Lost & Broken (LIttlemoon Investigations Book 2) Read online

  Lorelei had plans for the next day, and they were all expected to join in. While Tori and Julian had managed to skip out on most of the workshops, little side excursions, and events, they knew they were going to have to make an appearance for the next day.

  If they didn't, someone was going to get suspicious.

  When Lorelei clinked her fork off her glass, the table went silent. “I want to thank you all for coming to dinner, and for everyone being patient with us. As I’m sure you know, we wanted all of your experiences here to be memorable, just not in this way.”

  “Is there any word on your father?” asked Stephen Snyder.

  Immediately, Julian and Tori were focused on him.

  “He’s not improving,” she said tearfully, “but my father loved this estate and the horses, so we’re going to push forward.”

  There were murmurs of support from everyone there. It had to be difficult.

  “Tomorrow, we have scheduled a wine tasting and estate tour at the vineyard. I thought it would be appropriate for us to ride up in his honor.”

  No one could argue with that.

  Lorelei glanced over at Christina. “I know you’re feeling horrible. I would love for you to still come, but being pregnant and on horseback is a dangerous thing. The chef mentioned that you were horribly ill.”

  Christina smiled at the woman’s willingness to accommodate her. “I have been. If you don’t mind, I’d like to bow out.”

  Lorelei didn't mind at all. “Wine, horses, and morning sickness don’t mix. I understand.”

  Kane held her hand. He wouldn’t be attending either. In fact, this gave them time to search a few guest rooms. When his eyes met Julian’s, the silent message was already passed. Tomorrow, they would be working.

  When Lorelei stood, she had everyone’s attention. “If you don’t mind, I’m going to retire for the evening. I’m not feeling so well myself.”

  “If the old goat was getting some, he probably wouldn’t have been in the barn,” muttered Fredrick, as he followed his cousin out.

  There was a crash as Sharla dropped a pile of plates. “I’m sorry,” she murmured, as she knelt to begin picking them up. Immediately, Bruce was at her side, pulling off his white gloves to help.

  Tori felt horrible for the woman, and then noticed something. She elbowed her husband, motioning toward the scene unfolding before them.

  The look on the butler’s face was more than just that of someone concerned.

  Julian ran his lips across his wife’s ear in what looked like an affectionate kiss. “He’s enamored,” he whispered.

  Yeah, he really was.

  They watched as he helped the woman back to her feet and carried away the broken plates.

  There was definitely something more there, and no one else seemed to notice, since they were all talking about the comment that Fredrick had just made.

  Fortunately, they saw it.

  Conversation suddenly shifted, and the focus was on the dead. From where they were sitting at the table, they were across from Lawson West and his wife Candy. Both were exceptionally chatty, asking a million questions.

  Most of them directed once more at Tori, and her run in with the ghost. Once they started up, Bev and her husband were right behind, asking just about everything that they could think of.

  When Julian didn't think the conversation could get any weirder, it did.

  “I have an idea, and I hope you’ll all hear me out,” stated Beverly Curry.

  Well, if you wanted to get a room’s attention that was the way to do it. Everyone glanced over at her in anticipation.

  “Since we have a haunted house, and if it’s alright with our hostess, I would like to do a séance.”

  Tori had to look at her husband to make sure it wasn’t a joke, and she wasn’t mishearing something. From the look on Julian’s face, she could see that it was indeed accurate.

  “I thought that since Victoria was the only one to hear her, that she could join us.”

  Yeah, there was a snowball’s chance in hell that was going to be happening.

  “Nope,” she said, sipping her wine.

  Julian dropped his arm over her shoulder in support. He wasn’t going to entertain such jackassery.

  “Why not, my dear?” asked the woman curiously. “You said that you heard her.”

  Tori knew what she said. “I did hear something, and IF it was indeed the deceased woman, I’m not willing to try and disturb her. I think in this case, we should let the sleeping dead lie.”

