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“I think you look really nice too. As previously established.” Ryan eyed me up and down like I was a sweet treat. Maybe he was hungry.
Still, I beamed, looking down to double-check what I’d chosen to wear that morning. A pair of peach-coloured shorts and another turtleneck. Standard. Pretty cute. “Thanks! I need—”
The front doorbell rang before I could finish my sentence and I snapped back to reality.
I pushed past Ryan, racing toward the door. “You need to go and tell the ghosts they all have to behave until after check-in.”
“What makes you think they’ll listen to me?”
“Ask them nicely, Ryan,” I said over my shoulder, pausing at the doorway. “Say please and thank you. Everyone responds well to kindness.”
“Except supernatural entities,” he grumbled. “Those generally tend to do whatever the fuck they want.”
“That’s a very sweeping generalisation and we don’t like those here.” I wagged my finger at him. “Open minds. Open hearts. Everyone here is a friend.”
The bell rang again.
“Go and put some clothes on! Quick!” I shooed him off.
“Aww, but I thought you liked me half-naked,” he said, but he headed upstairs.
I straightened my clothes and grabbed for the handle, jumping back when the door swung open and rattled against the wall.
“Popty!” I hissed through my teeth. “I’ll handle this.”
“Handle what?” the woman asked, staring at the door.
“Oh, I’m just talking to the handyman,” I said quickly. “Just sent him upstairs to fix a broken knob on one of our rooms. I let him know I can handle check-in and your bags.”
“Ah.” The man nodded and we lapsed into a weird silence that stretched…a bit too long. “So…”
“OH!” I jumped, stepping to the side to let them through. “Right. Come on in. Welcome to the most charming B&B you ever did see. HEY! That rhymed. Pure coincidence; I’m not much of a poet.”
They shuffled past me, heads turning every which way as they walked in, keeping closer to one another than I felt was needed.
A pie appeared from somewhere, floating through the air like an offering on a crystal platter.
I snagged it as fast as I could, grabbing hold of the stand and pulling it close.
“Bloomin’ heck, Bronwyn,” I whispered, making my guests turn to look at me. I plastered on a wide smile and pointed to the pie. “I hope you like pecans.”
“Um…where did that come from?” the woman asked.
I let out a nervous laugh. “We always have fresh baked goods ready for our guests. I find it helps them feel more at home and relaxed.”
“That…sounds lovely, actually,” the woman said, eyeing the pie with interest while the man still stared at me with slightly narrowed eyes.
“Let’s get you settled and you can have a slice or two,” I said, herding them toward the reception desk.
As we walked, the wallpaper started bleeding dark red, lines trickling down, spelling things nobody wanted to see on their vacation.
Kill.
Leave.
Maim.
I plastered myself against the wall, gliding along and smearing the fresh inscriptions with my shirt as I went.
