Free Ghost Layer (The Ghost Seer Series Book 2) by Robin D. Owens Page B

started, in fact.”
    She nodded, mind still fuzzy.
    His eyes gleamed with satisfaction. “Good.” He rolled off her, and off the bed, made a wide gesture for her to head into the master bath. He didn’t want her to see him walk, then. She swallowed a sigh and got off the bed with less grace. She stopped in front of him and pulled his head down for a quick, claiming kiss, her blood stirring. Then she sashayed away.
    •   •   •
    After showering and dressing in a pair of new jeans and a long-sleeved silk blouse, Clare read and signed the short contract with Rickman to be an independent consultant for one job only. The terms with him were fair. The minimum fee and the hourly rate sent a balm to her accountant’s heart.
    It wasn’t the fee that her great-aunt Sandra could have commanded, but it was more than respectable for the trip and stay and stopping J. Dawson Hidgepath from doing more damage.
    The cost of sending the apparition on to his next destination couldn’t be calculated. Those horrible moments when she had to initiate contact, sink into him, see whatever he—or the universe—needed her to see, then free him with whatever words came to her chilled mind and frozen lips.
    She shook off the memory of helping her first major ghost, and e-mailed the contract to Rickman, then left her “ghost business” office to pack a bag, and looked around her home.
    Zach had dressed and kissed her jawline, then turned her and slid his mouth on hers, darted his tongue inside so she tasted him. One last glorious pressure of lips on lips and he stepped away. “I like your new digs, Clare.”
    She sighed. “Yes, I love this house.”
    “And it looks good on you, wealth,” Zach said.
    She shrugged and his hands came up to curve around her upper arms. “You won’t waste it like your parents. You’ll shepherd it.”
    “Absolutely.”
    “But you’ll enjoy it, too, like your great-aunt Sandra did.”
    “I suppose.”
    “I’m staying here in Denver to hit the library and the History Colorado Center for whatever they might have,” he said reluctantly. “Shouldn’t take more than a day, do you think? You’re the historical research expert.”
    She grimaced. “I’m getting there, aren’t I? But I’ve got a feeling Mr. Laurentine was right. We won’t find any solid, original source material on J. Dawson, especially down here in Denver. I think most everything will be in Park County.”
    “Good.” He kissed her. “I’ll be up in a day or two.”
    When she finished packing a large bag, Zach said, “Don’t forget J. Dawson’s box.”
    “You think I’ll need it before you come up?” She hoped she wouldn’t.
    “Oh, yeah.”
    She fixed breakfast and they ate. Then she gave Zach her resource list for Western history in Denver, and had no more reason to linger. As it was, she’d be leaving during rush hour. She double-checked her route to avoid ghosts lingering around the car and obscuring her vision. She was getting better at ignoring the stray one or two while driving.
    After a last, sizzling kiss with Zach, she departed. Enzo popped up in her passenger seat before she got down the block.
    He panted cheerfully. As usual, strings of ghostly drool hung down from his muzzle.
Whee! WE ARE GOING TO THE MOUNTAINS!
    “I know. I’m driving.”
    I have never been TO THE MOUNTAINS!
    “I guess not. You’ll find it cooler.” Would he notice? “It’s coming up on autumn, though I don’t think the aspen leaves will quite have turned gold yet.”
    There will be MOUNTAIN GHOSTS.
    “Yes, a lot of them.” She wondered if she dared visit some of the towns. They’d be as thronged with ghosts as downtown Denver. “Many people lived in the mountains during the time period I’m sensitive to. Miners, prospectors, and everyone who could make money off of them.”
    This will be FUN!
Enzo stared out the windshield.
    “It will be business.” She hesitated. “Did Great-Aunt Sandra enjoy her