After Dark by Jayne Castle Read Free Book Online Page B

a kid, you—” She broke off, her eyes widening in shock. “Mr. London.”
    He studied her with deep interest. Clearly, she had not yet dressed for her job at Shrimpton’s. She wore an old denim shirt and a pair of well-worn, faded jeans. Her fiery hair was held back off her face with a wide blue band. The style underscored the intriguing angles of her face. There was a paintbrush in her left hand.
    The dust-bunny was perched on her shoulder, looking like a dirty cotton ball. Blue eyes blinked innocently at him.
    â€œLittle thug?” Emmett repeated politely.
    A deep red blush crept up Lydia’s throat into her cheeks. “Sorry about the greeting,” she said gruffly. “I, uh, was expecting someone else.”
    He glanced at the paintbrush. “Does this mean you won’t be going to your office at the museum today?”
    â€œI wish.” She wrinkled her nose. “Unfortunately, I’ve got less than two hours to finish repainting my bedroom wall, get changed, and get to work. Look, I know you’re here because you want an update on how my search for your heirloom is going, but I really don’t have time to talk right now.”
    â€œI can see that. Mind if I ask why you didn’t wait until the weekend to undertake a major household-remodeling project?”
    â€œI don’t have much choice. One of the neighborhood ghost-hunter wanna-bes paid me a visit last night. Pulled a particularly nasty prank.”
    Emmett moved into the small foyer without waiting for an invitation. “What kind of prank?”
    â€œHe managed to summon a small ghost. It materialized in my bedroom. I don’t know if he meant to do damage or if the UDEM just got away from him. Whatever, my wall looks like someone tried to use it for a barbecue grill. If my landlord finds out about the damage, he’ll probably try to use it as an excuse to cancel my lease.”
    â€œI’ll give you a hand,” Emmett said.
    â€œI beg your pardon?”
    Her astonishment amused him for some reason. “I can paint a wall.”
    â€œOh.” She glanced uncertainly down the hall. “It’s very nice of you to offer to help, but—”
    He removed the brush from her hand. “Let me have that.” He started down the hall.
    â€œWait.” She hurried after him. “You’ll ruin that spiffy jacket. It looks like it cost a fortune. I can’t afford to replace it for you.”
    â€œDon’t worry about the jacket.” He came to a halt in the bedroom doorway and studied the scene.
    He had invited himself inside because he needed to see the evidence of ghost damage. Neighborhood punk or not, the fact that his new consultant had received a “visitation” within twenty-four hours of going to work for him set off several alarm bells.
    Even though he was here to examine the wall, the first thing he noticed was the unmade bed. There was something very intimate about the sight of the tangled white sheets and rumpled quilt. Lydia had slept here last night. Alone, from all indications. He felt the same whisper of sexual awareness that he had experienced the other morning at Shrimpton’s when he had interviewed her. The sensation was stronger this time. He wondered how much of a complication it would prove to be.
    Lydia came up behind him in the doorway. He forced his attention back to the matter at hand.
    The bed had been pushed away from the wall. A sheet spread out on the floor served as a makeshift tarp. A bucket of white paint sat on the sheet. Rags were piled in a heap.
    Emmett looked at the smoky traces on the wall. Three wavy lines. A chill settled in his gut.
    â€œWe’ve got a problem,” he said.
    â€œI know I’ve got a problem. His name is Driffield. But as you can see, I’m almost half finished with that wall. If you’ll just get out of my way—”
    Emmett shook his head a single time, his gaze still on the