Kiss And Dwell (42 page)

“
Yeah,
”
Nanette said, still excited.

“
Did they give you another task? Not that I mind working, but I
’
m curious what
we
’
ll be doing next.
”

“
Yeah, they did,
”
Nan said, but she didn
’
t sound too down about it. Then again,
neither was Monique. They
’
d passed the first hurdle; now they
’
d simply keep
going.
“
Our first floor has to get tested. We
’
ve got to clean it up and let them
certify we
’
ve removed the contamination.
”

Monique instantly pictured the sludge that had seeped into the house on the
majority of the first floor. This was not going to be a little thing.
“
How long
do we have?
”

“
Two months, and in the meantime, we may actually get some money from the
society to help us in our efforts. They really seem to think we can do it, in
spite of
Roussel
being on their board.
”

“
And they
’
re right,
”
Monique said, catching Nan
’
s enthusiasm.
“
We can do it.
”

“
Okay. Well, I
’
m off to call everyone else.
”
Nan disconnected.

Monique turned and continued toward the front of the shop.
“
Can I help you?
”
she
asked, rounding the wall that separated the lobby from the work area.

With his back to her, a man was looking at the products displayed on the shelves
across from the register. He was tall, with dark hair and broad shoulders. She
swallowed. From the back, he resembled Ryan. Was her mind merely playing tricks
on her? Probably. How would she ever get back to a normal life when she
’
d never
have what she wanted?

“
Do you need some hair products today?
”
she asked, then froze when he turned.

“
I wondered if you take walk-ins,
”
he said, and stepped toward her, flashing
that sexy smile as Monique fought to control her racing heart. Was she imagining
this? Yes, she had to be. But he looked so…real.

“
Ryan?
”

“
Because I
’
m very interested in walking in,
”
he said, moving even closer
.

“
Walking in, living in, existing in—in this side, in your life, in your heart.
”

“
It can
’
t be,
”
she mumbled, while his hand reached out to cup her face
.

“
You—crossed over.
”

He shook his head and tilted her face toward his.
“
No, I didn
’
t. I met with
Adeline, and with practically everyone else that matters over there,
”
he said
.

“
But I didn
’
t cross.
”
He smiled.
“
Evidently, there
’
s a provision for people like
us.
”

“
A provision?
”
She inhaled the scent of him and examined the beautiful column of
his throat, and that exquisite throbbing in the side, his pulse. Mon
dieu
, he
was real.

“
According to the powers that be,
”
he said,
“
should a ghost find his soul mate
while dwelling in the interim, then the two shall have the chance to bring their
souls together, on this side. To live together, until death—true death—do they
part.
”
He paused, then added,
“
With one condition.
”

“
What
’
s that?
”

“
I can
’
t go back to my old life, can
’
t even attempt it. I did die, after all
.

The powers that be made me promise I would be content to start life over, and
they made certain I knew that I would never be able to go back to the life I had
before. If that was okay, then I could stay, start my life anew…with you. Which
is exactly what I want, Monique, if you want it, too.
”

“
Oh, Ryan!
”
she yelled, jumping into his arms and kissing that lovely pulse at
his throat.

“
Mais
,
jamais
d
’
la
vie!
”
Inez yelled, rounding the corner with her hands waving
in the air.
“
Das him?
”
Then she gasped.
“
No, you no ghost?
”

“
Not anymore,
”
Ryan said.

“
Cho! Co! True?
”

“
Yes, it
’
s true, Inez,
”
Monique said, hugging him tightly.
“
It is true.
”
She
kissed him, melted into him, absorbed his touch. She squirmed against him,
determined to get as close as possible.

To never let him go.

“
You did
dis
?
”
Inez asked, when Monique broke the kiss. The older woman held up
a lock of her flaming hair.
“
Or was it my voodoo?
”

“
I didn
’
t do it,
”
Ryan said, grinning.

She shrugged.
“
S
’
okay. I want change, and I like my voodoo, even wit
da
kinks
.

An
’
I
tink
he
’
ll like it.
”

“
Who?
”
Monique asked.

“
My ghost,
”
Inez said proudly, then grinned.
“
The one who comes when I dream—
”

She winked prominently.
“
—you know, dos
’
dreams.
”

Monique
’
s mouth fell open, then she looked at Ryan.

“
Oh no, it wasn
’
t me visiting her,
”
he said, holding up his palms defensively
.

“
She must have garnered another ghost
’
s attention.
”

Inez wiggled her dark brows, which reminded Monique that they
’
d have to color
her brows, too, if she were going to keep the ridiculous shade of red, and
Monique suspected she was, since she thought
“
her ghost
”
would like it.

“
How many stay in the middle and play fantasy man?
”
Monique asked her own
fantasy-come-true.

Ryan grinned, shrugged.
“
Hell if I know. I
’
m not concerned about that anymore
.

From now on, I only plan to fulfill one woman
’
s fantasies.
”

“
Good,
”
Monique said, leaning up to kiss the mouth she adored, the
ghost—correction—the man she adored. Then she looked into his eyes and gasped
.

“
Oh, wow.
”

“
What?
”
he asked.

“
They
’
re so…blue.
”