“Mr. Duhon,” she called out. “It’s Joelle LeBeau.”
She waited a bit, expecting the attorney to appear or at least respond, but only her own voice echoed through the giant entry. Deciding the attorney must be off in a part of the house where he couldn’t hear her, she stepped inside, then drew up short. A twinge of something—some tiny flicker of recognition—flashed through her, but as soon as she tried to grasp it, the flicker disappeared.
The entry was massive, like the entry of a hotel or museum. The giant spiral staircase was centered toward the front and she peered up to see the balcony running around the entire second floor, doors to various rooms lining the upstairs walls. The first floor of the entry was littered—there wasn’t really a better word—with decorative columns and tables, all housing art, china and glass that seemed to have no consistency of era or country of origin.
To the left, a wide hallway led away from the entry. Patches of sunlight streamed from the room at the end of the hallway and onto the stone floor. Figuring the hallway led to a family room or kitchen, she took off to the left, hoping to locate the attorney.
The kitchen and breakfast nook were in sharp contrast to the rest of the house and had her smiling. Clearly, someone had put in long hours on this room and it showed—the gleaming cabinets, polished countertops and fresh coat of paint made the room a cheery retreat from the gloomy entry. Giant windows formed the far wall, along with a single door that led onto an overgrown patio.
She gazed around the room once more before readying herself to continue her search for the attorney, and that’s when she realized the patio door was partially open. Now understanding why the attorney hadn’t heard her call out in the entry, she stepped outside and looked up and down the long stone patio. Shrubs and brush had grown right up to the edges, and vines climbed the stone columns and trailed across the ground, but it was clear that someone had recently started clearing the brush away.
Following a trail of small branches and leaves, she walked to the far end of the patio and saw the tiny path that led straight into the swamp. The remnants of foliage continued down the path, but Joelle hesitated before stepping off the stone patio. Something about the swamp bothered her—more than just the dim, creepy appearance.
She was just about to head back inside and wait for the attorney when a voice sounded behind her and she jumped, her foot slipping off the edge of the patio and onto the path several inches below. She struggled to maintain her balance, but the drop was just enough to send her crashing into the brush at the side of the trail.
As soon as she hit the ground, she scrambled to get up, fighting the thick vines that she’d brought down on top of her. Suddenly, she felt someone grasp her arm and tug her completely to her feet. A branch slapped her across the face and her eyes watered, so the only thing she could make out when she was upright was a tall man with dark hair.
Brad.
Instantly, a mental image of her ex-boyfriend flashed across her mind, and just as quickly, she sent it scurrying to the recesses where it belonged. Brad was long gone and old news.
She blinked a couple of times and the man came into focus, but this young, incredibly gorgeous and seriously ripped man couldn’t possibly be the aging attorney she’d talked to on the phone. The scowl on his face was just further proof. The attorney had been kind and cheerful. This man looked like those attributes were not part of his makeup.
“I hope you’re not always this jumpy,” he said. “A fall in the horror funhouse could bring more than just vines crashing down around you.”
A blush ran up her neck and onto her face, and she felt a flash of heat wash over her. “Maybe if you didn’t go sneaking up behind people, you wouldn’t startle them.”
He raised his eyebrows, looking almost amused at her accusation. “I’m wearing work boots, and I was hardly tiptoeing across that patio. Hell, people back in town could hear me coming.”
“Really? Then maybe you should tell them why you’re trespassing on private property.”
He sighed. “You must be Joelle. My father owes me big-time for this.”
Joelle narrowed her eyes at him. “Exactly who is your father?”
“William Duhon.”
“Oh,” she said, momentarily taken aback that the pleasant gentleman she’d spoken to on the phone had produced such a surly son. “Your father was supposed to meet me here. Is he on his way?”
“He’s not coming.”
“What do you mean? He’s supposed to provide me a key to the house and go over any of my questions concerning the estate requirements.”
“Well, you got me instead.” He pulled a giant iron key from his pocket and handed it to her. “That’s the front door key. I’m having keys to the patio and back door duplicated and will pick them up this afternoon.”
“Am I supposed to meet your father at his office?”
If possible, he looked even more aggrieved.
“No. I’m supposed to take you to meet him for an early supper at the café, after I get you settled in.”
She stared. Was he joking? The last thing she intended to do was get in a car with Mr. Personality.
“I’m sure I can find my way back to the café, the same way I found the house,” she said. “I don’t need an escort.”
“My father says you do, and unfortunately for me and you, so does the estate. During your two-week stay in Calais, I will go wherever you go.”
“That’s outrageous! Neither the estate nor your father can mandate who I spend my time with.”
“No, but they can insist you maintain personal security at all times, and they have.”
“What in the world for? To protect me from the clutter and dust I saw in there? The only risk to my safety so far has been you, and I’m supposed to believe you were assigned to protect me?”
He clenched his jaw and she could tell she’d insulted him, just as she’d intended.
“Well,” he said, “I managed to sneak up on you in broad daylight wearing construction boots, right? I’m guessing that makes my observation skills a sight better than your own.”
He whirled around and strode away from her.
“I’ll get your things out of your car,” he mumbled as he left.
Joelle stared behind him wondering if the entire world had gone crazy.
I will go wherever you go.
She stiffened. Surely that didn’t mean he was staying in the house with her. Granted, she had her apprehensions about staying in the spooky, rambling mansion alone, but if the choice were Mr. Personality or the ghosts, she’d definitely take the ghosts.
* * *
TYLER STALKED AROUND the side of the house to the front where Joelle’s car was parked. She’d left it unlocked, which surprised him at first given that his father said she was some sort of social worker, but then she probably figured no one was roaming this far out in the swamp looking to lift items from a car.
If only she were right. Then he’d be sitting on his dad’s couch watching television instead of fending off insults.
Likely, no one would lift items from her car, but if his father’s instincts were correct, someone was still roaming around the estate. At least this time, a full-time security detail was on-site and prepared for battle. Tyler wasn’t about to let someone get the better of him in his own neck of the woods.
He grabbed two suitcases from the backseat of the car and carried them inside, still trying to figure out how he was supposed to manage two full