind the house.The dining room had a large chandelier over a table that would easily seat twelve.There were heavy wood chairs with faded and worn velvet padded seats.
On the sideboard there were two candelabras with a layer of dust covering the melted candles.Frankly, everything about this place was creepy AF.Which almost made him chuckle.Paul didn’t like haunted houses.Served the bastard right for haunting him for so long.
Gia came in later with Kirsty behind her.“It would be more atmospheric if this house had a library wall or something.Let me check with the library on campus.Maybe we can get permission to film in there if this doesn’t capture the feeling enough.”
“Great,” Kirsty responded without much enthusiasm.Dan gave her a lapel mic.
“Are we filming now?”
“Might as well.I want to get as much footage as I can,” Dan said.
“I’m not really made up.”
“That’s fine.It’s better if you’re just yourself,” Dan said.
“You look great.”Jasper couldn’t help telling her.
“Thanks.You too.”
He smiled because she made him feel good.
“Super.You’re both great.Let’s get your mic on.”Dan was all business.
Which Jasper totally should be as well.But this was Kirsty…
