Chapter 4
Bernie
I arrive at work an hour earlier than usual. I couldn’t sleep, knowing that Enid was at Dark Wings Manor all night. Alone.
Well, not alone. With that Ray guy she works with, but alone enough for me to worry.
I cannot explain it, but as soon as I saw Enid step into the mystical office, I knew she was meant to be mine.
And me, hers. Her rocking voluptuous body, with her round, grabbable ass and champagne-glass-breaking tits, full, kissable lips, and jet-black, short, fistable hair.
I knew I was meant to know her, to love her, to protect her.
Being slammed into that hotel room after watching the spirit kidnap her, my inner bear demanded to be set free to rescue her.
I died inside when I saw her reaction to my bear-form raging on the conquered wooden door, but I definitely noted how her demeanor changed when she saw I was that bear. An added heat to her pale blue eyes.
“Holy shit, you scared me!” my younger brother yelps, turning on the light as he enters our office.
“I co-run this construction business, you realize, brother.” I say sarcastically.
“Yes, but you’ve never been first to the office, you realize, big brother.”
Fine. He’s right.
“Why are you here so early? Waiting for Enid Vaida?”
I shoot him a look, noting his obnoxious, knowing smirk.
“I am curious to see how the evening went.”
“Yes, I’m sure that’s exactly why you’re here before 9:00 a.m.”
I open my mouth to insult his socks, because that's all I have left, when Beth walks in.
“Bernie! Wow! Good morning!”
Barrett bursts out laughing. I ignore him.
“Good morning, Beth. What time are we expecting Golden State Ghost Whisperers to report in?”
Beth shuffles the papers on her desk.
“Here we go. Mr. Peters said they would call or show up by 10.”
At that, the door opens and two zombified paranormal investigators lurch inside.
“Speaking of the spirit-busting devils, good morning,” my brother says cheerfully, although his face reads concern.
“Yup, your hotel is haunted. Yup, it’s a very sinister spirit. And, yup, we will need to partner up with some help.” Ray says matter-of-factly.
“Sinister? Are you OK?” saying this, I am solely focused on Enid.
“Yeah, just tried.”
“Excuse me, sorry, my bosses are, well, guys. Please come and take a seat. I will have coffee for you right away,” Beth says, muscling her way in front of Barrett and me.
Shameful warmth fills my body. I should have found a place for Enid to rest as soon as she walked in. I gesture for her to sit on the leather couches we have in our waiting area.
“It’s fine, we’re okay. But, we need to head to Joshua Tree to meet up with someone who should be able to help us rid this spirit from your property.” Enid says, exhaustion coloring her voice.
“Of course,” my brother replies, “and we will cover all expenses, of course.”
Enid and Ray give each other a look, before the raven-haired beauty continues.
“Thank you. However, just one problem. Ray is off this next week because his grandmother is getting surgery. And our co-workers are all out of town on jobs. I cannot go to Joshua Tree on my own.”
B and I must look like we pity her, because she shakes her head.
“Not a safety thing. Or fear thing. Who we need to visit literally has enchantments to enter her home and one of them involves the requirement of a man and a woman.” Enid looks up at us from the couch, her blue eyes making my breath quicken. “I will need one of you to come with me.”
Barrett and I exchange looks and as I open my mouth to speak, he says, “No problem. Bernie will go with you.”
* * *
Enid pulls up in front of my house in an awkward-looking vehicle she refers to as the Ghost Gobbler.
“So you packed enough for a week?” she asks as she pops open the trunk.
“Yeah, but I am confused as to why.”
“The person we are visiting can warp time. I have sought her help several times now and every visit to her is experienced like weeks, but only, truly, is an actual day or two.”
Enid says this, as if it answers my question, and walks back to the driver’s side.
The first couple of hours we listen to a podcast about shapeshifter politics. Time to time, Enid pauses it to discuss the issue being discussed with me. She is very passionate about paranormal rights. Passionate and, well, kind of nerdy about it. It’s pretty hot.
A pit stop in Bakersfield finds me standing in line with a pack of werewolves cosplaying as southern rock loving humans. The wildest-looking one sniffs at me.
“I smell shifter on you,” he snarls.
Tensing up, I get ready to shift into my bear-form to fight, when Enid comes around the corner.
“And we all can smell werewolf on you and your buddies,” she hisses, waving a handful of mistletoe at them.
The gang bares their teeth and growls, but retreats to the back corner of the fast-food joint.
“You carry mistletoe around with you?”
“An unprepared paranormal investigator is useless,” she says, with a shrug and a sexy smile.
“I guess I owe you one,” I say, grinning down at her.
“I guess you do.”