His to Possess

By Su Halfwerk

Stacy doesn’t know that a dashing ghost is in love with her, but when she conjures him one stormy night, he charms her to her core.

After weeks of watching Stacy turn the act of book appraising into a tantalizing experience, Jeremy—once untouchable and invisible—discovers that Stacy is more than just an infatuation. She’s all he wants, and she’s staring right at him, not through him.

A passionate kiss seals the deal and kindles their hearts with burning passion for each other. But if given the choice, will Jeremy selfishly have her join him in the realm of the dead, or allow fate to keep Stacy alive—and thus apart from him?

When Stacy searches deeper into their connection to discover the ultimate truth about their relationship, does she find out that this is another fateful blow to her heart or a new chance at love? As former lovers and thieves in the night attempt to tear them apart, their love is put to the ultimate test.

• Language: English
• Publisher: eXtasy Books Inc
• Release date: Jan 16, 2011
• ISBN: 9781554875399

Book preview

Stacy doesn't know that a dashing ghost is in love with her, but when she conjures him one stormy night, he charms her to her core.

After weeks of watching Stacy turn the act of book appraising into a tantalizing experience, Jeremy--once untouchable and invisible--discovers that Stacy is more than just an infatuation. She's all he wants, and she's staring right at him, not through him.

A passionate kiss seals the deal and kindles their hearts with burning passion for each other. But if given the choice, will Jeremy selfishly have her join him in the realm of the dead, or allow fate to keep Stacy alive--and thus apart from him?

When Stacy searches deeper into their connection to discover the ultimate truth about their relationship, does she find out that this is another fateful blow to her heart or a new chance at love? As former lovers and thieves in the night attempt to tear them apart, their love is put to the ultimate test.

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This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are products of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events or locales or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

His to Possess

Copyright © 2010 Su Halfwerk

ISBN: 978-1-55487-539-9

Cover art by Martine Jardin

All rights reserved. Except for use in any review, the reproduction or utilization of this work in whole or in part in any form by any electronic, mechanical or other means, now known or hereafter invented, is forbidden without the written permission of the publisher.

Published by Devine Destinies

An imprint of eXtasy Books

Look for us online at:

www.devinedestinies.com

Smashwords Edition

His to Possess

By

Su Halfwerk

Dedication

To those who believe their lives bare and hopeless, who think circumstances stole their smiles.

I give you…hope.

Chapter One

Jeremy stationed himself by the mansion's massive wooden door. Holding his arms open wide, he waited in anticipation from the moment he saw her car pull up. He watched her struggle to find her house keys, clutching her laptop bag and thermos with one arm as she rummaged through her handbag. He smiled as she gently kicked the car door closed and strode up the walk, right toward his waiting arms.

Stacy never met his adoring gaze or said a word. The only indication she gave that she noticed him at all was when she did what she always did. She shuddered once…as she passed right through him.

Jeremy sighed. He had almost given up hope that she would feel his presence in the retrofitted house. But each time she passed through him, he thought of soft summer breeze on his skin--cooling, invigorating, and inviting. Every time, that brief contact with Stacy stirred his emotions, for it pulled him out of the tedium and loneliness of his dreary existence.

Stacy snickered. Honey, I'm home. She had used this quip daily since she started appraising the books in the study, perhaps to drive away the glumness of the place.

I know, baby, Jeremy whispered. He felt his emotions rise again. He so looked forward to her return each day. What would he do when her job was done? How could he go back to being alone, with no one speaking to him, even indirectly?

Dropping the car key in her handbag, Stacy glanced through the window at her green Subaru, which was parked beneath the leafy elm trees, and then looked up at the ominous gathering clouds in the sky. She mumbled to herself, The weather doesn't look promising.

The trees shook and swayed in the gaining wind, dead branches scraping and rattling against each other. I hope it won't force you to leave early, Jeremy said sadly. He didn't expect a reply, and didn't get any.

Stacy unwound the caramel woolen scarf from around her neck and marched to the study. Along with the scarf, she threw her jacket and handbag on the sofa, took off her flat black shoes, and turned on her laptop, as though she were at home indeed.

Today, she wore a beige, button-down shirt with black wool, pleated pants. The casual clothes clung to her curves in a flattering way.

The owners had left only few pieces of furniture in the mansion--a sofa here, a desk there, and the large bookcase they had believed, correctly, was full of valuable books. The couple who had hired Stacy weren't much into reading, and neither were their three kids. They'd inherited the mansion and the books from the husband's eccentric uncle. Their decision to appraise the books and then sell them made sense.

Jeremy turned his attention back to Stacy, who had settled cross-legged on a brown armchair facing her laptop. He gazed at the abundance of auburn hair tumbling over her shoulders and forehead. I wish we could talk to each other, Stacy. He lifted a hand to touch her cheek reverently and tried to brush her hair back. There was no real contact--he didn't experience the softness of her skin--but almost touching her made him feel less alone. What will I do, he murmured, in a day or two, when you're gone?

After a brief and sudden shiver, Stacy closed the document on her laptop and rose. Right, she said. Hands on her hips, she eyed the light brown thermos and smiled. Maybe some tea would warm me up.

But he knew she sensed his presence somehow. She must have. There