  Candy was all excited. “You’re no fun! We can ask her who tried to kill Jonathan Hesser.”

  The older woman smiled. “I’m betting we can ask her all kinds of things. There have to be so many secrets in this house. Really, you should attend, Victoria.”

  Julian stepped in to help his wife. “I’m sorry, but my wife isn't going to attend since its offensive to my culture. We don’t believe in messing with spirits if they’re trying to pass over to the happy hunting grounds.” Julian went with an angle which no one would dare to mess with.

  Kane agreed, cementing the argument and stopping anyone from trying to pressure either woman.

  “Oh, I see,” said Beverly. “I meant no offense. I don’t know enough about Indians.”

  “Native Americans,” all four said at the same time.

  The woman shut her mouth, forming an angry line. There went her chance to bully Tori into doing it, and she was cut off.

  When Stephen and Katy Snyder stood, Julian had no doubt that they were going to go off and try to snoop around Fredrick. If he was distracted or going out for the evening, like he normally did, they were sure to be not far behind.

  “Why a séance?” asked Christina. “There’s no scientific proof that there’s a life after death.”

  They all stared at her. Bev opted to ignore her question, and instead pepper the conversation with more of her perspective. “I read once that when a person dies a horrible death, they’re trapped between heaven and life. Maybe the ‘Singing Woman’ died brutally and needs our help.”

  Tori rolled her eyes. What she knew, and what she was willing to share with this nut, was another story. When she stood, they all looked over her. “Have fun with your séance, but I’m going to go cozy up to the living,” she said, holding out her hand for her husband.

  Julian grinned wickedly. “Count me in, Mrs. Wilshire,” he said, following her lead.

  Kane’s head was hurting, and the séance nonsense was making it worse. “Come on, Chrissy. The only thing that we’re going to conjure up is sweet dreams.”

  She giggled, leaving Beverly and Candy to plan out the evening with their spouses at their side.

  Heading up the stairs, the group talked quietly.

  “This is actually perfect. With the other PI’s out chasing Fredrick, and the last two couples playing ghost chasers, we can take the time to do some exploring,” Julian suggested.

  “When are we going to start working on it?” asked Kane.

  Julian paused outside their door. “Are you sure that you’re okay?”

  “Yeah, I just want to lie down for a little while.”

  Christina was immediately alarmed. “The last thing that you should do when you have a concussion is lie down.”

  He grinned at her and took her hand in his. “Yes, Mom,” he stated, kissing her on the tip of her nose. “What time, Julian?” he asked again.

  “Midnight should be good. The nuts will be neck deep in calling forth the dead.”

  Tori shook her head. “Be careful what you ask for,” she muttered.

  Wasn’t that the truth?

  Back in their room, Christina was a nervous wreck. “Are you sure that you’re okay? I’m getting worried.”

  Kane laid back on the bed, enjoyed the quiet of the room. “I’m good, sweetheart. I just need to rest for a little bit.”

  She wasn’t sure if she should buy that or not. Carefully, she climbed onto the bed beside him and curled against his sid
e.

  “How are you feeling?” he asked, enjoying the way it felt to have his girl against him. “Is the baby giving you a break?”

  Christina rubbed her belly gently. She still couldn’t believe that there was a little bundle of Native sweetness growing inside of her. “I think we’re good. The tea and sour things do help.”

  Kane was glad. When her hand returned back to his abs, the slow lazy circles were making him insane. There were chills running up and down his spine. “You might want to stop that,” he suggested, trying to not think about sex.

  “Or?” she asked.

  He started laughing. “I have a headache. I’m not dead, Christina.”

  She took that as her sign. He had been so wonderful the last few days. Whenever she needed something, he was there. When she was sick, he was there. Maybe, it was time to reward her sexy Native man.

  Christina moved to straddle his body.

  Slowly, his eyes opened and focused on her.

  It gave her goose bumps when he stared at her. The warm brown eyes filled with so much love, that it made her want to melt into a puddle.

