“I baked up a nice batch of pecan rolls this morning,” he said.
“Ah. That’s what I smell.”
Chance moaned. “You should’ve been here earlier this morning. The fragrance wafting from the kitchen had me salivating before I even made it all the way down the stairs.”
I snickered. It was only 7:30 am now, but my bestie had always been an early riser. When I’d first met him, it was all about his drive to succeed, but since moving to Willowhope, he enjoyed starting the day with the sunrise. Which was a good thing. Running the B&B with a couple of ghosts meant that he and Scotty, the front desk clerk and all-around boy-Friday, had to serve the guests the delicious food Buck and Harry made, and do all the things that were visible to whoever was staying here.
That reminded me. “How’s it going with Ego here? When I suggested he stay here while we work on his mini-castle, I didn’t really think about how it would impact you all.” My cousin, Ego, was a popstar, the current phenomenon sweeping the world. We hadn’t been able to spend time with each other in years, between his writing, recording, and touring, and me building my own career. But we were super close, more like brothers than cousins, and it was good to have him here.
However, Harry, Buck, and Stevie—the resident apparitions—had no problem staying out of sight when the B&B had paying guests, but usually people only stayed a weekend or maybe a week. They were unused to having a customer stay here full-time. It wasn’t ideal for our found family either. We were so used to having a few nights a week where we had family dinner, played games, or watched a movie.
“It’s going well,” Harry answered, setting a steaming mug of coffee and a freshly heated pecan roll in front of me.
I took a sip of my morning elixir, humming my appreciation, then looked to Chance. “Is it really? Is it too much?”
He shook his head. “We’re good. Once he gets up, he’s generally out for the rest of the day at his new place, and hepretty much goes straight up to his room or out to the garden after dinner.”
“I’m actually going to miss him when he’s gone. Listening to him play his guitar is like being serenaded. Even with all the starting and stopping while he works on composing something new, his music is amazing,” Buck said.
As the music junky of our group, I wasn’t surprised that he was appreciating having a famous popstar around. Although… “I wouldn’t have thought what he plays would be up your alley, Buck.”
He snorted. “I’m not into that Top twenty crap that’s made him a household name, but he’s been working on something different, edgier.”
“It’s weird, though,” Chance said. “He said it’s all for fun. He doesn’t plan on releasing it or anything. He said his fans would hate it, so?—”
“What?” Ego hadn’t said anything to me about any of that. I didn’t even know he was doing more than playing around when I saw him outside with his guitar, singing softly as his fingers ran over the frets.
We spent hours together at the house every day, but Jetty and his construction crew were there, so we didn’t get a chance to talk-talk. I’d been so obsessed with King and the Dream-veil that I hadn’t really told him much on a personal front since he didn’t know ghosts were real or about dreamwalking or anything magical. Shoot. Was I missing something?
“I must say”—Harry crossed his arms over his chest and tilted his head—“even I appreciate his talent, and I’ve never really enjoyed listening to anything with actual words. I’m much more inclined toward the works of Mozart and Bach, but Ego’s voice is hypnotic.”
“Uh…” Ego strode in, passing close enough to Buck that he shivered. He did a double-take and seeing nothing, continued,“Why are you weirdos sitting here staring off into space?” As he asked, he glanced at what he perceived to be an empty air as Chance and I watched Harry join Buck.
Because, of course, that was what he thought. Chance had the ability to allow anyone to witness ghosts on his property, but outside of our immediate circle, it wasn’t a gift he bestowed. The spirits could prank people if they wanted, but they were careful not to go too far since it would ultimately affect Chance and his business.
“Hm. Buck, you and Stevie might want to turn down the haunting. The poor man is twitchy as hell,” Harry said.
“Almost like he sensed a ghost,” Buck cracked with a chuckle.
“It’s definitely not because he saw one,” Stevie added, snickering, as he appeared in the room. If he was here, no doubt Scotty would be down any minute. The brothers were thick as thieves and attached at the hip.
I bit back my own smile at their antics, cleared my throat, reached over, and patted my cousin’s hand. “Sorry. You caught us woolgathering.”
Ego looked skeptical, but Chance was already standing. “Can I get you a cup of coffee and a warmed-up pecan roll?”
Ego’s face brightened as he rubbed his stomach. “That sounds delicious.”
“They’re pretty sweet, so I’m going to make a couple of eggs and get some protein in me this morning, too. Would either of you care for some?”
“I’ll make them,” Scotty said, entering the room.
“I don’t?—”
Scotty cut Chance off, waving him away. “Shoo. Enjoy your breakfast and talk to your friends. We don’t have anyone checking in or out today—unless you’re leaving?” he asked Ego, sounding hopeful.
My cousin, who’d been normal just a second ago, smirked like he was on the runway and winked. “Not yet, cutie.”
Scotty scowled, and Stevie frowned. “I really love the guy’s music, and he’s been pretty cool from his conversations with you, Skylar, but he’s a real tool when it comes to my brother. Like, is that his idea of flirting?”
