Will’s gaze swung around the crowded room, anxiety burrowing into his chest and setting up camp. He was used to crowds, but he wasn’t used to this type of crowd. Pheromones were flying around the room like they were coming out of the vents. Nothing but people flirting and touching and glancing and winking. Seriously, the winking… One man in particular seemed to be using it as the only ace up his sleeve. “Oh, you’re an artist?” wink. “I’ve seen that film four times, now.” wink. “Do you know where the bathrooms are?” wink. Who in the world actually winked that much?
Will tapped the edge of his glass with his knuckle, wondering if he shoulda put a ring on his finger just so he wouldn’t be targeted. He had his eye on someone back home, after all, and really… how would it work out in the end? These people seemed to be lookin’ for soulmates, not flings. But they lived all over the place. It was like online relationships in reverse—meet first, email second. How did Frostville Mansion get such a good reputation for setting people up?
He refused to believe it was actually haunted. There had to be something in the water.
He eyed his drink before stealthily pouring it into a potted plant.
“What do you think?” Bells asked him, knocking his elbow with hers. Will followed her gaze to a man across the room surrounded by four other women, laughing heartily at what one of them just said.
“About what?” he said, playing dumb. Bells gave him a look he deserved.
“Do I have a shot, Will? Or should I settle for… I dunno…” She glanced around for a moment before her eyes landed on someone young enough to need I.D. “That guy.”
“You don’t have to settle for anyone.”
“Will…”
“Serious, Bells. If you’re really here to do this, go all in.”
“So, you’re tellin’ me in your very brotherly way that I could have any man I want.”
He tapped his nose a couple times, and Bells squealed and handed him her glass.
“Okay.” She fixed her curls. “Save me if you see the signal.”
“What signal—” But she was across the room already.
Will slumped against the wall, eyes drifting to the clock. His stomach was an empty, gargling mess, and he ran a hand over it, hoping to soothe the rumbling. He wasn’t sure how much longer he could wait before finding the kitchen himself and raiding the refrigerator.
Another group of people came through the door to the lounge area. Geez, more? No wonder Winter had said they didn’t have a lot of rooms left.
His eyes caught a glimpse of platinum blonde hair behind a massive wall of a man who’d just walked in. Will straightened, suddenly aware of how glum he probably looked. No wonder no one was approaching him; he hadn’t needed a ring for deterrent, just his sullen attitude. He tried to put on a smile as Winter appeared from hiding, her shortness endearing. He nodded to her, feeling a bit like a fool that he didn’t have much game here. Not that he was trying to flirt, just trying to show some human decency, but the mansion, the city lights out every window, the décor, and company just made him feel like a turtle without its shell.
Winter waved wildly back, something that made him laugh and feel lighter in the heaviness of the room. She was done up completely—makeup, hair, long, flowing gown. She looked like a darn princess, out of this reality and in one entirely her own.
He thought she’d come over for some conversation, but she veered right, taking the hand of the burly, massive man next to her. He helped her up on a sort of platform and handed her a glass.
Clink, clink, clink. All eyes swiveled to Winter, Will’s already trained on her. Guess she was the owner of the place. Or at least high up. Not only did she have the muscle next to her, the security man from earlier was perched at her other side, looking important and scary.
“Welcome to Frostville Mansion!” she said excitedly to some applause. “I hope you’ve all gotten somewhat acquainted.”
The winker winked, and a few giggles went through the room. Will tried with all his might not to let sarcasm fly from his mouth.
“If you’ll please follow me into the next room, we can have some dinner.”
Will “whooped!” unable to control himself. A few guests laughed, and Winter fist pumped the air and pointed at him in solidarity. It sent a round of warm acceptance through his empty gut.
“Your names are in front of your seats. I know it’s out of comfort zones to sit by strangers, but here at Frostville, we like to mix things up and force you to get to know each other.”
She winked, and on her, it was cute. Probably because she added a sound effect and pointed her finger. She had good stage presence.
They all shuffled through to the dining hall, another room that was bigger than anywhere Will had ever owned. Bells was first—of course—following Winter right on her heels. She was placed between two men: the tall black man who’d entered with Winter in the other room and the man who’d attracted all the women. Will caught the grin on her face when the popular winker took a spot next to her, smiling a smile that told Will he was gonna watch that interaction. He was there to make sure she wasn’t going for any old yahoo, after all.
Will found his name between two women, and he wondered if the boy/girl pattern was on purpose. Back to elementary school, he mused.
As soon as they all were seated, a parade of kitchen staff came in with the first course. Will rubbed his hands together, anxious for something, anything, in his belly.
“I’ve never seen someone so excited for a salad,” said the woman on his right. She was older, with laugh lines around her eyes and a clip in her red hair.
“I’m excited over all food,” Will said, tucking his napkin into the collar of his t-shirt. He paid no mind that he was the only one placing it there and not on his lap.
“You sound like our princess,” she answered, and he felt his brows turn in. The woman nodded at Winter who sat at the head next to a chubby and boisterous man. “Princess Winter. She’s quite the foodie.”
“Princess?” he asked. “Princess of what?”
The woman laughed like he was an idiot. “Frostville.”