  “Sweetheart,” he murmured, as her hands went to the buttons of his dress shirt. As they slowly undid each one, Kane could feel his body reacting to the slow brush of fingers across his flesh.

  Yeah, headache, concussion, or amputation wouldn’t stop him at this point. This was something he would always crave.

  Lowering her mouth to his chest, she left little kisses toward his navel. Making love to Kane was always so surreal. For years, she lusted after a very sexy Native man, and now she had one who even surpassed her wildest fantasies.

  Not only had she found him, but fallen helplessly in love.

  Focused on his body, Christina went even further. When her fingers adeptly handled his leather belt, Kane began breathing quicker. It heated her own blood, knowing that the man beneath her wanted her just as much.

  It was amazing.

  It was shocking.

  It was a blessing.

  When she unbuttoned his dress pants, Christina could feel his body shaking in anticipation. Kane had once told her that his last girlfriend wasn’t into oral sex, and that made Christina want to do it that much more.

  If anything, she was going to stand out and make him forget. This intimate moment of pleasure was always theirs to share.

  As she dropped his zipper, he waited for her to set him free. Kane couldn’t move. Between the headache, and the need to have this woman’s hands and mouth all over him, he was in sensory overload. When her small hand wrapped around his erection, Kane fought to not lose it.

  Just her touching him made his control teeter precariously. “Oh, sweetheart,” he moaned, as her mouth sought him out and offered him so much pleasure. Instinctually, his hand found its way to Christina’s silky hair.

  Offering him everything she had, her heart wanted to explode at the love that was coursing through her. This man was going to be her husband. Never, in her wildest dreams, did she believe that was going to happen. For so many years, Christina thought that she would be alone.

  Now, she was complete.

  When he moaned in pure ecstasy, Christina slid up his body, perching herself across his hips. His handsome face reminded her of a beautiful work of art, etched in marble. The lines, the angles, and the planes called to her.

  “I love you, Kane,” she said, staring down into his eyes.

  He couldn’t even speak. The words choked him. Sitting up, he pulled her shirt from her body. Immediately, his lips followed the same trail that they always did, carefully leaving loving pecks across the scars. If he could erase them away with tenderness he would.

  “I think I want to get one more tattoo,” she whispered, as his mouth and hands wandered her flesh.

  He paused momentarily to glance up into her eyes. “What do you want, Chrissy?”

  She took his face between her palms and stared into his eyes, searching for his soul. “I want the name of the only man who I will ever love--my husband.”

  It was if a dam of tenderness broke and overwhelmed him. The kiss that followed was loving and gentle. It showed her how much he appreciated that she would put his name on her body.

  No one had ever offered him that gift.

  Slowly, she pulled away. “I want to make love to you,” she said, slipping off his lap to get out of her pants.

  Kane watched her as he too removed what was left of his clothes. When she crawled back onto the bed, they rolled together.

  “I love you,” he whispered, as he buried himself in her body.

  Her breathy gasp drove him wild, as did the way she clung to him. It was as if she were something so precious that he needed to protect.

  Coming together in the intimate glide, Christina rolled with him, and once more took the top. Bracing her hands by his head, she rode him slowly. It was torturous for her, since all she wanted was to feel and take.

  “God,” he whispered, closing his eyes as he fell into the pure bliss.

  “Look at me, Kane,” she said.

  When he did, there was nothing but love and want present there.

  “You’re my other half,” she promised, riding him.

  His hands went to her hips, helping control the depth. When he hit the right spot, she shook around him.

  “So close, Kane,” she purred, loving the way it felt.

  He knew he wasn’t going to last long. With a few more slides down his body, he was ready to tumble. When she called his name, he had no reason to stay behind.

  Together, they fell.

  For life.

  For love.

  Forever.

