Ghostly Liaison (23 page)

Well, this was interesting. Nick howled and the dog followed suit.

“Damn,” she said. “Okay, listen. I can’t hear or see you with other people present. I need you to go behind that dumpster so we’re out of sight.” She pointed toward a three-walled enclosure at the end of the parking lot. “Barnaby, you stay here.” After a quick glance Rob’s way, she exited the truck and ran toward their destination.

“Shit.” Was she for real? Only way to find out. He popped over to where she indicated and waited.

* * * *

Bridget ran to the Dumpster holding her side. Her breaths came in gasps. Damn. This being out of shape thing was the pits. Then again, the temperature hovered close to ninety degrees and with the high humidity, fish could probably breathe easier.

She dashed behind the dumpster and an explosion of pain slashed through her head. Well, if she’d wanted proof a ghost materialized, she just got it. She rubbed her temples as she stood in front of a man. “Nick? Nick Anders?”

He looked a whole lot better than the tiny picture in the paper. Death certainly wasn’t unkind in the looks department. He wore his light brown hair a bit longer than she preferred, having gotten used to the shortened locks Rob sported, and he wasn’t as tall as Rob nor as big as his father, but damn… Wonder how many women had been jealous of Charlie?

He smiled. “Oh my God. You really can see me.”

“I can hear you, too. I have to say, I’m kind of amazed. You’re the second ghost I’ve talked to. It’s nice to know I’m not going bonkers.”

“What’s the matter with your head? Is it still sore from Saturday?”

As she stood in his presence, the painful throbbing receded into a nagging ache. The same way she reacted to Charlie. “A little. Did you see who hit me? Do you know who it was?”

“Yes. My father. Although I have no idea why he did such a thing.”

“Oh, shit.” Her veil of anonymity just got blown away. Fear threatened to unhinge her, but she held it in check. Freaking out wouldn’t help her case any.

“What’d you do to my dad?”

She leaned against the dumpster wall. “Nothing directly.”

“I heard you say Charlie sent you. Why? And is she okay? Better yet, could you bring her here? I’d like to see her even if she can’t see me.”

Oh crap. He didn’t know. “She misses you, too.” If she didn’t change the subject, she might not get any information out of him. “Charlie suspects Carl murdered you. Is she right?”

“Are you some kind of private investigator? Is that why you’re looking for me?”

Wouldn’t that be a cool job? Investigate for the dead. But how would ghosts pay? Okay, maybe not so cool, then. She still needed to make a living. “No, I’m just someone who happens to see ghosts. Do you have unfinished business, Nick?”

“I don’t know about any unfinished business, but I need to see Charlie. I’ve tried to go to her, but I can’t get any farther than about a quarter of a mile. If I go beyond, I end up back here. Or, actually, back there.” He pointed toward the construction site. “I need to see her and make sure she’s okay. Please. Can you bring her?”

That sounded like unfinished business. “So Charlie’s wrong? You weren’t murdered?”

He floated back and forth the same way Charlie did whenever she paced. “Well, technically she’s wrong, but she’s not wrong. I don’t think my father set out to kill me, and he probably wishes it hadn’t happened, but all the same, I don’t think he’s lost any sleep over my death, either. We argued, he pushed me, I fell to my death, and he covered it up. What kind of father would do that?”

“I don’t know. What were you arguing about?”

“What didn’t we argue about? But it all started with Charlie. Dad never thought she was good enough for me. But that night? I told him I had proof of his embezzling, except I don’t, well, didn’t. So, why didn’t she go to the police with her suspicions? Or did she?”

“No, she didn’t. But how did you know your father was embezzling?”

“Just a hunch. He seemed to have extra money all the time. More than usual. Then I noticed materials being ordered weren’t up to standard. Different suppliers were used than quoted. I didn’t want to tell Rob without more to go on so I asked Dad if Charlie could work in the office. He paled so quickly, I thought he was having a heart attack.”

“I don’t understand. If Charlie needed a job, why didn’t she ask Rob?”

“Charlie didn’t need the job, but Dad didn’t know that. I wanted to see his reaction, and boy, did I get it. He started yelling and called Charlie names. I wouldn’t stand for that and yelled back. Next thing I know, he’s pushing and I’m falling. That’s what I get for bluffing, huh?”

“Oh, Nick. I’m so sorry.”

