Chapter 10

Less than two hours into the trip and Ephie had fallen asleep, despite trying to stay up. Remy didn't mind. They were on different schedules. He'd have been more surprised if she'd stayed awake.

Jean-Luc had slunk across the console and was now snug in Remy's lap, which made him smile. He'd never had a pet before. It was nice. There was something … special about being the person the animal wanted to spend time with.

He was glad Ephie was asleep, though. She probably wouldn't like Jean-Luc abandoning her for Remy. Seemed like Jean-Luc sensed that, however, as he'd stayed with her until she drifted off.

Occasionally, whenever Jean-Luc looked solid, Remy took his hand off the wheel to pet the little animal. Jean-Luc's purrs rumbled right into Remy's body.

Mostly, though, Remy had been watching the road. The one behind them as well as the one in front. He wanted to be sure they weren't being followed. Once, he thought he'd spotted the same pair of headlights behind them for nearly an hour, but then they'd vanished. So far, nothing else had happened. Which was good.

Even better that Ephie had yet to pull her phone out and realize it wasn't on. He hoped it stayed that way until they got to Nocturne Falls, but there wasn't much chance of that. They'd have to get a hotel soon, and by morning, she'd want to check something on it. Social media, email, maybe even text her mom. Then she'd know it was off.

Could he power it down before they made the final leg of the journey? He wasn't sure. But he'd try.

As the hours ticked by, he started watching for an exit with food, gas, and lodging. He didn't want to leave things to the last minute. He'd been serious about not having to spend time in the—what had Ephie called it? The UVPC? Yeah, he didn't relish the thought of being cooped up in that until the sun went down again.

An exit sign appeared, showing him everything he needed. With Jean-Luc still on his lap, Remy turned off and spotted a decent hotel that also had a restaurant. He pulled under the hotel's awning and turned off the Bronco.

"Hey, bud," he said softly. He patted the cat's back, but his hand touched nothing. Jean-Luc was in full ghost mode. "Go over to your mama now. I have to get out."

Jean-Luc stretched, then curled up tighter. He showed no signs of moving.

Remy shook his head. "Then I'll move you myself." He tried to slide his hands under the cat to pick him up, but Jean-Luc conveniently remained insubstantial. Remy's hands went right through him.

Remy had no experience with cats and even less with ghosts. Could he just get out? Would Jean-Luc stay on the seat? At the very least, the cat would still be in the car, right? Because if Jean-Luc snuck out and got lost, Remy was pretty sure Ephie would never forgive him.

He didn't have time to think about it. The clock ticked ever closer to dawn. He needed to be safely indoors. Soon. Out of options, he carefully unlatched the door. "Stay in the car, Jean-Luc."

As quickly and as quietly as he could, Remy slipped out and closed the door. He peered in through the window. There was no sign of Jean-Luc. He spun, checking the ground around him. No cat anywhere.

A little panic set in. Ephie would have his head. He never should have agreed to any of this. Not the cat, not the trip, not reuniting with Ephie. What he should have done was insist Leonie call the police. Or maybe called them himself.

Then she would have definitely told the vampire council he'd been in New Orleans before his time. And he'd be in a lot more trouble.

He rolled his eyes as he headed for the lobby. A single employee, a middle-aged man, stood behind the desk as Remy entered through the automatic sliding doors. He got his wallet out and removed a credit card.

The man smiled. His name badge read Jorge. "Evening. Or morning, as the case may be. How can I help you?"

"I'm looking for a room with two beds. We'll be checking out later this evening."

"No problem," Jorge said. "Let me see what I have available."

Jorge bent over his computer.

Remy smelled coffee, no doubt coming from the restaurant, which was probably gearing up for the breakfast crowd. As good as the coffee smelled, he didn't need caffeine. He needed to be able to sleep. But Ephie might want some. She'd definitely want breakfast, too.

Letting her go alone seemed like a bad idea. He didn't think they'd been followed, but that wasn't good enough.

He turned toward the restaurant, pondering if he should get some breakfast to go, and caught sight of himself in the framed mirror near the entrance to the elevators.

Jean-Luc was sitting on Remy's head. Casual as could be.

Remy hadn't felt a thing. "What in the—"

"Sorry, sir, what was that?"

Remy blinked. "Um, nothing. Any luck on that room?"

