6. Reylor

Chapter 6

Reylor

“ T his isn’t possible.” I almost flung the pocket watch back on the bed. It looked old. Worn in places, as if it had belonged to an old man who’d died six years ago.

Hannah shrugged. “You get used to it. Hold onto the watch, though, or he’ll keep putting it in front of you. I discovered that when he placed a single daisy beside my plate in the dining room. I tossed it in the trash only to find it on my bedside table later that day. If you think too hard about it, it’ll creep you out. I’ve chosen to just say thank you and leave it at that.” She tipped her head back and lifted her voice. “Thanks, Justin. I’m sure he loves the watch.” The smile she gave me socked me in the chest like a fist, making my heart flip over and my pulse surge.

Fated mate.

If only she wasn’t on a dating hiatus. But that was okay. I was a patient shifter. And I wasn’t above a bit of persuasion. I hadn’t missed the way she quivered when I pressed her against the wall.

And she had asked if Monsters, PI detectives could date clients. Who else could she be thinking of but me?

“Show me the bathroom overhead,” I said, focusing on the investigation. I had some ideas already, and I’d look into them once I left, but it made sense to look the entire place over before I started snooping further.

As for the pocket watch? As we left her bedroom, I placed it on the low table beside the door.

Ghosts? No way.

We took the main staircase, and she showed me the suites, an equal number on each side of the landing. In the last, the one above her bedroom, I looked at all the fixtures, but while I couldn’t find any leaks, I was no plumber.

“I shut off the valves to this floor,” she said. “A bummer since this room was ready for guests.”

I’d admired the pale rose walls, the way she’d refinished the dark, ornate trim, plus the understated, antique décor. The large, clawed tub in the bathroom, clearly as old as the building though in pristine condition, was complemented by a newly tiled shower with a glass door and the pedestal sink. Bright towels added a splash of color and tied it all together.

“I call this the rose suite for obvious reasons,” she said with a soft smile. “I’ll name each something simple based on the colors I use.”

We left the bathroom and crossed the large bedroom with a cozy sitting area, the fireplace flanked by high back chairs and a floral loveseat.

“Guests are going to love this place,” I said, admiring the colors she’d chosen as well as the way she’d arranged the room. “You’ll be booked out a year in advance.”

When another cool breeze swept through the room right after Hannah opened the door to the hall, I attributed the chill to air moving through the house from the level above.

Her hand on the open door, she shot me a sad smile. “I hope so.”

I joined her in the opening. “I’m going to get to the bottom of this. We’ll find out who’s trying to sabotage you, and you’ll be able to open the B&B on time. I promise.”

With a nod, she stepped out into the hall, waving to the tall table with a lamp placed beside the door. “Don’t forget your pocket watch.”

The exact same watch now lay on this table.