GhostlyPersuasion (4 page)

So she had a spirit hanging out in her room. Never mind that
he was as hunky as they came. He was not…well, solid. That was definitely
important when deciding what she wanted in a boyfriend or a lover.

Not that she was looking for one.

On the positive side, since he was a spirit, there was very
little he could do to harm her.

Then again, she already regretted that he couldn’t lay those
work-roughened hands on her. The frosty tingles were interesting but her girl
parts were clamoring for more. And if Seamus kept looking at her the way he was
right now—as if she were a well-stocked dessert buffet and he had been dieting
for a decade—she was likely to make a complete fool of herself.

“Is there a way to break the curse?” Katie asked, hoping to
change the direction of her thoughts.

“I think so. A few generations after I was cursed I
approached the local wisewoman and asked for help. Heloise was her name. She
managed to locate Etain’s diary and pieced together information from Etain’s
ramblings.”

“What do you have to do to lift it?”

“I have to declare my love to the woman I was destined for.”

Katie’s heart skipped around in her chest. “That doesn’t
sound so bad.”

Seamus’ eyebrows lifted in question. “You think finding the
one person that you were supposed to be with isn’t hard?”

“Maybe. I mean, you have to believe in that sort of thing
first.”

“True,” he agreed.

“Then you have to find that person.”

“And how do you know that the person you found is really
the
person?”

“My mom used to tell me that the heart always knows.”

Their eyes met. A warm sensation blossomed in Katie’s belly
and spread through her limbs.

“Perhaps your mom was right,” he said quietly.

Katie blinked and tore her gaze away. She cleared her throat
and asked, “So what ended up happening to Etain? I sincerely hope she didn’t
get away with cheating on her husband and putting curses on people.”

“Nay.” Seamus walked over to the window and looked out. “His
lordship returned from his trip the morning after she burned my family’s house
and was given a full account of all that had transpired. Since no one could
find me or my body, they assumed she had killed me and dumped my body somewhere
it couldn’t be found.”

He took a deep breath. “She was hanged for murder not long
after.”

“Good.”

Seamus’ eyebrows shot up in surprise. “I didn’t realize you
were a bloodthirsty woman.”

She crossed her arms over her chest. “Yeah, well, some
people just need to be killed.”

Her comment got a chuckle out of Seamus. “I suppose they
do.”

Katie was glad to see some of the tension leave his face and
shoulders. “There’s no other way to lift the curse?”

Seamus shook his head. “Heloise tried everything she could
think of. She read journals, dug up old family stories and even offered to
contact Etain on the other side.”

“What about ghosts? Did you try talking with the local
ghosts to see if they knew anything?”

“No. I don’t have a lot of contact with the castle spirits.
Most of them keep to themselves. The few I do talk to aren’t easy to
communicate with. It’s like talking to them while being underwater.” He froze
with a strange look on his face. One that Katie was more than familiar with. It
was the one that people wore when they thought she was either crazy or a freak
of nature. “But you can, can’t you?”

The way he drew out each word made her regret even bringing
it up. “Maybe. I don’t know for sure. Besides, there may not be any around.”

That was a lie. She had passed three spirits between the
lobby and her suite. There were a dozen on the lawn when she first arrived.
Given how big and old Tullamore was, and with so much history connected to it,
there were probably dozens more.

“Oh they’re around all right,” he confirmed. “Etain’s spirit
supposedly haunts one of the upper battlements overlooking the spot she died.”

Chills ran down Katie’s spine and across both of her arms.
“Really?”

He nodded.

“Have you seen her?”

“No. And I don’t want to either.” He crossed himself. “I’ve
heard the workers and guests both say she can be a bit moody. One day she’s sad
and complacent and the next downright hostile.”

Oh good, crazy carries over into death.
Katie figured
she should keep that thought to herself. “Remind me to avoid that part of the
castle,” she mumbled. “This is going to be a total change of subject, but may I
ask, out of all the rooms in the castle, what you were doing in this suite?
You’re not, like, some spirits that linger near where they died, are you?”

“I am not tied to this room. I can go wherever I want but I
do feel a tie to Tullamore and haven’t left the castle grounds for long periods
of time.” Seamus’ gaze swept the room. “I don’t know why I’m drawn to this
room. Maybe because it is usually empty.” He shrugged. “Or maybe because I like
the view of the gardens from here.”

“Just wanted to make sure there wasn’t something weird about
the room that I should know about. Like a dead body stuffed in the wall or
something.” She stood and walked to the window so she could take a look at the
gardens outside. “After all, I’m going to be here for almost a month.”

“Ah, well, you’ll want to explore as much of the castle and
the grounds as you can while you’re here.”

“Oh definitely. What I could see as we drove in was
wonderful.”

