Under The Big Top Read online

  “Thank you.”

  “For what?” He frowned.

  “For showing me that I don’t have to take on every case that comes my way.” I smiled and my shoulders sagged as I realised the weight I’d been carrying seeped away.

  “Hey.” He held his arms out. “Glad I could help, and you’re welcome.”

  I sunk back into the sofa, coffee cradled in my hands, feeling the anxiety wash away and calmness take over.

  “So,” he leaned back, held his cup in one hand, and pulled one knee onto the sofa to face me. “Did you really just call me over here for that?”

  “What do you mean?” I frowned.

  “Usually a distress call in the middle of the night isn't exactly what it seems.” He set the cup down, moved a little closer, and placed his hand on my knee.

  “Wait!” I held my hand up. “You think this is a booty call?”

  “It is now.” He closed the distance between us, mouth pressing against mine in a tentative kiss.

  When I kissed him back, the nervousness melted and he kissed me with a hunger that I wanted to satiate.

  I slid my mug onto the table, without turning away, then wrapped my arms around his neck. His weight pushed me down onto the sofa, and I revelled in the feeling as he peppered my face and neck with glorious kisses.

  His hands moved down the length of my body, stopping at my waist, where they began their ascent, pushing my top up and exposing my midriff. He kissed my stomach, his lips soft as they nipped at the bare flesh. I moaned as his hands moved higher, sliding beneath the remaining material to cup my breasts. He pinched my nipples, and I gasped as tingles shot through my body. His kisses moved lower and lower, teasing at the waistband of my bottoms. I arched my back, pressing myself into him, and I heard him laugh as he removed the covering. When his tongue flicked against me for the first time, showers of hot sparks flashed in front of my eyes, and I moaned. He worked like an expert, his tongue lapping me up while his fingers traced delicate patterns on the skin of my breasts. My body was on fire.

  I wanted him. Now.

  His gaze caught mine, and we just stared. His mouth hung open, lips glistening, eyes sparkling with mischief. I grabbed him by the shoulder, and pulled him towards me, and his mouth crashed against mine. I unhooked the button of his jeans and smiled as he sprung free into my hand, hot and hard. He moaned as I squeezed, pumping the length. Then I guided him forward, arching my hips to give him entry.

  He slid into me, filling me up to the hilt, and my mouth opened in a silent cry of pleasure. Then his mouth was back against mine, hips thrusting as mine rose to meet him again and again. I felt the build up inside, and I knew I was about to release, when he cried out into my mouth. As I climaxed, a multitude of colours exploded in my mind.

  We lay there in each other’s arms, panting. His head against my chest, and as I closed my eyes, I knew I was falling hard.

  * * *

  “You do realise you’re half an hour late,” Olivia said as I strolled into the office. She stared at me with a sour-look.

  What a way to spoil an afterglow.

  After our early morning antics, we spent the rest of the hours snoozing together in our vulnerable positions on the sofa and spent a long time in each other’s arms when we woke. After he’d made me coffee, of course.

  “It looks like someone got out the wrong side of the bed,” I muttered as I headed straight for the kettle.

  “I’m fine.” She spun her chair and got up to follow me. “I’ve just been on the phone for most of the morning and could’ve done with a hand.”

  “Coffee?” I asked.

  She thrust her cup towards me. “Aren’t you even going to ask why I was on the phone for that long?”

  I sighed, set the cup down, and turned to face her. “What an awfully long phone call, Olivia. Who was it?”

  “I’ve just secured your next case.” She beamed.

  “Well done,” I said, with a smile. “I thought you were going to say it was Vic Reeves again.”

  “Not since the last time.” She shook her head. “Anyway, this new case—”

  “Woah!” I held up my hand. “Let me get a drink first, woman. It’s still early.”

  Olivia rolled her eyes and stalked back to the computer and whizzed her fingers over the keyboard.

