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  Aidan nodded as he opened the pizza box. “I'm afraid I didn't think to bring plates. We'll have to eat out of the box."

  "I'm not picky,” McKenna said. “Do you want to get started?"

  "Show me what you've got."

  McKenna slid a report in front of him. “This is Julie's EMF report. You'll notice that in the Union Suite there was a spike."

  "I have no idea what I'm looking at,” Aidan admitted between bites of pizza. “What's an EMF report?"

  "It stands for electromagnetic fields. The meter records energy levels. Most experts believe that ghosts and spirits cause disruption in the energy fields and the EMF meter can help us determine if there is any activity.” She scooted her chair closer to Aidan to point out a graph on the report. “If you'll look here, you can see that Julie took initial readings around anything that might cause a spike, like a TV or an electric outlet. In the Union Suite and the Confederate Suite, she had EMF readings that are indicative of spirit activity. If you'll look here,” she turned the page to a map of the Union Suite, “you see that Julie drew the room and marked any electric sources, along with their EMF readings, and she also marked where she was standing in the rooms when any spikes occurred. You can see that she was away from any power source. This reading was taken right by the window."

  Aidan's forehead wrinkled in concentration. “Is there any other explanation for a spike in EMF readings? I mean, is this proof that there is something at the Inn?"

  "EMF readings alone don't amount to proof. They are just one kind of data that we analyze. We try to eliminate anything that can give us a false positive. That's why Julie is so careful in documenting her findings. Believe it or not, Julie is our resident skeptic. If she finds anything out of the ordinary, you can count on it being unbiased."

  "Okay, if this is just one part of the case file, what else did you find?” He put the papers aside and returned his full attention to McKenna. Even in the harsh fluorescent light his eyes sparkled. McKenna tried not to drop her face under his intense gaze.

  She reached across the table and laid a stack of pictures in front of Aidan. “Josh took these. Most of these show orbs and mists. They indicate spirit activity, but most of the old buildings in town would show at least some of these. Murphy's Corner has such a long, strange history that it's only natural we have some residents who don't want to leave."

  "Okay, so we have some"—he wrinkled his nose ... “orbs. And some mist. Was anyone smoking?"

  "No one was smoking and there were no light reflections that could account for the orbs.” She was used to people trying to poke holes in her findings, and she expected it from Aidan, but she still didn't like being questioned. “This isn't my first investigation, you know. I wouldn't make such amateur mistakes."

  "Calm down,” Aidan soothed. He reached his arm around her and gently massaged her shoulders. “I was just questioning the process. I'm just trying to wrap my head around this. For someone who's never believed in the unexplained, I think I'm handling it pretty well."

  McKenna dropped her head as blood rushed to her cheeks. “Sorry. I don't usually get so defensive."

  "So it's just me then?"

  McKenna started to deny it, but in the end, she was just too honest. “You do seem to be able to push my buttons.” Even as the words left her mouth, McKenna knew she had made a poor choice of words.

  "I push your buttons, huh?” he said slowly. “And just how long has it been since your buttons have been pushed?"

  McKenna squirmed in her seat and prayed he didn't notice. She cursed her impulsive decision to scoot closer to him. She tried to slide the chair further away, but he wrapped his arm around her waist and prevented her from moving. “Not as long as you seem to think.” McKenna wasn't about to admit to being celibate for over a year. She waved the pictures in front of his face to distract him. “Are you interested or not?"

  "Oh, I'm absolutely interested,” he drawled.

  "In the pictures!” McKenna's heart was pounding against her rib cage. With his arm wrapped tightly around her back, she wondered if he could feel it. “Do you want to see what we found?"

  The smirk slowly slid from his face, but he didn't drop his arm. “I guess that's what I'm here for.” He looked so crestfallen that McKenna was left to wonder what he had really come for.

  "Okay, like I said, orbs are to be expected, but this,” she laid the picture of the unexplained shadow in front of Aidan, “this is unexpected, and we're really not sure what it is."

  Aidan picked up the photograph and examined it closely. “It just looks like a shadow to me."