“If you’d like I could guide you around the castle and the
grounds. I’ve been around long enough that I can offer a bit of insight into
the castle’s history.”

“Do you think you could do it without making me look insane
for talking to someone who isn’t there?”

Seamus chuckled again. “I think we could manage that.”

“The thing is,” Katie was a little reluctant to mention it,
but it was important to her, “I don’t want anyone to know I can see ghosts,
much less communicate with them.”

“Why not? There are lots of supernatural creatures around
Tullamore. You don’t have to worry about anyone here accusing you of being a
witch or running you out of the village.”

“Actually I’m more worried about people wanting me to try to
contact their dead relatives. Or the ghosts wanting me to tell someone
something or do something for them.” She sighed. “I figured out a long time ago
that I was better off pretending I didn’t see things. People were less likely
to treat me like a freak.”

He nodded. “I can understand that. Heloise told me how
people in the village treated her. Even though they came to her for help, there
were some who wouldn’t acknowledge her by the light of day.”

“Exactly!”

“So why did you let me know you could see me?” Seamus asked
with a tilt of his head.

“I, uh…” Katie stammered. She wasn’t about to admit that she
had been stunned to find a gorgeous hunk lying in her bed after she had been
fantasizing about something similar just moments before.

“I was surprised to find you there. I thought you were flesh
and blood when I first saw you.” She blurted out nervously, “You don’t look
like a ghost.”

“I’m not a ghost.”

“Well, no, you’re not. But you’re not quite, um, solid
either.”

“I am aware of that too,” he mumbled.

“That must be rather difficult for you,” Katie said. “To be
trapped between worlds, so to speak.”

“Some days more than others.” He stood abruptly and walked
to the suite door. “Then again, it does have its advantages,” he said with a
cocky grin.

Katie turned on the couch so she could watch where he was
going. “Like what?”

“I can peek at all the beautiful female hotel guests when
they’re in the bath and they don’t even know it.” Seamus winked at her then
disappeared through the suite door.

“That’s not ethical!” she shouted at the closed door.

Had he watched her while she was in the bathtub? Or as she
was getting dressed or undressed?

A spiral of heat zipped through her body.

Another part of her was annoyed that he may be watching some
other unsuspecting guest right now.

Men!

Either way she was sure he’d be back. And when he did
return, she was going to tell him exactly what she thought of his Peeping Tom
activities.

After tossing and turning for what felt like hours, Katie
finally fell asleep. Strangely enough, once she did she slept deeply. Despite
her vividly erotic dreams starring her and Seamus.

Her body still tingled from all the places she dreamed he
had touched her. Too bad she left her vibrator at home. The horror of an
airport security worker or a customs agent finding it lessened now that her
hormones were on overload.

She rushed through her morning routine then dressed. She
told herself it wasn’t because one spirit-like hunk might pop in at any minute.
It was because she was hungry and anxious to see more of the castle.

Before heading out the door she grabbed her sweater and
stuffed some money in her jeans pocket along with her door key. On her way to
the lobby she took the opportunity to look at the paintings she’d passed the
evening before.

One in particular caught her eye. It was a rocky coastline
caught in a tempest. What made the portrait stand out was the lone figure
standing atop a cliff looking out at the ocean. Even though it was small and
barely noticeable, the long hair and billowing clothing made Katie think the
shadowy figure was a woman.

“I believe that is one of Brendan’s works,” Seamus said from
behind her.

Katie was so caught up in the painting, Seamus’ sudden
arrival didn’t startle her. It didn’t take long for the faint scent of ozone
and wood to reach her. It was a smell that she was coming to associate with
Seamus.

“Brendan.” Katie searched her memory banks, trying to place
the name. “Is he the Irish artist who died mysteriously around here?”

“Something like that,” he muttered.

Katie looked over at Seamus, wondering what his comment
meant, but he was looking at the painting.

She returned her attention to the landscape. “His work is
phenomenal. It evokes a great many emotions but I can’t put my finger on why
this one seems sad to me.”

“Sad?” he asked incredulously.

“Yes. It looks to me as if the woman,” Katie pointed at the
shadowy figure on the right side of the painting, “is waiting for something. Or
perhaps someone. And it feels as if she’s been waiting for a long time.”

Katie turned to look at Seamus. “Do you think she ever found
what she was waiting for?”

His arms were folded across his chest. “I’d like to think
so.”

Katie nodded then took one last look at the painting before
continuing down the hall. None of the other paintings called to her enough to
make her stop and study them but she did move slowly so she could look
leisurely.

“Did you have a pleasant evening?” Katie asked.

“I did, thank you.”

“I’m sure you did if you were off spying on unsuspecting
guests.” She didn’t care if she sounded testy. Someone needed to show him how
rude it was.

“Is that a hint of jealousy I hear in your voice, lass?”

