Beckoning Spirit (A Romantic Paranormal Short Story) Read Free Page B

determination, and she realized there would be no more discussion about it.
    “In that case, I’ll get a room at the Island Inn,” she said.
    “You’ll be lucky if there’s availability this time of year.”
    “Hopefully, there will be something. If not, I guess I’ll sleep on a sofa in the lobby.”
    His mouth tipped in a crooked smile. “I might be sharing that sofa with you if they don’t have two extra rooms. Would you mind?”
    She felt a blush creep up her neck. Behind his plum-colored eyes smoldered a man who had awakened a hunger inside Devin.
     “Maybe we should register before doing anything else,” he suggested.
    She cleared her throat. “I’ll register later. If you’ll excuse me, I really need to be on my way. I want to visit the cemetery before the rain starts. Maybe I’ll see you later.”
    “I hope so.”
    After tossing him a wave goodbye, she started the trudge up the steep dirt hill that led to the cemetery and long-abandoned lighthouse. Feeling his stare between her shoulder blades, she turned and indeed found Kipp still standing at the bottom of the hill. He grinned like a Cheshire cat.
    “What’s funny?” she asked.
    “You.” He pointed at her feet. “Don’t tell me you’re going to walk to the top in those water-logged sandals.”
    Devin peered down. True, they did slosh with each step and were probably ruined. But she had no option except to walk in bare feet, and the terrain was rocky. She ignored Kipp’s deep, masculine laugh and playfully blew him a kiss.
    Having no idea how long he continued to watch her, she quelled the urge to look over her shoulder. Maybe he’d turn out to be just another dream that might disappear. That was a thought she couldn’t bear.
    When she made it to the top, a hand fluttered to her chest. It took a moment for her to catch her breath. Standing on the crest of the hill overlooking the village below, she inhaled and exhaled slowly.
    Small cottages with backyard gardens of flowers and vegetables dotted the hilly landscape. In the harbor, she spotted the Serafina , as well as another, sleeker fishing boat that must have pulled in after them. Devin could even see a painter along the rocky shore, standing at his easel with brush and paint board in hand, seemingly oblivious to the storm brewing.
    Her gaze latched onto a cottage with a country-style thatched roof and a flagpole out front. With her heart beating in her ears, she noted the old tire swing still hung from the big tree out back, and the picket fence still needed painting. Many fond memories of fun-filled days and star-studded nights were linked to that little home. How she missed Grandma! The ache she felt in her chest turned to a deep, agonizing burn.
    Before tears blurred her eyes, she wandered to the cemetery. Although the sky was darkening and getting gloomier by the moment, the melodic symphony of birds chirped all around her. They welcomed her home again.
    A flash of light streaked across the sky, causing Devin to jump. When a cool breeze whipped her hair around her face and rustled the tops of the trees, she had to admit Kipp was correct. The storm was moving in, and it was coming fast.
    She quickly walked under the elegant iron archway and marched straight to her grandmother’s grave. Someone had recently placed a pot of red geraniums there. Kneeling, she slid her finger across the glistening hard surface of the marble headstone. Tears sprang to her eyes as she lowered her head and whispered a fervent prayer.
    “Grandma, why am I here? Please help me unlock the secret of my dreams. Who is the woman in white, and what does she want with me? You advised me to follow my dreams and I’d find love. Where is the love you foresaw?”
    She lay on her side and rested her head upon the mound of grass. For a year, sorrow had swelled inside. Finally, it was time to let the tears flow. Like the rain that began to softly fall, the tears washed over her in waves, refreshing her spirit and