A Ghost of a Chance (7 page)

She smiled, “What are you feeling Jack?”

“
Like I’m ready to jump out of my skin, if I had any to jump out of. I’m feeling,” his eyes focused on Hallie again. Her expression was intense as though she were trying to visualize something. “I feel this pull, this tremendous pull to her.”

She nodded, “She’s reaching out to you.”

“
How can that be? She doesn’t know I exist.”

“
Her mind doesn’t know it, but you’ve struck a chord in her. Truth always bypasses what the conscious mind perceives as truth.”

He looked to her with confusion, “You want to run that one by me again?”

Smiling indulgently, “Not especially.”

And then he remembered the episode in the study. “There is something else I’m worried about. I keep sensing something else here, some sort of presence though I haven’t actually seen it. And from what I gather it doesn’t like me much.”

“
That can’t be too much of a new experience for you Jack,” she giggled. “Seriously though, I know what you’re talking about, but for some reason I am blocked from helping you.”

“
Blocked?”

“
Seems so. Things work a little different where we are Jack. It’s all about learning and nothing can interfere with that.” She stopped.

“
And?” He waited for her to elaborate.

She was focused on Hallie again. “And, I think you should stay close to her Jack, stay very close.”

He nodded his eyes lingering on Hallie’s soft expression. Yes, he would stay close, that was exactly what he intended to do.

CHAPTER FOUR

She didn’t dream that night. She just tossed and turned, waking up constantly to look at the clock. It was about two in the morning when Hallie surrendered. She gave up on sleeping and instead made herself a cup of peppermint tea. The study beckoned her. She needed to write more, needed it almost like a physical torment but a part of her resisted it. Perhaps, it was just obstinance.

It bothered her, immensely in fact – this new presence in the narrative, Captain Jacob Mcfarin. And there was no real reason that it should. Hadn’t it been her choice to bring him into the mix? Hadn’t it?

Then why did he bug her so much? He wasn’t a vampire like Samory. But there was a comfort in Samory. She knew what he was, knew him inside and out, but this new man. He was the unknown and thus oddly more dangerous.

She allowed him to lead her down the ageless steps of the French cathedral. “Forgive me Sir, but I am expected home very soon by my father. We have a house on the outskirts of Paris.”

“
Then Mademoiselle, if you would allow me, I will take you there in my carriage and perhaps converse with your father concerning your relationship with Monsieur Samory Delacroix.”

She halted on the steps, her heart clutched in fear at the discovery. “What do you mean Sir?”

“
Am I to take it that your father is not aware of the perilous path that you have chosen to take with this creature?”

Gabriella’s frightened eyes widened. “No, my father does not know of my engagement to Monsieur Delacroix.”

“
Engagement? Have things progressed that far?”

“
Surely you can not expect me to share such private details of my life with a virtual stranger.”

Jacob turned away momentarily, as if to calm himself, then returned his steady and unflinching gaze to Gabriella. “My Lady, you are correct in that we are indeed strangers. Yet, I must tell you with the deepest conviction that I am well acquainted with the true nature of Monsieur Delacroix.”

Her heart chilled at his declaration. “True nature? What can you mean by that?” Abruptly, and most forcefully he grasped both of her delicate hands with his large, strong, manly . . .

Hallie paused for a moment and leaned back in the chair. This was beginning to get a little out of hand. She took a sip of her peppermint tea but could feel her own heart racing. Beside her Jack smiled and bent to kiss the top of her head. “Go on Hallie. Her small delicate hands were grasped in large powerful ones whose strength she could feel course through her at the moment of contact.”

“
Gabriella,” he used her first name as though it was his right to do so, although she had not given him permission. “I have traveled across the world hunting your fiancé with every ounce of relentless spirit that I could muster.”

“
Why?” she whispered. She tried to break free of his powerful grasp, but it was clear that he was not yet ready to release her.

“
I will tell you why. Only five years ago that monster took the innocence and then the life of my sister Margaret.”

“
No,” the word flew out of her mouth in a gasp.

He pulled her closer, so close that she could feel the vibrant and compelling warmth of his body. He was not cold like Samory but alive, oh so alive. “It’s true Gabriella, and he will do the same to you, if I allow it to happen.”

Summoning all of her delicate strength she finally wrenched herself free from his embrace. “No you’re wrong. Samory loves me. He would never hurt me.”

“
He might not mean to hurt you, but his murderous nature will win out.”

“
Jacob you’re wrong. I can save him. I know I can.” His warm blue eyes hardened at her pronouncement. “Margaret thought the same. And I was too late to save her.”

She turned away from him caught up in her own despair. But once again she felt his powerful hands on her. This time they slipped around her waist and then gently but deliberately pulled her back against him. He whispered in her ear, “Gabriella, I can be a ruthless man also. I am determined to save you with or without your cooperation. Inform your father that there will be a guest for dinner tonight. Do so mademoiselle or I will promptly inform him of all your most recent activities.”

And then he bent his head even closer and lightly brushed his lips against her cheek.

A loud crash resounded throughout the room, shattering the quiet. A standing lamp that was across the room had abruptly fallen to the floor for no apparent reason. Hallie stared at it in shock. She had nearly jumped out of her seat at the computer desk. Still trembling from the jolt, she stood up shakily. “Damn it, that scared the crap out of me.”

