Total pages in book: 25
Estimated words: 23544 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 118(@200wpm)___ 94(@250wpm)___ 78(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 23544 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 118(@200wpm)___ 94(@250wpm)___ 78(@300wpm)
People arrive and after getting everyone signed in, we follow Ollie on the tour. There’s a married couple named Jeff and Julie. Another single older man named Gary. Two older ladies who are sisters named Helen and Myrtle. And Debra, a single mother, with her friend, Shelby.
Ollie leads us through the lobby to the grand staircase. “There’s quite a bit of history in this building, as well as a sleepy ghost who lives here in the hotel’s rafters.” He points to the ceiling above the staircase with his black tool. It beeps.
I shiver for real this time. Did I really just buy a haunted house?
We walk up the stairs, and when we reach the top, Ollie speaks. “It's a legend that Molly Malone haunts these hallways at night,” Ollie says.
I scoot closer to Ruin. He chuckles under his breath, and I pinch his muscular backside. “This is scary,” I whisper. He may not believe in this stuff, but I do. “I now own a hotel with Molly Malone haunting the halls.”
“I’ll keep you safe.” He pulls me closer while Ollie continues relaying the backstory of Molly. How she was once in love with a man who didn’t love her back. My heart breaks for her. In the end she took her own life, right here in the hotel.
“She jumped from the roof, landing in the garden.” Ollie steps forward. “Follow me outside.”
Ugh.
A somber mood descends on us as we make the trek to the garden. We wind along the cobblestone path, flanked by chrysanthemums and a thicket of bushes. It’s beautiful at this time of night with the sound of cicadas sizzling like sticky heat in the summer air. The breeze is a dry one, promising that there’ll be no rain anytime soon.
I try to think about the night Molly leapt to her death, wishing the man she loved felt an inkling of what she did. It makes me cling to Ruin’s arm, grateful I’ll never have to experience that pain. Thankful that I’ll never live a life without my soulmate standing by my side.
How terribly tragic she didn’t realize the man she died for wasn’t the love of her life. If he had been, she’d never have felt an ounce of despair.
Ollie leads us across the open courtyard toward the City Hall building. “This is an interesting place. It wasn’t always Diamond’s City Hall. It used to belong to the Glenn family, who had a shootout back in the 1800s. Old man Glenn still haunts these grounds, looking for anyone who dares to enter onto his property.” Ollie stops just outside a small white gate. “Should we dare enter?”
Ruin is ready to step forward along with Connor, but I’m hesitant. I tug at Ruin’s arm.
He laughs. “Come on, babe.”
“I’m not sure if we should disturb Old Man Glenn’s land.”
Ollie and Ruin pass through the gate, and the rest of the group lingers back, waiting to see what happens before we step through.
After a full minute of nothing happening, the rest of us venture onto the old property. Ruin sneaks up behind me, grabbing at my waist, and I let out a quick squeal as he lifts me up.
“You nearly gave me a heart attack,” I say after my feet touch the ground.
He sneaks a kiss as he moves me away from the group. “I just felt like things were getting a bit too serious. I wanted to let you know I love you, and I’ll forever be here for you.”
I wrap my arms around his neck. “I love you too.” I suck in a deep breath, being so moved by everything that’s happened over the last month. “Ruin, I have something to say.”
He blinks at me. “You can say anything to me.”
“I’m all in with you. I love you so much, and I want to be your wife.”
Ruin’s smile splits his face in two. I don’t think I’ve ever seen him so happy. “Dakota, I’m supposed to propose to you, not the other way around.” His eyes bore into mine.
I shake my head. “I don’t care. I want this.”
He cups my cheeks, kissing me square on the lips. “I want this too.” He bends on one knee. “Dakota, will you make me the happiest man on the planet and be my wife?”
“You mean your old lady?” I ask with a laugh.