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

me.”
“It’s not insulting. It’s just stating the facts. I watched you try magic since you moved in. And it was not very good.” She shook her head.
“Where are you from?” I asked.
“Far away,” she said as she stood, then walked over to my closet. “I hope you don’t mind if I borrow some of your clothing. Just until I can buy a new wardrobe.” She opened my closet door.
“I’m kind of particular about my clothing,” I said as I moved closer to the ghost, er, woman.
She looked at me incredulously, then shook her head. “Oh, dear. You really need to go on a shopping trip. There is nothing good in here.”
I placed my hand on my hip. “So now you’re insulting my clothing?”
The sound of footsteps caught our attention and we both looked at the door.
“It sounds like one of your guests is in the hallway.” She brushed around me and I hurried after her.
How would I explain her presence?
This couldn’t be happening, could it? I had to be dreaming. I reached out and poked the woman’s side with my index finger.
“Ouch. What did you do that for?” she asked with a scowl.
I pasted on a smile of nonchalance. “I wanted to make sure you were real. I figured I was dreaming.”
“I can assure you I am one hundred percent real.” Her coolness was evidence that she was not amused.
When I made it out into the hallway, Liam was turning the corner to go up the next flight of stairs.
“Hello there,” the former ghost called out.
Liam turned around to look at us. Why had he been on the second floor? Was he coming to my room? He froze when he spotted Isabeau. She sashayed over to him with a devilish smile on her face. She walked a complete circle around him, looking him up and down. Liam remained frozen, as if he didn’t know what to do or say. I’d never seen him this flustered.
“Hello, and what might your name be?” she asked with a devilish tone.
He stiffened as though she’d struck him. “Liam Rankin.”
She knew who he was. If she’d been hanging around the manor as a ghost, then she had to know him. She was just playing games. Did Liam recognize her as the ghost? Perhaps that was why he looked so confused. I couldn’t tell him that I’d brought her back from the grave.
“Are you a guest here at the manor?” Liam asked.
She looked at me, then back at him. “That depends. I will be if Halloween will be so kind as to find me a room.”
I’d put her in the worst room for using my full name. That was totally unnecessary. Plus, I didn’t like the way she was acting around Liam. A little subtlety went a long way, but obviously that was something she knew nothing about. She’d put me on the spot. I couldn’t say no now.
Liam stepped back from Isabeau as she moved closer. Isabeau was sexy and alluring and apparently wanted to make up for the years she’d spent in the grave.
“Come on, Isabeau. Let me show you to your room. You must be exhausted from your long travels.” I grabbed her arm.
Liam quirked a suspicious eyebrow, but didn’t say anything about my comment. I motioned for her to follow me and she reluctantly obeyed. I’d put her in the room across from mine so that I could keep my eye on her. There was no way I’d let her stay on the third floor.
“You call me Hallie, got it?” I whispered.
“Sure thing, Halloween. I mean, Hallie.”
I glared at her and she flashed an innocent smile. Kicking her out was sounding more and more like the better plan.
Isabeau followed me into the spacious room. I stood by the door as she walked into the middle of the space. Another large wood bed like the one in my room sat in the middle of the far wall. It was covered with rich burgundy comforter and many plush pillows. A velvet-covered chair was by the window with a small table, a perfect spot for reading. Enjoying a good book seemed to be the last thing on Isabeau’s mind though.
“Um, there are towels in the bathroom. And the bed has fresh linens.” I pointed at the bed.
This whole thing was so