Chapter 9
Chapter Nine
Sam didn’t wait for the hotel door to close before he slipped the bags free from Grace’s hands and let them drop to the floor.
He pulled her into his arms and backed her against the wall.
He took her lips in a heated kiss as his hands trailed a path from her hips to her ass.
He squeezed, lifting her in his hold until he had her right where he wanted her.
He ground the aching bulge behind his zipper that had been hardening since before he left the room.
He hadn’t planned on seducing her tonight, or at all for that matter.
Grace wasn’t a once and done type of girl, and damned if she didn’t make him want more.
Grace squirmed in his hold as if trying to get closer. Their clothes were the only barrier stopping him from taking her, hot and heavy where they stood.
A knock on the door had them both stilling. He held her heated gaze as he spoke. “Yeah.”
“I’m sorry to bother you two, but can I speak to Grace,” Eleonore called out from the hallway.
Sam rested his forehead against Grace’s. She mouthed the words. “I’m sorry.”
“Yeah, just a second,” he answered letting Grace’s soft body slide down his. He waited for Grace to straighten her clothes before he pulled the door open.
“I’m so sorry,” Eleonore exclaimed. Her cheeks were pink, her hair mussed. She looked flustered. “But I need your help. It seems the ghost didn’t leave the hotel, just changed rooms and well….you’ll just have to see for yourself.”
“Of course.” Grace smiled. “Let me just grab my things.”
“This should only take a minute.” Grace grabbed her purse and kissed Sam’s lips before walking out into the hall.
“It might be a little longer than that,” Eleonore exclaimed with a sigh.
Sam watched as the two hurried to the elevator and stepped inside. Grace turned and met his gaze. A look of regret filled her eyes. He knew that look. He felt the same way.
Grace was led down the corridor of the top floor and almost tripped on the carpet when she saw whose room they were going to. Richard and Sarah stood outside the door with their backs pressed against the hallway wall. Each of their faces were drained of color.
“Her,” Sarah exclaimed. “You’ve got to be kidding me.”
Grace grinned while pausing outside their door. She gestured over her shoulder with her thumb. “I can leave and let you deal with it, just say the word. As a matter of fact, I’m pretty sure Sam is in bed waiting for me.”
“Please, fix this,” Richard pleaded taking Sarah’s hand. He ignored the angered look plastered on Sarah’s face. “We can’t stay in there unless you do. All the other rooms are taken.”
Grace walked into the room to find it in shambles. Clothes were strewn across the bed and the floor. Perfume and makeup bottles on the dresser had toppled over.
“Did he make this mess?” She called out into the hall.
“We did that during an argument,” Richard answered.
The love birds were fighting. That was news. Would there still be a wedding, or maybe it was truly Sam and Grace’s lucky day, and they could be on the jet first thing in the morning.
Grace found the ghost from Eleonore’s room hiding in the bathroom. What was it with this ghost and bathrooms?
“Okay, listen.” She started to say, meeting the spirit’s gaze. “We need to come to some form of agreement, or I’m going to have to banish you from the hotel for good, and I don’t have the time or the patience. What’s it going to take for you to leave the guests alone once and for all?”
He gestured toward the pocket watch lying on the counter.
“You can’t even wear it; it belongs to Richard.”
Not his. I’m looking for mine.
Now we were getting somewhere. The dude just wanted his watch, not that he could take it with him where he was going, but if it would get the guy to leave everyone alone. She’d help him.
“When did you die?”
1922
“Are you related to Eleonore?”
He nodded.
“Give me some time to find it, but wait for me in the attic. No more scaring people. Got it?”
The ghost vanished from site, and Grace spun around on her heels. The chance of her finding the pocket watch was slim to none, but she had to try. She walked out of the hotel room. “He’s gone, but not for good. We have a momentary truce.”
Sarah’s eyes widened, Grace ignored her and turned to Eleonore. “He’s your relative, and he’s looking for a watch that belonged to him. I don’t suppose you have any old relics laying around, do you?”
Eleonore smiled. “I have a ton of family heirlooms at my house. Come with me.”
They started heading for the elevator when Richard called Grace’s name, making her turn around.
“Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.”
Four hours later, they’d found the watch tucked away in Eleonore’s attic and returned to the hotel where Grace met with the ghost and returned his item after making him promise to quit scaring people.
She’d warned him, if he didn’t, she’d be returning with all of her sisters and they’d run his ghostly butt out of the building, for good.
When Grace returned to the room, Sam was sound asleep. His quiet snores filled the space as she changed clothes and slipped into bed next to him. As if he could feel her presence, he pulled her to his side and held her close.
“Did you save the day?” He mumbled.
“I did. Go back to sleep and I’ll tell you all about it in the morning.”
Sam grunted, and Grace fell asleep in his warm embrace.