Ghosts of Border House – Book Tour and Giveaway

Donnal paced the long hall, impatient for Nova to exit the dining room. If he followed her in there, he’d have to explain himself to the other ghosts who were undoubtedly in there to enjoy the breakfast scents.

Questions tumbled around in his head. When had Nova arrived? More importantly, how long would she stay? This weekend was the anniversary of his death and the Border House Halloween Ball. He attended every year, in honor of the night he missed with his Nova. Maybe this year, he could dance beside her, if not in her arms.

So engrossed was he in his thoughts that Nova walked past him before he noticed her leaving the dining room. “Nova, my love. After all these years, ye are more beautiful than ever,” he said, trailing behind her to the lift.

She was whip-thin in dark brown pants and a warm gold turtleneck. Her silver hair tumbled over her shoulders in natural waves, and she wore no cosmetics that he could see. When she stopped to wait for the doors to open, he leaned close to catch a whiff of her perfume.

“What’re you doing?” Ann Darby yanked at the sleeve of his ghillie shirt. “Take a walk with me, we can watch the sunrise.”

He barely controlled his irritation as he pushed her hand away. It wouldn’t be good to offend her, because Ann might be able to help him—if she were willing. The lift dinged, and Nova stepped inside.

“Donnal, I asked you a question. What’s your interest in this old woman?” Ann demanded, her manicured hands planted against her slim hips.

He blew out a breath and twisted to face her. Ann was a beautiful woman with golden hair tumbling around her shoulders, paired with her tiny white mini-skirt and matching midriff blouse. And a knee-high white go-go boots. Well, everything used to be white. Now it was hopelessly stained from the river water, in which the English woman had drowned back in 1975.

“Ann.” He spoke carefully. She’d set her sights on him years ago, and he was never more thankful than in this moment that he’d resisted her considerable charms. “Cuid we talk for a minute?”

Ann hummed her agreement, and her ruby red lips tilted up at the edges. “Somewhere private?” she asked, trailing delicate fingertips down his arm.

“Sure, okay, let’s step on the patio.” He agreed absently, completely missing the animated glint in her eyes. He would have to check all the guestrooms later to see which one Nova had chosen.

“Hm … sunrise after all,” she said, tucking her hand in the crook of his elbow and pressing against his side like an alley cat as they moved through the oak door.

Donnal glanced around the patio, relieved to see William had gone and no other ghosts lurked nearby. He’d rather ask this favor out of the earshot of their compatriots. If his Majesty found out, he might call a house meeting, and Donnal didn’t want everyone to know his business.

Ann lay her cheek against his shoulder. “You smell delicious. Let’s go to the orchard and sniff the apples.”

“No.” Donnal gently separated their bodies and gripped her shoulders, holding her away from him.

Her pretty mouth was a round ‘O’ of surprise, which quickly morphed into irritation. “No? Why did you ask me out here then?”

“Ann,” he said, releasing her and smoothing his hands through his rumpled dark curls. “I need tae ask a favor.”

She drew herself upright and folded her slender arms over her chest. Ann would be shivering in her barely-there dress if she could still feel the cold. “What kind of favor?”

“The lady ye saw me watching in the hall…”

“The old lady?”

“She’s not… well, she is … younger than me. I ken her. Before. Before I died.”

Ann’s eyebrows lifted higher than should be possible. “From when you were alive? Did she kill you?”

“You ken how I died,” Donnal grunted and patted the thin wedge of metal that poked through his shirt and remained forever lodged in his chest. “Flying metal from ma experiment,” he said, then absently sipped his beer.

“Let me have some of your beer.”

Donnal didn’t like sharing his beer with anyone. Not because he was selfish, but because it was strange the way it refilled itself after he drank. He had no idea how the liquid replenished itself. If it returned from his stomach … well, sharing it would be gross.

“Well?” she tapped her booted foot.

“No’ right noo,” he said, tucking the bottle in his belt loop and motioning toward a table at the side of the patio. “Wuid ye want tae sit?”

“Not particularly. I thought we were going to take a walk and have a little fun.”

He shook his head slowly. “I canna. I’ve told ye before I gave ma heart away long ago.”