Must Love Ghosts by Jennifer Savalli Page A

“My goodness, I’m feeling cold. Jules, would you mind fetching my sweater from the entry?”
    â€œNot at all, Grandmother.”
    While Jules was gone, Richard lectured Leo on the finer points of their research into the nature of love and lust. Leo listened politely, forking up lasagna at regular intervals.
    Jules returned and Cassandra wrapped herself in a creamy cashmere sweater. She pinned Tia with faded blue eyes. “Now, tell me, why aren’t either of you married? I don’t intend to fund two workaholics who won’t benefit from their own research.”
    â€œGrandmother, that really isn’t any of our business,” Jules said.
    â€œNonsense. You know how I feel about people who don’t practice what they preach.”
    Richard gave Tia an intimate smile that almost made her gag. “Tia and I have a very close relationship.”
    â€œHow lovely.” Cassandra gave Tia an almost maternal look. If scary Dragon Ladies could be maternal. “Don’t wait too long, dear. You’re not getting any younger.”
    Tia stuffed her mouth full of lasagna so she didn’t have to respond.
    A draft of cold air whistled through the dining room.
    â€œHumpf.” Cassandra pulled her sweater tighter around her bony shoulders. “Drafty house.”
    Tia put her fork down. Billy had promised to stay with Dec tonight. He wouldn’t break his word, would he?
    She forced herself to give a small laugh. “These old houses. My apologies. Sometimes being here alone on windy nights gives me the creeps.”
    Cassandra sipped her water. “All the more reason for the two of you to get married sooner rather than later. I know it’s the modern age and ladies live on their own now, but still. A man around the house is a useful thing.”
    Tia gazed down the table at Richard. He precisely placed his fork on the edge of his plate, then dabbed his mouth with a napkin. She didn’t think he’d be all that useful around the house. She was as capable as he was of picking up dinner on the way home or picking up the phone and calling a handyman.
    Her mind flashed on a memory of Dec, shirtless, hanging a shelf in his apartment, the muscles in his arms and back rippling. He was the kind of man who’d be useful around the house.
    A little shiver that had nothing to do with the cold ran down her spine.
    â€œMy friends will tell you I’m something of a matchmaker,” Cassandra was saying, “and I can tell the two of you are perfectly suited. Just like myself and my dear husband Thornton, God rest his soul.”
    Another draft of wind blew out the candles on the table and chilled the back of Tia’s neck. The howl that accompanied the chill wind sounded exactly like every ghostly howl in every bad horror movie. A door slammed shut elsewhere in the house.
    Uncle Billy was up to his old tricks.
    â€œMy goodness,” Cassandra exclaimed. “Really, Dr. McGarry, there’s drafty and then there’s this .”
    Tia jumped to her feet and threw her napkin down on the table. This was bad. This couldn’t be happening. “I must have left a window open. Please excuse me for a moment.”
    Before she made it through the archway to the hall, a loud clumping noise stopped her. It sounded like someone was thunking across her bedroom, directly above the dining room.
    â€œIs someone else in the house?” Richard asked, eyes on the ceiling.
    â€œNo!” With great effort, Tia controlled her voice. “No, of course not. It’s, uh, my washing machine. I started a load earlier and forgot what a racket it makes. I have to remember to call a repairman. I’ll turn it off while I shut the window.”
    She escaped the room without daring to look anyone in the eye. She’d been an honest, straightforward person all her life and now she was an out-and-out liar. She’d lied to Dec yesterday about her engagement and now she was lying