The Ghost of Valentine Past Read Online Free Page A

talking about a blanket here, in the dream, back in your bedroom at Marlow House. Close your eyes and tell your hands to reach down and grab hold of your blanket and pull them up over you.”
    Danielle closed her eyes and tried what he suggested, but she was still cold. Opening her eyes again, she looked over at Walt. “It didn’t work. I guess I’ll have to wake myself up before I freeze to death.”
    â€œDon’t be silly. It took you two hours to fall asleep; thanks to that extra cup of coffee you had with dinner. If you wake up now, you might be up all night.”
    â€œMaybe, but I’ll also be warm!”
    â€œJust hold on a moment, and I’ll go cover you up.”
    â€œReally?” Danielle smiled. “I guess that would work.”
    â€œCertainly. I’ll be right back. Enjoy the view, and you’ll be warm again in no time,” Walt promised.

    W alt stood over Danielle’s bed. Just as he suspected, her blankets had fallen to the floor. Curled up on the center of the mattress, she shivered in her sleep, her arms wrapped around her bent knees. Wearing plaid pajama bottoms and a red T-shirt, her feet were bare, and he suspected, if he could actually touch them, they would be ice cold.
    Moonlight flooded through the window, illuminating the bedroom. Walt reached down and grabbed the blankets from the floor. Just as he tossed them over Danielle’s sleeping body, movement from the corner of the room caught his eye. At first, he expected to see Max. Yet, it was not the cat, but a man, silently watching him and Danielle.
    Walt froze a moment, prepared to do battle with the intruder when the stranger looked up into Walt’s eyes and asked, “Who are you?”
    â€œYou can see me?” Walt found himself asking.
    â€œWhat kind of question is that? Of course I can see you,” the man snapped.
    â€œAnother one who can see me?” Walt muttered under his breath. He then glared at the stranger, while standing guard over Danielle.
    Instead of retreating from Walt, the man gazed down at the bed. “That’s Danielle, isn’t it?”
    â€œHow did you get in here?” Walt demanded.
    The man looked up into Walt’s eyes. “Who are you?”
    â€œYou’re the intruder here. Answer my question.” Walt wondered briefly if he should summons Chris. It wasn’t that Walt wasn’t fully capable of handling the intruder on his own, but Chris could call the police and get the man locked up. The last thing he wanted was for Danielle to suddenly wake up and find a stranger in her bedroom. He would prefer to handle the situation and then explain to her what had happened—after the intruder was apprehended and behind bars.
    â€œI was looking for Danielle. What are you doing in her room? How did you get in here? I didn’t see you come in,” the stranger asked.
    â€œThis is my house,” Walt explained. “And you are a trespasser. I’m calling the police.”
    Walt took a step toward the stranger, and when he did, the man disappeared.
    â€œWhat the…” Walt looked over to Danielle, who continued to sleep peacefully; yet now, she was contently snuggled beneath a pile of warm blankets.
    After glancing around one last time, Walt stepped out of the bedroom and surveyed the hallway. All was quiet. Lily’s bedroom door was closed, as was Heather’s, and the couple who had checked in that afternoon. A moment later, he heard the faint sound of the downstairs clock chiming three times. The couple who checked in yesterday , Walt corrected himself, when he realized it was no longer Thursday, but Friday morning. Friday the 13 th . The day before Valentine’s Day.
    With haste, Walt moved through the rooms on the second floor of Marlow House. Yet all he found were sleeping guests, no spirits. Before making his way to the attic, he checked on Danielle, just in case the intruding ghost had returned to her