Creepin' It Real

By Shannon Curtis

A lost treasure. A haunted hotel. A kidnapping. These weren't the bumps in the night he'd planned...

 

Maid of Honor Prue Merrick is determined to find the positive in every situation, and she's positive she'd like to wring grumpy ex-boyfriend Lochie's neck when he unexpectedly shows up at her sister's wedding party weekend meet-up. Her plan: get through the weekend without ruining her sister's event by causing a scene - possibly a crime scene - with Lochie.

Best Man Lochlan Leighton believes Prue's eternal sunshine is a way for his ex to avoid the harsh realities of life, and when she starts claiming she's seeing monsters in this manor, he's sure there's a logical explanation for it. His plan: prove to Prue it's all in her imagination - and dodge whatever she throws at him. He just wasn't expecting the vampire, werewolf or ghost to be so ... tangible.

Can these exes go from enemies to lovers in this second chance romance?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Shannon Curtis
• Release date: Oct 1, 2022
• ISBN: 9798215135389

Shannon Curtis

Shannon Curtis has worked in a variety of roles from copywriter to dangerous goods handler and betting agent, but decided to write stories like those she loved to read when she found herself at home after the birth of her first child. Shannon is award-winning author, and loves engaging with her readers in order to write what they want to read. Shannon lives with her family in Sydney.

Book preview

Chapter 1

"W hat the hell is he doing here? Prue Merrick hissed at her sister, Tempe, as they stepped out onto the portico of the Whispering Bluff House to greet her sister’s groom and his entourage. I thought he couldn’t make it?" She eyed the man stepping out of the driver’s door.

"Well, apparently that changed—and he is Jared’s best man, her sister told her. But if you want to castrate him, I’ll hold him down. Just saying."

Prue felt a small measure of comfort from her sister’s support. They watched as the guys climbed out of the van and walked to the back of the vehicle to collect their luggage.

I knew I should have stayed home, Prue muttered. Lightning flickered in the night sky, as though in agreement.

Tempe laughed softly. And what did your horoscope say, this time?

Avoid new relationships, drama and bumps in the road ahead, avoid conflict, Prue counted off the points on her fingers. Mars is in my love house. Thunder cracked, and both flinched.

"What does that even mean?" Tempe asked, her brow dipping.

Prue shrugged. No idea, but it sounds serious. She eyed the men. This weekend was going to suck. As though Mother Nature wanted to make sure of it, rain started to fall.

Tempe shook her head, then smiled at the man now making his way up the stairs, rolling suitcase in tow. Hey, handsome.

Temperance Merrick-soon-to-be Marshall, Jared Marshall grinned at his fiancée.

Prue watched as her sister’s face lit up and she launched herself at the man. It was almost sickening how much her sister loved—and was in love—with this man. But it was also sweet. Temperance ‘Tempe’ Merrick, corporate trainer at a construction company and accustomed to giving orders, melted like putty whenever Jared Marshall was around—and he was just as goofy-eyed when it came to her sister. Prue smiled at the man who, in two weeks’ time, was about to become her brother-in-law. He was a gem. Her gaze drifted to the man now slinging a duffel bag over his shoulder, and her smile straightened. Unlike this guy.

Prudence, he said, nodding at her when he met her gaze. His lips twitched, as though he found something amusing.

Lochlan, she responded, coldly polite. She hoped he tripped up the stairs. Better yet, that the duffel strap would choke him as he fell. Lochie Leighton could die a thousand deaths, as far as she was concerned.

Hey, why so formal? Jared asked, eyeing them both. I thought everything was cool between you two.

Lochie nodded. You’re right, Jared. He leaned down and kissed Prue’s cheek so fast she couldn’t avoid it. Hey, Prue. He winked at her. How you doin’?

Her eyes narrowed as she met his familiar brown gaze. She imagined punching him in the nose. No. Kneeing him in the groin. She smiled sweetly at the thought.

I’m doing great, Lochie. She wasn’t going to ask him how he was doing, because she could tell just looking at him. He looked ... great. Gorgeous. Not at all upset, or heartbroken. Jerk. The few droplets of rain that had fallen on him before he reached the cover of the stairs clung to his hair and eyelashes like little gems. Fan-damn-tastic. She always looked like a drowned rat in the rain, but not Lochie. No, he managed to look like some fantasy night lord.

Happy to see me? he asked, as though daring her to say something, damn it. Well, he asked for it.

I’m so very glad you’re here, she told him. He watched her expectantly. Oh, good lord, now she’d have to finish it. I’m so glad ... she thought rapidly, then beamed. I’m so glad you managed to get everyone here safely. And she was. Hm. Nanna was right. You could play that glad game for everything.

She took a step to the side so that she could see beyond the man who seemed to take up all of center stage without even trying. Hey, guys. She smiled at Jordan, Jared’s younger brother, as he almost fell out of the van, yawning, and then...? She raised her eyebrows as the last figure grabbed the handle for his rolling suitcase and started toward their little group. So, this was the fourth groomsman, the late addition that had prompted Tempe to ask their cousin, Sylvie Parker, to join the bridal party.

Oh, hey, this is Scott Tanner. Scott, this is my gorgeous fiancée, Tempe, and her sister Prue.

Equally as gorgeous, I see, Scott said, and grinned at her, his eyes drifting from her face to lazily tour down the rest of her body. Prue’s cheeks warmed, more because Lochie noticed, raised an eyebrow, then rolled his eyes and swept past her into the inn.

Pleased to meet you, Scott, she said as she smiled at the guy. He was cute. Sandy brown hair, green eyes, nice smile... Okay, so maybe this weekend wouldn’t completely suck. Follow me, she said as she turned toward the doors to the inn.

Oh, believe me, I will, she heard him say in a low voice, and her smile broadened.

It didn’t take long for the men to check in, and for the rest of the bridal party—consisting of herself as maid of honor, Veronica Hayes, Tempe’s best friend, and Sylvie, their cousin, to be introduced to the groomsmen. Down in the lounge, Prue couldn’t help but notice how close Veronica stood next to Lochie, or how Lochie dipped his head to hear whatever Veronica was saying.

Prue lifted her chin. I don’t care. I don’t care what that big lug is doing, or with who. Whom. Who or whom? She could never get that straight. Whatever. Lochie Leighton could flirt with a runway model, and she still wouldn’t be jealous. Nope.

I understand we have you to thank for this weekend.

She turned at the low voice next to her ear. Scott. Well, it was Tempe’s idea, she told him.

But you organized everything, right?

Yeah. I’m her maid of honor, so this falls under my job description. So, tell me... how do you know Jared? She lifted her glass in the direction of her sister’s fiancé, who was tugging Tempe up from the sofa with a grin and a waggle of his eyebrows.

We go way back—university, Scott supplied. And I recently got a job at his firm, so we’ve been catching up.

And now you’re part of the bridal party, Prue commented, then raised her glass. Welcome.

Scott took a sip from his wine glass, then braced his elbow against the mantlepiece as he looked around. What’s the deal with this place? How did you find it?

She followed his gaze. Despite