A Sinful Trap (Three Sinful Wishes 2)

Hadn’t she been thinking the same thing about Cam and Davide? That she couldn’t compare? That they would leave her? Not that she condoned what Lila had done, but she did understand her fear.

“I’m glad it’s you.” Lila’s expression was almost maternal now. “You know who you are and you’re not alone. You had my fears, but it never even occurred to you to manipulate them or separate them, did it?”

After she’d felt their love for each other? Knowing what she felt about them?

“Never.” She touched her throat in surprise. She could talk again.

“We like you, innkeeper.”

“Thank you. And I’ll get Cam the trunk and make sure you’re remembered from now on, okay?” She smiled at Stan, then looked around, expecting the television ending she’d always secretly believed was real. “Do you see a light now or…?”

Stan laughed. “Nah. We’re going to stay for a while. Watch you make this place into what it should have been. What it would have been, if we’d been able to follow through on all our plans.”

“I’m good with plans,” Bailey told them, her throat tight. “As long as you don’t scare the guests, because I will invite The Divine Darla over if you don’t keep it down.”

“We’ll be quiet now,” Lila promised. “Mostly.”

“You should wake up.”

“Wait...what? Lila...” The laughter of little girls echoed in her ears as she fell. Why was she falling? “Stan?”

“Who is Stan?” Dani asked from the narrow couch in Bailey’s bedroom. What were they doing in her bedroom?

Bailey groaned, reaching for her head to make sure it was still attached. “How did I get here? What happened?”

“That’s what I want to know.” Dani stood up and stretched, groaning as she rubbed her lower back with one hand. In her other was a cup of delicious-smelling coffee. “All that new furniture you had delivered yesterday and you didn’t get any for yourself? Be honest, did you spend the budget for that on shoes? Because I’ve seen your little closet now, and it’s ninety-four percent heel.”

“Hold that thought.” Bailey hopped out of bed, thankful she was still in her now wrinkled and dirty polka dot dress, and ran to the bathroom. Two minutes later she was back, the dress was on the floor and she was dragging the covers over her breasts. “Let’s try that again without the teasing. What happened?”

“Liam and I helped you down from the attic last night. You don’t remember?” Dani sat on the edge of her bed and studied her eyes. “Your pupils look good. You got another little scrape on your forehead, but you’re still not showing any signs of a concussion. I guess that means I don’t have to yell at Will too much for leaving you alone up there.”

“Last night?” She looked out the window. Barely dawn, but still. “I saw them. It wasn’t a dream.”

“I believe you. So does Liam. He brought Jace over to carry down the trunk you kept muttering about. They put it in the back of your truck.”

Right. The trunk. Cam and Davide. “I owe them one.”

“No, you don’t.” Dani pushed her curls behind her ears and handed Bailey her cup. “Are you going to tell me what’s going on with you?”

Bailey accepted it gratefully. “As soon as you tell me what possessed you to bring Kaya’s grandfather over to my attic.”

“Stax,” she said instantly, surprising her. “Called your bluff, didn’t I? He told me to bring Will here and let him do his thing with the spirits. That it would be important to you. He also said you were having a rough time and you might need my help.”

“Stax is getting on my nerves. I saw him at the café, but all he did was tell me to listen. And that being safe wasn’t enough anymore, whatever that means. I’m thinking of sending Kaya after him.”

Dani grinned ruefully. “She wouldn’t mind, I’m sure. I don’t understand why she doesn’t trust him. She’s so connected and she can see so much, but I’m starting to think that might not be a good thing. Who wants to know what everyone is thinking all the time? It has to make you cynical.”

“You mean you aren’t thinking of rainbows and puppies right now? Oh, and Liam’s junk?”

Dani offered her a finger in response. “One out of three.”

Bailey took a sip, thinking about Kaya’s warnings. “How did Stax tell you? Was it the mind link again? I thought that wasn’t happening anymore.”

“This is the first time I’ve heard a peep, and before you ask, Liam knows everything.” Dani pointed to the coffee. “Drink up and stop stirring the pot. You’re the one chatting with ghost girls and falling for two aliens from an all-male planet looking for love.”

Bailey stared at her mutely.

“Two time travelers who lost their way while looking for love?” She tried again.