“Nina.” Jordan waved, catching her friend’s attention.
Nina smiled and waved back, increasing the speed of her steps across the terminal. Her red curls bounced with every stride. She was dressed in a conservative, deep blue travel suit, but Jordan was sure her suitcase was full of colorful, flashy outfits more suited to her outrageous personality.
“You look wonderful,” Nina said as she embraced her in a hug. “What’s his name?”
“What?” Jordan asked with a chuckle.
“You have a glow about you. You’re either pregnant or you’re getting some.”
Jordan laughed at her outspoken friend. “Neither.”
“Well, then…” Nina hooked her arm around Jordan’s elbow and they headed toward the parking lot, “…it must be the English country air. I told you coming here would be great.”
“I’ll have to admit, it has been nice,” Jordan said, stepping through the automatic doors and crossing the street toward the parking lot. She’d lucked out and gotten a spot close to the terminal.
“Still think the house is full of spirits?”
“It’s full of something,” Jordan mumbled.
“I heard that. What’s going on?” Nina stopped dead in her tracks and stared open mouthed at the car. “Oh my God. This is the car?”
Jordan smiled. “Yep. Isn’t it gorgeous?”
“Gorgeous isn’t the word.”
Jordan watched Nina walk around the small two-seat roadster. Its long front end shone in deep red and silver chrome. The white leather material of the seats matched the white leather tire cover on the back. Unlocking the trunk, she threw Nina’s bag inside.
“Only one bag?”
“I thought I would check out Harrods while I was here.”
“It’s on our way home,” Jordan said with a grin.
“What the hell are you standing around for? Let’s get a move on. I have my share of your future signing bonus to spend.”
Jordan laughed and jumped behind the wheel.
* * * *
Later that afternoon, with a car stuffed full of packages, the two of them headed back toward Dursley and Blackthorn Manor.
“So what has you all upset about this house?” Nina asked, as they sped down the narrow country road.
“I don’t know,” Jordan said, and then sighed. “It’s strange.”
The rolling hills dotted with green trees and wildflowers on either side of them made a perfect picture of serenity. “This is such a beautiful place. Strange or not, you’re crazy if you want to leave it.”
“It is wonderful. So peaceful. Like a Norman Rockwell or Thomas Kincaid painting.”
“I sense a ‘but’ in there.”
“It’s the house.” Jordan took her eyes off the road and glanced at her friend.
“What about it?”
“I get the impression I’m being watched. I hear things, sense things.” Jordan shuddered against the cold thrill snaking down her spine that had nothing to do with the chill in the air.
Nina shrugged. “It’s an old house, Jordan. I would think it was odd if you didn’t sense these things.”
“That’s what the maid, Kimberly, keeps telling me.”
“You don’t believe her?”
“There’s more.” Taking a deep breath, she continued. “I keep having these dreams. Or at least I think they’re dreams. It’s of a man named Drake.”
“Ooh, like the name. What does he look like?”
“He’s gorgeous. Dark, sensuous, sexy. The original owner of the house was Drake Montgomery. I wonder if my subconscious has just conjured him up for some reason. I’ve tried to find a portrait of him, but there doesn’t seem to be one in the house anywhere.”
“Seems kind of strange, doesn’t it?”
“Maybe.”
“What happens in these dreams?”
“We have sex.”
Jordan kept her eyes on the road, waiting for Nina’s response. When she didn’t say anything right away, she turned to look and found Nina staring at her with interest.
“Sex, huh?” Nina grinned.
“Yeah. Wild, uninhibited, incredible sex. It’s a shame I can’t have sex like that in real life.”
“What’s so bad about incredible sex?”
“Nothing, I suppose.”
“There’s that ‘but’ again,” Nina teased.
“The first time it happened, I’d gone to bed to take a nap, but left my underwear on. When I woke, my underwear was on the floor. The next time, I fell asleep in the tub and woke up in my bed.”
“Maybe you were sleepwalking.”
“In my dream, he removed my towel and dropped it by the window. The next morning it was still there. The sheets were an absolute mess, like we’d tumbled all over the bed. Which in my dream, we had.”
“Interesting. But you probably dropped the towel while you were sleepwalking, and just tossed and turned on the bed.”
“But these dreams seem so real.”
“Those are always the best kind. Especially the ones with sex in them. It’s probably being in the house. You’re not going crazy, I promise,” Nina added with a cheeky grin. “Although the idea would make for an interesting story.”
“I’m way ahead of you. I have several pages of notes already.”
Jordan pulled the car to the side of the road and pointed toward the house in the distance. From here, she could see the north tower standing tall against the mountains in the distance. The setting sun cast shadows against the hills, making them appear black.
