Careless Whisper by Wendi Zwaduk Read Free Book Online

it faded and your sisters are too wrapped up in themselves to notice.” Honoria held her hands open. “I can’t explain everything because now that you know you can see me, I have to move on.”
    “ Gramma , I can see through you. Why can I see through you?”
    “That’s my cue. Ryan, tell her everything because my reason for being here is expiring faster than I’d have liked.” She grasped Samara and Ryan’s entwined hands. “I love you, Sammy, but I’ve got a date with your Grampa Clarence. Take care of Ryan, he’s a good man.” With a smile, she melted into oblivion.
    For a pregnant moment, Samara stared in the direction where Honoria once stood. She opened her mouth twice, before finally speaking. “This is just not happening. My grandmother tells me I have a Spirit something, she evaporates and Ryan Black puts the moves on me.” Samara stared at Ryan with misty eyes. Her chin quivered. “Why are you involved? Before this morning, you wanted nothing to do with me except to bump into me in the hallways or smile in the stairwells. You wouldn’t dance with me at the Christmas party last year.”
    “I acted like a fool at the party because I didn’t want to look stupid to you. You and I have a special connection and I didn’t want to screw up things with my Spirit Mate. I’ve wanted to talk to you many times, but I couldn’t.”
    “Because I can see people who don’t exist?” She fluttered her hands in the air. “No, I know, it’s because you needed a warm body in a pinch. Someone who will lend credit to your farce of a show. The spirit business just made it sound official.” Samara stood and wiped tears from her face. “I need to go before I embarrass myself.”
    Thunder rumbled through the house. Fat rain droplets splattered against the windows and echoed throughout the apartment. Felicity’s voice slipped into his brain. Don’t let her leave. Ryan ground his teeth together. If Samara spent the night, it would be on her terms, not because his ex insisted.
    “Samara, I want you to stay. You’ll get soaked.” His voice sounded rough, even to his own ears. “It’s too dangerous, but if you have to go, I understand.”
    “Save the chivalry.”
    She pushed past him, but he enfolded her in his arms. “Take your emotions out on me, babe.” Ryan stroked her hair, relishing the feel of her body against his. “Let it out without running away.” With her, he felt whole again. “Just let me hold you, please?”
    Although it took longer than he’d have liked, Samara curled against him, wrapping her arms around his waist. She buried her face in the crook of his neck, wetting his shirt with her tears. “I don’t understand…anything.”
    “Ghosts are spirits who can’t leave our realm.” He cupped her skull, resting his forehead against hers to look into her eyes. “Some are powered by love and memories, like Honoria . But others fuel themselves on fear and negative energy.”
    “Then you have this gift?” Samara slipped from his grasp, putting space between them. “Other than Gramma , who can you see?”
    Hell, she wanted the truth. Rubbing his palms on his jeans, he debated what to say. “My abilities are limited.” The lights flickered as if to accentuate his words.
    “Just as I suspected—your show is a fraud.”
    “Yes and no. I can only see the ones who want me to see them, but seeing isn’t everything. You and I belong together.” Ryan scrubbed his eyes with the heel of his hand. There were so many things he needed to explain. An icy feeling seeped into his bones as Felicity’s vanilla perfume tickled his senses. For a split second, her image flashed before his eyes. The scowl on her face etched itself onto his brain. Did she want him to be with Samara or was this yet another push-pull game?
    “Ryan, this won’t work. I’m not a Spirit Mate.”
    “Check the weather on my laptop.”
    “Why? What’s it got to do with Gramma ?”
    “The storm. We weren’t slated for