“Yeah.” She smiles with sunshine. “You listen to me. You really look at me. And it’s been a really long time since someone has.”
We stand there, only an inch of thick tension dripping in between our rising and falling chests in the middle of the hallway. Her diamond ring on her finger glistens against the distant fire from the living room. It shines like the biggest cockblock it is, reminding me that she’s taken. I saw it on her after I pulled her out of the snow, but I didn’t ask about it.
“Doesn’t your husband see you?” I ask, placing my hand on the wall beside her head. My palm sticks to it, helping me balance myself. “Where is he? Why isn’t he here in Alaska with you?”
She takes a step forward, closing the distance. Everything hardens inside of me from head to toe, keeping me from falling into her. I swear, the way she’s looking at me has me wanting to stay up all night listening to her talk about anything and everything.
“He’s not here,” she shrugs.
I don’t know why I care. I don’t know why I was hoping she’d say she’s single. It pulls me out of the trance she naturally encases me in. I’m not that type of man. I don’t go after taken women.
“Goodnight, Coraline.” I take a step backward, drinking the last of the beer. The bitter taste runs down my tongue and into my throat.
“Goodnight, Ga—” Her face pales. Her eyes grow wide, her mouth frozen in time as I watch her track something behind me.
“What is it?”
“Right there!” She points behind me. “I saw something!”
I turn around and glance over to the kitchen. There’s no one.
“What did you see?”
The island is empty. Merelyn and Georgia are asleep next door. Nothing is out of place. The doors are locked. I place my hand on my gun, just in case the fucker she talks about tries to break in. She comes up close and slightly presses her chest against my back.
. “I saw another one of those disappearing shadows! Gavin. Your house is haunted!” Both hands flail over her head, wildly.
Jesus. She really won’t stop with the ghost thing.
My head dips back as I palm my face, smoothing over my mustache and beard. I stare at the ceiling, holding back.
“No, it’s not.”
“You’re telling me you’ve never experienced anything weird happening here? Lights flickering? Doors slamming? Random shadows moving on your porch?” She pours out question after question like I’m being interviewed.
“Everything has a scientific explanation.” I sigh.
“Like what?” She slaps her hand against her thigh, impatiently.
“The lights flickering—the storm. The door slamming? The wind. Yeah, Merelyn told me she found you in my basement. Which, stay the hell out of there.” She rears back at my calloused tone. “And the shadows moving? It was an animal. Elk, Moose, deer, hell, it could have even been a bear,” I quip. “It happens daily out here.”
“And so you’re back to being an ass.” She crosses her arms against her chest, rolling her eyes.
“I guess so.” I grind my teeth.
“And here I thought we were finally getting along.”
I shake my head, feeling defeated.
“I’m going to take the couch.”
“No!” She pulls my hand back. I stare at her hand wrapped around three of my fingers. My nostrils flare the longer I fight the hot wave of fire.
“I just mean you should take the bed.”
She is so damn stubborn, but telling her no is the last thing I want to do, and if I say yes, all I’m going to be thinking about is wanting to taste her, steal a kiss, or watch her sleep.
“No.”
