A psychic interior designer reluctantly agrees to renovate a sexy investor's abandoned hotel on Loch Sheldrake, a lake rumored to have once been the mob's body dumping ground.
2016 New York Book Festival Award Winner!
Interior designer Kate Bardach loves her single girl's lifestyle, living in Manhattan and spending weekends at her lake house. She's passionate about her career, too--reinventing old buildings. But there are some projects she can't take on because of the spirits trapped inside. Kate is psychic--she sees dead people.
Marco Lareci is one of Wall Street's most successful investment brokers who's achieved all of his life's goals--except for finding his soulmate. His latest project, an abandoned resort on Loch Sheldrake, needs a savvy designer to transform the crumbling complex into a boutique hotel. When Marco meets Kate, he can't believe his luck. She's the perfect match for his business and his heart.
Marco's body excites Kate even more than does his renovation project. But he wants more than a casual relationship, and she's not willing to give up her freedom. Plus, the haunting at Marco's resort, a bonafide poltergeist, affects her on an intensely personal level. Kate's aunt disappeared from the place fifty years ago.
Will the spirit doom Kate and Marco's love, or drive them closer together?
Excerpt
Montlake’s Underground Bar, a usually dark and smoky private lounge off the west end of the casino, was as abandoned as the grandstands had been. Marco knew the main bar, Trackside, would still be closed this early in the season. But thank God the Underground was open. When he arrived few hours earlier, he hadn’t eaten anything since he left Manhattan. He’d grabbed a really fine Reuben sandwich and Devil’s Path IPA there when he’d rolled into town two hours ago to meet Joshua Lieberman. The realtor who’d been handling his purchase of the defunct Redman’s Resort.
He held open the heavy glass door—bulletproof Plexiglass, by the looks of it—and Kate pranced through like she owned the whole place, instead of just the mare whose win he’d won two bills on. Her hair fell in ebony waves down her back, nearly reaching her wasp-like waist.
Yeah, he thought. She was all tan and black with the coat and the hair. Add to that the confidence—an almost haughty air—and the slightly nasal ring to her velvet voice. She really did bring to mind a wasp.
Might want to watch my step around this one.
The lady wasn’t the booth type. Heading straight for the bar, she hung her huge, leather bag on the hook underneath and climbed onto the barstool before he’d even had a chance to help her. Neither had said a word as they’d made their way down the escalator to the subterranean space under Montlake’s recently refurbished grandstand.
“Hello, Zach. I’ll have my usual. And make it a double. I’m celebrating today,” she said to the barkeep, who’d paused from polishing glassware when they came in.
“All right, Ms. Bardach. Hey,” he said as he pointed one thumb over his shoulder at the monitor. He gave her a high-five. “Nice going. This the three-year-old gray?”
“Yup,” Kate nodded slowly, the corner of her mouth turning up. “She was well worth waiting for.”
The bartender was a mature man with a salt-and-pepper crewcut and the face of a man too smooth and pretty to be anything but gay. After ignoring Marco’s existence for the first sixty seconds of their arrival, he now turned to greet him with a nod as he flipped coasters down on the bar.
“And for you, Mr. Lareci? Another IPA?”
Marco caught the slight turn of his companion’s head and lifted eyebrow in his peripheral view.
“No, I’ll take a Dewar’s on the rocks this time. Thanks.”
When Zach turned to do his job, Kate shifted in her padded stool and leaned her chin on her hand. “So, this isn’t your first pony ride at the Underground? No pun intended.”
What was it about this woman that shot him straight in the groin? Gorgeous, no doubt. Her vivid, blue eyes rimmed with jet lashes were set at a slight angle to a Patrician nose, her pale skin the color of buttermilk. But her haughtiness, her regal air, was an attitude he usually found irritating and off-putting, no matter how hot the woman was. No, there was something about the way she used those eyes . . . studying him . . . hypnotizing him. . . .
The bartender broke the spell, delivering drinks: a martini for her and his iced glass of Dewar’s. Shaking his head slightly, Marco lifted the glass and took two long swallows before answering.
“No, not my first pony ride, as you put it,” he said, unable to keep the irritation out of his voice. “But you’re right. I’m not a regular here. I am, however, a new property lord in the area.”
