“I didn’t really have anything to do with it,” Gigi said. “I don’t work with Skyler. We’re just good friends.”
Autumn glanced over at her new boss. “Huh. I got the distinct impression that Skyler thinks you’ll be helping him for the foreseeable future.”
“Oh, that. Sure,” Gigi said, smiling. “I imagine I will do whatever he asks. I don’t have a job, so pitching in gives me something to do.”
Autumn glanced around at the house, let out a low whistle, and then nodded approvingly at Gigi. “You’re life goals.”
“What?” Gigi laughed nervously. “What does that mean?”
Autumn shrugged. “It means I admire your life. Single woman living in a fabulous beachfront home, best friends with a famous designer, and well off enough to not need to work. What’s not to love?”
Gigi gave her a wry smile. “Well, Autumn, I haven’t always been this person. Some of my life choices have been… questionable. I’m rectifying them, but the truth is, I wouldn’t be in this position without a lot of help from a family trust. It helped me walk away from a bad marriage and also gave me time to heal so I could decide what I want to do instead of what I have to do.”
“See? Life goals,” Autumn said with a decisive nod. “I’ve also had a bad relationship, only mine hasn’t gone away yet. He just keeps coming back like a bad rash.”
Gigi placed her hand on Autumn’s arm, offering support. “You don’t have to engage with him, you know.”
Autumn nodded. “I don’t answer his calls, but sometimes he just shows up where I am. It’s creepy, but he’s sly enough that I don’t have anything concrete to go on if I filed a restraining order. I can’t keep him from public venues.”
With a racing heart, Gigi tugged Autumn down to sit on a nearby couch and said, “Autumn, I hope I’m not overstepping, but my experiences in life make it so that I can’t ignore this. That type of behavior is very dangerous, and I want you to know that no matter what, you can always call me for help. No matter what. If you need someone to come just be with you wherever you are in public or if you just need someone to talk to, I’ll be here. You can call me at any time. Three in the morning. Whatever.”
“That’s—” Autumn’s voice cracked, and she cleared her throat. “Thank you.”
“Hand me your phone,” Gigi said gently. “I’ll put my number in your contacts.”
Autumn did as she was asked, and when Gigi handed her phone back to her, she blinked back a few tears.
Gigi squeezed her hand and said, “I understand. I really do. Now let’s go drink some more champagne and forget about that jackass for a while. There’s no chance he’ll end up here.”
“Thanks again,” Autumn whispered as they crossed the room to join the rest of the group.
“Hey,” Sebastian said, coming up from behind her. “How’s your finger? Is it okay?”
She nodded. “Autumn took care of me.” She reached for one of the champagne bottles, only to realize it still needed to be uncorked. After tearing off the foil, she got busy twisting the metal cage and then the bottle to loosen it from the cork. Only the harder she tried, the less success she had. The cork refused to budge despite her best efforts, and in no time, she was sweating from her attempts.
“Need help?” Sebastian asked.
“Yes, please,” she said, handing him the bottle.
He checked her work with the metal cage and then started to turn the bottle. Within seconds, the cork popped and everyone cheered. He shrugged one shoulder. “Looks like you were just seconds from finishing the job.”
Only she hadn’t been. The cork hadn’t budged at all. She eyed his hands, wondering if he had magic fingers. “Well, maybe so, but I appreciate the help.”
The rest of the evening, everything Gigi touched went wrong. She broke three glasses, locked herself out on the deck, slipped in the kitchen and bruised her elbow on the counter, and then finally, while she was saying goodnight to her guests, she got her hair caught in the security chain on her front door.
“Really? You’ve got to be kidding me!” she cried as pain radiated down her neck.
“Since when did you become so clumsy?” Sebastian asked, reaching out to gently untangle her hair.
She glanced up at him. “Just tonight it seems.”
“Seems like you pissed off the karma gods or something.”
“I guess so.”
Sebastian smoothed down her hair and then took a step back. “There. You’re free.”
Gigi glanced around, noting that everyone was gone except for Sebastian. “Thanks. Um, I guess I’ll see you around?”
His lips quirked up into a teasing smile. “You’re throwing me out?”
“No, I…” She blew out a breath, frazzled by the events of the night. “The party’s over. I just assumed you were headed out like everyone else.”
“I’ll help you clean up,” he said and strode back over to the table where there was a pile of empty glasses and used plates.
Gigi followed him and, true to form, as soon as she reached for a couple of the empty champagne glasses, she tripped on absolutely nothing and knocked half a dozen of them over. One flew off the table and smashed at her feet.
“That’s it!” Gigi threw her hands up in the air. “I give up. Have I been cursed or something?”
Her skin started to tingle as if someone were standing behind her, and the faintest voice whispered, “Sebastian doesn’t have the answers you’re looking for.”
Chapter Eight
“What?” Gigi spun around, adrenaline running through her veins.
There was no one there.
Gigi turned to Sebastian. “Did you hear that?”
He frowned as he glanced around. “I heard something, but I couldn’t make out the words.”
A wave of pure relief washed over Gigi as she processed the message from one of her ghosts. The message from the attic hadn’t been referring to Sebastian. All of her suspicions and angst of the last few days had been misguided. “Holy shit,” she muttered and shook her head as she grabbed one of his hands with both of hers. “I owe you an apology.”
His eyebrows shot up. “How’s that?”
“I think we need to sit down.”
“Let’s go.” Sebastian grabbed her hand and led her to the couch in her living room. He sat in the corner and then patted the cushion.
She sat willingly, and when his arm slipped around her shoulders, she leaned into him just like she had all those years ago. Tears of relief pricked her eyes. This was the one place she’d ever felt safe. When she’d thought he’d been keeping information from her, the thought that she’d never truly had someone on her side had nearly broken her. Her body started to tremble, and she wrapped her arms around herself, trying to calm all the emotions taking over.
“It’s okay, Gigi,” he whispered. “I promise. Whatever is happening, I’m here for you. I’ve always been here for you.”
There was no stopping the tears that rolled down her cheeks. She’d spent years estranged from him, using the excuse that she had to stay away from him because of her husband. And then when she’d ditched James, she’d still kept her distance because the past wasn’t something she’d been able to face. It hurt too much. But here she was, forced to deal with it by a rogue ghost. She wouldn’t deny herself his comfort any longer. She couldn’t.