Ghostly Liaison by Stacy McKitrick Read Free Book Online

Charlie jumped or acted as if she was jumping. Instead of bouncing as expected, she hovered over the floor. “Thank you, Bridget. Thank you for giving me hope. I’ll leave you alone tonight, I promise.”
    “And the morning? You’ll leave me alone then, too?”
    Charlie frowned. “Sure. I’ll stay away. I’ll check in tomorrow night. But could you do me a favor?”
    “What kind of favor?”
    “Could you turn the TV on for me? It gets awfully boring.”
    Bridget flopped back on the bed. Heaven forbid her ghost got bored!
     
     

Chapter 5
     
    Rob closed the lid to his laptop and leaned back in his seat. The start of a headache had formed behind his eyes. He was no college graduate, but even he knew a business should have money in the bank, not be nearly broke. Barnaby sat up and stared at him as if anticipating his departure. He reached down and scratched behind the dog’s ears. “What am I gonna do, huh fella?”
    As if answering in his own unique and totally speechless way, Barnaby placed his head in Rob’s lap.
    “That’s what I thought.” And to think, it had only taken a year for him to screw things up.
    This wasn’t the life he’d envisioned for himself. For one, Dad would still be alive and running the business. All Rob wanted to do was work with his hands. Build things. Building a bigger business had been David Gentry’s dream, not his. And now that dream was crumbling.
    The front door to the office squeaked open and slammed shut. Rob had meant to fix the door, but every time he’d started the project, something or someone pulled him away. Carl Anders poked his head into Rob’s office. “Oh good, you’re still here.”
    The fifty-three-year-old had been with the company since day one, nearly thirty years. Not only the first salesman/foreman, he’d become a good friend of the family. Rob would have been lost without him this past year.
    Barnaby growled.
    “Stop it!” Rob said.
    The dog just hadn’t been the same since Charlie’s death. Barnaby slunk to the floor and placed his head on his paws.
    “Sorry about that. I don’t know what’s gotten into him. So what’s up?”
    Carl grinned and took a chair. “We won the office-park project.”
    Rob sat up. “I thought we weren’t going to bid on that. It’s too big for us.”
    Carl waved his hand in dismissal. “Nonsense. Nothing’s too big. It’s what your father always said. Besides, with this recession, we shouldn’t have any problems hiring people. Heck, we might even get them cheaper. This is great news. Why aren’t you smiling?”
    “How are we going to pay for more people?”
    “Rob… Have you been looking at the bank statement again? How many times have I told you to quit worrying? The bank doesn’t reflect what we have due us. This is a big contract. It will pay for the new hires and you’ll still come out ahead. Trust me. Have I steered you wrong yet?”
    Rob couldn’t answer that. Not truthfully, anyway. While he had nothing against hiring new people, he’d rather work with the men he trusted and right now they were stretched thin. “When does the job start?”
    “Next month.”
    Panic sparked through Rob’s chest and he bolted out of his chair. “That’s not enough time!”
    Carl rose, his arms outstretched. “Ease up there, son. I have it all taken care of. That’s my job.”
    Rob dragged in a ragged breath and collapsed onto his chair. “I’m not cut out for this. I should have sold the business after Dad died.”
    “Why would you say such a thing? Business is great. You’re doing a great job. Your father would be proud.”
    Proud or rolling in his grave?
    Rob stood and paced the small office. “Maybe I should stop working in the field and spend more time in the office. Take some night classes and get a business degree. Then maybe I’ll feel more comfortable once I understand it better.”
    College. The thought made his stomach churn. He’d barely passed high school.
    “If that’s what you want,