I follow her finger outside and find the cruiser still parked where he dropped me off.
“I guess I’ll ask him.” Before I depart, I remind her once again, “Please give me a call when you have some availability. I’ll take any room.”
She nods with a wide smile. “Sure, will do.”
Before I leave, she calls out my name. I stop and turn around, hopeful that she changed her mind and maybe found some hidden room somewhere in the attic. With the ghosts. I’ll take it.
“Yes?”
“Do you need to use the bathroom?” She smiles softly.
“What?” I blink.
“The bathroom. You know, to clean off.” She points at her face and then at her body. I look down and remember that I’m covered in mud. How could I forget about that?
“Nah, I’m good. Thanks though.”
I wave and start toward the door again.
“Josie,” she calls out once more.
I turn around without even asking what she wants.
“How does the other guy look?” she asks with sparkling humor in her blue eyes.
“Better,” I sigh. “The other guy looks much better.”
She gives me a warm smile with a wink. “Next time, then.”
“Next time.” I smile back and push the door open.
When I walk outside, my feet instantly freeze. I didn’t feel it before, but between me being dragged out of the mud, the bear attack, and the adrenaline rush on the way here, I didn’t feel as cold as I am now. Taking a deep sigh for bravery, which is pretty much the equivalent of a shot of tequila in the current circumstances, I open the passenger door.
“Hey.” My voice comes out small even when I don’t intend for it to.
“Hey.” His is husky. He always sounds like that though.
“Why are you still here?” I ask shyly.
“I knew they didn’t have any rooms.” He nods at the seat. “Get inside.”
I climb in and buckle up. Interlocking my fingers on my lap, I chew on my lower lip. “Can you drive me to Alicia’s house?”
“Sure.”
He shifts into gear and takes off. When he notices my sudden shiver, he hits a button on the dashboard and shifts the air vent toward me. A wave of warmth instantly hits me in the face, and I shiver, but from pleasure this time.
“Thank you.”
“Where were you planning on staying, Josie?”
After a few moments of watching out of the window, I start explaining, “I stayed at Alicia’s. She told me I can stay as long as I need, but I can’t.” I jump in my seat, thinking that it came out wrong. “She’s great, don’t get me wrong! She’s amazing, but they just started this new family, and I thought I’d be in the way. That’s why I didn’t unpack anything. Plus,” I snort, “they don’t have any room, really. Their house is gorgeous and homey but tiny.”
“So where were you planning on staying?” he repeats, firmer this time.
“At the house. Well, at least until the bed and breakfast has anything available.”
“In the Ghost House?”