“Hey, nothing you can do about it. What’s done is done. But I gotta see Charlie. I don’t think I’ll rest until I do.”

He pleaded with his eyes and she couldn’t avoid it any longer. “Nick, I can’t bring Charlie.”

“Why not? Is she sick? Is that why you have Barnaby? She in the hospital or something?”

Bridget lowered her head, avoiding Nick’s gaze. How could she tell him and not break his heart? But maybe that’s what he needed to move on. She straightened and looked him in the eye. “Nick, when I said you were my second ghost, what I didn’t tell you was that Charlie was my first.”

* * * *

Nick was enjoying his conversation with Bridget. To be able to talk with someone again invigorated him. Then she’d implied something that just couldn’t be true. “What are you saying?”

Bridget stared at him. “Charlie’s dead. That’s why she can’t come here.”

His sweet, beautiful Charlie was gone? “But how? When?”

“Carl killed her shortly after your accident.”

“Killed?” Guilt ripped through him. Charlie had died and it was all his fault. “Oh my God. Why isn’t he in jail? Why is he still walking around free?”

“He staged her death to look like a suicide. A drug overdose in her home.”

And of course people believed that because people believed what his father did—once a druggie, always a druggie. But Charlie wasn’t a druggie. She’d been clean and leading a good life. And for his father to taint that was too much. He lifted his head and screamed, releasing all the pent-up anger he’d accumulated over the months. “He deserves to die!”

“I’m sorry, Nick. I can’t imagine what you’re feeling right now. I’m trying to get the proof she needs so she can move on.”

Moving on. Something they both needed to do if they ever hoped to see each other again. It certainly wasn’t happening on Earth. They were too far apart.

He shook his head. “I don’t have anything. But Rob should. Ask him to look in the books. It’s got to be there somewhere.”

“You don’t have anything else? Anything hidden?”

“No, that’s just something I bluffed with my father. I’m sorry. I wish I could help her more. Tell me, is she okay? I mean, as a ghost.”

“She’s coping with her situation. I might have made existing a little easier for her. But I know how badly she wants Carl put away. I truly believe once that occurs, she’ll be able to move on. Of course, it could all be speculation on my part. It’s not like I know what the heck I’m doing.”

“My last thought before I died was of Charlie. I kind of flew off the handle at her, through no fault of her own. I wanted to tell her I love her, to see her one last time. Now you’re telling me it’s not possible.”

“But won’t it be, if you both move on? I’d like to think you will. I’ve always believed we meet our loved ones on the other side.”

He’d like to think that, too. “Will you help her?”

“I’m trying. Can I help you?”

He stared at this pretty woman who didn’t know him from Adam. “Why do you care?”

She shrugged. “I’d like to think there’s a reason I see ghosts. Maybe I’m meant to help.”

“You wanna help me? Then help her. Her happiness is all I care about. And since I can’t tell her in person, tell her I love her, would you?”

“Sure, but I’m sure she already knows that.”

Wind swirled around his feet, kicking up dirt. Bridget raised her arm and backed away as loose strands of her hair whipped around her head. A bright light shone above. An opening to some other dimension provided the light and a warmth surrounded him.

“Do you see that?” When she didn’t respond, he looked down. Bridget had fallen to the ground, unconscious. He moved to her, but something pulled him toward the light.

And the pull felt good, right and peaceful. If he couldn’t see Charlie on Earth, maybe, just maybe, he would elsewhere.

Rob returned to his truck. Barnaby nosed the window and wagged his tail, but where was Bridget? Couldn’t she stay put for five minutes? He opened the door and turned off the ignition. Barnaby squeezed by and jumped out.

“Where’d she go, boy?”

The dog ran toward what looked to be some kind of mini twister behind the Dumpster at the end of the lot. The oppressive air around him couldn’t stir a leaf and no storm waited on the horizon. So what caused that?

He followed the dog and as he came around the wall, the wind abruptly stopped. Bridget lay on the ground in a heap as if she’d collapsed. He rushed to her side and pulled her into his arms. She wasn’t bleeding and she breathed normally, as if she were asleep. “Bridget, honey. Wake up.”

He tapped her face. No reaction from her, but Barnaby whined.