Kate’s eyes widened, sparked with interest. “Lord, huh? So, I’m guessing it’s more than a run-down bungalow you snapped up?”
Marco slid her a sidelong glance. This bitch took snobbery to a whole new level. He should have figured. The fancy clothes, the prime spot box seat. She can’t be from up here. Must be from the city. Like me.
He leaned back in his chair, resting both elbows on the padded arms. “I bought the old Redman place. I’m assuming you’re familiar?”
The little huff she blew out registered shock, along with something else. Excitement?
“Redman’s Resort? I know it well. It sits about a half-mile down the road from my lake house.” Her smile evaporated like early morning fog, and furrows appeared between her dark, arched eyebrows. “Tell me you’re not knocking it down.”
Hmm. The lady likes old architecture. Must have a little bit of class going for her.
He shook his head. “No way. That place, from what I’ve read, is a sort of icon in this part of the county. The poshest playground in the area fifty years ago. Even for the Hollywood crowd.”
Kate spun her stool toward the bar and lifted her martini to her lips, a toothpick-speared olive bumping seductively against a shapely upper lip. Marco would like to be running his tongue along that lip right now. He licked his own instead and shifted in his seat.
She sipped, set the glass back on its circular landing pad, and blotted her lips with the cocktail napkin. The white square came away with a perfect, bright-coral, imprinted kiss.
“Once upon a time,” she began, speaking to the olive in her drink, “this whole area was a tourists’ paradise.” A touch of nostalgia laced her voice with softness.
Ah, so the lady does have a heart after all. Let’s test it a bit.
“The Borscht Belt. Isn’t that what they called it?”
Her eyes flashed toward him, her gaze sweeping him up and down. “Yes, they did. Of course, with a name like Lareci, I don’t suppose your bubbe and poppy brought their grandkids up to this area.”
Marco barked out a laugh, shaking his head. “My grandparents were lucky they could afford their old two-family in Boro Park—”
“So tell me,” Kate cut in, “what are your plans for Redman’s? It’s in pretty bad shape. But I guess you already know that.”
It was his turn to swivel away and hunker down over his glass. “This area, I believe, is getting ready for another boomtown swing,” he said quietly. He’d been trying to keep this hunch pretty low-key until now. But he signed the papers with Josh this morning. He’d staked his claim.
“Get that from your crystal ball, Merlin?”
Softer side? What had he been thinking?
He fixed her with an icy glare. “I happen to be one of Fortune 500’s top-rated investment specialists, Princess. My crystal ball has a pretty impressive track record of hitting the mark, dead on.”
She pursed her lips. “I beg your pardon, Mr. Lareci. I had no idea whom I was dealing with.”
Facetious, indignant, infuriating. He should down the rest of his drink and hit the road. The two-hour trip would easily stretch to three in this shitty weather. Who did this bitch think she was, anyway?
Stupido! Where was his brain? Why was he letting her call the shots here?
“And who am I dealing with? I’m guessing your lake house is only a weekend haunt,” he said.
“That would be correct, Boss. I live on the Upper West Side. But I work downtown. Ever heard of Bardach & Associates?”
Her cynicism prickled his skin, but he still couldn’t help his body’s reaction to her. Not even the parts that usually reacted to a woman this sexy. Someplace higher. Like, deep in his gut.
And the way she was looking at him whispered again of a softer side, but how?
His mind clicked into research mode, virtually thumbing through the lists of companies on the Exchange. The list scrolled through his head endlessly in his sleep most every night. Filled his days with tension, on a constant hunt for the next big ticket to lay a client’s chips on.
Slowly, he shook his head, causing her to cross her arms and clip that pouty lower lip between perfect, dazzling teeth. “Well, if you haven’t heard of us yet, you might want to watch us. BDA on the Exchange. We’re only eight years young, but we’ve been pretty steady for the past three.”
“And what kind of commodities is BDA into?”
“Interior design. Residential, commercial, you name it. We’ve done some of Trump’s playpens, updated the Legacy Suites at the Plaza last year. We’re just finishing up a period renovation and refurnishing of the Morris-Jamel Mansion.”
