CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE

M AX AND HIS CREW FOUND SPEAKERS IN TWO MORE ROOMS IN THE new section. On the laptop computer, Carrie found recordings of chains rattling, of a music box playing, of children laughing, of a man's voice and an iron door opening and closing. There was a recording of footsteps and heavy breathing.

There was no explanation for other incidents—guest entries in the journal for several decades that reported faucets turning on by themselves, small handprints appearing on the windows, the ghost cat, closet doors swinging open and closed.

There was nothing to explain the old-fashioned piano music she had heard downstairs in the middle of the night, or the sounds of people talking and clinking glasses in the saloon.

They found nothing in the old section, though stories about those rooms had been abundant too over the years. Cain believed it could all be fake, but Jenny wasn't convinced.

As soon as the team had wrapped up their work, Cain called ahead and made arrangements for Max and his people to take a look at the Grandview. As it was such a quiet day, Jenny left Barb in charge, and she and Cain went up to the Grandview to see what Max had found.

Knowing what to look for now, Max made a search of rooms on each floor, but by the end of the day, he had found nothing. The hours were slipping past, and a big storm was predicted for that night. Jenny and Cain were waiting in the bar before going in to supper when Max approached.

"Have a seat," Cain said, indicating a chair across from him.

"I can't stay long. The others are loading the equipment into the van, and then we're driving back to Scottsdale."

"What's the final word?" Cain took a drink of whiskey.

"We gave it our best shot," Max said. "But it looks like the place is clean."

"We tore the entire hotel apart for the remodel and completely rebuilt it," Cain said. "Jake Fellows, my contractor, kept a close eye on everything being done. I didn't expect you to find anything."

"Glad we could help solve at least part of the mystery at the Copper Star."

Cain rose and extended a hand. "I really appreciate the work you did today."

Smiling, Max shook his hand. "You paid me plenty to do it."

Cain smiled. "Worth every penny."

Max left to join the rest of his team for the drive back down the mountain. Cain escorted Jenny into the dining room for supper.

The server, a young man named Robert, in black slacks and a crisp white shirt, arrived. Jenny ordered chicken cordon bleu, Cain ordered a steak, and they compromised on the wine, asking Robert to bring out a bottle of Duckhorn merlot to accompany the meal.

Cain tasted, and Robert poured the wine into the crystal glasses Millie had chosen. Lovely, but thanks to Jenny, sturdy enough to stand the wear.

"I've been thinking about what Max found in the Copper Star," Jenny said, taking a sip of wine. "There was nothing in the old wing. All the equipment was hidden in the new section. You think it was set up during the remodel?"

Cain nodded. "No other way they could have done it without being noticed."

"But why?"

"I think someone is trying to put you out of business. The kind of stuff that happened wasn't just the usual, occasional ghost sighting. Those are good for business, right?"

"In the past, they certainly have been."

"People report all kinds of things at the Grandview, ghosts on the balcony, the sound of a gurney rolling down the hall—this previously being a hospital. But none of it is dangerous."

He took a drink of wine and set the glass back down on the linen-draped table. "The stuff happening in the new section of your hotel isn't good for business. It's downright scary."

"A man was murdered. That's more than just scary."

Cain's gaze found hers. "We still don't know what's going on with that."

"Evelyn Dunning came to see me—the librarian?"

"What about her?"

"I think she may have found something that could help us figure things out. I'm going to do a little more research in the morning, then talk to Cleo. She wants to try again."

"No way," Cain said, setting his wineglass down a little too firmly.

Jenny gave him a tight smile. "I appreciate everything you've done for me, Cain, but the Copper Star belongs to me. I don't interfere in the way you run the Grandview. I'm going to handle the problem in room ten the way I see fit."

Cain swore softly.

"You don't have to go with us. In fact, I'd rather you didn't. I think we might do better if there isn't a man in the room."

"You mean the kind of man the presence in the room can dominate—that's what you're thinking, right?"

Jenny shook her head. "I don't think he would be able to dominate you this time. You're one of the strongest people I've ever met."

He relaxed, his lips edging into the faintest of smiles. "I guess that's a compliment. If I ever run into another demon, I'll keep your words in mind."

"That's what you think it is, a demon?"

"How the hell would I know? I don't even believe in ghosts, let alone demons."

Jenny laughed. "Well, we really don't know what's happening in that room. I'm going to do some more research on Boris Koblinsky. Maybe that will help us figure it out."

"Boris Koblinsky? Who's he?"

"I'm not sure yet. I think he might be the spirit in room ten."

Cain opened his mouth to say something, but Robert arrived with their meals just then. After he left, they started eating, and the conversation turned to other subjects.

"Speaking of problems . . ." Cain said between bites.

"Do we have to?"

Cain didn't smile. "We were talking about people who might want to do you harm. You helped me make a list of possible enemies. Now I need a list from you. Who would be willing to go to such extremes to put you out of business?"

"I have no idea."

"Is there anyone who wants to buy you out? Devaluing the property might give them a good opportunity."

"I can't think of anyone who seems interested."

"All right, how about personal enemies? Your ex-husband, maybe? What about good ol' cousin Eddie?"

"My ex wouldn't be interested. He's married to a very wealthy woman, but Eddie . . ."

"Eddie thinks he deserves to own the Star, correct?"

"That's right."

"Okay, he goes to the top of the list."

"There isn't any list. He's the only person I can think of who might do something to make me fail."

"Then for now we focus on Eddie. I've got Faraday looking into him. Maybe he'll find something that puts all of this together."

Her head came up. "You don't think Eddie could be the guy who shot you?"

"No idea. I'm not overlooking any possibility."