What the hell? He picked her up and carried her back to the truck. Should he take her to the hospital or Kate’s? Better yet, he’d call Kate and ask her. He opened the passenger door. After Barnaby hopped inside, he placed Bridget on the seat and reached for the seat belt.

Her eyes fluttered before opening. “Rob?”

Relief poured over him. “Thank God you’re awake. What happened?”

“I don’t know. The last thing I remember is the dust kicking up.”

“Did someone hit you?”

“No.” She moved to slide out of the truck, but he grabbed her by the shoulders, stopping her progress.

“Where do you think you’re going?”

“I was talking to Nick. He might know what happened.”

When Rob had checked on Carl’s security guard, they were within sight of the truck. So it made sense she’d go somewhere private. But collapsing couldn’t be a good sign.

“You need to see a doctor.”

Her eyes widened in shock. “You said you believed I saw ghosts.”

“That’s not the kind of doctor I meant. You fainted.”

“I didn’t faint. I don’t faint.”

“Then what do you call it when I find you on the ground unconscious?”

Ha! He had her there. She couldn’t answer him. She could, however, cross her arms and scowl. “I’m not hurt. I just want to talk to Nick.”

“Fine. I’ll take you back where I found you. But if Nick doesn’t know what happened, then I’m taking you to a doctor.”

“No, you’ll take me to the fire station. You’ll see my blood pressure is normal and then you can take me home.”

“And if it’s not normal?”

“It’ll be normal.”

Dear God, there had to be something seriously wrong with him. Her stubbornness—not to mention the fiery look in her eyes—filled him with an excitement he’d never experienced before. If he could get away with it, he’d kiss her.

She shoved his shoulder making room for her to slide out of the truck. He grabbed her elbow to assist, but she shrugged away. “I’m not feeble.”

Her rejection stung. “I’m not the enemy here. I’m only trying to help.”

She lowered her head. “I’m sorry. I know you’re not the enemy. And I appreciate all you’ve done. But I’m fine and there’s nothing you can do to help me right now. Just stay here and wait for me. I won’t be long.”

He knew he couldn’t tag along, but he wanted to all the same. “What if you faint again?”

She let out an exasperated breath. “I’m fine. I’m not dizzy, woozy, or nauseous.”

“Would you tell me if you were?”

The lines on her face smoothed out. “Yes. I wouldn’t lie to you. Okay?”

That might be the case, but some people thought they were fine when they weren’t. “At least take Barnaby with you.”

She smiled. “Thank you. I’m sorry for snapping at you.”

When she jogged, he called out to her. “Walk. I’m not going anywhere.”

She raised her thumb and slowed her pace.

He leaned against the truck and waited. He’d give her ten minutes, tops.

* * * *

Bridget regretted her actions toward Rob. Although, if she continued to piss him off, she’d get rid of him. The problems with that? Number one, she wasn’t sure she had pissed him off. Number two, she wasn’t sure she wanted to get rid of him.

She looked at the dog. “Oh, Barnaby, what am I going to do?”

He lifted his head at the sound of his name, and stared at her with those soulful brown eyes, but of course he didn’t answer. And if she expected he would, then maybe she
should
see a doctor.

As soon as Rob disappeared from her line of sight, she called out for Nick.

Except for the occasional car passing on the street, the area was relatively quiet. No headache, either. She called out again and waited. He couldn’t have gone far. So where was he?

Could someone be watching? “Nick, if you’re here, make Barnaby howl.”

The dog sat beside her feet and looked up at the mention of his name. No howling. No whimpering. No indication anyone spoke to him. Nick was gone.

With shoulders sagging, she shuffled back toward the truck. Technically, Nick couldn’t help her any more, but it would have been nice knowing how she’d become unconscious. She’d never fainted before and she wasn’t feeling light-headed. Something knocked her out, but what?

“What’d you find out?” Rob asked.

If she told him the truth, they would end up at the fire station and she would have to do her best to stay calm. And if she lied, and he found out, it would doom their relationship for good. A nice plan, if she took that route.

“He wasn’t there.”

“Maybe someone was watching.”

She shook her head. “He made Barnaby howl before.”

Rob chuckled. “I forgot he did that. Used to drive Charlie nuts. So now what?”

“Now I guess you take me to the fire station. That was the deal.”

He cupped her face with his hands. A sizzle of excitement raced through her while he stared into her eyes. God, he was beautiful. And he could be hers. She only had to say the word.