Free Inevitable by Michelle Rowen Page A

for the rest of your life.
    Literal hauntings were a lot easier to deal with. Even when they involved potentially dangerous ghosts.
    Emma shifted her purse to her other shoulder and eyed the hotel which stood about two blocks away from the restaurant. She didn’t have to look to see that Ryanhad moved closer to her side again. Her heart pounded faster when he pressed his hand against her back.
    â€œWhat are you doing?” she asked, a breathy quality to her voice.
    â€œI’m sorry.”
    â€œWhat for?”
    Ryan’s expression had become strained. “I said I’d keep ten feet between us, but it’s more difficult than I thought. I’m finding it nearly impossible not to touch you.”
    â€œA promise is a promise.”
    â€œLook at me, Em.”
    She didn’t want to, but she moved as if her body had a mind of its own.
    â€œWhat?” she asked.
    â€œAre you going to see Leo again after tonight?” He appeared very serious all of a sudden.
    She couldn’t help it, she had to laugh at that. “Why are you asking?”
    â€œI don’t like him. You can do better.”
    â€œHe’s fairly perfect.”
    â€œThat’s probably what I don’t like about him. If you’re going to date someone, then he should be a bit rough around the edges. He shouldn’t be perfect. Perfect is boring.”
    â€œI’ll definitely take your suggestion under advisement.” He was still touching her, and his touch burned into her skin through the thin material of her teal blouse. Desire twisted inside her and it was impossible to ignore. He had her encircled in his arms, his hands low on her back. She felt the urge to lean against him and feel his body press against hers again. He watched every move she made as if memorizing her actions for later reference. His gaze moved to her lips.
    â€œDo you have any idea how much I want to kiss you right now?” he asked. “And how crazy it made me to see him kiss you?”
    â€œRyan…”
    â€œThis potion will wear off soon, I promise. Until then…”
    She struggled to breathe. She could feel his warm breath against her face, his lips only an inch from hers. “Until then what?”
    His hands slid lower, his fingers digging into the soft curve of her buttocks through her skirt. She felt herself grow damp between her legs and her body ached for him to touch her much more intimately.
    His mouth brushed against hers. Not a kiss, exactly. Just a touch. “Until then you’re going to have to be strong for both of us. I talk a good game, but I know you’d regret it. I don’t want you to hate me any more than you already do.”
    When he let go of her, she realized that she’d been gripping his sides. Her face felt flushed and there was an emptiness inside her that felt cold. She’d wanted him so much, she’d nearly forgotten herself. Again.
    This didn’t feel like just lust, this pull Ryan had on her. It felt much bigger and deeper and much more apt to tear her life completely apart if she gave into this growing need she had for the man who’d broken her heart six months ago.
    Now that was a scary thought.
    â€œLet’s go,” Ryan said, putting a little distance between them. “We need to have a chat with a ghost.”

7
    I N ITS TIME , Maison Duchamp had been a very popular hotel in Mystic Ridge. Emma racked her mind trying to remember everything she’d read about the place. It had been closed for as long as she’d lived here—and that was going on five years now. That had been the last time it had been fully investigated. Without owners to request—and pay for—PARA’s services, the property remained untouched, its file put into the cold case pile.
    Still, Patrick would definitely appreciate a quick result. And if Emma could deliver that when so many others had failed, then she knew it would mean good things for her