Penmort Castle (Ghosts and Reincarnation #1)(117)

“Abby, there isn’t going to be a next time. You aren’t going back there.”

Abby blinked then reminded him, “Yes I am. We’re spending the weekend there.”

“No. We’re not. Our weekend plans have changed. I’m going to the party Saturday night only. You’re staying home.”

Abby felt her eyes grow wide and she said, “But we have to go. Nicola is expecting us and something has to be done about Vivianna.”

“We’re not going,” Cash replied firmly.

“We have to go,” Abby returned.

One of Cash’s hands released hers, the other curled around her palm and he turned, pulling her from the room saying, “We’re not discussing this.”

He flicked off the light switch and kept walking to the stairs and down to the garden level while Abby babbled, “You can’t be serious. We have to discuss it. You don’t understand. Angus and Cassandra know what they’re doing. I’m not kidding. They seriously know what they’re doing. You should have seen them. Things didn’t go great tonight but no one got hurt.”

Cash let her go at the bottom of the stairs and walked to the light switch, flipping off the dimmer lights that illuminated the kitchen area.

Then his eyes came to Abby. “We’re not discussing it. You aren’t going.”

Abby watched as he walked back across the room to the light by the couch that was lit. She saw his laptop open and some papers spread on the coffee table, a tumbler with a finger of whisky still in it sat next to his work.

Abby’s voice gentled when she went on. “Cash, I’ll be safe, honestly. They won’t let anything happen to me.”

He’d bent to the lamp but straightened and his eyes pinned her to the spot.

“You aren’t going,” he stated.

“Do you intend to live there?” Abby asked softly and watched Cash’s entire body freeze.

Then he started, “Abby –”

“Do you?” she pushed.

He didn’t answer but she watched his jaw get tight.

“Do you want me with you?” she whispered, heart in her throat, stomach clenched and she stopped breathing.

Their eyes held for a moment and Abby began to feel lightheaded with lack of oxygen.

Finally, he bit off tersely, “Yes.”

Abby went on softly. “Honey, I’m not safe there unless something is done. And, for whatever reason, I’m the only one who can force her out. It has to be me who does it and we both know it has to be done.”

His eyes were so hot on her she could actually feel them scorching into her. His jaw was tight and they stared at each other for long moments.

Then he bent at the waist and she thought he was going to turn off the lamp but his fingers curled around the phone, yanking it out of the charger.

He walked to her and held out the phone.

“Call them, all of them,” he demanded, “every person who’s involved in this fiasco. I want them at my office tomorrow at noon.”

“What?” Abby asked. “Why?”

“Do it,” Cash returned.

Abby’s eyes slid to the digital clock on the microwave then back to Cash. “It’s nearly midnight.”

His hand came out, fingers wrapping around her wrist, he lifted it and put the phone in her palm. “Call them. Now.”

“I don’t know their numbers,” Abby said, watched his brows draw together and hurried on. “I mean, I haven’t memorised them. They’re in my mobile, in my purse, upstairs.”

He lifted his hand and curled it around her neck. “I’ll get your purse.”

He gave her a squeeze, walked up the stairs and got her purse. He came back, scrawled his office address, phone number and directions on a piece of paper and gave it to her.

Then he stood next to Abby while she called everyone, including a seriously cranky, woken-up Mrs. Truman.

When she was done, he took the phone from her, put it back in its charger, turned off the lamp, grabbed her hand and guided her upstairs.

When they were in his bedroom Cash turned on the lamp at her side of the bed. Zee, curled sleeping at the foot of the bed, lifted his head and blinked in annoyance. Then Cash’s hands went to the buttons of his shirt.

Abby stood there watching him and asked, “Can we talk about Suzanne now?”

Cash pulled the shirt off his shoulders and tossed it on the armchair while saying, “No, she’s already had more of my time tonight than she deserves.”

“I’d kind of like an explanation,” Abby requested quietly.

His eyes went to Abby’s as he sat on the armchair and yanked off his shoes and, to her surprise, without any further coaxing Cash explained, “She showed up about fifteen minutes before you. She said she was in Bath having dinner with friends. They’d taken off but her car wasn’t starting. Her mobile had lost its charge and she needed to call AA. I didn’t believe her but I couldn’t leave her out in the cold either. I let her come in, she made her call and she spent ten minutes being supremely annoying. Then she came on strong, as she always does. We heard you come in, she knew it had to be you, I was distracted by your arrival, she moved in for the kill and she kissed me. That’s it.”

Abby couldn’t believe her ears.

Who behaved like that?