  Of course it would look like something mundane to someone not deeply involved in paranormal investigations. McKenna took a deep breath to keep from grunting in frustration. “It doesn't look like a tree. It looks like a person, and Josh was the only person in the room, and just based on where he was, it couldn't be him. It's right by a second floor window, so no one from outside could be the source of the shadow, and this isn't the only place we recorded this shape."

  "Where else did you find it?” Aidan never took his eyes from the shadow in the picture.

  McKenna started the video. “You know we set up a camera on the back staircase. I've watched all of the footage and there was noting odd or unusual until I came down.” Neither spoke as they watched McKenna tumble down the stairs. She had watched the video so many times that it had lost the power to shock her, but she wasn't prepared for Aidan's reaction.

  "Oh, no.” His face paled as he watched McKenna hit the ground. “I saw something, McKenna.” His arm tightened around her waist. “But what was it? I think I saw something shove you, but I can't be sure. Are you positive that you didn't trip?"

  "I'm not usually clumsy,” she said. “There's something on the video. Even you can see it."

  "It's not a malfunction or a shadow or something?” His voice was so full of hope that McKenna had to laugh.

  "I've never known a malfunction or a shadow to have hands. I actually felt the shape of a hand on my back before I fell."

  "I'm afraid I wasn't very sympathetic, was I?” His voice was just above a whisper, in contrast to his appearance in the video. He winced when his harsh accusations blared from the speakers.

  "There's no shame in being cautious.” McKenna felt herself softening toward Aidan. The Aidan who cradled her gently in his arms seemed like a different person from the combative jerk on the video.

  "I wasn't being cautious,” he said. “I actually accused you of lying. I'm still not sure I believe what I see on the video, but you could have been hurt and I didn't even care. That should be more important that what I believe or don't believe.” McKenna felt his lips brush her hair. “I don't know what's gotten into me lately. I've been so irritable and impatient with everyone. I don't even like myself most of the time."

  McKenna knew what he was talking about, because most of the time, she didn't like him, either. But she liked this Aidan, the one who talked softly and kissed her hair and wore soft blue jeans and smelled of soap. This could get complicated, she thought. “You're under a lot of stress. You've put a lot of time and money into the Inn."

  "I put in the time. Perry put in the money,” Aidan said wryly.

  "Well, there's another source of stress,” McKenna chuckled. “Perry's a good guy, for a Murphy, but I imagine he throws his money and name around."

  "That he does, and you're a Murphy, too."

  "Not a real Murphy. I'm one of the bastards, didn't you know?"

  "So no invite to the family reunion for you?"

  McKenna laughed. “I'm afraid that the town freak would spoil the party.” She could feel the shock ripple through Aidan's chest.

  "You're not the town freak,” Aidan protested.

  "Of course I am. I see ghosts, for Pete's sake. I attract them. It's no coincidence that I'm the one that whatever that thing is pushed down the stairs. Julie had no sensitivity. Usually people like that are as invisible to spirits as spirits are to them."


  "What about Josh? Can he see spirits, too, or is he like Julie?” It was a major breakthrough that Aidan was open enough to ask questions. Showing interest was a good sign, McKenna thought. The video seemed to have convinced him that something in his hotel wasn't right.

  "Josh is one of the strongest natural witches I've ever seen."

  "Josh?” Aidan pulled away from McKenna to look in her eyes. He looked like he expected a punch line. “You're joking."

  "I'm serious.” Laughter threatened to spill from her lips, but she squelched it, unwilling to risk offending him. “He apparently comes from a long line of natural witches. His grandmother was one. His parents moved him here to get him away from her influence, but all it did was endanger him. I'm glad I got to him before someone else did.” The first time she had seen Josh had been at the post office. The building was built in 1910, but it stood on the exact same spot as the original post office that had been built when Murphy's Corner was incorporated in 1838. There were a lot of residual spirits still going on about their business. McKenna had grown used to them, but Josh had been terrified. “He has so much energy that he attracts spirits like a light attracts moths. He can read minds, see the future. He can lay hands on you and drain a migraine off in seconds. He's amazing."

  "Sounds like the two of you are close.” She could hear a tension that sounded remarkably like jealousy creep into his voice.

