Forever Charmed (The Halloween LaVeau Series, Book 1) by Rose Pressey

But then again, I wanted to get to the bottom of why they were fighting. As much as I didn’t want to, it looked as if I’d have to tell him about our plans.
After a quick phone call, I’d thanked Nicolas for the flowers and agreed to dinner with him. I couldn’t believe I’d done it… I’d agreed to go out with him too. Of course I hadn’t had the nerve to ask if he’d been following me into the library. I would have appeared crazy if I had. He hadn’t followed me, right? I’d read too many mystery novels. My imagination was out of control.
Nicolas had said he had the perfect place picked out for us. That seemed terrifying and exhilarating all at once. I had to confess what I’d done to Annabelle—that I’d agreed to go out with both men.
When she picked up the phone, I said, “I have something to tell you and you’re probably going to be shocked.”
I still hadn’t told her about seeing the ghost and I wasn’t going to either. Not unless I absolutely had to.
“If this has anything to do with finding old bones in your attic, I don’t want to know.”
I chuckled. “No, it’s nothing like that.”
“One of your guests killed the other one?” she quipped.
“No. Well, not yet anyway.” As if she could see me through the phone, I studied my fingernails, trying to play it cool. “In fact, I received roses from Nicolas and an invitation for dinner, then Liam asked me out for dinner too.”
“Get out. What do they want?” Her voice shot up in surprise.
I laughed. “My thoughts exactly.”
“You said yes to both of them, right? You have to find out what all of this is about.”
“Don’t worry, I intend to. I’m going out with Nicolas tonight.”
“Good luck. Do you need me to come for backup?” she asked.
“I’ll call you if I do,” I said with a chuckle.
The massive structure towered over me as I pulled up in front of LaVeau Manor. Branches on the old oak trees swayed in the wind, as if waving a warning. There was an undeniable essence about the house. Liam’s car was there along with Nicolas’ rental car. I hoped I could slip upstairs without seeing either of them. I had a few hours before my date with Nicolas and I wanted to look through the library books I’d checked out. With the library and the spell books clutched in one arm and roses in the other, I hurried up the steps, not looking over my shoulder to see if anyone followed me. The presence from the library still haunted me.
When I stepped into the foyer, I paused and listened for noise. The place seemed bigger each time I came home.
The cat meowed loudly and rubbed against my leg. “Sorry, Pluto, I don’t have a treat right now,” I whispered.
I placed the flowers on the hall table and soaked in another big whiff of their fragrant aroma. Movement sounded above me grabbing my attention. My heart rate increased when I realized it sounded as if someone was walking around in my room. I’d locked the door, so who could possibly be in there? That was when it hit me. With the books in my arms, I rushed up the stairs. What was I going to say if it actually was a ghost? Shoo, ghost, shoo?
I panted for breath as I reached the landing, then ran to my bedroom door. It was still closed. I pulled the key from my pocket and shoved it in the lock. The sound of someone walking around continued from the other side of the door. Whoever was there didn’t care that I was about to walk in on them. I pushed the door open and let out a gasp.

Chapter Fifteen
A woman stood beside my bed.
She smiled wide, and then said with a sweet Southern drawl, “I’m glad you’re home.”
“Who the hell are you?” I asked.
I asked, but I knew who she was. Well, I didn’t know exactly, but I’d seen her before. This was the ghost who’d been in my room for the past two nights. She looked different now though. She had been see-through before, but now she looked like any other living person. She was a beautiful woman with long blonde hair and big blue eyes. When