Haunting Danielle 27 The Ghost and the Mountain Man by Bobbi Holmes (great novels to read TXT) 📕

“You’re reading too much into this Brian and Heather thing,” Danielle said, resuming the conversation she had started with Walt in the kitchen just minutes earlier.

“Perhaps, but you weren’t with them up on the mountain. The pair got rather cozy,” Walt said before taking a sip of his coffee.

“Sure they did. Goodness, poor Heather must have been terrified after waking up tied to a tree and those crazy wannabe witches. And I can’t imagine how Brian is absorbing all this.”

“He seemed perfectly fine with it last night,” Walt reminded her. “And then he goes home with Heather.” He chuckled and took another sip of coffee.

Danielle rolled her eyes. “Why do people always say women are the gossips? Sheesh. Just because Brian stopped by Heather’s house on the way home from here doesn’t mean he went home with her in that way. Perhaps she was just nervous about going home to a dark house. I certainly understand that, especially after being kidnapped and almost killed.”

Walt reached over and gave Danielle’s knee a pat and said, “We will see.”

“Anyway,” Danielle went on, snatching a pinch of Walt’s cinnamon roll and popping it in her mouth. “Brian is too old for her. My dad would be about his age if he were still alive.”

“If you will recall, the last man Heather dated was about Brian’s age,” Walt reminded her.

“True, but the idea of Brian Henderson and Heather Donovan in a relationship is ridiculous.”

“There is one way to find out,” Walt said, setting his cup on the coffee table. “We could see if his car is still over there this morning.”

“You would really go out in this rain just to spy on our neighbor? Seriously, Walt, I am surprised at you.”

Walt laughed. “In case you haven’t noticed, it’s not raining anymore. But I’m not talking about me going outside.”

“I’m not going outside.”

“And I never suggested you should. But there is someone who was out there earlier this morning who might tell us something.” Walt looked over to the windowsill where Max lounged.

“Max,” Walt called out. The cat looked up to Walt; their eyes met. Danielle watched the pair in silence. After a few minutes Walt chuckled, took a sip of coffee, and Max went back to napping.

“Well?” Danielle asked after a few moments. Walt pulled off a hunk of cinnamon roll and put it in his mouth.

“Well?” Danielle repeated.

Walt looked to Danielle and asked, “Well, what?”

“What did Max say?”

“You said you weren’t into gossip.” Walt took a sip of coffee.

Danielle groaned. “Okay, I am curious. What did Max say?”

“He watched the sun come up this morning, perched in one of the trees by the garage. He had an unobstructed view into Heather’s driveway.”

“And?”

“His car was still there,” Walt said.

“Really?”

Walt nodded. “Really.”

“How long was it there?”

Walt shrugged. “I’m not sure. Max came in when the rain started. It was still there then.”

“Wow.” Danielle leaned back in the sofa, considering what Walt had just told her. “Brian and Heather? A couple?”

Walt shrugged. “Or perhaps you were right.”

“How so?”

“About Heather being nervous going home after dark, considering everything that’s happened. Perhaps Brian stayed over there as a friend.”

“Yeah, sure,” Danielle scoffed. “A platonic sleepover. I don’t think so.”

Walt arched his brows. “Really? Not possible? Didn’t Chris sleep over here while I was up in the mountains? Is there something you need to tell me?”

“Walt!” Danielle gasped.

Walt laughed.

Danielle’s brief outrage dissolved, and she let out a sigh. “One minute you’re suggesting there’s something going on between Brian and Heather, and the next you’re saying there’s nothing going on.”

“Oh, there is definitely something going on. What exactly, I’m not sure. But we will see.”

Danielle’s cellphone rang. She stood up and retrieved the phone from the nearby desk. Before answering, she glanced at the caller ID.

“Good morning, Chief… No, no plans. We’re hanging out here today. Walt’s just glad to be home… Certainly… I hope it’s nothing serious… Okay.” Danielle disconnected her call and returned the phone to the desk.

“What did the chief want?” Walt asked.

“He has to work today, and his sister agreed to watch Evan. But she got sick about an hour after the chief dropped him off. He asked if Evan could spend the day with us. I said sure. He’s going over there now to pick him up and then bring him here.”

“I hope it’s nothing serious,” Walt said.

“The chief feels it’s food poisoning. Sissy ate some sketchy leftover seafood late last night.”

“Is Eddy coming too?” Walt asked.

“No. He’s spending the weekend with a friend. It’s just Evan.” Danielle glanced down at her pajamas and said, “I should probably change my clothes before they get here.”

“Why don’t you finish your coffee first?” Walt suggested. “You have time.”

Danielle sat back down and took another sip of coffee.

They chatted a few minutes longer before Walt asked, “I wonder if the morning paper is here yet.”

Danielle stood up.

“Where are you going?” Walt asked.

“To check if the paper’s here.”

“I didn’t mention that so you would get the paper. Let’s finish our coffee, and I’ll get it,” Walt said.

“I already finished my coffee.” Danielle leaned over and gave Walt a quick kiss on the lips. “Let me go see if it’s here, and while I’m gone, please finish that cinnamon roll, will you?”

Walt chuckled. “This morning you told me you didn’t want one.”

“Exactly. I’ve eaten half of yours. I can’t resist those things. We really need to stop buying them.”

Walt reached up and gently looped a finger in Danielle’s collar and pulled her to him. He brushed a kiss over her lips and whispered, “Not happening.”

“But I have no willpower,” Danielle whispered back.

Walt chuckled and kissed her again. With a sigh, Danielle stood up after Walt released her collar, preparing to bring in the newspaper. While doing so, she paused a moment and glanced at what remained of the cinnamon roll. She reached down to snatch a bit when Walt swatted her hand away.

“No more. I’ll be your willpower,” he told her.

Turning from the sofa empty-handed, she