Flirty Read Free

kind of guys. She glanced at her unflattering apparel and backtracked. Okay, maybe it was more like they went out of their way to avoid her, and when it came right down to it, she wasn’t into any kind of “stands”—one-night or long-term. Still, Mr. Hottie was nice to look at.
    So look she did.
    Her glance moved over his broad shoulders and his rock-hard abs before going lower, halting just below the belt area. As she checked him out, her blood warmed and desire moved into her stomach. The guy was smokin’ hot, and as sunlight spilled over his body, her mind strayed in an erotic direction.
    With her nipples tightening, her gaze moved back to his handsome face. When she found him staring back, a wide, knowing grin curling his lips, her stomach bottomed out and her blood burned hot.
    Oh, shit.
    Mortified that she’d been caught ogling him, she ducked back inside. As she hid behind her door, embarrassment flooding her veins, she vowed never to step foot outside again. But when a loud noise overhead shook the house to its very foundation, followed by a strange cackling sound, she bolted though the house, out the front door, and straight into a waiting Errol’s arms.
     
    Sam Doherty stared at the now-empty veranda overlooking the beach and wondered if he was seeing things. One second a beautiful young woman was standing there staring down at him, and the next thing he knew she was gone, appearing and disappearing faster than a ghostly apparition. Maybe Errol was right. Maybe the place was haunted.
    At least that’s what his best friend’s great-uncle, Errol Wilson, had told him over the phone when he called him home from New Mexico. He’d insisted he needed to cleanse the house and send Ol’ Lady Landry back to her resting place.
    Sam wasn’t opposed to coming home, and when he’d heard that his best friend, Jon, had moved back to town, living in his childhood home nonetheless, with a girl who’d turned it into a bed and breakfast, he was excited to hang out with him and catch up on life.
    He also loved springtime in his hometown, and since his ghost-hunting team was on a break while his two co-workers ran off to get married, he had nothing better to do with his time then come home and relax with family and friends.
    He’d flown in late last night and after sharing a few stories and a few drinks with his folks at Hauk’s bar, he crashed and crashed hard. But the sound of the afternoon beach party pulled him from his childhood bed—and a room that his parents hadn’t changed since he’d left some ten years ago. Anxious to get out and see all his old friends, he headed straight for the ocean, hoping to eventually catch up with Errol and get the deets on the alleged haunted house.
    Excusing himself from the overfriendly girl Jacob had introduced him to, he took a few steps toward the Victorian house, scanning the windows and back veranda. He stood there for a long moment, waiting for the apparition to reappear. But when he heard a loud noise inside, he rushed around to the front door, only to find Errol with his arms around the prettiest girl he’d ever set eyes on. The same one who’d been staring at him from the deck.
    “Oh, I…excuse me,” Sam said, giving Errol a playful, atta’ boy wink. “I didn’t mean to interrupt.”
    Errol’s head came back with a start and when his eyes lit with understanding, he snarled. “Dang, boy. What’s the matter with you? Ain’t nothing going on here. You’re seeing things again.”
    “Hey, Errol,” Sam said, holding his hands up palms out as he began backing away. “I know what I saw, but you don’t owe me any explanation,” he said, teasing. “Your business is your business.”
    “You think I could catch me a fine filly like this?” Errol waved his cane, and Sam caught the small swagger in the elderly gentleman’s step as he let go of the girl and inched back. He gave a cocky shake of his head and added, “’Course, in my younger days…”
    Sam turned