Katie stumbled over her own feet.
Jealousy?
“What?”

Seamus chuckled. “That’s what it sounds like.”

“I am not jealous,” Katie said vehemently. Why would she be?
She’d only known him for a day.

The annoying man had the gall to shrug. “If you say so.”

Katie was just about to tell him exactly what she thought of
his suggestion when a couple came into view, headed in their direction. Not
only did she not want them to see her talking to thin air, she didn’t want them
to hear what she had to say to Seamus. Instead she kept walking and tried to
ignore the ghostly figure floating beside her. His throaty chuckle made it hard
to do.

“Good morning,” the couple said as they passed.

“Good morning,” Katie responded.

By the time the couple was far enough away that Katie felt
comfortable speaking again, she’d decided she was better off not continuing her
previous line of thought. It would only encourage Seamus to pick on her
further.

“So where can I find some breakfast around here?” she asked.                                      

“Depends on what you’re wanting. If you’re a hearty eater,
then you might want to try the main dining room. If you just want tea and toast
then you might like the café near the lobby.”

“How about something in between?”

“Marge’s is just off the kitchens. What I’ve seen in there
looks good.”

“Oh I just realized. You don’t eat, do you?”

“No, I don’t.”

“So how does that work, I wonder,” Katie said aloud. “Every
creature needs energy.” She stopped in her tracks and looked at Seamus. “How do
you sustain yours if you don’t eat or drink?”

“Perhaps I should explain when we’re not standing in a
populated area. Unless you changed your mind about not letting people see you
talk to yourself.”

Katie looked around and saw they were standing in the main
lobby. It was early enough that it wasn’t busy but there were a few guests and
hotel staff milling around.

“Oh.” She felt her cheeks heat. “That would be better.
Thanks.”

She noticed several hallways leading from the lobby but
nothing was marked well enough for her to tell which direction she needed to
go. Without looking at Seamus she asked quietly, “Which way?”

He pointed to a wide hallway on the other side of the room.

Katie tried not to watch as Seamus drifted through the
furniture that she had walk around. It was a little weird to talk to him and
see him act like a normal person then to see him do something ghostlike.

As she followed Seamus she wondered how long it took him to
get used to his new physical form. Or lack thereof. It surprised her how many
questions she had now that she was hanging around someone who was basically a
ghost. In the past she limited her contact with spirits and wouldn’t let
herself think about how they felt or what they experienced.

Odd how things change.

When they made it to the entrance of Marge’s, Katie stopped
and looked around.

A waitress bustled by with a tray full of hot food. “You can
sit wherever you’d like,” she called out over her shoulder.

Seamus pointed to a table for two nestled off to one side,
next to a window with a view of the gardens. “That should be out of the way
enough so we can talk without drawing much attention.”

Katie nodded once and headed in that direction.

Just as she was about to say something to Seamus a waitress
came to the table.

“Good morning. Do you need a menu?”

“Yes, please.”

The waitress handed Katie a double-sided card. “Can I bring
you tea or coffee while you decide what to order?”

Katie smiled up at the young lady. “Coffee, please. With
cream and sugar.”

“I’ll be right back with that.”

“Why did it sound as if you were asking for your favorite
dessert?” Seamus asked as the waitress left.

Katie lowered her voice until she saw that the girl was out
of hearing range. “I have a deep appreciation for coffee. I have trouble
getting my morning going without it.”

Seamus leaned on the edge of the table and looked her
directly in the eye. “I can think of other ways to get your morning started and
none of them involve hot, bitter beverages.”

Katie’s jaw dropped and her mind was bombarded with a dozen
pictures of the two of them lying naked in a bed. Sheets twisted. Limbs
intertwined. Lips pressed against many different body parts.

She blinked to clear the images.

“Stop that!” she whispered harshly.

The man had the audacity to grin. “Stop what?”

“You know exactly what—”

“Ma’am, did you need something?” one of the other waitresses
asked as she stopped at their table. “I can call your waitress for you.”

“Oh… I, uh… No. I’m fine, thank you.” Katie’s cheeks grew
hot. She was sure she was bright-red.

At least the waitress didn’t look at her as if she had grown
a second head before she walked away.

“You’re doing that on purpose, aren’t you?” Katie growled.

“Doing what?” Seamus chuckled.

“First you distract me with suggestive images. Then you make
me forget where I’m at and embarrass me in front of the waitress.” Even to
Katie’s own ears she sounded whiny.

His voice dropped. “What sort of suggestive images did you
see, lass?”

“I—” Katie stopped herself. “That’s none of your business.”

“Here’s your coffee, ma’am,” the waitress said as she set
the pot near the center of the table.

Thank God. Coffee. And an interruption before she said
something really embarrassing.

