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Kipp said nothing more and I kept my gaze glued on the road ahead. It’d been so long since I’d been at ease with anyone and Kipp made my level of comfort soar. Not only did I have an explosive attraction to him, but he knew of my darkest secret. Of course, the one man who accepted my ability was the one man I could never have.
Life stinks!
Kipp stopped at a two-story, middle-class home with a two-car garage on the front. “Come on, let’s see if she’s here.”
I didn’t move an inch. “Are you forgetting something?”
“Not that I am aware of.”
“I ain’t dead.” I squeezed my arm to show I still consisted of flesh and bones. “I can’t go lurking around someone’s house. I’ll get arrested. You go and bring her out here.”
“She probably won’t believe me unless you’re there.” Kipp flashed a smart-ass grin. “Besides, you’re with a cop, why worry?”
I folded my arms across my chest. He couldn’t win every time he wanted me to do something. “Hmmm…I wonder why I’d worry. Maybe because the cop is a ghost and can’t do a damn thing to help me if I get cuffed.”
His eyes hooded, a smolder formed within their depths and his smile shifted to sultry. “Cuffs! Now that sounds like a great idea. Would you like to discuss it?”
I opened my mouth to respond, but nothing came out. Every time I disagreed, he used something sexual to lure me in, and dammit, I hated having a weakness. I huffed and walked forward, hearing him chuckle behind me.
As I approached the house, I glanced around, but the neighborhood remained quiet. I scooted toward the side of the house and hid behind a large bush, since I couldn’t knock on the door and ask to speak to Hannah.
A window above me glowed with light. I stood on the tips of my toes and peeked up into the home. Two people watched television and ate popcorn while they sat on a large, plush pumpkin-color couch. I assumed they were Hannah’s parents, but they didn’t hold my interest for long.
On the matching loveseat, Hannah sat with her legs curled up as she watched the movie. I recognized her long blonde hair and small frame from the newspaper articles I’d seen on her disappearance.
“I’m going to go in and get her,” Kipp said.
I nodded. “I’ll wait here.”
Without another word, Kipp melted through the wall. He only took two steps before Hannah jumped to her feet and shock shone in her big blue eyes. Her expression went through wild emotions, as Kipp must have explained the tale of craziness, which was now my life.
After a little while, Kipp pointed toward the window and Hannah’s gaze followed, looking at me. Doing the only thing I could think of, I smiled and waved. She returned the wave and looked back at Kipp as if he’d said something to her.
Hannah nodded and they walked toward the wall. I lowered from my tippy-toes and stepped away, but remained hidden behind the bush as they joined me outside.
My stomach took a hit and a lump formed in my throat—Hannah was so young. So many milestones left to experience and all of her dreams had been ripped away. I dug down deep, praying for strength. “Hi, Hannah. I’m Tess.”
Her eyes widened. “You can hear me? You can see me?”
I made a face. “I’m talking to you, am I not?”
“That’s just so weird.”
Yeah right, I’m weird—you’re the ghost! I nearly laughed, but refrained because although the conversation had been light, the agony in Hannah’s expression remained profound. “You’ve stayed here with your family for all these years?”
“I didn’t know where else to go.” Her voice trembled. “I didn’t want to leave my parents and they didn’t want to let me go. So I stayed.”
My throat tightened. A wave of sadness washed over me. I craved to hug her, to take away the pain so prevalent in her eyes, but I held no power to do so. If I touched her, I’d go right through her. Seeing that would only frighten her, I wouldn’t go there.
It appeared, though, Kipp held an equal heartache for her. His despairing expression revealed the same emotions I experienced. He grabbed Hannah and took her into his arms. Apparently, being both ghosts, they held the ability to touch. I stood stunned. I’d seen them cry before and even that had shocked me, but this I hadn’t expected.
Kipp overpowered Hannah’s small frame while he embraced her tight. She sank into him and grabbed onto his shirt, sobbing. It’d been five years since her life had ended. Five years alone, without anyone to talk to, without a single moment of warm touch, and within her sobs, the agony and loneliness came through.
He whispered soft words and ran his hand along her hair. My heart swelled with warmth. Everything about the man—ghost—was perfection. Not only did he have the looks and personality, he had a heart—one that broke in this moment.
Being a cop clearly hadn’t been just a
job for him. He cared for the victims of the crimes and it hadn’t been only a paycheck. More so, he wanted to set right the tragic path their lives.
