Restless Spirits
“You don’t know what you’d do without me, and you know it.” She pursed her lips, cutting her gaze at him playfully.
“I do.” His voice softened, and she paused, searching his eyes. They didn’t usually do serious. She wanted to ask him but held her tongue instead. They’d be alone together for the next three days.
“You taking the lead on this one?” Demi lifted a brow.
“Nothing left to do but get in the car and drive.”
“Oh yeah, you’ve been studying Seeker closely. It’s okay. I appreciate the authenticity.” She winked.
“Brat.” He wrapped an arm around her shoulders and pulled her close. Familiar warmth coursed through her body. Silence settled around them as they made their way outside and she locked up.
“You brought your laptop, right?” he asked.
“Of course. What kind of researcher would I be if I didn’t?” she scoffed.
He laughed. “Good point. When you get inside the car, open the glove compartment.”
She spotted the black sport utility. “Pierce!”
“Devil’s in the details.” The sun turned his hair golden, and the urge to kiss his lips hit her like a sucker punch.
“Thank you,” she said.
“Wait till the trip is done before you say that, okay?” His gaze darted around. He opened the passenger door, grabbed her bag, and strode over to the driver side with rushed movements that screamed avoidance. What the hell is going on here? She climbed into the car, sank down into the comfortable seat, and opened the glove compartment. A bundle wrapped in a map with writing greeted her. Her heart soared. The map had a black line and a circle around the final location. She removed the rubber band and found notes written in the same feminine writing as the one in the duffel bag delivered to her home.
“Oh my God, we’re going on to The Eagle Inn.” The infamously haunted hotel had been featured on many of the most-haunted-places lists. “A-fucking-mazing, Pierce.”
He turned to her and grinned. “It’s about a five-hour drive, so let’s get on the road and beat the traffic. I figure we can check into the hotel and grab some food before we bed down for the night.”
“Good stuff.” She grabbed his iPod, and butterflies formed in her belly at the sight of her name. “You made me a playlist?”
“Like I said, I’ve learned to keep you happy.” His words rang false, but she didn’t call him on it. Touchy-feely had never been their thing.
“You want to keep listening to this?” she asked, scrolling through. Old-school Metallica, AC/DC, Postal Service. He certainly had a handle on my likes. Flattered, she couldn’t wipe the goofy grin off her face.
“No, I have a case playlist.”
“And it keeps getting better.” She located the playlist and sighed as “Ramble On” came across the airwaves as they pulled out of the parking lot and hit the street.
Chapter Two
Pierce glanced over at Demi. She’d never been more beautiful than right now with the window down. The wind blew her hair around like strips of velvet. A look of pure bliss covered her heart-shaped face as she peered out into the darkness broken up by building lights and street lamps.
“We’re almost there. Do you want to stop when we find a spot or do the hotel thing first?” Pierce said.
“Let’s go to the hotel first. Then we can take our time in the restaurant. I’ve missed talking with you. The new video game I was working on kicked my ass.” She ran her hand through the pink-streaked mussed mess.
“Are you all finished designing the levels?”
“Yes, thank God. Don’t get me wrong. I love my job, but after looking at the same thing for so long, I’m ready to pitch the computer across the room to escape,” she said wryly.
“You would never do that to your baby.”
“You’re right.” She turned, directing her words toward the backseat. “Don’t listen to me, baby. I’m just disgruntled.”
Pierce laughed. “You’re so adorable sometimes, Demi.” They stopped at a red light, and he turned to face her. She pushed her lips together in a full-blown pout.
“I don’t want to be adorable.”