Nathan’s gaze was intense. “If it weren’t for the clock, we wouldn’t be together.”
Amanda could sense Jacob staring as her head turned from side to side as if she was watching a tennis match. She felt as though she was. One that didn’t make any sense to her.
“I have to say it’s a bit unnerving not knowing what’s going on right in front of my own eyes,” he said.
“Help me up,” she whispered.
Jacob got up and offered her his hand. She took it and he pulled her to her feet.
“The ghosts?” he asked.
She scanned the room. They’d disappeared the moment she turned away from them.
She ran through the information she’d received. Catherine’s aunt had given her the clock as a wedding gift and Catherine believed it to be enchanted in some way—the reason her and Nathan’s spirits were trapped in the house.
It was almost midnight. If she could witness what happened when the clock struck midnight, maybe that would help in the assessment. If she could do something, anything to break the curse for the ghosts…
Why was she allowing herself to become so involved with this? She didn’t even like love stories, let alone tragic ones that ended in murder.
“The ghosts are gone,” she said. “For now. We need to find the clock.”
“What clock?”
What was she supposed to say to that that didn’t make her sound completely insane? Then again, what did she care what Jacob thought of her? “It’s a clock that was here when the ghosts were cursed. It might even be the cause of the curse. We need to find it, assess it, and then we’re getting out of here.”
“The last part’s the best suggestion I’ve heard all evening.”
“Do you have a camera?”
“Yeah, right here.” He patted his pocket.
There was a stairway at the end of the hall. The lights were dim and not all of them worked but it was enough to see their way. Amanda wasn’t afraid. Some might be in a haunted house, but she’d already met the ghosts. Not the friendliest sort, but nothing overtly evil there.
She’d felt their love. She’d seen it in the vision. It hadn’t been only an affair, it had been deeper, truer. Not everyone found that sort of love in their life. But if it made one make dangerous and questionable decisions that led to getting shot, then she’d prefer to keep to the much more orderly emotions, thanks.
There was no chance that her relationship with David would end up with her pining away for his spirit. Not that she didn’t care for him; there was some strong affection there, but love?
Amanda’s life was unpredictable enough dealing with her psychic abilities without adding love to the equation.
“WHY DO we care about this clock, again?” Jacob asked as they ascended the staircase to the second floor of the dimly lit, musty-smelling house.
Amanda didn’t answer right away, which worried him a little. Was she in another trance? Was she communicating with the ghosts? He’d never worked with her before, but he’d worked with other mediums enough to know that dead people weren’t always friendly and cooperative. No, sometimes they were vicious and violent and intent on possession. A soft, sweet-smelling, warm human body like Amanda’s would be their first choice to thrust themselves into.
That wasn’t supposed to be a sexy thought, Jacob chastised himself as his cock stiffened at the mental image. Just when he’d thought he’d gotten himself under control again.
Damn.
He grabbed her arm and made her stop halfway up the stairs. “Hey. You okay?”
Her face was paler than it had been before. She blinked and seemed to focus on him. “Yeah, I’m fine. Why are you looking at me like that?”
“Like what?”
“Like you’re worried.”
“Probably because I am.”
That made a small smile appear on those disconcertingly kissable lips of hers. “You’re worried about me?”
“Sure. There’s no reason for us still to be here prodding around. We need to go back to the office and file our report.”
“I never knew you were such a rule-follower.”
“I’m not.” He realized he was still touching her and he removed his hand, instead clenching it at his side. “But I don’t want anything bad to happen.”
“Nothing bad will happen. The ghosts aren’t evil.”
“Are you sure about that?”
“They were in love. They’re cursed now and can’t touch each other, can’t see each other except for an hour a day. It must be hell for them. If you could see them, Jacob—”
“But I can’t.”
“No.” She sighed with frustration. “You can’t. But I can. I can see that if the curse was broken, if they could be fully together again, then they’d likely find their peace and leave the house without any drastic measures.”
“Drastic measures like an exorcism.”
“Exactly.”
“Since when are you so against exorcisms? It’s kind of what you do, isn’t it?”
“Sure, if the situation calls for it. But if there’s another reason, or if there’s a story behind it…if we can do something to help—”
“They’re already dead.”
“Doesn’t mean that they’re not still in love.”
He eyed her for a long moment before he started to laugh. The dreamy look on her face immediately vanished and was replaced by a harder edge.
“What’s so damn funny?” she asked.
“You. You’re a romantic. I never would have guessed it in a million years.”
“I’m not a romantic.”
“You want the ghosts to find their happy ending.”