Chapter Nineteen
Utah watched Michelle’s pupils dilate in surprise as he admitted to having knowledge of April’s rescue.
“How did you know?” Michelle muttered, holding his gaze. “I just found out an hour ago.”
“Because I was the one who found her.”
Michelle’s mouth fell open. “But how?”
Memories of April’s battered body suddenly assailed him. He shook off the images and ran his thumb over Michelle’s knuckles. “I don’t know how or why it happens. I can’t see others like me, but I’m somehow able to hear cries for help from the living. And not always, obviously. But the ones that I can hear or feel somehow draw me to them.”
“So I’m not the only one who can see or touch you,” Michelle whispered, her eyes huge and seeking.
Utah ran his free hand down his face. “You are. I’ve never been able to interact with any of the people I’ve saved. They never see me or remember my presence.”
“Then how do you help them?”
Shrugging, Utah explained, “I’ve never arrived to find them conscious. It takes an extreme amount of concentration and energy for me to move them or touch them in any way.”
A small indention appeared between Michelle’s pale blue eyes. “Maybe that’s why you can hear them, because they’re close to…”
“Death,” he rumbled. “You can say it. I mean, after three years of being dead, I’ve grown accustomed to the word.”
Michelle took an unsteady breath. “How did you know where to find April?”
“I didn’t,” Utah responded. “I heard her calling for help. When I closed my eyes, her desperation pulled me to her somehow. It always happens that way.”
Michelle didn’t blink at his explanation. “The FBI has been called in on this one. They believe it was the work of the Westcoast Strangler.”
“I wondered that myself,” Utah admitted. Another thought occurred to him. “She was taken from DeFuniak Springs. Not too far from where you live. I don’t feel good about you staying alone.”
Michelle nodded. “I know. It makes me uneasy too. But I have locks on the doors and windows, and as you well know, I keep a pistol in the nightstand next to the bed. I’ll be fine. Unless…”
“Unless what?” he prompted, hoping she would say what he thought she was about to.
She quickly licked her lips. “You want to hang out at my place for a while?”
Want to? he thought, tightening his hold on her hand. He wanted nothing more than to be with her. “Of course I’ll stay with you.”
It felt so damn good to feel needed by her that Utah couldn’t bring himself to voice the obvious. If someone did manage to break into Michelle’s home, what help would he, a ghost, be?
He would make sure she kept that gun on her at all times. He might not be alive, but there was nothing wrong with his senses. And he would keep them on alert day and night to keep Michelle safe.
Michelle appeared relieved by his vow to stay with her. She sent him a grateful smile, put the car in gear, and drove toward home.
* * * *
Utah held Michelle’s hand the entire ride back to her house. He couldn’t seem to let go of her. She’d actually hunted him down and found him.
He understood returning with her wasn’t right. He also knew that his presence in her life would eventually come to an end. An ache settled inside his chest.
She pulled into the drive and got out. Utah followed suit.
“Someone’s coming,” Utah announced, turning his attention toward the front yard.
A short, beefy man suddenly rounded the house, wearing long tan shorts, a dirty T-shirt, and a smile. “Good afternoon, Miss Collins.”
Michelle greeted the man in the same friendly fashion. “Hiya, Mr Needlemyer. How are you today?”
“I’m good,” he responded, making his way toward her. “I was just finishing up some yard work when I noticed your grass could use a cut. I know you live alone and you work a lot. I’d be more than happy to cut it if you’d like?”
Utah didn’t miss the way the man looked at Michelle, his hungry gaze touching on every part of her body but her face.
Disgust settled in Utah’s gut.
Michelle turned to unlock the door as she spoke. “I have a kid coming this weekend to mow, but I appreciate the offer.”
Utah watched as the man’s gaze dropped to Michelle’s ass the moment her back was to him.
“If you’re sure?” Ol’ Needlemyer persisted.
“I’m sure,” she called back, pushing the door open and stepping inside.
She glanced back as if waiting on Utah to follow her. “Have a nice day, Mr Needlemyer.”
Utah stepped inside the house, relieved when Michelle closed and locked the door behind him.
“He’s a pervert,” Utah pointed out, going to the window to watch the beefy neighbor amble his way across Michelle’s front lawn.
Michelle chuckled. “He is, but his wife is a sweetheart, and she makes the best oatmeal cookies I’ve ever tasted.”
Utah’s lips twitched. He should have known Michelle had the situation under control.
He turned to face her. “What I wouldn’t give for a cookie right about now.”
“You and me both,” Michelle quipped, a smile playing at the corners of her mouth.
Utah moved forward until he stood directly in front of her, his hand coming up to cup her cheek. “Do you have any idea how beautiful you are?”
She held his gaze, the teasing light in her eyes suddenly gone. “What are we doing?”
“I don’t know,” Utah whispered, leaning in close. “But it sure feels good.”
His lips brushed softly against hers, and the hand cupping her cheek moved around behind her head.
He gently tugged her forward, deepening the kiss.
If he remained in his current state for the next hundred years, he would spend every waking moment in Michelle’s arms. Nothing had ever felt more right.
A knock suddenly sounded, pulling Utah out of his fantasy.
Michelle broke off the kiss, an unsteady breath exhaling across Utah’s face. “Maybe they’ll leave.”
Utah took a step back with the next impatient knock. “You should get that.”
“Hold that thought,” Michelle muttered, trailing off to get the door.
“I’ve thought of little else.”