“Do you think that’s all we are, these labels you’re tossing out willy-nilly?” he asked, countering her excuses.
“Willy-nilly?” She smirked.
“Don’t change the subject, D.”
She sighed. “No, it’s not what I think. I was giving you a generalization of why I’m skeptical.”
“Where’s the brave girl who made me come in my pants back there, then conned a police officer?”
Heat dusted her cheeks and moved up into her ears. “She’s still here, just thinking with the brain in her head and not the one below her belt.”
“Sounds like a case of cold feet.”
She snorted. “We’re not getting married.”
“No, but you’re running scared when you weren’t before. Look. If we overthink things, we’ll ruin this weekend. It’s not a mandate we have all the answers now.”
The soothing baritone calmed her frayed nerves. “Right. I’m jumping the gun.” She took a deep breath.
“It’s all right. I figured once the freak-out set in you’d start to pull away,” he said. The resignation in his voice wounded her. He expected her to run.
No matter what, this was still Pierce. He didn’t deserve to be subjected to the bitch who came out when her too-close-for-comfort radar went off. Grateful for the night sky that hid her actions, she wrung her hands. Soon she’d be forced to make some tough decisions. She needed to be sure they were the right ones.
Chapter Three
Pierce pulled in front of the hotel, and Demi gasped.
“Oh my God! We’re actually at The Eagle Inn.” He reached over and squeezed her hand. “How can I ever repay you?”
“Just enjoy yourself…and walk in front of me, so they don’t notice my predicament.” He glanced down at the slightly damp blue jeans, and she laughed. The airy sound chased away the tension that lingered in the cab.
“You ready?”
“Hell yes!” She unbuckled the seat belt and leaped from the vehicle like a superhero off to save an innocent person from danger. He made his way out, following behind her as she strode into the three-story off-white building with dark green shutters and red trim on the bottom. The circular sign boasted THE EAGLE INN. Large windows lined the front beneath a dark green awning where the structure extended outward to hold the restaurant. An American flag waved in the crisp night air. Opened in the mid-1700s as a tavern, the place had a history of spirits not at rest. They walked into a room with high ceilings and ornamental wood beams. Shades of gray cobblestone lined the walls, and a fireplace agains
t the wall. Carpets done in royal reds and gold ran over the floor. Antique settees were arranged to face one another with comfortable-looking plush velvet chairs.
The freestanding dark wood desk rested in front of the left wall. A woman dressed in a crisp white shirt, black suit jacket, and a black-and-white scarf greeted them with a smile.
“Hello, welcome to The Eagle Inn. How can I help you?”
“Hi, we have a reservation under Pierce Lane.” He dug into his back pocket and pulled out his wallet.
Her fingers flew over the keys. “Oh yes, room sixteen. Tomorrow night you’ll have the run of the place for your investigation. We’re all terribly excited to see what will happen. They can be fickle, you know.” He glanced at her name tag, stunned by the lengths Andrea must’ve gone to make this happen. I’ll never bitch about her fee again.
“Have you experienced anything, Maureen?”
“I’ve seen the outline of a person a time or two in the parking lot, but I’m not very sensitive to these types of things.” She shrugged. Her almond-shaped brown eyes twinkled with mirth in her round face. With her coal-black hair pulled back into a bun and a light dusting of makeup, he couldn’t accurately gauge her age, but kindness flowed freely. He handed her his ID.
“Has any activity ever been reported in room sixteen?” Demi asked, in investigative mode.
“Not while I’ve been working here, the past five years, but I’d wager to say since the inn’s been opened there were incidents or sightings in all of them at one point or another.” The efficient way Maureen talked and processed paperwork told him she’d been asked many questions working behind the desk.
“Have they come up with any theories on why this place is so active?” he asked.
“A combination of its age, the fact that it was a pub where altercations occurred, and the very transient nature that comes with people constantly coming and going.”
He glanced over and grinned. Demi had her head bent over a small notepad she scribbled in.