Nina sucked in a breath. “Is that it?”
“Yes.”
“It actually has a tower? Have you been in it yet?”
“No. It’s locked and Rene hasn’t been able to find the key.”
Nina wiggled her eyebrows. “There are ways to pick locks.”
“First thing in the morning we’ll see if you’re right.”
* * * *
“Good evening, Miss Jordan.” Rene bowed his most proper bow and moved to take Nina’s suitcase from her hand. “And you as well, Miss Bradshaw.”
“Nina will be fine, thank you.”
He inclined his head, a slight frown crossing his brow. “Miss Nina it is.”
Jordan grinned. “You’ll find Rene seldom strays from the proper, Nina.”
Rene huffed. “I’ll set Miss Nina’s things in the room just down from yours.”
“The blue one?” Jordan asked.
“Yes, ma’am.”
“You’ll love the blue room, Nina. It has a view of the garden and pond out back.”
“It sounds wonderful.” Nina gazed around her, an amazed expression widening her eyes. “This place is stunning. How much of this foyer is the original?”
“Most all of it, I’m proud to say,” replied Kimberly from her position in the doors leading to the dining room. “You must be Miss Nina. We’re so glad to have you here.”
“Thank you,” Nina smiled.
“I have some chocolate cake left over, if you ladies would like some.”
“I would,” Jordan said.
“Me too,” Nina added.
“Where would you like it served, Miss Jordan?”
“How about the den? I’ll start a small fire, and we can play a game of pool.”
“I like that idea,” Nina replied with enthusiasm.
Jordan knew Nina loved pool. Chocolate cake, pool, and a well-stocked bar should make the evening interesting.
* * * *
Drake stood back and laughed at the two women, both drunker than seamen on their first leave in months. Jordan was giggling so hard, she had to hold onto the edge of the billiard table to keep from falling over. Neither one could play worth a darn, but Nina showed promise.
Silent, he watched Jordan’s hair fall about her shoulders. He loved the way the waves framed her face, and the way she smiled. More than once, she glanced in his direction as though she felt his presence. Even Meredith had not been able to sense him when he was invisible. Did this mean something or was it just wishful thinking they had some sort of connection?
He’d spent the last several days studying her, reading over her shoulder as she typed. She was a compassionate woman, strong and independent, but vulnerable at the same time. Obviously, someone had hurt her and convinced her she couldn’t feel passion. Drake knew just how far from the truth that was.
“Is that the sound of a frozen heart I hear melting?”
The sultry sound of Celeste’s voice made Drake stiffen. He straightened from his position against the wall. He turned toward the woman who’d imprisoned him in this hell and snarled, “What the hell are you doing here?”
“Just checking up on you. From the look of things, I arrived just in time.” Her gaze strayed to Jordan, and his stomach clenched.
“Stay away from her, Celeste.”
“Protective, are we?”
Celeste was at one time a beautiful woman, and still was physically, but his anger didn’t let him see anything except an ugly witch. Her raven black hair piled on her head with tiny ringlet curls hanging about her face, gave her the look of a Spaniard, while her deep blue eyes and fair complexion showed her northern European background. The flowing white dress hid the luscious curves he knew lay beneath, but he had no desire to touch them. Now or ever.
She took a step closer and smiled. “How do you know what you feel for her is real? Maybe you just want out of here so badly, you’d think you’re in love with anyone.”
Drake shook his head. It wasn’t that. He knew it deep in his soul. There was something about Jordan which called to him, and he’d do whatever it took to protect her.
“All you have to do,” Celeste began as she ran her finger down his arm, “is take my hand and agree to be mine for always. A small price to pay to be free.”
“No.” He jerked his arm from her touch, and glared at her in revulsion. “I would rather live here forever than spend even a fortnight in your company.”
She snarled, the blue of her eyes deepening in anger. “Even without her?”
His hand clenched, fighting against the desire to strangle the woman. “I mean it, Celeste. Stay away from her.”
“Or what?” she snapped. “You have no power over me, Drake. Remember that.”
She was gone as suddenly as she’d appeared, and coldness crept over him. Turning back toward Jordan, he watched as she placed her finger in her mouth, licking off a drop of chocolate icing.
Celeste’s laughter floated around the room, mocking him. Closing his eyes, he tried to block out the sound, the fear for Jordan’s safety gripping his chest like a vise, but it was no use. He had to think of a way to protect her, even if it meant making her leave.
“What the hell was that?” Nina cried, and Drake’s eyes popped wide open. “Did you hear that laugh?”
Jordan nodded and pointed a finger at her friend. “See? I told you this place has ghosts.”
Bloody hell! They’d heard her.