Bad Hair Day 7 - Dead Roots by Nancy J. Cohen Read Free Book Online

suggested in a smooth tone.
    “That’s an inviting offer.” She pushed the button for the fourth floor after he closed the inner grating. This particular elevator was an old-fashioned mechanism with a gate that had to close before the outer door shut. Inside, it smelled faintly of cigar smoke. While Marla experienced a growing sense of disquiet, the lift lurched upward with an assortment of creaks. Facing the control panel, she felt a sharp pinch on her butt.
    “Oh my, Dalton, can’t you wait until we get to our room?” She felt it again. “Stop that, will you?”
    “Stop what? I’m not doing anything…yet.”
    “You pinched me.”
    “No, I didn’t.”
    Turning sideways to face him, she regarded his befuddled expression. “You did it twice. Don’t con me.”
    He spread his hands. “Are you calling me a liar? I never touched you.”
    A snicker of laughter reached her ears, making goose bumps rise on her skin. “Did you hear that?”
    Dalton tilted his head. “Hear what? Are you all right?”
    “No.” Marla pounded the button for the fourth floor as though that motion would get them there sooner. The car creaked upward at an agonizingly slow pace. “I think someone is in here with us, and it’s not anyone we can see. Get me out of here.” Her heart racing, she scrabbled to open the inner gate as soon as they arrived at their destination.
    Vail lumbered on her trail as she sped toward their room, momentarily getting lost and having to backtrack to find the right turn-off to Hibiscus Hall. She didn’t offer any further explanations, not quite believing her own perception. Breathing a sigh of relief when they shut the door to Room 407 behind them, Marla allowed herself a moment to gather her reserve.
    “I’m starting to believe those ghost stories,” she said after her nerves settled. Advancing toward the bed, she noticed a subtle lilac fragrance. Had the maid been there recently? The bed hadn’t been turned down; it was too early.
    “What you need is a dose of reality,” Dalton replied, gripping her shoulders and pulling her close. “Like this.”
    As his mouth descended on hers, Marla forgot all about spooks and other oddities. Her mind took a hiatus while she played intimate games with Vail in their private quarters.
    An hour later, her tension finally abated, they made a foray to the beach. Marla chose lounge chairs facing west, figuring a full blast of sun would rejuvenate her. She lay back, limbs relaxed, until her bared stomach was assaulted by a spritz of cool water. Snapping open her eyes behind dark sunglasses, she jerked upright. Champagne Glass stood grinning with a water spray bottle in her hand.
    “We don’t allow our guests to get overheated,” the social director said. “It’s just part of our superior service.”
    “You should ask people first,” Marla retorted.
    Vail’s muscles rippled as he shot to his feet. He wore swim trunks but looked no less imposing than when fully clothed. “We’ll take a dip in the ocean if we’re too hot,” he said, his voice dangerously quiet.
    Champagne’s smile wavered but only for an instant. “Sure thing, sugar. I want you to have a divine time while you’re here. Let me know if I can help you in any other way.”
    “There is one thing,” he replied, giving her a level look. ‘These accidents that have been happening, is anyone looking into them other than your manager who hired the ghost chasers?”
    She glanced around, then lowered her voice. “I can’t say, but you might talk to old man Mulch. He’d like the renovations to go forward, but we’re always losing workers.”
    “Because of the incidents?”
    “The hired men believe in the curse. There’s a big turnover among the labor force. You never see the same guy twice.” She sucked in a breath. “I shouldn’t be talking about it.”
    “Isn’t there a meeting going on now?” Marla asked. “I met Donna Albright earlier.” Leveraging herself off the beach chair, she