THE GAY BARTENDER

Chapter eighteen

Her hand clenched this knob , but she couldnt find the courage to twist it. She debated diving under the covers to hide until morning came and sunshine swept away all the shadows.

A storm had been brewing all day and was still threatening to unleash its and ominous thunder .She just hoped it wouldn't turn into a snowstorm.

Taking a deep breath, she opened the door. She stepped onto the landing , stopping when cold uneasiness pooled in her stomach .She touched the smooth wooden railing with her fingertips and looked down . The only discernable light was the moon shining through the big square windows. She nibbled her lower lip as she glanced to the blackness waiting for her at the bottom of the stairs. Her grandmother loved to tell the tragic story of the first saloon owner's murdered daughter , and how her ghost now haunted the upper floor .As a physchic , Anna accepted many wierd things about life .After all, she was aware of shifters , and one bear shifter in particular .James.. Former handsome stubborn partner. She missed his face , damn it. But the only way for her to protect him was to stay away from him .As long as they were apart , he would live. She knew that as the truth because ever since she'd walked away from him . she stopped having all omnious visions about his death .And if she knew one thing about her gift, It was to head it's warnings .She knew James wouldn't as a bear shifter, he thought himself damned near untouchable .

Yep. I'd rather deal with the ghost.

After a short debate with her irrational fear, she decided chocolate was worth facing the dark. Hurrying wasn't an option with her unwieldy slippers flopping around , But at least her feet were toasty -warm..

Gusting high winds lashed at the building , the windows rattled and shook.

Letting out a startled scream .Anna nearly turned around and fled to the safety of her room. She took severeal dep braeaths until she calmed herself and shored up her courage. She pointed the flashlight at the sairs .Chocolate awaits remember?

James finally found the town of Silver Creek ,Nevada.He'd passed Virginia City five miles back- which felt more like a ahundred in the steep ,winding mountain roads .He checked the map spread on the passenger seat of the jeep .Thhis had to be the place,

The ghost town , a summertime tourist attraction ,wasn't much to look at .Six buildings , two tall, three squat, and one crumbling , leaned against each other like drunken soldiers trying to stand at attention.

A blustery gale roared suddenly. viciously, Startling Jake out of his thoughts .Thunder rumbled.

Seconds later , lightning cracked open the dark, rolling clouds .

Goddamn it. He didn't want to come to her like this. When she'd walked out, he'd been gut -punched . He'd been shocked and angry