Reluctantly, she gingerly tiptoed over to the sight of the catastrophe. The damage was substantial considering that the light apparently had crashed with some force onto the hardwood floor. Jack watched sternly as Hallie headed down the hall to get a broom and dustpan to clean up the debris.

He stood alone staring at the broken lamp. He could actually still feel the irritating rush of negative energy that it had taken to bring the lamp down. “Don’t like where things are going pal?” he said smugly. “Well, I’ve got to tell you this is just the beginning.”

Hallie stalked around the house straightening up with a degree of contempt. She was expecting a visitor. It had been about seven’ o’clock in the morning when the phone rang. Actually it had been only several hours before that she had finally gotten to sleep.

The first series of rings she had let the voice mail pick up and then whoever it was called back and back and back until finally she, “Yeah, what?” she managed to get out, trying to smother her colossal irritation.

“
Hallie?”

“
Yes,” she sat up in bed, rubbing her aching, tired eyes.

“
I bet you don’t know who this is.”

She paused seriously debating whether or not to hang up immediately. “You’d win,” she snapped out more harshly than she imagined was appropriate.

Undaunted the caller continued, “Think back now. Isn’t my voice familiar?”

She stared at the phone with malice. Who the hell? “Look, whoever this is. . .”

“
Okay, I’ll give you a hint. Mexican food and lots of margaritas.”

She said nothing.

“
Okay, if you give up . . .”

“
I do,” quietly.

“
It’s Greg Wasserstrom.”

And then confusion,“Who?”

“
Oh come on, you’re hurting my ego. You remember dinner with Dick and Monica.”

She swallowed, couldn’t be. “Was that really your name, Wasserstrom?”

“
You’re hurting my feelings.”

“
Look Greg, it’s kind of early for me. I was up late, last night.”

“
Not another wild party.”

“
I was writing,” she stated flatly and a tad perturbed. “Yeah that’s right. Well, I just wanted to tell you that this is your lucky day.” Evidently he was not one for subtlety.

“
No kidding,” she murmured in a yawn.

“
I’m on my way into town on business, and I wanted to come see you.”

Again she said nothing, she tried to dig deep into her sluggish mind for an excuse, but it was unfairly just way too early to be creative. “Um, well Greg, I am kind of involved doing a lot of work on the book.”

“
Then, you need a break.”

“
Ummm.”

“
I’ll be over there about ten. I’ll bring some donuts; so don’t have breakfast, just put on coffee. What’s your favorite kind?”

“
Kind?” Was this really happening?

“
Of donut.”

“
Chocolate frosted.” It wasn’t but nothing else came to mind.

“
With sprinkles?”

“
No, I don’t like sprinkles.” Had she snapped at him about sprinkles? She couldn’t be sure.

“
Super, I’ll see you there. Monica gave me directions to your house. So I can find you easy.”

“
Oh good.” And then mercifully, it all ended.

She checked around the den critically. It looked OK. It wasn’t like she wanted to impress him. It wasn’t even like she wanted him here. This just felt so much like Monica. She would have to murder her later.

The doorbell rang, and she opened the door to the disturbingly white smile of Greg Wasserstrom. There seemed to be an endless stretch of awkwardness in which they just stared at each other. “Are you going to let me in or are we going to eat donuts on the porch?” Good grief, he was chipper.

She smiled and stepped back to let him in. This was going to be rough. She didn’t remember him being so annoying. But then again, she didn’t remember a whole heck of a lot from that night. “Well Hallie, this is a cozy house. Atmospheric, I guess that’s good for a writer.”

“
It suits me. You want a plate? I mean, do you like your donuts on a plate?”

“
That would be super.”

She nodded, “Why don’t you come in the kitchen and get your coffee?”

She waited and then he added expectedly, “Super.”

They sat at the small dinette table that Hallie had placed in the breakfast nook of her kitchen. It was right next to a large window overlooking the rolling hills of her backyard. She found herself looking out of it often and wondering when Greg Wasserstrom was going to leave. It had been only about half an hour but had felt like a decade.

“
How’s your donut Hallie? You’ve barely touched it.”

She smiled, “Oh my stomach is a little out of sorts today. It might be a bug, “ and then she added, “I hope it’s not contagious.”

“
I have to say Hallie, after the way we connected at dinner the other night I was glad I had this opportunity to come see you.” Her eyebrow rose. Connected? Were they at the same meal? For the fourth time Hallie heard a growl under the table.

Jack was at it again, determined to rip a hole in Greg’s pants leg.

He grimaced, “Feisty little thing. Can’t you lock him up or something?”

“
No, he’s just a puppy. He doesn’t like to be alone.”

Across the room, Jack was squatting down encouraging Jack Jr. “Go on boy, go on, harass the hell out of him.”

Hallie stared at the puppy with amusement. He was usually much more intimidated by strange men. The other day when the cable guy came to hook up her television Jack had positively cowered. Greg gave the dog a deliberate thrust away from him that seemed to discourage him for the moment. “Anyway, I wanted to see if you would go out with me sometime soon.”