Marco froze, the tumbler halfway to his lips.
Lady Luck, you’re definitely on my team today.
“So, interior design,” he repeated, dumbly.
She laughed, a warm throaty sound that caused a tightening in his lower belly. “Yes, interior design. And you’ve bought a 1960s vintage hotel you’re looking to renovate into a . . . what? Five-star hotel?” She lifted the martini and sipped again, this time darting her tongue out to toy with the toothpick spearing the olive.
Yes, these slacks are definitely snugging up in the crotch.
“What a serendipitous coincidence,” she said. All traces of snip and snipe had disappeared, melting into warm, buttery liquid. He could almost taste the salt of the olive on her tongue.
She leaned toward him, and it was then he realized what it was about her that intrigued him so. Set his blood to simmer. Made him yearn to get closer, even through the rain of arrows her sharp arrogance spewed with every word.
It was the way she blinked. The thick, black lashes over those sleepy, slanted, blue eyes struggled to complete each and every movement. He’d never seen anything quite like it.
In a sexy, almost calculating way, the lady blinked in slow motion. The effect made her seem as though she were coming down off a mind-blowing orgasm. Or, perhaps, was on the prowl, actively trolling for the lucky partner for her next.
Mesmerized, Marco decided quickly he had to get to know this woman better. Study her more closely. So he asked, “I don’t suppose you have a few moments to take a look at the property on your way back to your lake house?”
Professional Reviews
Amazing!
Do yourself a favor and read this book! It is so well written, you feel like you are in every scene and experiencing every thing that is happening. This story had me reading through blurry , tear filled eyes one moment and sitting on the edge of my chair , holding my breath the next. I laughed at some of Marco's Italian expressions and have heard so many of them growing up. His love of family and deep committed loyalty rings so true to many Italian customs. Kate is a strong willed, successful woman who isn't sure what love is until she meets Marco and finally lets herself be loved. Both of them being from different Ethnic backgrounds ,have to show their families that love doesn't discriminate and we love who we love! Kate has psychic abilities that aren't always a blessing but with Marco's strength and devotion together they see what needs to be done to bring peace to those who need some closure to move forward. I loved how persistent her Aunt was (even though a little frightening). The ending will leave you with a wonderful, heartwarming feeling and you will believe !
Loved the mix of love story & ghost story
I read the author's first book, Phantom Traces, and loved the mix of love story and ghost story. So, I was looking forward to this one and wasn't disappointed at all. In fact, for me, it was a real page turner. It's an easy read because the characters feel very real and so does the ghost! I loved how the story wrapped history around present day characters to pull them towards the conclusion. Lots of scary suspense and a very hot love story. Now I'm looking forward to her next book!
Spooky Good!
I have a confession: I get REALLY creeped out by ghost stories. Like can't sleep alone, leave some lights on, and I envision creepy hands reaching out from all the dark corners of a room and from under beds. I'm a wuss. So why read a book that hints at spirits and ghosts? The blurb had me intrigued, so I gave it a go. The verdict? This was a great read. Did I have to sleep with lights on, snuggled up a little too close to my husband with the blankets pulled high? Heck yes. But it was worth it.
The characters were really well developed, the plot line kept me staying up too late to try and find out what happened next, and the relationship between Marco and Kate was really well done. Often times if a book leans towards the romantic genre at all, it can have intimacy just for the sake of checking off a box, but the progression of Marco and Kate's relationship - with flirtations, jealousy, and a good ol' splash of self-deprecation - greatly complimented the mystery, intrigue, and suspense of the Loch.
And I have to mention the psychic component. In my experience, "psychic" can usually translate to "tacky" or "ridiculous" pretty quickly, so part of my draw to the book was to see how the author had Kate be a successful interior designer, but also psychic. The author did a great job of making Kate's abilities both believable and *not* laughable. I found myself feeling sorry for Kate and her episodes, and at the same time impressed that she held her head high and kicked ass at things.
Admittedly, I don't know how soon I'll be picking up another book by this author, but she should be flattered - her wonderfully descriptive writing compounded with her ability to make legit scary stories is the only thing holding me back.
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