  "We are.” A slight smile played at the corner of McKenna's lips. “He's just twenty, Aidan. He's like my little brother."

  "It's none of my business what you do or with whom,” Aidan said, but his jaw tightened.

  "The only thing I ever did ‘with’ Josh was construct his shields. I'm not really good at it, so they weren't strong, but my mother and I were able to instruct him well enough that he can keep them in place himself now.” There was such confusion in Aidan's face that McKenna finally gave in to her urge to laugh.

  "I feel so out of my element here,” Aidan admitted. “I've seen ghosts on film, talked about EMFs and now I hear that a guy I thought was a normal kid is a witch that can make shields, whatever the hell they are."

  "They are an energy field that makes Josh all but invisible to spirits. Some of his energy leaks through the shields, but they keep him safe until he is ready to learn to control his power."

  "I feel hopelessly mundane and boring,” Aidan said. He reached out and took McKenna's hand, his fingers intertwining with hers. “You're surrounded by magic and wonder, and I'm just a staid old businessman."

  McKenna's pulse jumped as Aidan rubbed his thumb across her knuckles. With the faded denim hugging his heavy thighs and the thin t-shirt clinging to his wide shoulders, he didn't look like anyone's idea of a businessman. “You're not boring, and I'm not anything special."

  "I think you're special,” he whispered. He dropped her hand and cupped her face in his hands. His thumbs traced the curve of her bottom lip. “I think you're beautiful."

  McKenna was motionless as he pressed his lips to hers. To move would have been to break the spell. He pulled her from her chair and settled her into his lap, her legs framing his hips. “Kiss me, McKenna,” he whispered against her lips. “Kiss me back.” A sigh escaped from her lips as he traced them with the tip of his tongue. She shuddered as Aidan's hands slipped beneath her shirt and caressed the small of her back. She thought of objecting, knew she should. Every one of her rules was being broken, but when one of his strong hands cupped her breast and pinched her nipple through her bra, all objections scattered from her mind.

  His lips left a trail of hot kisses down her throat, across her collarbone and up to her ear. “I want you, McKenna.” His breath was warm against her skin. She squirmed in his lap, feeling his erection straining against the old denim. He lifted his hips and rocked against her, fueling the spark into an open flame.

  Fear and excitement warred within McKenna. Breaking her long sexual dry spell in her back room—with Aidan Campbell, no less—wasn't in her plans, but Aidan became more insistent and she knew if she didn't stop him, there would be no turning back. He tugged the hem of her shirt. “Off,” he demanded hoarsely. “Take this off. I want to watch you."

  Feeling warm and suddenly shy, McKenna peeled the shirt over her head and let it drop slowly from her fingertips. Aidan's eyes turned emerald with desire as they zeroed in on her puckered nipples pressing against the thin lace of her bra. His hands cupped each breast, squeezing them gently, watching her reaction. McKenna closed her eyes and dropped her head back, but Aidan grabbed her chin and forced her face to his. “Don't close your eyes,” he said. “I want you to look at me."

  A gasp caught in McKenna's throat, but she couldn't deny him. He smiled when she nodded slightly and met his eyes evenly with her own. Work-roughened fingers scratched the skin of her shoulders as Aidan slipped the straps of her bra down her arms. He peeled the cups down, exposing her to his eyes. “Wow,” he breathed. With just one word, McKenna's uneasiness vanished. He sounded like nothing so much as a seventeen-year old boy about to get lucky for the first time.

  She knew how he felt.

  He lowered his head and took one peak into his mouth, teasing the tip with his tongue and teeth. McKenna arched her back and buried her fingers in his thick, dark hair. She could feel his cock growing harder as it pressed against her pussy. She knew she had to touch him or die.

  She ripped the shirt over his head and tossed it on the floor next to her own. The muscles beneath his warm skin were firm and tight from hours swinging a hammer. Strength lay coiled in his muscles, like a snake waiting to strike. Her hands glided over his shoulders before coming to rest on his heavily muscled chest. The black curls twined around her fingers as her fingertips explored the planes and ridges on his body.