"Yes, just pulling them up now. Sorry, computer's running a little slow this morning. I have a double queen room available on the third floor and a double full on the fifth. Which would you prefer?"

"I'll take the double queen room, thank you." He put his credit card on the counter. Could Jorge see Jean-Luc? If so, he deserved an Oscar for not reacting.

Remy wasn't sure this hotel even allowed pets. Was a ghost cat technically a pet? He didn't know, but he wasn't about to say anything now. He held still, hoping that would be enough to keep Jean-Luc from materializing. Or doing anything that might get them kicked out.

They needed this room.

Jean-Luc meowed. Remy went still. No one but him had heard that. He hoped.

Jorge looked up.

Remy laughed. "Um, that was my, uh, phone. Silly, I know."

Jorge said nothing. He ran the credit card and soon after presented Remy with his receipt and two keycards. "There you are, sir. There's additional parking around the back. Your key will open the exterior doors. Elevators are just down that hall. The restaurant opens in twenty minutes, and there is a breakfast buffet, if you're interested."

"Great, thanks." Remy grabbed the keys and the paperwork and carefully made his way back to the car.

Ephie was still sleeping when he got in, ducking because of Jean-Luc, which was probably dumb, since the cat wasn't solid.

Trying not to think about what had just happened, Remy drove around to the back of the hotel and parked. He glanced in the rearview mirror. No sign of the cat now. Where was he? "Jean-Luc?"

A little chirp answered him.

He exhaled in relief. As long as the cat was in the car, all was well. Remy touched Ephie's shoulder. "Ephie? We're here."

"Hmm?" Her eyes opened, and she yawned. "What now?"

"We're at a hotel. Sun's coming up soon. I've got us a room. They have a restaurant, too."

"Okay, good." She straightened. "How long was I asleep for?"

Most of the trip, but he didn't mind. "A few hours." He pushed the button to lift the tailgate. "We should get inside. Well, I should."

"Right." She grabbed her purse and got out, getting her computer bag from the backseat. "Aw, look at Jean-Luc. He's the cutest thing."

Remy glanced into the backseat. Jean-Luc was half upside down, tummy on display, and translucent. "Can you get him to be invisible? That would be the best way to get him into the room."

"Sure." She patted the seat closest to her. "Come on, bebe. Time to go inside."

He left her to deal with the cat while he gathered their things from the back. Her suitcase, his duffel bag. "Do you need this tote bag?"

"No, I can manage without it for a day. As long as I have my computer, I'm good." She had Jean-Luc tucked into her partially zipped-up hoodie. He looked snug. And smug.

"Okay, let's get inside then. Third floor. Based on where we are, the elevators should be through that door and straight ahead."

He had the duffel shouldered and used the extending handle on her suitcase to wheel it behind him. The keycard worked on the door as Jorge had said it would, and the elevators were indeed straight ahead.

He glanced at Jean-Luc. He seemed content, but knowing how quickly the little beast could change positions, Remy thought it best to check on him all the same.

He pushed the call button. "Are you going to work while I sleep?"

She nodded. "Not much else to do, is there?"

"Not really, I guess. You can watch TV if you want. I'm a pretty hard sleeper. Won't bother me."

The elevator chimed to announce its arrival. As the doors opened, an exhausted-looking father approached, his toddler daughter holding his hand.

The little girl waved at them. "Hi. We're walking."

"She won't sleep," he explained. "Sorry."

"It's okay," Ephie said. "She's adorable. Go ahead."

The father and daughter got on, then Ephie, leaving Remy to fit himself and the luggage in the remaining space. The father and daughter were on one side, Ephie and Remy on the other. The little girl grinned at Ephie, who responded by wiggling her fingers.

The father and Remy both pushed their floor buttons. The doors closed. Jean-Luc stuck his head out of Ephie's hoodie.

Excited, the little girl pointed. "Kitty! Kitty!

"There's no kitty," the father explained. He gave Ephie a tense smile. "She really needs to sleep."

Ephie zipped her hoodie the rest of the way up, effectively hiding Jean-Luc. "We've all been there."

The doors opened on the third floor, and Remy quickly exited, Ephie behind him.

"Night-night, kitty," the little girl called out.

Jean-Luc meowed. Ephie partially unzipped her hoodie and whispered sternly, "Hush. You're being a stinker."

Remy got the keycard ready. "You have no idea."