Ghost of a Promise Read Online Free Page A

still looked as dangerously tempting as he had when she first saw him an hour ago. His wide shoulders and sculpted biceps were barely contained in his long-sleeved cotton shirt, and the man knew how to wear a pair of jeans better than any man on earth. His jaw had a day ’ s worth of growth, and his lashes seemed as thick as the beautiful mass of black hair on his head, framing blue eyes that lit with humor. The man was too hot and too charming for his own good.
    Scratch that. For her own good.
    Lee looked at him, his expression grim as she stood on needles herself. She didn’ t know anything about these investigations or what to expect, but she needed answers and soon. Calling in Phantoms was her last option.
    Her parents thought she was crazy. Her great-aunt’ s attorney thought she was an idiot. The Hansens thought her desperate, even though they were just as desperate to get their hands on the house and convert to a museum. And people wondered why she was snarky. In the six weeks since the reading of the will, she ’ d researched several newspaper clippings and books. She ’ d brought her findings to Fred Sawyer, just to have the infuriating lout shake his head. It wasn ’ t enough. He needed proof.
    She needed help, which she ’ d always found difficult to ask for. Probably because no one was ever interested in offering it.
    Lee drew in a deep breath, seemingly not even aware of the camera continuing to roll film. “ This house … weeps. It breathes. And the spirits inside are angry. Sad. I can ’ t help but feel a warning to you is in order. ”

Chapter Three
    “ Are you trying to tell me my house is evil? ” Ava asked Lee incredulously.
    Jackson grinned, loving the sudden spark of fire in Ava Trumble.
    The crew was gathered in the living room, a large, modern space with white leather furniture and a cabinet hiding a pretty impressive-sized flat screen. In the corner, a floor-to-ceiling brick fireplace remained unused, the thick white mantle decorated with colored glass bottles in varying sizes. The room was both masculine and feminine. And comfortable.
    He rubbed his chest, still trying to brush away the after-effects of emotion. Emotions he’d never encountered before and didn’t entirely know what to do with. Attraction for Ava melded with a familiar sensation of belonging stronger than he’ d experienced when they pulled in. The scent of saltwater and brine outside and the aroma of warm cookies and cinnamon inside encompassed him. Filled his chest and sealed cracks. Spoke to him, welcomed him, like a lilt on a breeze.
    At first he thought it was the mansion. Now he wondered if it was her.
    “ No, your house isn’t evil, ” Lee answered with patience, drawing Jackson back to the conversation. “ Evil is entirely different. I ’ m not talking demons or shadow people here. I ’ m not picking up on poltergeists either. What you have is a lot of residual haunting. However, there are two to three spirits who are interactive or intelligent hauntings. ”
    “ I have no idea what you just said. ” By the look on her face and the twist of her pretty lips, she hated that more than anything.
    Her irritation hadn ’ t subsided, not completely. She was extremely attractive like this, trying to bottle all that energy and passion.
    He intercepted on Lee’s behalf. “ There are several different kinds of hauntings. Demons and shadow people are believed to never have had a mortal form. They are considered evil and are associated with a feeling of dread. They usually have to be exorcised. ”
    He waited to see if she followed along, pleased the frustration drained from her face. “ Residual hauntings are sort of like a movie playing over and over. When someone dies in a sudden way, it can imprint the atmosphere or location. Those entities are completely unaware of their surroundings and don ’ t interact. ”
    She appeared to chew that over. “ Okay, what else? ”
    “ Poltergeists usually emerge from a