Read Online Latham's Landing by Tara Fox Hall - Free Book Online

than halfway. The storm’s
passed.”
    “ I’m sorry I got so angry,” Marie said,
slumping against the railing. “I just panicked. I was worried the
storm would somehow flood the house or the bridge, trapping
us.”
    Sam gave her an odd look. “No one would build
a house like this where it would be in danger of flooding.”
    “ Part of the main house is flooded,”
Marie said darkly. “Daryl told me about it last night, when you
were, um…occupied.”
    “ Did he tell you about the place we
just visited?”
    “ The Sea Room,” Marie supplied,
kneeling to tie her shoe. “Latham built it for his
wife.”
    Sam didn’t reply.
    “ It was very beautiful,” Marie added.
“Nikki should’ve come with us. She missed seeing it—”
    “ She can see it from the house,” Sam
croaked, pointing with a shaking finger. “Look.”
    Marie glanced up at his wide frightened eyes,
then back at the Sea Room. The glass house was alive with blinding
light in the mist, shining like a sun in the midst of clouds. The
sky darkened slightly, even as mist rose up from both sides of the
bridge, enveloping them in soggy cool air.
    “ C’mon!” Marie shouted. Grabbing Sam’s
cold hand, she pulled him along, stumbling back towards the main
house. They clutched at the stone railing, moving slowly forward as
the mist grew thicker and thicker.
    “ I can’t see a thing,” Marie said,
squeezing Sam’s hand. “Do you have your flashlight?”
    Sam didn’t answer.
    Marie turned to him. “Sam—?”
    Dead eyes stared back at her in a bloated
face, the sagging mouth drooling water as his hand clamped down on
hers.
    Marie let out a shriek, struggling. Sam
swayed, then fell into her, his dead weight sending them both back
over the low stone railing. Marie let out one last shriek as they
toppled together into the waves.
     
    Damn woman, Sam thought irritably. He’d only
said it was smarter not to get wet and offered his services like a
polite guy should. Next thing he knew, Marie had stormed off into
the rain. Well, he’d be damned if he went out there after her. It
was much smarter to stay here and wait out the storm. It wasn’t as
if Daryl was going to leave them here, not in this weather.
    Sam chuckled. Daryl probably didn’t even know
how to start the motor. No, he and Nikki were probably sitting
around the fireplace right now making up ghost stories to go with
those pictures. What a lame ass. If he were there with Nikki right
now, he’d be doing a hell of a lot more than telling her
stories.
    “ Oh, be nice,” Sam said aloud. Daryl
wasn’t a bad guy, just a little on the bookish side. They’d been
friends since grade school. He deserved some slack, especially
after all those essay papers he’d helped Sam write…
    The storm abruptly intensified, rain pelting
the glass. Suddenly there came the sound of footsteps below him
ascending the staircase.
    He grinned widely, then turned. “Told you
you’d come back—”
    A strange woman stood before him. She was
beautiful, dressed in a filmy white negligee, the material moving
lightly as if in a breeze.
    Sam got to his feet. “Who are you?”
    “ You wanted company,” the woman said
sensuously, fluffing her short curls languidly. “You offered
yours.”
    “ Not to you,” Sam said, backing away.
“Are you a ghost?”
    “ I’m a woman,” the figure said
emphatically, walking closer. “You’re a man. Why do you fear
me?”
    Sam backed away, even as she advanced. He
trembled as her cool fingers touched him, stroking his cheek. Her
large dark eyes gazed into his longingly.
    “ What do you want?” he
stammered.
    “ Only a kiss,” she said sadly, her eyes
sorrowful. “Please.”
    Sam recoiled, pressing himself against the
wall and shutting his eyes. Her cool arms enfolded him, then came
the touch of soft lips kissing his cheeks. He slipped his hands
between them, trying to push her away.
    “ Please,” she whispered. “Please, don’t
send me away.” She hugged him