Free Bewitching You by Viola Estrella Page B

drinking, okay? I don’t want to come home to a burned down house.”
    “Yes, ma’am.” Her cheeks blazed. Mind read once again.
    Nana pulled out the liquor cabinet key and slid it across the counter. “You’re welcome to whatever I have, but don’t get carried away.”
    Sofia nodded, avoiding eye contact.
    “Heal your heartbreak however you choose, dear, but don’t forget that I love you.” Nana kissed Sofia’s head as she passed by on her way to pick up her suitcase.
    “Love you too.” Sofia waited until the huge Buick left the driveway before she let a ragged breath.
    Alone again.
    ~ * ~
    Rachel locked her bedroom door and jammed a chair under the knob. How that would keep a ghost away, she didn’t know, but she had to try something.
    Ever since she’d arrived home, the chill that was Hayes had wrapped itself around her, encompassing her, not giving her a moment’s rest. Still, she refused to acknowledge him, hoping he’d give up and leave.
    “It’s okay, Rachel. All you have to do is agree to talk to me.” His voice breezed over her body, chilling it all the way to her ears.
    God, it was freezing. She couldn’t take it anymore. She grabbed a quilt off her bed and wrapped it around her body, but it was useless. She was just as cold, if not more so. As if she’d pressed him through her skin and into her bones.
    “Go away, Hayes,” she yelled, unable to hold her tongue any longer.
    “That’s my girl.” He’d slipped behind her this time.
    Rachel swerved around and spotted him leaning against one of her pink-painted walls. A smile of victory was on his face, revealing his dimple. She didn’t know whether to be angry or overjoyed to be able to see him once again.
    She gathered her wits and took a breath. “You have to leave me alone.”
    His smile disappeared. “Not as long as you’re planning on marrying my brother. Tell me you’re not, and I’ll be gone forever.”
    “Why don’t you go aggravate him? Why me?”
    “Trust me. I’ve been doing my work on him.”
    “Great. I’m glad to know you’re creating havoc even in your afterlife. Why can’t you let us be happy?”
    “Happy?” He laughed. “Don’t kid yourself. Neither one of you is happy, especially you. And you’re not going to change that by marrying a man who doesn’t love you.”
    The words hit Rachel hard, twisting a knot in her stomach. Down deep, she knew Grayson didn’t love her, but it hurt like hell to have that the assumption validated.
    “Maybe he doesn’t love me…” She ground out the words. “But that doesn’t matter. He needs me. When you left him like you did, everything changed. He’s not the same man he used to be. It’s like he died inside when you died. I wouldn’t be doing him any favors abandoning him. I’m all he has left.”
    “Don’t you think I know that? That’s why I’m here, sweetheart. To fix what I broke. I can’t go on—” He raised his arms toward the ceiling and let them fall to his side. “I can’t move on until you’re both happy, or well on your way.” He took a step forward, his gaze dark, pained. “And he’ll never be content if he marries you.”
    “Thanks a lot.”
    “Only because he’s not the man for you. You don’t love him. Not the way she loves him.” He mumbled the last sentence, but Rachel caught every word.
    “Someone else loves Grayson? Who? Who are you talking about? Do I know her?” She pressed her palm to her chest. “Is he cheating on me?”
    “No. The guy is too much of a goody-two-shoes to not be anything but completely loyal. I always hated that about him,” he said, but smiled and shook his head. “Anyway, it doesn’t matter who the woman is. Just know there’s someone out there who’s more his type.”
    “That’s just great. Thank you, Hayes, for ruining my life from the grave. It’s not like you didn’t do enough damage while you were—” She stopped herself. “Just leave. Please.”
    “Look, Rachel, you’ll find