Free Haunted Renovation Mystery 1 - Flip That Haunted House by Rose Pressey Page B

did you just
pick the locks?”
    “No, I didn’t pick the locks or have a key,”
he said wryly. “The back door was open.” He pointed toward the back
of the house.
    “What were you doing snooping around the
back door?” My lips pursed.
    “It was open, as in wide open.”
    I blew out a harsh breath. Pain in the
ass.
    So the ghost was unlocking the doors. It
wasn’t unheard of. I’d seen video footage of it actually
happening.
    “Your employee,” I pointed to Bob, “thought
he saw a woman watching him from the upstairs window. Did you see
anyone?” I wiped the dirt from my pants and tried to avoid eye
contact.
    If the woman in the window were my mother,
we’d all know it. She’d ogle over Reed like a labrador retriever
salivates over a Milk Bone . So, I’m guessing my male ghost
has a lady friend in the afterlife. How sweet.
    “Nope. There’s no one in the house. I
checked every room. You must’ve been seeing things.” He looked at
Bob. “The upstairs bathroom floor is in bad shape, FYI.” He moved
his gaze back to me.
    “Thanks, I’ll take care of it.” He was
giving me multiple reasons why I’d soon need blood pressure
medication.
    I scanned the room looking for a specter.
Nothing there.
    “I could’ve sworn I saw someone.” Bob
scratched his head.
    “Maybe it was the ghost.” I leaned against
the fireplace.
    “Ghosts?” Bob’s eyes widened. He shifted his
feet as if ready to sprint at the first sign of a paranormal
visitor.
    “You can’t be serious. There’s no such
thing,” Reed scoffed.
    Why was I not surprised by his comment?
Although, he did have a worried look in his eyes. Maybe I imagined
it.
    “There are ghosts in the house. A couple
that I know of,” I said.
    “Are you serious?” Bob asked.
    “And you know this how? I don’t see Casper
anywhere.” Reed looked around the room.
    Probably shouldn’t mention my psychic
friend. Reed was a cynic, and I didn’t need to hear his views on
psychics. Which reminded me, I needed to call Lacey.
    “Very funny.” Did Reed have to smile so
much? “It’s not Casper. I’ve heard them.” I looked at Bob, then
back to Reed.
    “You’ve heard them? And what do they say?
Boo?” Reed asked.
    My mouth quirked. “They don’t speak. I’m not
sitting for a chat with them over tea and scones.” I paused. “I’ve
heard footsteps and felt cold spots. I’m part of a paranormal
investigative team.” The raised eyebrows let me know he thought my
supernatural chatter was a little kooky. “Never mind, you’re
obviously a skeptic.”
    Bob’s phone rang interrupting the ghostly
talk—thank goodness. He excused himself to the veranda, leaving me
alone with Mr. Fix-It. Reed wore another t-shirt, and his biceps
bulged underneath the faded red fabric. Rips adorned the knees of
his jeans.
    “You said you thought about buying this
place. A handyman like you, why didn’t you?”
    “I told you. It’s too much work. This place
is a dump.” He leaned against the wall, then crossed one foot over
the other.
    My cheeks grew hot. “It’s not a dump,” I
said through gritted teeth. “It’s not as if the place is falling
down around me. The roof is still standing. There are floors to
walk on,” I snorted.
    Reed’s lips twisted at the corners releasing
a sexy grin. A dimple dented his left cheek. Apparently, he found
what I said amusing.
    I walked over to the floor to ceiling window
overlooking the front lawn and gazed out. Reed’s sexiness oozed and
I needed my distance. Where the heck was Bob, anyway?
    “Do you live close by?” Reed asked.
    “Yes. I live on the outskirts of town. Over
on Midway.” I tilted my head to look at him. “Why?”
    “It’s important to live nearby in case
anything happens to the place, you can come quickly.” He raked his
hand through his hair.
    “What kind of things could happen?”
    “The place could burn to the ground.” His
expression didn’t change, the dimple was still on full display.
    That was