Forever Charmed (The Halloween LaVeau Series, Book 1) Read Online Free PDF Page B

tailored perfectly for his frame. His hair was short and a little curl hung down on his forehead. I wanted to reach up and ease the strand back into place. His blue eyes sparkled in the sunshine.
“Hello. My name is Liam Rankin. I noticed your sign for a bed-and-breakfast. Do you have a vacancy?” He looked over my shoulder into the foyer.
I knew he wasn’t looking at Annabelle, but instead, he was looking at the house. Was he looking for something? Someone? Nicolas, maybe? This was in no way a coincidence.
He blessed us with his gorgeous smile.
“Um, yes, I do have a room.”
“Wonderful. I just got into town. I’m visiting a friend but I refuse to sleep in that lumpy bed of his for one more night. I’ve slept in tents that were more comfortable.” He flashed that dazzling smile again.
I cast a glance at Annabelle, but she was too focused on Liam. Oh, what the hell. What was one more killer? I’d survived the first night.
I’d halfway expected Annabelle to whack him over the head with the umbrella, but her expression didn’t say ‘I want to hurt him.’ In fact, it said the exact opposite.
“Hello,” she said.
Her voice came out as a purr. I knew that look in her eyes. I saw it every time she watched a Johnny Depp movie. I couldn’t say that I blamed her. He was an exceedingly handsome man, just like my other unaccounted-for guest.
“Pleased to meet you.” He kissed her hand just as Nicolas had kissed mine. “Who do I owe the pleasure?”
“I’m Annabelle Preston and this is Hallie LaVeau. She owns this place.” She titled her head in my direction.
At least she’d remembered not to use Halloween.
“What a beautiful name,” he said.
I offered a smile and my hand in the hopes that he’d give it a professional shake, but I got the same kiss too. His mouth left a tingling sensation on my skin. There was no way I could allow him to stay without asking a very important question.
“Are you friends with my other guest?”
He quirked an eyebrow. “Your other guest?”
“Yes, his name is Nicolas Marcos. He just checked in last night and I assumed that you know him since my place is a little off the beaten path and neither one of you had reserved a room.”
I sounded ruder than I’d intended, but it was a legitimate question. I offered a smile to counteract my bluntness.
He scowled. “No, the name doesn’t sound familiar. I’m sorry I didn’t make a reservation. It was a last-minute decision, you understand?”
“No reservation is necessary,” I said.
“You say this man just showed up in the middle of the night?” He looked from me to Annabelle and back to me.
I crossed my arms in front of my chest. “That’s right. His car broke down and he had to walk here.”
“That’s odd. I didn’t pass any stranded vehicles on my way over.”
I smiled, trying to hide my suspicion. “You look as if you could be his brother.”
He shrugged. “Well, like I said I don’t know him.”
I didn’t believe Liam Rankin. Not one bit.

Chapter Seven
 
“Let me get a little information from you and then I’ll show you to your room.”
Annabelle stood behind Liam making faces and gesturing. To answer her mimed question: I had no idea what I was going to do. I surreptitiously motioned for her to knock it off. Despite all my actions to the contrary, I was attempting to appear somewhat professional. Attempting being the key word.
“That sounds great.” Liam frowned, then sniffed the air. “Is something burning?”
“Oh no.” I dashed through the rooms headed for the kitchen. “The pancakes,” I yelled.
The sound of rushed footsteps followed me as I raced to the kitchen and slid toward the stovetop as if I was making it to home plate. Black smoke billowed from the pan. I grabbed the spatula and flipped the burnt pancake off the griddle onto the floor.
Annabelle’s mouth hung open and her eyes widened. I knew what she was thinking without her saying a word. First impressions were a bitch, and I’d just made a