Read Online Blood Stains by Sharon Sala - Free Book Online Page B

things I want to show you.”
    “Yes, of course.” She glanced at the clock. “It’s after seven. I was about to go downstairs to dinner.”
    “I haven’t eaten since breakfast…except for some cake.”
    Maria grinned. “You’re welcome to join me, but won’t your family be expecting you at home?”
    “No wife. No kids. No dog. And remember that cake all over my desk when you came in?”
    “I guess,” Maria said, unwilling to admit she’d been so nervous she hadn’t seen anything but his face.
    “Today’s my birthday. I would appreciate a little company tonight.”
    She refused to acknowledge the spurt of interest following that news—not to mention the news that he was single.
    “In that case, happy birthday, Detective, and I’d be happy if you would join me. I hate to eat alone.”
    “Me, too. How about I meet you in the bar and we’ll go from there?”
    “All right,” Maria said.
    “See you in a few,” Bodie said.

    “Yes, see you soon,” she said, then dropped her cell phone in her purse and told herself the reason for the skip in her heart had nothing to do with the fact that she would be dining with a very handsome man. He was only doing his job and being kind. Still, she found herself hurrying as she headed for the elevator.
    In the grand scheme of life, fate often has a way of evening the odds, which was certainly the case for hotshot lawyer Franklin Sheets. The last thing he expected to see in the lobby of the Doubletree Hotel was a ghost.
    He had just taken a table in the bar and was waiting to meet a client for cocktails when he saw it appear. She was dressed in contemporary clothing and her hair was longer than he’d remembered, but as he lived and breathed, it was the ghost of Sally Blake.
    Twenty years ago he might not have been so shocked, but after all this time, he would have assumed she’d moved on, or gone into the light or wherever it was spirits were supposed to go. Obviously hers had not.
    Panic hit, followed by a nausea so strong he thought he would throw up. She paused in the lobby, looking around as if to get her bearings, then turned toward the bar, locked on to his presence and started walking toward him. He wondered if anyone else could see her and wondered if she’d come to take him to hell.

    His legs went weak, and his hands started to shake. The closer she came, the faster his pulse raced. She was coming closer—moving with that slow, lanky stride he remembered so well, with her arms swinging freely, her head back and her chin up. He stood abruptly, fully intending to run, but his legs wouldn’t work. His heart was thundering so hard, he wondered if it could explode from fright. A few more steps and he would find out.
    God…God…no, please, no…don’t let her—
    Their gazes met. He could smell the faint scent of her perfume, and then she was right in front of him. He opened his mouth to beg for mercy—then she passed him by.
    He spun abruptly, watching in disbelief as the ghost took a seat a few tables over. When she ordered a beer, he fell backward into his chair, trying to understand what had just happened.
    She was talking to the waiter, then taking a cell phone out of her purse and reading a text.
    Holy shit. That wasn’t a ghost! It was a living, breathing woman.
    His mind began to race. He’d always heard that everyone had a twin, but this was crazy. This woman looked like Sally had looked twenty years ago. How could she…?
    The kid. Son of a bitch…this had to be the kid.

    He swiped a shaky hand across his face and tried to laugh. Ghosts. How stupid could he be? The kid had grown up, that was all. He’d never expected to see her again, but now that he had…no big deal. She didn’t know him. One thing about Sally. She would never take her dates to her room. And even if the kid remembered the few times he’d seen them out and about, there was no way she could connect him to her mother. Even though he was still slim and fit, he looked nothing