Okay, so people here were crazy. Either that or Winter put off the cute, “I’m normal, too!” vibe while secretly making everyone refer to her as royalty. Will stabbed his salad and shoved it in his mouth, bitterness making him sloppier than he would’ve been under different circumstances. Princess? Really?
The woman placed her fork down and stuck her hand out. “I’m Ms. Emily Vancouver. Winter’s tutor.”
Will swallowed and shook her hand. “Will Monroe. Just a guest here.”
“Yes, I figured.” She went back to her salad. “Where are you from, Will?”
“Alabama, ma’am.”
“I was thinking around there. Your accent is so very strong.”
He grinned through his food. “First time someone’s told me I have an accent.”
“You’re joking.”
He shook his head, the conversation making him feel a bit more at ease. But he wasn’t about to look at Winter. Or call her “Princess” for that matter. Who was that full of themselves?
“This is my first time outside the state.” A long breath fell from his lips. “Been kinda strange.”
“I can imagine.” Ms. Vancouver plucked her glass up with a dainty, fragile hand. “I love Alabama. Such good people there.”
His heart lifted. “You been?”
“Many, many times.”
They fell into an easy conversation all through the first and second courses; Alabama was something Will could talk about for days on end. And it was a somewhat cure for his homesickness… and his mood. After the main course of chicken cordon bleu—which was phenomenal—he felt his irritation float away, replaced by relaxation.
“… you would not believe the look on this guy’s face!” The loud voice of the man next to Winter came floating across the table, grabbing the attention of every guest there. He was laughing, his face near purple as he tried to get air into his lungs. Will started laughing, too, wishing he’d heard the beginning of the story that had this guy rolling.
Will’s eyes flicked to Bells, her head leaned in closely with the woman-magnet. He planned on talking to the guy at some point.
The hulk of a man on the other side of her, shifted in his seat, his eyes darting to Winter and to her plate. Back and forth. Like he was waiting for her to take her first bite of the dessert.
Winter laughed, completely oblivious, her smile so genuine and adorable that Will had a hard time believing the woman was conceited at all.
There was this sudden tightness in Will’s chest that made him want to get up, cross to her side of the table, and knock that dessert right to the floor. What in the world was that guy lookin’ at? What was he waitin’ for?
“Oh,” Winter said to one of the servers, jolting him out of his reverie. “I asked for strawberry. Not strawberry chocolate.”
She went to hand the bowl back, and Will felt a blanket of relief. He was most likely being paranoid, but he’d known several people who would tamper with food. Employed some, fired them all.
“I’ll trade you, Princess,” the man next to her said, his face turning back to its original color, but there were still tears in his eyes from laughing so hard. “I prefer the mix anyway.”
They gladly traded, and the man started telling another story. Will’s eyes shot back to Mr. Big and Tall, but he was getting up, excusing himself politely to use the restroom.
“You all right, dear?” Ms. Vancouver asked. She put a light hand on his arm. “You look upset.”
He shook his head. “I’m good. Thank you, ma’am.”
But he wasn’t good. Not at all. Something felt off, but he shrugged it away when Winter and the man next to her took healthy bites of their food with no real effect other than big eyes and excitement for their next scoop.
“That’s Joshua, by the way,” Ms. Vancouver said, nodding toward the jovial guy. “He’s known Winter almost as long as I have.”
“How long’s that?”
“Twenty years. I babysat those two ruffians every Tuesday and Thursday for six years while his mother was working. They were quite the pair.”
Will watched the two, laughter punctuating any awkward silences that were found among the table. It felt just like him and his sister—too loud for their own good. He liked it.
Clearing his throat, he glanced at the empty seat next to Bells. “Uh, do you know the man who was sitting there?”
She tilted her head and followed his gaze. “Oh, you mean Michael? He and the princess are good friends… now.” She leaned in and covered her mouth. “They have a history. A very long, a very complicated history.”
He slowly nodded as she backed away. Maybe that’s why Michael was so interested in Winter’s food. He knew her well, knew that wasn’t what she ordered, maybe jealous of the relationship between Joshua and Winter…
“Excuse me for a moment,” he said, taking the napkin from his collar and pushing his chair out. Ms. Vancouver looked like she wanted him to stay, but he took off as quickly as he could without causing too much of a scene. He wasn’t sure about that Michael character, but he’d have a better idea if he talked to him. Will prided himself on reading people, and his suspicions might subside once he’d actually had a conversation with the guy.
He went out into the lounge, backtracking once again to the main entryway.
“Yeah, it’s been done,” he heard a deep voice say. He wasn’t sure where it was coming from, so he stood stone still and listened. “Princess better watch her back.”
“First night, huh?” a female voice answered. “Do you think it should’ve waited for a bit?”
“Had to be done tonight.” The voice drifted into whispers. Will could only hear the pounding of his heart as he strained to listen in.
A piercing scream cut through the air, and Will whipped around. His feet couldn’t carry him fast enough to the dining hall.
The chatter and buzz cut off as Will banged the double doors open, eyes bulging at everyone standing, desserts forgotten as they stared at the table head.
“He’s dead, Princess,” a man said, his hands on Winter’s shoulders. “He’s… he’s gone.”
Will tore his gaze from the tears streaking down Winter’s face to the man slumped into his chocolate and strawberry dessert, a laugh still on his unmoving, purple lips.