Chapter 6
Bernie
The drive back to Corvid Valley was full of Doris telling us stories, which grew creepier as the sun went down, plus her making veiled comments about Enid and my future together. It was certainly one of the most interesting car trips I have experienced.
Bruin Brothers Construction pays for Doris to stay at the Corvid Valley Historic Hotel. Her choice because she read it is haunted. Enid lets her know we will pick her up in the morning and when Doris arches her eyebrow, the curvy paranormal investigator reminds her that Ray is off this week.
“Sounds good to me, but be warned, spirits can sense all kinds of things in people. Even a true-love mate connection.”
With that, the old woman waves us off and walks into the hotel. Enid looks over at me, her cheeks bright pink, and I fight the urge to kiss her beautiful face.
Instead, I say, “Let me get you to your car.”
* * *
Barrett comes with us the next day when we pick up Doris to head to Dark Wings Manor. As soon as she sees him sitting in the car, she reaches over and touches his face.
“So nice to see a handsome man in love. May you have many happy years with your bride.”
B shoots me a look and Doris turns to me, saying, “Your time is soon.”
She sits back, buckling up next to Enid in the backseat of my cab. My eyes meet the ravishing paranormal investigator’s in the rearview mirror and my stomach turns to jello.
“Bro, let's go,” Barrett says, poking me.
The drive is once again full of Doris’s storytelling, but as we get closer, she talks about what she needs from us at the hotel.
“Barrett, you will need to remain outside. I need Bernie and Enid to be in the hotel with me.”
“Outside? I can’t be of more help?”
“I worry the spirit may focus on you since you’re radiating being-in-love and it will dampen what it will sense between Bernie and Enid.”
“Between?” Barrett asks, shooting me a look, but Doris ignores his question.
We pull up to the front and the little witch hands my brother a jar.
“I doubt the spirit will choose to go inside of this, but you will stand out here holding this jar open. If it leaves the hotel and hides inside, make sure to close the lid immediately.”
“Uh, yes ma’am.”
I snap a shot of him on my phone and text it to our sister Calissa, who thinks this entire haunting is pretty funny. She immediately responds.
BE SAFE!!!!
“Come, you two,” Doris demands at the door.
Enid and I follow orders and head into the hotel. The air is even colder than last time, and I feel the curvy knockout shiver next to me.
“Bernie, take Enid into the largest hotel room and wait there. I will set up out here in the lobby.”
“Uh, sure. Are we supposed to do anything?” I ask.
Enid adds, “Or what should we do if the spirit shows up?”
Doris waves us off. “I promise you will know exactly what to do when the time is right.”
Looking down at Enid, who shrugs her shoulders, so I lead us to the very back of the hotel.
The last room is the largest, and will be the nicest room in the hotel once we get it finished.
I think the owners plan to refer to it as a honeymoon suite.
The views of Ravenhart Mountain are gorgeous from this angle.
It would definitely be a romantic place to spend several snowed-in-days after marrying the love of your life.
“So, we just stand in here?” Enid says, looking out the window.
“I guess? At least we have a beautiful view.”
I walk up behind her and look out at the jagged cliffs and tall trees.
A couple of ravens swoop by us. Enid turns toward me, so close I can feel her body heat.
That sizzle of electricity is there, which I keep feeling whenever I am close to her.
She looks up at me, her light blue eyes searching my face, and I fight the urge to ask her out right here and now.
She reaches up and picks something off of my shoulder.
“Fuzzy,” she says, shyly, with cold air coming out of her mouth.
“It’s getting even colder in here,” I say, turning to see if I can spot the reason.
“What the…”
I turn around to see Enid’s blue eyes widen when the window behind her flings open and she falls backward, as if she is being pushed.
I grab her wrists as her head flings backwards through the window and yank her back inside.
This causes me to lose my footing and I fall over onto my ass, with Enid following.
When she lands on me, my back slams into the wood floor.
The two of us lie there for a moment, both stunned by what just happened.
She tries to push herself off of me, but her hand slips and her buxom chest whams back down onto my clavicle.
Enid’s face is just above mine, our eyes meeting.
I can’t help but look down at her full lips.
She bites her lower lip while her eyes flicker to my mouth.
In unison, we grab each other, kissing with a wild passion that has been missing in my life for too long.
She tastes like cherry lip balm and I can’t help but suck on her lower lip because of it.
This makes her giggle and we continue to kiss, in between laughs.
But we freeze in place when the door opens, revealing a smug-looking Doris.
“As expected. OK, my dears, please leave the hotel now so that I can banish this spirit.”