after the manor was turned into a popular B&B. While the owner and manager didn't allow paranormal hunters on the property, Morris figured they could enter under a different identity. Aiden wasn't too sure about the plan.
"Yes, excellent for everyone I'm such a nerd with credentials," Aiden answered, shouldering his laptop bag and weekend case. He went up the front steps and across the wide front veranda, admiring the glorious craftsmanship of the woodwork.
Pressing a hand on the brass handle, he opened one of the double glass front doors and opened it, stepping into the huge front room. His heels clicked onto the welcoming old hardwood parquet patterned floor. The doubled staircase curved a full three flights, taking guests across the entire three floors of the manor. He read on the manor's website, there was a two-story library, an old-fashioned parlor, a ballroom, a sitting room for a ladies' afternoon tea, a smoking room for the gentlemen, and a large dining room off the well-equipped kitchen. The various named suites finished the upper floors.
He heard Morris, George, and the other two men grump and groan as they dragged in their gear. The various trunks thumped and dropped on the floor. Aiden winced at their carelessness with the beautiful floor.
"Well, now. Wouldn't that be romantic?" Morris said, nudging George, pointing off to one of the rooms. "We can swoon some ladies down here, get them in the beds."
Aiden rolled his eyes at their crass attitude over this beautiful manor.
"Unless you're not able to check into a suite," a man called out, his tone powerful and clipped.
Turning, fixing his glasses, his eyes widened at the sight of the six-two male stepping down the last of the winding stairs. Aiden looked at the ceiling and then around the front area. This man looked the same as… It couldn't be the same…
"Ahh, sir, this is the Quantum Theorem Group here for the weekend," the desk manager said.
"There is no group. This is another useless disguise for another group of ghost hunters trying to get in under my nose. Gentleman, you may stay within the walls of my ancestors' homes, but all of your gear forbidden. I know those containers don't have conference pamphlets. Return everything to your van if you wish to stay. If anything paranormal happens, it will not be recorded in any fashion," the man said as he strode across the floor. "I know of your reputation, Morris Jarrett, as I keep track of all professional and amateur ghost hunters."
"We have a right to conduct our…" Morris tried to speak.
The man raised a hand. "This is my family's ancient home and land. I have the right to refuse a room. It's a known fact, all ghost hunters aren't welcome." He rested his gaze upon Aiden.
Aiden swallowed at the curl of lust low in his belly at the sight of those green eyes peering at him. He could swoon at those powerful shoulders and lean height. Such a gorgeous man stood in front of him. Still, the ghostly image he saw on the ledge under the lightning haunted him.
"Well, shit…What the hell are we supposed to do now?" Morris interrupted.
The man glared at Morris. "Shove your gear in the van and leave with it or stay without it. Either way, your gear doesn't enter my doors."
"My laptop?" Aiden inquired.
The man returned his gaze to Aiden. "If it's a simple laptop for basic research, it can remain. If you attempt to use it for something other than ghost hunting, it will be removed."
"I promise I'll not let it happen."
"You have permission to sign in for your room, Mr…"
"Joseph. Aiden Joseph. You?"
"Edmund. I'm Edmund Carslyle."
"Like the Captain who disappeared," Aiden whispered. "Like the ghost. The ghost on the ledge."
Chapter 2
"Ghost? What ghost on what ledge?" Morris demanded in a hot voice. "You said it was a damn bird up there. Boys, get out the blasted gear. We're going hunting."
The rest of the crew cried out, dropped the containers, and started to unlock them.
"Like hell you are."
"You
"Yes, excellent for everyone I'm such a nerd with credentials," Aiden answered, shouldering his laptop bag and weekend case. He went up the front steps and across the wide front veranda, admiring the glorious craftsmanship of the woodwork.
Pressing a hand on the brass handle, he opened one of the double glass front doors and opened it, stepping into the huge front room. His heels clicked onto the welcoming old hardwood parquet patterned floor. The doubled staircase curved a full three flights, taking guests across the entire three floors of the manor. He read on the manor's website, there was a two-story library, an old-fashioned parlor, a ballroom, a sitting room for a ladies' afternoon tea, a smoking room for the gentlemen, and a large dining room off the well-equipped kitchen. The various named suites finished the upper floors.
He heard Morris, George, and the other two men grump and groan as they dragged in their gear. The various trunks thumped and dropped on the floor. Aiden winced at their carelessness with the beautiful floor.
"Well, now. Wouldn't that be romantic?" Morris said, nudging George, pointing off to one of the rooms. "We can swoon some ladies down here, get them in the beds."
Aiden rolled his eyes at their crass attitude over this beautiful manor.
"Unless you're not able to check into a suite," a man called out, his tone powerful and clipped.
Turning, fixing his glasses, his eyes widened at the sight of the six-two male stepping down the last of the winding stairs. Aiden looked at the ceiling and then around the front area. This man looked the same as… It couldn't be the same…
"Ahh, sir, this is the Quantum Theorem Group here for the weekend," the desk manager said.
"There is no group. This is another useless disguise for another group of ghost hunters trying to get in under my nose. Gentleman, you may stay within the walls of my ancestors' homes, but all of your gear forbidden. I know those containers don't have conference pamphlets. Return everything to your van if you wish to stay. If anything paranormal happens, it will not be recorded in any fashion," the man said as he strode across the floor. "I know of your reputation, Morris Jarrett, as I keep track of all professional and amateur ghost hunters."
"We have a right to conduct our…" Morris tried to speak.
The man raised a hand. "This is my family's ancient home and land. I have the right to refuse a room. It's a known fact, all ghost hunters aren't welcome." He rested his gaze upon Aiden.
Aiden swallowed at the curl of lust low in his belly at the sight of those green eyes peering at him. He could swoon at those powerful shoulders and lean height. Such a gorgeous man stood in front of him. Still, the ghostly image he saw on the ledge under the lightning haunted him.
"Well, shit…What the hell are we supposed to do now?" Morris interrupted.
The man glared at Morris. "Shove your gear in the van and leave with it or stay without it. Either way, your gear doesn't enter my doors."
"My laptop?" Aiden inquired.
The man returned his gaze to Aiden. "If it's a simple laptop for basic research, it can remain. If you attempt to use it for something other than ghost hunting, it will be removed."
"I promise I'll not let it happen."
"You have permission to sign in for your room, Mr…"
"Joseph. Aiden Joseph. You?"
"Edmund. I'm Edmund Carslyle."
"Like the Captain who disappeared," Aiden whispered. "Like the ghost. The ghost on the ledge."
Chapter 2
"Ghost? What ghost on what ledge?" Morris demanded in a hot voice. "You said it was a damn bird up there. Boys, get out the blasted gear. We're going hunting."
The rest of the crew cried out, dropped the containers, and started to unlock them.
"Like hell you are."
"You
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