Dead People In Love (Haunted Hearts) Read Free Page B

leather soft and welcoming, making it a tiny bit easy to relax. After all, she was the lucky one. Her start in life hadn’t been the smoothest, but she’d put that behind her. She was married to a man that other women swooned over and she had the best stepdaughter ever. Life was good. She didn’t need this kind of headache.
    Looking at Rose’s sad eyes, she amended that to heartache. She definitely didn’t need to share anyone else’s heartache.
    No more ghost-talking gigs, she decided. She’d still talk to ghosts. That was a part of her and she couldn’t stop that any more than she could stop breathing. But she’d no longer do it for money.
    “There’s a reason I can’t go to the lawyer’s,” Rose said. “I didn’t just give Donny my power of attorney. I deeded him my condo.”
    Cassie closed her eyes. Coffee. Her brain needed coffee.
    “What do you mean?” she asked, opening her eyes, and was immediately sorry for showing any interest.
    “I signed it over to him. My son died of lung cancer six years ago.” Her voice wobbled but her gaze remained steady. “My daughter-in-law remarried and lives in London with her second husband. Donny’s my only family left. If something happened to me, I didn’t want him to pay extra taxes.”
    “Is that legal?” Bridget asked.
    Rose winced. “It’s legal. Perhaps I can revoke the power of attorney, but the lawyer made sure the property transfer couldn’t be contested.”
    “His lawyer.” Bridget’s eyes flashing.
    Another wince crossed Rose’s face. “Mine. I have a very good lawyer. Donny doesn’t have a lawyer.”
    “I’ll bet my favorite knife set that Olivia has one.”  
    “I suppose she does, but Donny’s an adult. It’s his choice to agree or disagree with her.” Rose’s eyes moistened. “When I did it, he said the place was mine for as long as I lived.” Her lower lip trembled. “I think maybe I lived too long.”
    Bridget gave a soft cry. Cassie leaned forward.
    “He’s getting married,” she said, “Do you think he wants to move in?”
    “I bet she does,” Bridget said. “She’s at all the parties. The in parties. I see her all the time.”
    Cassie sat back, her eyebrows raised.
    “I make desserts,” Bridget said. “My specialties are cakes. I get a lot of jobs at society functions. She’s at most of them. She didn’t recognize me, but I sure recognize her.” She shrugged, but her nostrils pinched together in distaste. “To women like her, I’m one of the staff. Invisible. But they’re not invisible to us.”
    She paused, and Rose leaned toward her. So did Cassie.
    Though no one was there to overhear her, Bridget’s voice lowered. “I heard from a couple sources that her family lost all their money. I don’t know if her friends know. But we know.”
    “I don’t know why she wants Donny,” Rose said, her voice querulous. “He doesn’t like that world. He doesn’t have that kind of money.”
    “Not yet, but he’s on his way.” Bridget’s hand sliced the air, half angry, half frustrated. “She’s an interior decorator for Chicago’s rich and richer. He designs furniture. Haven’t you told me how brilliant he is?”
    “He’s an artist with wood.” Grandmotherly pride brightened Rose’s features. “He’s won awards and prizes. Lately he’s been getting big commissions.”
    “Didn’t you say Olivia got them?” Bridget asked.
    Rose sighed, the brightness dulling. “Olivia was so sweet in the beginning. But once she had the ring on her finger, she changed. Became possessive.”
    “I know women like that,” Bridget said. “And men. They start out like purring cats, then they turn into tigers ready to pounce.”
    Cassie nodded. She knew live people like that. And she’d met a few dead ones, too. The ghosts were solidly in the pouncing tiger stage. Not her most pleasant subjects.
    Rose’s mouth curved down. A horseshoe with luck and time running out. “Olivia has big plans for Donny. I think she