Free Ghost of a Chance (Banshee Creek Book 2) by Ani Gonzalez

the Hell House hashtag. The beams had to be reinforced. The French didn't ship the crystals on time. The crystals were the wrong size. The French guy kept flirting with Holly. I read it all." He tried to imagine piecing that crystal monster back together, tiny piece by tiny piece. Liam was a saint.
    "Reading about it isn't the same as seeing it in person." She aimed a meaningful glance at the chandelier. "You have to admit it's pretty amazing."
    The chandelier was spectacular. Severus Hagen must have thought so too when he'd hung himself from it after losing his fortune in the year nineteen thirty-something. He wasn't the first victim of the Hagen curse. The house was bad luck to everyone who lived in it.  
    Elizabeth turned around and walked to the living room. He should have thanked her for her time and said goodbye. After all, he had no intention of buying this house. He should walk out, climb into his car, and drive back to the hotel.  
    Instead, he found himself following Elizabeth deeper into the house.  
    Idiot.  
    He avoided walking under the chandelier. He didn't believe the stories and he was sure Liam had secured the fixture, but why take the chance? He looked down at the marble. The rust-colored stains he'd seen many years ago weren't there anymore. Had he imagined them?  
    Elizabeth pointed out the living room's features in a self-assured voice, and Gabe had to admit that she knew her stuff. After five minutes, he knew more about eighteenth century Colonial Revival architecture than he'd ever wanted to. She was also extremely enthusiastic about the house and, as always, her energy was contagious. The house was beautiful and spacious and bright. In many ways she was right. The house was perfect.
    Almost perfect.
    "This fireplace had to be rebuilt from the ground up," she said. "Vintage brick was brought in from Vermont." She waited for a response.
    "It looks great, Elizabeth. The house is wonderful. Liam did a great job." She beamed. "Unfortunately, the place is still cursed."
    The beam disappeared. "It. Is. Not. Cursed," she bit out.
    "Liam lost three bulldozers and broke his leg. Are you really sure the house isn't cursed?" He couldn't resist taunting her. Lord, she looked beautiful with fiery eyes.  
    "A project of this size is hard. Accidents happen." She turned her back on him and walked back to the foyer. She must be heading upstairs. She really meant to show him the whole house. He dreaded climbing those stairs behind Elizabeth. He wouldn't be able to keep from staring at her butt.
    "Yeah, particularly in this house," he replied. "Give up the sales pitch. I'm not buying it."
    She turned around, eyes flashing.
    "This is the best house in Banshee Creek, Gabe. If you don't buy it, you'll have to buy a tiny row house or a real fixer-upper. And they'll still have ghosts."
    "I could always look beyond Banshee Creek."
    She looked confused. "What do you mean?"  
    "Look outside the town limits. You know, the houses on the hills."
    "The hills? What hills?" Her eyes widened. "You can't mean..." She paused. She swallowed. The words came out as a slow, horrified whisper. " Middleburg ."
    Gabe smiled. She couldn't even get the name of their rival town out. Now that was loyalty.
    He opened his mouth to tease her when he felt the ground tremble. A creaking sound followed. Elizabeth looked up, a surprised grimace on her face. He raised his gaze to the ceiling and felt his stomach lurch in dismay.
    The chandelier's crystals quivered. He watched in horror as the ginormous light fixture swayed from side to side.  
    He put his arms around Elizabeth and pushed her against the wall. He heard a crash and felt a sharp pain in his shoulder, but all he could focus on was Elizabeth's soft body pressed against him and her warm breath scorching his skin.  
    He was holding Elizabeth. But that wasn't the problem. The problem was he didn't want to let go. Damn it. He knew this house was bad news. Correction, he knew Elizabeth was