  I knew we had made the right decision by agreeing that Olivia should stay in the office during cases. She wasn’t the sort of person that needed to be out in the field to hunt ghosts for the most part. And while that meant I was going to be working alone most of the time, it worked out better for both of us. Soul Seekers was really taking shape.

  The kettle boiled, and I finished making the coffee, stirring them both and setting Olivia’s cup by the keyboard. I pulled the second, shoddier computer chair across the room and sat down.

  “Okay. Now you can tell me.” I took a loud slurp of my coffee before setting it on the counter and leaning back in the chair. I had finally gotten the balance thing down. I didn’t even feel close to falling off this time.

  Olivia, pretending not to hear me, typed a few more words, tapping loudly, and then turned to face me. She picked up her cup, making a show of her slowness, and cradled it, her red nail polish stark against the white ceramic.

  “Are you sure you’re ready?” she asked. “I mean, you don’t need to pee or grab some biscuits or—”

  “Olive!” I warned.

  “Fine.” A wry smile flicked the corners of her lips. “I got a call from a construction crew.”

  I frowned. “Construction?”

  “Yeah. But I guess you could say they’re more demolition.”

  “You’re making no sense.”

  “You know the funfair that’s sat on Old Road Field for the last twenty years?”

  “Yeah. It’s not like you can miss it.”

  I nodded. That thing had been around about as long as I had now. It was a permanent fixture in the town, despite its abandoned status.

  “Well, the construction crew have been employed by the council to demolish the funfair as safely as possible.”

  “Let me guess, the council wants to build houses there.” I rolled my eyes.

  It was always houses.

  “Probably. Why else would they be so wound up about it?” She nodded. “Anyway, they called because the place is haunted.”

  “Maybe I should turn it down.” I sat back and crossed my arms. “I don’t think Fallbury needs anymore houses.”

  “Enough with the houses, Peyton.”

  “Fine. But let it be known that I’m not happy about any intended domiciles.”

  My fettle wasn’t aimed at the new proposed build, but instead, the fact that I had been asked to revisit my old home. As much as today was a new day, it was still lingering in my mind.

  “Noted,” she said.

  “So what was said about it, anyway?”

  “Nothing much. A man named Rob called. He’s the foreman on the site, but he was there with someone else. Terry, I think his name was. He kept interrupting, and I didn’t get much of a story. All I know is that they want you to check it out.”

  I nodded. “A haunting at a funfair. This will be a first. When am I going?”

  “Today, at one.”

  “Great, that gives me time for lunch first.”

  “You do realise it’s just gone breakfast.” She raised her brow.

  “I know, but a girl can’t work on an empty stomach.” I patted my belly, and it growled in appreciation.

  My hunger had returned after I quit drinking, I was more than happy to see to satisfy it.

  “You’re like a bottomless pit.”

  “Hey, this is what overcoming an addiction does to you.”

  “And not a pick on you still.” She prodded my leg.

  The fat on my thigh gave beneath her nail, producing a dimple in my jeans.

  “You were saying.” I arched my brow.

  “Anyway, why were you so happy this morning?” She sat back as sh
e expertly changed the subject.

  Most mornings there was nothing to share, but today was different.

  “Well,” I glanced down at my mug, “I couldn’t sleep last night. This whole Vic Reeves–funeral parlour thing had me on edge, and I ended up calling Jake.”

  “You did what?” Her eyes widened.

  “I know.” I shrugged. “As soon as he picked up, I realised how stupid it was. But he didn’t care. He came over.”

  “Oh, I can see where this is going.” Her lips pursed.

  “I told him about the house and Vic.”

  “And?”

  “And he said that it was my choice.” I sighed, mentally letting go. “I don’t have to face it.”

  Olivia rolled her tongue in her mouth and then took a deep breath. “Peyton,” she said. “No, you don’t have to do it. This is your business—”

  “Our business.”

  “Our business, yes. But you do the ghost hunting. And whatever you chose to accept is entirely up to you. As long as we’re making money, I don’t care.”

