AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Dammit, why you gotta make it so hard for me to ask you to dinner?”
Anastacia felt her brain screech to a halt.
“You’re asking me to dinner?”
When she started this position only a couple of weeks ago, she had said to keep things professional, but her heart drumming in her chest was saying something completely different. His hands were warm but covered in calluses. The rough bite of his skin dragged over her smoother palm, a mix of contrasts she didn’t seem to mind. It was nice. Better than nice.
He leaned forward, lifting his top hand from hers to swipe his thumb over the apple of her cheek as if brushing something from her face. A grin split his face as the heat of a blush crept over her cheeks.
He sucked in a breath.
“Come out to dinner with me,cher.”
Before Anastacia could even wrap her mind around Knight asking her out on a date, the lamp to their side flickered erratically before burning out. Knight frowned as he released her hands to check the lamp.
Anastacia glanced to the spot Mel had stood just a moment before. For the first time since this all began, he was gone.
Ahandsomemanwastaking her to dinner at an amazing restaurant in the Quarter but she didn’t feel the full elation and excitement she thought she would. In fact, it was bland like when she was a kid excited to go on a car trip only to realize it was to the grocery store.
Over the past few days, while she and Knight talked about their upcoming dinner, Mel’s presence at her side had diminished. Once his business was done, he would be gone. He would be free to pass over and—
There it was.
The heaviness crept in, settling on her heart like a metric ton, making it hard to breathe. It was real for the first time. Mel was leaving and a part of her wished the case would just slow down for more time. So he could stay.
But this is what she wanted, isn’t it? That was their goal. It always had been.
“You should always remember, they’re not meant to be friends, Anastacia,” she said to her reflection. Twisting to assess herself in the halter dress, she checked the straps tied in a small bow at the back of her neck. The knee-length skirt with a faux petticoat floated around her legs. The cut highlighted the few areas of her body she was proud of. The color imitated black until the light hit her and a deep, metallic red shimmered through the darkness. It was the best piece of clothing in her limited wardrobe. “Remember what Mom always said. They’re just passing through.”
The words sounded hollow to her. Mel taught her there was more than one way to experience and see the world around them. More than one way to see a spirit… or a person. He was more than an acquaintance or spirit just passing through. He was more than she ever thought a spirit could be. And she felt more than she knew she should.
“Mel?” she called out from the ajar bathroom door.
Mel leaned against the wall just outside the door, waiting for her to come out. “If you need help to zip up, I don’t think I’ll do much without some extra energy or emotion. And I doubt you want any of your light bulbs to fizz out.”
“I think I have the zipper handled.”
She stepped out; the skirt brushed over her knees as she walked. She looked at him for his opinion, her eyebrows raised in a silent question.
Mel stood dumbfounded, his mouth propped open before a smile took over. “Well, damn. Hello, hot stuff. You’re definitely more than the ‘fine’ category.”
“Too much?” Her eyes narrowed at him as she picked at the skirt.
He motioned his finger in a tight circle, nodding with a soft smile as she spun. “Just enough.”
A grateful smile spread over her lips before it fell. “I feel you should be with us. Celebrating too, you know?”
“I’ll celebrate in my own way. Maybe take a walk down to the Quarter, or just have a night off. I’m sure your White Knight will keep you protected enough.” He smirked and waggled his eyebrows at her. “You can’t have romance bloom with me lurking around. I’m sure you’ve made enough improvement in your sight. You can handle one dinner. You kids have fun.”
Anastasia placed a tube of ruby lipstick and her keys in a small clutch purse before checking the address she wrote on a scrap piece of paper. She knew the cross streets weren’t very far. Her fingers worried at the paper in her hand.Turning back to Mel as if she had another question, she gave him a chance to tell her not to go. To stay instead and chat over some take out about his bar or the city or anything, really. It’s strange how accustomed she was to his voice. She was going to miss it when he was gone.
She wanted to stay with him, but she needed a reason. She neededhimto give her a reason.
“You need to stop stressing.” He chuckled warmly and tried to rub her arms, only to go through them. Another reminder he was both there and not. A reminder he was just passing through.
He put his hands in his pockets and pursed his lips. “Forgot again. Sorry.”
“I appreciate the gesture.” She assured him with all the gratitude she could pour into the words.