  A shudder raced through her as his hand slipped between her legs and cupped her through her pants. “You feel so hot,” he murmured against her lips. He unbuttoned her pants and eased his hand into the opening. He stroked her tight auburn curls briefly before plunging one finger between her labia and flicking it lightly across her clitoris. Pleasure washed through McKenna. She spread her legs wide to give him freer access. His finger slipped over her wet clit and inside her easily. “God, you're tight,” he said hoarsely. “I want to feel you wrapped around my cock."

  She buried her face in the curve of his neck and nipped his skin with her teeth. “I want that, too,” she said. “I want to feel you inside me.” As McKenna said the words, she knew she was out of control. The real McKenna would never say such things to any man.

  His hands dropped to her hips and pushed her from his lap. McKenna felt sure that if he hadn't been supporting her weight, she would have fallen in a heap at his feet. He slid her jeans down over her hips and stared at her hungrily. She fought the urge to cover herself with her hands.

  "I want you to unbutton me,” he said as he leaned back in the chair. “I want to feel your hand around my cock as you pull it out."

  McKenna's hands trembled as she knelt in front of Aidan. Slowly, she unfastened the button and slid the zipper down over Aidan's bulge. His cock sprang out of its restraint, ruby red and glistening with pre-cum. Impulsively, McKenna darted her tongue out to taste the salty fluid. Aidan moaned as his prick jumped. McKenna slid the shaft between her lips, taking it in until she could feel the head against the back of her throat. She drew her head back slowly and released him with a smack. She grasped him with both hands and took just the head in her mouth and drew teasing circles on the underside with the tip of her tongue. Aidan grabbed her head and shoved her away. “No,” he moaned. “I don't want to come yet, not until I've fucked you."

  "Do you have a condom?” Please, please let him have a condom, McKenna prayed.

  He gave McKenna a sweet smile and lifted his hips to pull his wallet out of his back pocket. A small foil packet dropped into her outstretched hand. “I want you to put it on me."

  McKenna scooted closer and gave Aidan's cock a long, lingering lick before she tore
the wrapper open. With slow, firm strokes, she rolled the sheath over him until his breath grew strained and labored.

  He put his hands under McKenna's arms and picked her up easily. He settled her in his lap and positioned his cock at her opening. “You're sure?” he asked. McKenna could tell the effort to even ask cost him dearly. It would have been sweet revenge for his earlier mistreatment of her to back out, but McKenna had never been one to cut off her nose to spite her face.

  "I'm sure."

  Her assurance was all it took for Aidan to slam McKenna down over him. Her breath caught in her throat as his cock stretched her impossibly wide. Her muscles tensed, trying to accommodate the unfamiliar intrusion, but as he established a steady rhythm, her body began to respond of its own accord. She rocked her hips in time to Aidan's thrusts. His fingers curled around her ass and dug into the tender flesh while she held onto his shoulders to keep from being dislodged by the force of his thrusts. With every thrust, he went deeper and his pubic bone rubbed against her clit, bringing her closer to orgasm. She leaned forward to get the full benefit of the friction. Her breathing became rapid and shallow as her thighs began to shake. She cried out hoarsely as waves of pleasure washed over her. “Aidan,” she gasped. “Oh, God.” She buried her face in his chest as her pussy spasmed around his cock. There was nothing but the sounds of his loud moan as his fingers dug into her hips.

  With one forceful thrust, McKenna felt a ripple race through Aidan's body as he came. She clenched her pubic muscles to feel his cock jerk inside her. Neither spoke while their breathing returned to normal.

  As the passion faded, McKenna came back to her senses. She didn't regret the sex, but she knew from experience that life was about to get much more complicated, and for once, she didn't care.

  [Back to Table of Contents]

  Chapter Four

  Tuesday was usually McKenna's favorite day of the week. New releases came in on Tuesday and a small crowd always gathered in The Book Shelf, eager to get their hands on the new books. Conversation flowed as easily as the coffee, and enough money changed hands to meet McKenna's payroll until the next week. The usual crowd had gathered, and even though McKenna went through the motions of socializing, her eyes kept wandering across the square to Murphy's Corner Inn and Tavern.