Read Online A Phantom Affair by Jo Ann Ferguson - Free Book Online

she stared at the ocean past the house. Without a division between earth and sky, the grayness stretched endlessly.
    â€œMore confused?”
    Ellen whirled around, then scowled when she saw Corey behind her. “Did you ever consider how many years you could take off a soul’s life by sneaking around like that?”
    â€œThe shells on this path make it impossible for anybody to skulk about.” He toyed with a few of them with the toe of his boot.
    â€œAny body , yes, but not a ghost.”
    â€œOh.”
    She laughed at the chagrin on his face. “I suppose you shall accustom yourself to that eventually.”
    â€œI suspect I must.”
    â€œI did not expect to see you out here.”
    Corey folded his arms over his chest and looked around. “All of this is my home.” His gaze returned to her. “Odd that you seem to know more about what I should and should not do than I do.”
    â€œWe Scots are fond of ghostly tales.”
    â€œYou should tell me a few. Mayhap then I would know what the parameters of this new existence are for me.”
    â€œYou are English!” She laughed as they continued along the path toward the house. “I doubt if our old stories would have any bearing on this.”
    â€œSo what did Fenton tell you?”
    Ellen stopped and faced him. “Are you spying upon me again?”
    He held up his hands, laughing. “I told you I did not peek into your rooms. Nor did I sneak after you to eavesdrop on your conversation. ’Twas only a guess. You are coming from the direction of the stables, and I saw how you tensed when I mentioned Fenton’s name earlier.”
    â€œHe is an eccentric chap.”
    â€œBut his idiosyncratic ways have proven to be worthwhile. I should have heeded his warnings.” He took a step closer to her. “I fear my mind was on other matters at that moment. Matters of the scent of a sweet cologne that teased me and a slender hand upon my arm.”
    â€œCorey, please don’t,” she whispered.
    â€œYou would deny me the enjoyment of recalling those last memories of physical pleasure?”
    â€œNo, but to speak of them now …” She rushed along the path although she knew it was as impossible to escape from him as from the longings his words brought to life. She did not want to remember how strong his arm had been beneath her fingers and how she had imagined that arm drawing her into an embrace as his lips caressed hers.
    No ! She must never think of these things. Never!
    She settled the parasol on her shoulder where it would hide her face from Corey. Then she wondered if she could conceal anything from a man who apparently could wander through walls at will.
    â€œEllen, if I said something to offend you—”
    â€œOffend?” Her laugh was terse. “No, you did not offend me. It simply is too late to talk about what might have been.”
    â€œNow that is the sensible Scot speaking.”
    â€œYou think this can be changed?”
    â€œWho can tell?”
    Ellen had no answer for him. Listening as he spoke of recent work on the garden as if no harsh words had been exchanged, she was glad he did not ask her any more questions. Her breath banged against her side when they reached the steps leading up to a side door. Only now was she discovering how she had been sapped by her injuries.
    Blinking, as she waited for her eyes to adjust to the dusk within, Ellen closed her parasol and loosened the ribbons on her bonnet. The small entry was at the foot of a set of stairs leading to the hallway near her bedchamber, and she wanted nothing more, at the moment, than to kick off her boots and relax in her bed.
    â€œYou did too much,” Corey said as he leaned his elbow on the black walnut banister. “You should have sent for Fenton to come here.”
    â€œOn what pretext?”
    â€œA good question to which I do not have a good answer.”
    Footfalls came toward them.