Katie smiled gratefully at the waitress. “Thank you very
much.”

“You’re welcome.” The waitress set a coffee cup and saucer
on the table in front of Katie. “Are you ready to order?”

“Oh, no. I’m sorry, not yet.”

“Take your time. I’ll return in a wee bit.” The waitress
went to check on the other guests a few tables away.

Without even glancing at the menu Katie reached for the
coffee. “It’s weird to sit here and make myself a cup of coffee knowing it’s
pointless to offer you any.”

“Thank you for the thought anyway.” Seamus cocked his head
to one side. “It’s been so long since I’ve eaten anything I don’t remember what
most things taste like so I don’t really miss it anymore.”

Katie’s heart lurched in her chest.

“I remember enjoying certain foods. But I don’t remember
exactly why I did.”

“That’s just so unfair, Seamus. You shouldn’t have to live
like that.”

He shrugged. “But I am. And there’s nothing I can do about
it.”

“Well,” Katie’s voice trailed off. There
was
nothing
to be done about it. At least not right that minute.

After breakfast they headed to the front lobby. Katie wanted
to grab a few brochures and see what kinds of tours were offered. She was a
little tired but had no intention of sitting in her room. There was too much
she wanted to see in Ireland.

“You know, lass, I can show you around the castle and the
grounds.”

“Yes, I’m sure you can. And you probably have an interesting
perspective on the history of both. But, no offense, I’d like to be able to
interact with more people than just you.”

“Ah. So it’s a man you’re wanting to meet, then?”

“What?” Katie stumbled then recovered her feet. “No! I mean,
why would you think that?” She felt her cheeks get warm.

“You’re an attractive, unmarried woman. I haven’t heard you
talk to, or talk about, a man back home. Why would you not want to, how do they
say it these days? Hook up with a man?”

Forgetting about her promise not to acknowledge Seamus’
presence whenever she was in public, Katie stopped and put her fists on her
hips. “Now you listen here. Just because I don’t have a boyfriend right now
doesn’t mean that I am on the hunt for one. I have been managing just fine
without one for well over a year now.”

“Well, dearie, if you haven’t had a man in over a year and
now you’re standing in the middle of the hallway talking to yourself, you might
want to rethink your plan to find one.” The unsteady voice of an elderly woman
floated over Katie’s shoulder.

With her cheeks flaming-hot, Katie turned to find a little,
white-headed woman with twinkling eyes standing behind her.

“I, uh—” Katie was so mortified she couldn’t form a reply.

“I’m sure one of the braw Irish lads wandering about these
parts,” the woman waved her cane in the direction of the lobby, “would be just
the thing for you.” She winked and added, “Might even get your lady parts in
working order again too.”

Katie’s jaw hinged open.

“If you can’t run one to ground by week’s end, give me call
and I’ll find you one.” The old woman continued to the restaurant but called
over her shoulder, “Have the front desk ring Ms. Peggy.”

As soon as Katie’s brain began functioning again she whirled
around to confront the source of her irritation. “You! You…”

“What did I do?” Seamus asked, pretending innocence as he
tried, and failed, to smother his laughter.

“I… You… She…” Katie sputtered. “Oooh, I knew it was a bad
idea to talk to you.” She stomped into the lobby mumbling unpleasant things
about men in general.

Without looking, she knew Seamus had followed her.

Just because she hadn’t had sex in over a year didn’t mean
that her lady parts weren’t working. She wasn’t above using her vibrator when
she needed to. Or her hands. She didn’t
need
a man.

Yes, they were nice to have around sometimes. They were
usually warm. And she was quite fond of being snuggled up against a broad,
masculine chest. She didn’t even mind feeling the weight of a lover sprawled
upon her.

She stopped when she reached one of the seating areas in the
lobby and sighed.

If she was completely honest with herself, she did miss having
a man in her life. But that didn’t mean she was going to rush right out and
grab the first one she stumbled across.

Seamus slipped past Katie and slumped into the nearby chair.
He must have sensed her mood and wisely kept his comments to himself.

Really, it was too bad that Seamus was a spirit. She enjoyed
his company. When he wasn’t embarrassing her, that is. And he was certainly
easy to look at. Her supposedly unused lady parts took notice anytime he was
around.

If only…

Looking across the lobby, Katie spotted a couple locked in a
sensual embrace. While the man was handsome, his rugged good looks and bare
chest were not what caught her attention. It was the fact that he was
semi-transparent, a telltale sign that he was a ghost, but the woman wasn’t.

It took a moment for it to register with Katie that the man
was kissing and fondling the woman and, based on the woman’s reaction, she
could feel more than tingles where they touched. As a matter of fact, it looked
as if the woman was enjoying what he was doing very much.

Katie tore her gaze away. The first thing she saw was
Seamus. He was watching her closely.