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He considered me as he clearly processed then said, “What did it feel like?”
I drew in a long deep breath and glanced to the cement. “Whenever Kipp is near me I have this weird sense of warmth around me. And not until now did I notice it. Maybe because he’s been with me all the time so I’d just gotten used to it. But with it gone, I recognized it the second I touched this spot.” My voice quivered. “Then, it faded.”
He examined me again until he finally said, “I’m trying to understand, but I’m totally lost. Are you saying that his energy was here?”
“That’s what Kipp thought. He said he had a big connection to this very spot. We didn’t know why. And I still don’t. But I felt the energy when I first came here.” I blinked away my tears. “Now I don’t.”
“Do you think that means—”
“I can’t believe that,” I interrupted, not wanting to even imply that Kipp was gone. “I have no idea what it means. But I can’t believe he’d leave me.”
Yet, as I said it, a real fear rose. Had Dane been right? Was Kipp staying only because of me and in the moment that he believed I didn’t love him, he had crossed over?
Zach rubbed his hand across his neck. “From what you’ve told me, I can understand why Kipp was so pissed. You know how he got when he saw you kiss me, and that was a trick.”
I nodded in agreement. Kipp was the jealous type. Maybe even more so as a ghost because he couldn’t physically touch me, and he desperately wanted to do exactly that.
Zach continued, “You said he’d been worried over Dane and I’m guessing that he’s just fuming right now. We both know Kipp has a temper.” He cupped my shoulder, squeezing tight. “But I know him. He wouldn’t go anywhere, Tess. He loves you. He might be ready to kill something right now, but he’d want to kill Dane, not you.” He smiled gently. “He’ll cool off and come to his senses.”
I bowed my head, hoping that what he said was true, but then why didn’t I believe it? I wiped my tears and sucked in a breath to ease the tightness in my chest. “I hope you’re right.”
“And once he does, I imagine he’ll want Dane to deal with the demon in hopes it’ll take him to Hell.”
“Trust me, Zach.” I stared at him with all seriousness. “I’m tempted to send Dane to Hell myself.”
Zach chuckled, though, tight with worry. He stood, offered his hand and pulled me up. “You need to get some rest. You look exhausted and it’s late.”
My heavy eyelids were in definite agreement to his statement. “Once you’ve dealt with the demon we can deal with the rest. I’m sure Kipp will realize his mistake and will come to your house.”
I gasped and yanked my hand away, irritated at myself. “Oh. My. God. How could I be so stupid?” I smacked my forehead. “I never checked at home. I didn’t even think of going there.” I spun on my heels and ran toward the front of the house.
“Are you going to be all right?” Zach called after me.
I didn’t bother to look back. “I will be when I find him.”
Chapter Sixteen
I gripped the steering wheel tight, ignored red lights making sure the way was clear first and hoped no cops were around.
Ten minutes later, I tore into the back of my building and into my parking spot. I slammed the car into park and was out a second later. I ran forward, and took three steps before a deep voice startled me.
“Hi.”
Elation soared into every molecule of my body, but once I turned around, it all faded the second I met Dane’s gaze. “I thought I told you to go away.”
He sighed, low and deep. “I did the right thing…” Was that guilt flashing in his eyes?
“Did you, now?” I snapped. “I think what you did was take me into a kiss that you had no business doing.” I pulled on my inner bitch and unleashed it. “Your selfish reasons for thinking you know what I need and what’s best for Kipp got us into this mess.” I pointed at him. “You forced away the one ghost I want to keep.”
He glanced at his feet, and shifted. “Max told me you’ve spent the last few hours trying to find Kipp.”
Now he calls him Kipp. “Of course I’m trying to find him.” Was this man completely dense? “And now you’re having a guilt trip?” I clenched my fists at my side ready to deck him. “You threw the knowledge that he’s a ghost and has no control over anything into his face. What you did was cruel.”
I sucked in a deep breath, wanting nothing more than to cut off his balls and feed them to him. “You think you know all the answers, and yes I might not be as knowledgeable as you, but I’ll tell you this. An angry ghost is the worst way to cross over. I’ve seen it. You haven’t.”
He never lifted his head as he said, “I didn’t—”
“You didn’t know that you’d make him so angry,” I cut in. “Don’t even try that shit on me.” My hands trembled and I dug my fingernails into my palms. “You knew exactly what you were doing.” The pain shot through my hands, but I ignored it. “Don’t you care that a ghost is now overwhelmed with rage because you proved to him that he is in fact a ghost when he doesn’t want to be?”