They finished their meal, then went into the bar for a brandy before heading up to Cain's room. By the time they got there, both of them were running a fever, the kind that made her want to tear off his clothes. Cain had been gone for a week. They'd made passionate love after the masked ball, then gone to the ranch, where Cain had been shot.

He'd been in the hospital, finally gotten out, but they had both been exhausted on Halloween night, and there was the problem of ghosts. Or as it turned out, fake ghosts.

Jenny needed him tonight, and from the hot glitter in his dark eyes, he needed her, too. They went up to his suite, barely made it into the entry before he was kissing her. In seconds, the kiss turned hot, wet, and hungry, and Cain began pulling off her clothes.

Jenny tugged Cain's white shirt out of his black pants, saw the ragged scar from the stitches in his shoulder, and gentled her touch. Frustrated, Cain began to help her, tugging so hard, one of the buttons went flying across the room.

Jenny ran her hand over his bare chest. The man had the sexiest body. Jenny couldn't get enough of him.

"Damn, I want you," Cain said. They kissed as he finished stripping her out of her clothes. The next thing she knew he was lifting her up, wrapping her legs around his waist, carrying her over to the new live-edge table next to the window. He kicked one of the chairs out of the way and set her on top.

Long, deep kisses followed. Jenny's arms went around his neck as he moved between her legs. Sliding his zipper down, he freed himself and slid inside.

Jenny moaned. Cain moved out and drove in, taking her with long, determined strokes. Sweet pleasure rolled through her, making her tremble, and her body tightened around him.

Cain didn't stop until she climaxed, kept going till she tipped over the edge again, dragging him along with her to a powerful release. They were spent and clinging to each other by the time he was finished.

He tipped his forehead against hers. "I don't know what I'm going to do about you. I can't seem to get enough."

Jenny softly kissed him. "You're just making up for the time you were gone."

He smiled and kissed her again. "Yeah, one of my worst ideas."

"Let's go to bed," Jenny said. "Your shoulder still isn't completely well."

He smiled. "For some reason, I've forgotten all about it."

True to his word, Cain carried her into the bedroom, and they started all over again, slower this time. Jenny still worried about his injury, though it seemed to be healing well. Cain was the only man who had ever satisfied her, but it was more than just his physical size and strength.

It was the way he looked at her, the way he touched her. As if she were the most important person in the world. Deep down, she knew it was a feeling she would never find with another man.

Jenny refused to think about it. She had no idea what the future held for either of them. There were too many problems, too much happening.

Some of it deadly.

* * *

Cain met his grandmother downstairs for breakfast the following morning. There was a bit more color in Nell's pale face, her carriage a little straighter than when she had first arrived in town. His grandmother was happy in Jerome. The thought that he had been able to give Nell her dream made him smile.

Cain rose and pulled out a chair, bent and kissed Nell's cheek as he seated her. She took the linen napkin next to her plate and spread it over her lap. They both ordered, then sipped coffee as they waited for the food to arrive.

"I heard a wild rumor that you had a bunch of ghost hunters workin' over at Jenny's place yesterday."

"Not true. In fact, Max and his crew are the exact opposite of ghost hunters. I hired them to debunk what's been happening at the hotel."

"And did they?"

"Somewhat."

"What does that mean? They found ghosts or they didn't?"

His grandmother had always been far too perceptive. She could recognize a half-truth a mile away. "They figured out that someone installed small wireless speakers and video equipment to scare the ballocks off the guests in some of the rooms."

Nell laughed. "Is that so?"

"Yes, that's so."

"Does that mean that what happened to you in room ten was all a prank?"

"How did you know about—"

"Cleo's my best friend."

"Of course," he drawled sarcastically. "How could I forget?" He took a drink of his coffee, set the cup back down on the table. "All right, so they didn't find anything fake in room ten. They found all sorts of stuff in the new section—especially in Jenny's room—nothing in the old section."

"And nothing that explains what happened to you in room ten."

"No."

"Cleo says Jenny is investigating, tryin' to figure out who the spirit is."

"She's been at the library all morning. Will's with her, of course. I'm more worried about the guy who shot me going after Jenny than I am about the demon in room ten."

Nell's silver eyebrows shot up. "Demon, is it?"

"Who the hell knows. Pardon the pun."

Nell smiled. "You know, you just keep gettin' smarter and smarter. Or at least more open-minded."

Cain took a sip of coffee. "Two things I've learned—anything is possible, and never underestimate Nell Barrett."

His grandmother laughed.

The food arrived, and they ate for a while, enjoying the bacon, eggs, fresh-squeezed orange juice, more coffee, and each other's company.

"So how's it goin' with you and Jenny?" Nell finally asked.

"I wondered how long it would take you to get around to that subject."

"Well . . . ?"

"Well, I like her." Nell's snowy eyebrows climbed. "I like her a lot, okay?"

Nell said nothing. Just kept staring, waiting for a truthful answer.

"Fine. If you must know, I'm crazy about her. I'm just not quite sure what to do about it."

"Maybe you should marry her," Nell said.

Cain choked on the mouthful of orange juice he had taken. He dabbed his mouth with a napkin. "As I said, we like each other a lot. Marriage is a big step. It takes time to sort through all the angles."

"There's only one angle that matters. Do you love her, and does she love you? That's it. The rest will work itself out."

"I have no idea how Jenny feels about me." Which was a fact he didn't like to think about. "She's never really said."

"One of you is going to have to take the first step. If you don't, things could go south in a hurry."

"We've talked about this before. It's none of your concern."

"You're right, of course," Nell said, returning to her breakfast. "What was I thinking?"

Cain scowled, but her words had struck a chord. What was Jenny thinking about their relationship? She was an extremely independent woman. Being tied down by marriage might be the last thing she wanted.

Cain wasn't sure if that was good news or bad.