ActionPark was one of the more active members. He had a book about Hemlock House, probably self-published back in the ‘80s by a local historian, describing the hotel, the jewel thief and everything that had happened in the 1960s that put this place on the map of minor American ghost hotels.
It was likely the only remaining copy of The Haunting of Hemlock House in existence, and Dru would have gladly given a kidney for it.
Not hers, of course.
But there was no point asking ActionPark. He was a diehard ghostie, and the book would not be for sale.
The front door to the hotel swung open and a couple with a teenager poured in, laden with suitcases. The mother gazed at Dru with an expression of intense relief.
Gh0stwr1ter:
I’d better get to work. Chat with you guys later.
She signed off with a single click that made a mockery of how difficult it had been to sign on, and jogged out to meet the family in the doorway.
“Welcome to Hemlock House,” she said. “Let me get some of this for you.”
“Thank you, sweetheart,” the mom said, handing over a suitcase.
Dru organized all their luggage by the main staircase and then headed back to the computer to check them in.
“Let’s get your room keys,” she said. “What name is the reservation under?”
“Jeffrey and Jenna Wilder,” the husband said, wrapping an arm around his wife.
He tried to wrap his other arm around his daughter, but she shrugged him off, focusing on whatever was playing in her ear buds.
“Sorry to come in so late,” Jeffery offered. “We got caught up in traffic on the way to Willow Ridge.”
“It was so kind of your caretaker to bring the shuttle down for us at this late hour,” Jenna added. “Please thank him again for us.”
Dru barely restrained a smile. Chester must have been absolutely thrilled to be woken up for that. She didn’t doubt that she’d hear all about it in the morning.
Dru nodded and turned her attention to the computer as Jenna went up on her toes to kiss her husband, a little more passionately than Dru would have expected her to do in the circumstances.
The phrase, “Get a room,” came to mind, but she supposed that was exactly what they were in the process of doing.
“Okay, you’re in the Topaz Room,” Dru said.
She grabbed the key from the board below the desk.
When she straightened, her breath caught in her throat for a second. A man had come in without her noticing. He was standing just behind the Wilders, staring her down with a strange intensity. He must have come up on the same shuttle.
She shivered a little, and turned back to the affectionate couple.
“Here’s your key,” Dru said, handing it to Jenna.
“Great,” Jenna said. “And we should have a second room booked for Angie.”
Dru frowned and rechecked.
“I’m sorry,” she told them. “But there’s only one room booked.”
“Then can we add a second room, please?” Jeffrey asked politely. “We were hoping to get a little… private time.”
Angie rolled her eyes. Dru figured her music wasn’t turned up quite high enough to block that out.
Dru turned back to the computer and clicked through screens. Unbelievably, the man who had booked Sapphire and Onyx also had the Quartz Suite reserved.
“I’m so sorry,” she said at last. “It doesn’t look like we have any available rooms.”
“Seriously?” Jenna asked. “I read that all these old places up here were having trouble booking guests.”
So it was common knowledge that the Hemlock House’s days were numbered. Interesting.
“The comet, baby,” Jeffrey said quietly.
“Yes, there’s the comet,” Dru agreed. “And one of our guests seems to have booked a whole wing.”
“Who?” Jenna asked, looking fascinated.
“Just some old dude,” Dru said, shrugging. “No one special. I’ll let you know right away if anything opens up. And in the meantime, your room does have a fold-out sofa.”
“Oh baby, look. I did only book one,” Jeffrey said, showing his wife his phone. “My mistake,” he said, turning to Dru.
“Men, am I right?” Jenna said to her, winking.
“I’ll keep an eye on the reservations in case we can get you an extra room,” Dru told them.
“Thank you,” Jeffrey said. “Come on, ladies.”
“I’ll help you up with your bags,” Dru offered.
“No thanks,” Jeffrey said. “We’re fine.”
“Okay,” Dru replied. “When you get to the top of the stairs turn right, and the Topaz Room will be just ahead on your right.”
They headed off and she ran a hand through her hair. She was alone with the next guest - not something that would normally have registered with her, but something about this man was slightly unsettling. Maybe it was just that he’d surprised her by slipping in without her noticing. That wasn’t easy. Dru could usually hear that creaky old door from anywhere on the whole first floor.
“Can I help you, sir?” she offered.
“I’m sorry if I’ve caused an inconvenience.”
The man’s voice was deep and smooth as honey. His words took a moment to register.
“What do you mean?” she asked.
He smiled, and his blue eyes crinkled. There was a depth there, like calm water that you could get lost in.
He was handsome in a subtle way, tall and lean, with dark hair to his shoulders. She probably would have noticed the sexy vibe when she spotted him behind the Wilders, if he hadn’t been staring at her in that intense way.
“I’m Viktor Striker,” he said, arching an eyebrow. “The old dude who reserved all those rooms.”
Holy shit.
“I-I’m so sorry, Mr. Striker,” she stammered, thinking of his ancient belongings. She had just assumed, since they were so old…
But he wasn’t all that much older than she was. At least Dru didn’t think so. He was hard to get a handle on. She guessed he was most likely in his thirties.
“Please, call me Viktor,” he said with a disarming smile. “I know it’s unusual to book so much space. I just like to spread out.”
She pictured him spread out on the bed of the Sapphire Suite, moonlight glinting in his dark hair.
“I’ll get you checked in,” she said, trying to shake the unprofessional thoughts.
“My belongings arrived before me, I expect?” he asked.
“Oh yes,” she said. “We got those upstairs for you earlier. Don’t worry.”
“Not you?” he said, brows lifted again.
“Well, Hailey and I did it together,” she said.
“Strapping girls,” he said appreciatively.
She heard herself laugh as she bent to grab the keys to his rooms. Dru had been called a lot of things in her twenty-odd years, but strapping was a first.
When she straightened, she caught him observing her with serious eyes again.
Something flashed between them, like a storm at sea, and for just a moment, she felt herself drawn to him.
But he broke eye contact, and gave her another gentle smile.