Dead People In Love (Haunted Hearts) Read Online Free Page B

gasped.
    On a gray chair in the corner, the air moved. An outline of a man formed.  
    “Olivia!” Rose moved to stand next to Cassie. “That’s rude and uncalled for.”
    “Grandma, Donovan and I just don’t want you taken advantage of.”
    “First, just because I’m eighty-five doesn’t mean I’ve become gullible. Second, I’m not your grandma.”
    “I’ve offended you.” Her expression hurt, Olivia gazed down at Rose. “I don’t mean you any harm or disrespect. I...we...just want to protect you.”
    “When I need protection, I’ll ask for it. You’ve insulted my guest, and now you’ve insulted me.”
    “Donovan.” Olivia twisted around, leaning toward him, putting her hands out. “Aren’t you going to say anything?”
    “We should leave.”
    A muscle in Olivia’s cheek twitched. “Don’t make me out to be the bad guy. You agreed we should be here.”
    “You kept talking until I said yes.”
    “Now you’re talking as if I’m being...being...”
    “A bitch.” Cassie smiled, happy to help.
    This was taking an interesting turn. When she got back to the hotel, she was going to have a lot to tell Luke.
    “Not a bitch,” Donovan said quickly.  
    “Then what am I? A hysterical woman?” Olivia held her arms rigid at her sides, her hands curled. As if she were holding back from popping him a good one on his chin.
    “I never said that either.” He stepped back until the couch stopped him.  
    If Cassie didn’t dislike Olivia so much, she’d be wincing for her. Instead she wanted to do a happy Snoopy dance. Hadn’t Olivia learned that men didn’t like to have scenes in private? And they hated it worse in public. A public scene was their idea of hell.
    Olivia shook her head, her mouth open but no words coming out. As if she didn’t believe this was happening.
    “Are you dropping this, Donny?” Rose asked, her tone lilted, her eyes bright with hope.  
    He shoved his hand through his short hair and looked at her, misery compounded in his easy-to-read face. Cassie could practically see the gears turning in his head. Trying to do the right thing, but realizing the right thing wasn’t easy to figure out.
    “I want to do what’s best for you.”
    “You know what’s best for me. Leave me here.”
    “You’re talking to a ghost.” He held his hands out to her. “That’s not...sane.”
    “If you see the ghost, will you believe me?”
    He didn’t talk for a long moment, then nodded. “I’ll have to.”
    “And you won’t kick me out of my home? The place I’ve lived for fifty-one years?”
    He nodded. Olivia let out a soft cry. Rose let out a squeal. Her arms spread, her face creased in smile folds, Rose rushed into Donovan’s arms to give him a huge hug.
    Cassie turned her gaze to Olivia. She stood unmoving. Not even an eye-blink. Staring at Donovan and Rose, her mouth still open. As if watching her plans crumbling, her dreams tumbling like Jack and Jill down the hill.
    Why this mattered to her so much, Cassie didn’t understand. All she understood was that this attractive woman who dressed in designer clothes and oozed confidence was scheming to kick an elderly woman out of her home.
    Cassie sucked in a deep breath. Despite the pain in the ass this was proving to be, it would give her pleasure to foil Olivia’s plans.
    “Let’s get this going,” she said as Rose and Donovan unclinched. “There are five people in the place, but one of us isn’t showing up.”
    “Bridget?” Donovan looked toward the hall, his eyes lighting up.
    Olivia’s jaw dropped even wider, staring at him as if his skin had just turned green.
    Cassie swallowed a laugh. She wasn’t here for entertainment. If that’s what she wanted, she had better distractions waiting for her at the hotel suite.
    “I’m talking about the dead person in the room.” Cassie turned her head toward the chair, but the outline was gone. Oh great, the guest of honor was playing hide and seek.
    “Now?” Rose asked. “Tea