  “I sense there’s a but coming.”

  “Isn’t there always.” She sighed. “But,” she held up a finger, “I think it would be good for you.”

  “Good for me? How?”

  “Good for you in that you’ll be able to face your demons.” She paused to take in my reaction.

  I stared at my best friend, not wanting to accept her message.

  “Peyton, I know how much it hurt you to lose your parents. But don’t you want closure?”

  “Closure?” I scoffed. “I don’t think I’ll ever get closure. Not in the place where a thousand voices have haunted me at one time or another.”

  “I think you used to end up there after a night of drinking because you were searching for something.”

  “And you think that’s closure?” I sneered.

  “I don’t know. Maybe.” She shrugged. “Even if it wasn’t, maybe it’s time to put that to bed.”

  “I can’t go back there. Not now.”

  “You say that now, but what has changed since those days?”

  “I’d say a lot.” I sat up straighter. “I’m a different person now, Olivia, and I like being able to choose what to leave in the past.”

  “But if you shy away from all the bad times, you won’t resolve the issues.”

  “When did this become an attack on me?” I slammed my cup down. “What gives you the right?”

  “Peyton, I’m just trying to help you see that this might be good for you.”

  “Listen.” I stood up. “I’m grateful for everything you’ve ever done for me. You were there when I was at my lowest and I’ll never be able to thank you enough. But I will not be told what’s good for me. I know myself, and I know what I need.”

  “Okay, Peyton.” She held her hands up.

  “I am sick and tired of being told what to do and how to do it. You know what, you’re right, this is my business. We’re in this together, but it was my idea and without me there would be no business. I know what’s right for this company, and going back there isn’t it!”

  Olivia’s lip twisted, and she turned away from me. Her fingers worked double time on the keyboard, slapping the keys.

  As I stared at the back of her head, I couldn’t have cared less that she was upset. She was my best friend, but she had been making choices for me, trying to control my life, and it was time for her to butt out.

  I stalked out of the office and down the corridor. I would take myself for lunch, then go to Old Road Field and talk to the foreman by myself.

  I didn’t need Olivia or her opinions.

  * * *

  Face my demons. That’s what Olivia had said to me. But she wasn’t referring to the ones inside a bottle.

  I stepped into the hall where the AA meeting was held.

  “Peyton!” Mila greeted me with a smile and a hug.

  I wrapped my arms around her then pulled back. “You look great.”

  “Thanks. You, too.”

  “Want to set up the urns?”

  With a nod, I headed for the kitchen. Mila knew I was that much of a caffeine addict that I couldn’t go longer than a few minutes without a brew, and this was a perfect job for me. I got to work in the small kitchen.

  Once the urns were full, I carried them and the cups out and set them on the table.

  “Hello, stranger.” Adele came up behind me, wrapping hers arms over my shoulder and squeezing.

  “It hasn’t been that long, has it?”

  Adele’s brow raised. “It’s been a while.”

  “Sorry. I’ve just been so busy.”

  “Yes, but you know as much as anyone how important meetings are.”

  “I know.” I looked at the floor, suddenly feeling like a scolded kid.

  “But now that you’re here, make me a brew while I run to the loo.”

  With a grin, I made us both a cup, and by the time she was back, I had our regular seats in the circle. They were filling quickly, and as I glanced around the circle, I saw a lot of familiar faces. It was good to be back.

  “How are you?” I asked, handing Adele her cup.

  “Fine. The same as always. Trying to keep up with the boys.”

  “And loving it.” I grinned.

  “Of course.” She nodded. “And you?”

  “Just work. Soul Seekers is keeping me busy. That and whenever I try to take some time off, I get bombarded by ghosts.”

  “What?” She frowned and took sipped her coffee.

  “Olivia and I, we went on vacation to this murder mystery thing on a train. Supposed to be a bit of fun, you know?”