  Chapter Eighteen

  Midnight

  It seemed to take forever for everyone to settle down for the evening. Fredrick didn't leave the house, but instead he retired for the night. Lorelei had wandered off with her boyfriend to spend some time alone. The rest of the couples were in the lounge, trying to conjure up the dead ghost of Bethany Duvaul.

  It was just weird all around.

  At the top of the stairs, the four investigators waited until the coast was clear. Now, it was time to get the job at hand done.

  “Be careful,” Tori whispered. “Keep your cell phone on silent and be prepared for anything,” she warned.

  Julian didn't know where the secret doorways led, but he just hoped the killer wasn’t at the end. “We’ll text you when we’re back,” he stated.

  They divided up and Kane led Christina to their room. He wasn’t exactly happy to be dragging her down some secret passage, but there was safety in numbers. Now, he was praying that little saying was absolutely true.

  “This is so exciting,” she whispered.

  He gave her a look. “Yeah, I love walking into the unknown with my woman and child in tow.”

  She giggled. “Kane, I’m just glad that I don’t work in a stuffy old lab anymore. I’m sorry if my enthusiasm freaks you out, but this is like one non-stop field trip. I’m so damn happy!”

  Unlocking their door, he held it open for her. Once inside, he lifted her chin with his finger. “Are you really, Chrissy? Is this the best choice you ever made?”

  She didn't even have to think about it. “It was. I have no regrets. I found my other half, I’m going to get married, and have a child. Plus, have you seen the hot Native man I’m shacked up with? When he wears jeans, I want to faint!” Going up on her toes, she kissed him, all the while grinning like a lunatic.

  A wave of calm washed over him, as she tried to lighten his mood. It wasn’t easy feeling cheery when they were both going to do something this dangerous.

  “Let’s go!”

  It was best to get it done.

  She watched him pull a wicked looking knife from the desk drawer in their room. “Where did you get that?” she asked, staring at him.

  “I swiped it from the kitchen.”

  For some reason, she found that funny. Kane didn't even like to double park in town. “Your felonious streak t
urns me right on,” she admitted, laughing.

  Kane snorted. Leaning over, he mimicked the same exact thing that Tori had done upstairs in the attic to open the door. Like before, there was a telltale click.

  “You’re good at breaking and entering,” she teased. “That’s so hot!”

  It had him laughing. That was one of the things about Christina. She always brightened his life. “I smell lemons.”

  “Shut up,” she whispered, slapping him on the ass, as he led them into the corridor. “Get used to it. It’s my new perfume as long as your child has control of my body.”

  Kane had to duck upon entering the opening but then again, he generally did in most places. It wasn’t always easy being his size. “I like it. It’s just not your normal perfume,” he replied, wiping away some cobwebs from where Christina was heading.

  “What do I normally smell like?” she asked, whispering. Thank God that she had swiped some flashlights. It was blacker than black in the cramped space.

  “Like sweet confections that make my mouth water,” he replied, examining the ladder that went down. It looked rickety and had to be at least an eight foot drop, if it broke. “I’m going first,” he said, as he handed her the flashlight.

  “Be careful, Kane-ykins. Our child needs a daddy,” she stated, watching him cautiously maneuver to get to the bottom.

  “Drop the flashlight, and then start climbing. I’ll catch you if you fall,” he promised.

  Christina trusted him completely.

  Quickly, she scampered down and took his waiting hand. It was pretty creepy in the dark with all the spider webs and dust. “I don’t think this has been used a lot,” she whispered. There was barely any dust disturbed beneath their feet.

  “Unless it was the ghost.” It made him want to laugh, when he caught her off guard with his comment. “I’m kidding,” he whispered.

  “I thought that hit to your head rattled your brain,” she teased back. Then, she paused. “Wait.”

  He stopped and glanced back over his shoulder at her. “What? Are you okay?” he hissed.

  “It just got colder.”

  That freaked him out a little, since he recalled what happened right before he was knocked out. “I don’t see anything,” he reassured.