  “Let me guess, it wasn’t fun?”

  “Not in the least.” I shook my head as I thought back to the incident. “It didn’t turn out to be a game as much as real life.”

  Adele’s face wrinkled. “I won’t ask.”

  “You wouldn’t want to know.”

  “So a total loss, then?”

  “Well, I guess it wasn’t a total loss.”

  “If I didn’t know any better, I’d say that smile was meant for a man.” She elbowed me in the ribs.

  “You remember me telling you about Jake?”

  “From the Manor House?” Her brows raised.

  I nodded. “Well, we happened to be on the murder mystery train together.”

  “And?”

  “And he gave me his number. Again.”

  A face appeared in between us, and I recognised Jim.

  “Peyton, I couldn’t help but overhear your conversation. You’re in touch with a man?”

  I glanced at Adele around Jim’s nose and stifled a grin. “I am, yes.”

  “Whatever you do, be careful. You’re at a crucial point in your sobriety.” He was referring to the fact that I was ten months sober and counting the days until my year chip. “Men, any sort of relationship, can become a hurdle to overcome. Be wary.”

  “Thanks for the advice, Jim.”

  He nodded and straightened, leaving us to our conversation.

  “That man has ears like a bat,” Adele whispered.

  I giggled as Mila clapped her hands where she stood in the middle of the circle. People took their seats and focused on the woman leading the meeting. She was just about to start, when someone burst into the hall. The door hit the wall and echoed in the hall, startling me, and the footsteps that clattered across the old wooden floor were loud enough to wake the dead.

  John dropped into a seat, offered a quick apology, and scanned the room. His eyes quickly settled on me, and a stone formed in the pit of my stomach.

  “I thought he might have moved on to another meeting,” I whispered to Adele.

  “See, you have been missing the meetings for too long.”

  Crossing my arms, I settled back and tried to focus on Mila and the meeting rather than the man whose vision kept sweeping to me every few minutes.

  After the meeting, I joined Adele for another coffee at the café down the road, e
ager to get away from John and spill the gossip about Jake. Before we parted, I promised I wouldn’t stay away so long next time.

  Then I trekked to the old funfair.

  * * *

  The funfair had been on Old Road Field as long as I could remember. I saw it regularly growing up. It was open sometimes, desolate and rundown most other times. It was an old monument to the town and had remained unused and unloved, yet never removed. An eyesore and a gem. I don’t remember what the place was like when it was alive, but I’d seen a few pictures, and it looked like a place of excitement.

  For the first few years, it attracted entrepreneurs who wanted to buy the lot and turn it into a static fair. A name was even bandied around as the locals caught wind of it—Fallbury Funfair. After the hype died and local business people realised it would take more to repair and run than could be recouped in earnings, the Funfair started attracting another sort of attention. At first it was a hangout spot for teenagers wanting somewhere to hide away from their parents, amongst the jungle of canvas tents and rides. But it didn’t take long for that to became dangerous, as the groups of teenagers grew and homeless people migrated to the funfair.

  The funfair was in the newspaper every week, one negative story after the next. Arguments, fights, and worse. It wasn’t much longer after the homeless moved in that they moved back out. After that, the photographers descended as the site became renowned for its creepy abandonment.

  Everyone had heard the tales. Even me, who shied from the supernatural and hid behind a wall of deception. Haunted was the term used to describe the funfair.

  And as I stared up at the dead forest of towering machines, I didn’t doubt that for one second. The garish paint of the machines had faded, leaving behind rusting metal frames, strings of lights whose bulbs were broken and lettering that had dropped from its perch.

  The wind rushed through the graveyard, and a mournful wail echoed at me. I stared up at the dormant Ferris wheel, I realised that I was glad it was daytime.

  I looked around the street. Old Road was deserted, apart from Thumper. I’d finally managed to get my old car up and running. She had passed with flying colours, and the insurance was next to nothing, considering the age of the car.