Cheating Heart, A Lost Souls Novel: A Lost Souls Novel (10 page)

Jack nodded.  “I believe so.”

Vienna closed her eyes.  She could still feel the blood on her hands.  “I’ve been feeling him,” she said softly.  “He’s been following me.”

“Yes,” Jack said. 

“Is it…is it the same ghost from my apartment?” Vienna asked.  She could feel dread heavy in the pit of her stomach.  She really didn’t want to know the answer.

“
Yes.  And it’s negative energy.  He’s attracted to your positive energy.”

“I don’t feel very positive,”
Vienna said, even though she knew what he meant.  This had happened to her twice before.  Ghosts were attracted to the type of energy she put out.  It was almost like a beacon for the lost and trapped.  And the more she learned about her abilities and used them, the stronger her energy became.  Or anyway, that’s how Jack had explained it to her before.  “Is there any other reason why you’re here?” she asked, still not believing those words just tumbled from her lips.  “I mean, besides, well you know…the ghost?”

Jack grinned
, melting her heart.  His sparkling blue eyes gleamed with amusement.  “I’m always here,” he said and then vanished through the wall.

Vienna took in a deep breath and sighed. 
Sometimes she really wished he wasn’t so undeniably charming, so she could just be furious with him for popping into her life at all the wrong times.  She turned off the sink and looked around for some paper towels.  There were none.  She shook the excess water from her hands and ended up drying them the rest of the way on her jeans.

***

Kim, Steve, and James were chatting while standing by the bait shack.  Kim was looking up at the sign above the closed shop when Vienna stepped out of the bathroom.  Jack wasn’t around. 
Well,
she thought,
he probably was there
,
but keeping a low profile.

Vienna joined her friends and they headed back down the pier.  Kim suggested they go for a romantic stroll on the beach.  Vienna was frozen to the bone, tired
, and emotionally drained.  Not to mention she was still embarrassed about the fish guts and bashing James in the nose with her head.  The last thing she wanted to do was go for a stroll on the beach. What she really wanted was to go back to the motel room, blast the heat, and crawl beneath the covers until the weekend was over.  Then she’d go back to work.  Not that that was much better.  Then she’d have to face Kyle and worry that Brandon would find out where she worked and show up there to talk with her. 

Ugh,
she thought. 
This is not what I want.  Life should be much simpler.

Quietly
, she followed James off of the pier, and down the cement steps leading to the beach.  The sound of the waves grew louder the closer they got.  Vienna told herself not to think of the dream.  James had been extremely quiet as she followed him across the sand.  Kim and Steve were walking just behind her, chatting.  She couldn’t quite hear what they were talking about, but Kim was giggling over something.  Suddenly James came to a halt not far from the water.  He turned around and held open his leather jacket. 

“You cold?” he said, offering her his warmth.

Vienna had her arms crossed over her chest and her teeth were chattering.  She was kicking herself for not thinking to bring a jacket with her to the pier.  All she had on was a black and red striped sweater, if you could even call it a sweater because the material was paper thin, and jeans.  Earlier the sun felt warm even though the air was cold and she wore the sleeves pushed up.  But now she was freezing to death and pulling her sleeves down.

Taking James up on his offer, she snuggled into his jacket.  His body felt so warm
against hers.  She stayed nuzzled up against him while watching the waves roll in.  It really was quite romantic.  She looked up at James to apologize again for bashing his nose.  But before she could say anything, he silenced her with a kiss.  He then mesmerized her with his gorgeous brown eyes.  She’d never noticed just how attracted she was to him until now.  Was it because Jack kept interfering? 

Great,
she thought. 
Jack was still interfering with her date because now she was thinking about him again.  Was he doing this on purpose?
               

“I think that kiss made up for my nose,” James chuckled.

“Really?”

“If you feel there’s more making up to do, then by all means…I won’t stop you.”

Vienna’s heart fluttered at the deeper meaning behind the words.  She smiled, and then turned her attention to the ocean in front of them.  “So beautiful.”

“Almost as beautiful as you,” James whispered.

Vienna’s knees weakened and she leaned into him.  She didn’t know how to respond or what to say without sounding corny.  Deciding not to say anything at all, especially with how confused she’d been lately trying to sort out her feelings, she continued to stare out at the sea and just enjoy the moment.  James wrapped his arms around her protecting her against the cold and Vienna soaked up his warmth.

***

Jack tried to give Vienna her privacy by not eavesdropping.  He followed behind her and James until they stopped on the beach to look out at the ocean.  Not sensing the dark presence anywhere near Vienna, he wandered a little ways away.  He made sure not to go too far just in case the ghost returned.  Jack followed the edge of the water that rushed up onto the sand. 

The moonlight highlighted each
crescent as the water rolled in.  He glanced back at Vienna to see her in James’ arms.  A pang of jealousy encompassed his soul.  It bothered him to feel like that.  He couldn’t do his job as a guide and be there for Vienna if he had these feelings.  It was against the rules.  To be a good spirit guide, he was to remain unbiased.  He was allowed to love her unconditionally, but he should not be in love with her romantically.  It could skew his judgment and prevent her from growing and learning the lessons she’d been given for this lifetime. 

Forcing himself to empty his mind, he concentrated on centering his energy.
  He pulled in energy waves from the roaring water and the moisture in the air.  He stared up at the twinkling stars and held his arms up, reaching towards the moon. 

Though he was not in
human form, he couldn’t shake the feelings of being human.  Something about the night and the position of the moon, and being around Vienna, was making it harder than normal for him.  His mind drifted to his last life in human form.  He could still see Elizabeth’s green eyes and beautiful face just before she died in his arms.  It was as if he could still feel her frail body as she leaned against his chest, her head cradled within the crook of his neck.  The last breath she took, and small gasp that rattled in her throat as it escaped her weakened lips when her soul was released from her body.  The memory still tore at his insides and crushed his being.  There had been nothing he could do.  He could not save her.  There’d been no defense against the plague.  All he could do was try to comfort her and watch her die. 

Jack looked down at the
wet sand beneath his feet.  Those memories were from long ago.  He’d buried them, but somehow Vienna made him feel again.  She made his heart want to protect her just as he wanted to protect Elizabeth. 

No longer
living within human form, Jack understood the lessons of life.  But it didn’t make it any easier.  He never wanted to be reborn again.  He’d decided to not come back into this earthly life in human form, but still wanted to enrich his soul and learn.  So he decided to become a guide.  He thought he’d be able to keep human life in perspective and his emotions neutral.  But he was wrong.  Being a guide was just as bad as living, if not harder.   

Pulling strength from the cosmos to guard himself against the jealousy building deep in his gut, he looked back at Vienna and James.  Feeling a little more in control of his emotions, he
quietly returned to her side.

***

“Hey, lovebirds!” Steve said, coming up next to them. 

Vienna pulled away, suddenly feeling embarrassed
by their closeness.  “Hi.” 

“What’s next?
” Steve asked, playfully punching James in the shoulder.  “You wanna go dancing or to a bar or something?”

Kim was clutchi
ng Steve’s arm.  “I’m not dressed for a club,” she complained.  “I’ll need to go back to the motel to change.”

“No
, you don’t,” Steve said. “You look great, babe.”

“Not for a club,” she protested.
  “You’re such a liar!  I’m a mess!”

“How about a bar? 
You don’t have to change for that.  Or we could just walk around Coast Highway and…”

“Yeah,” James said. “Let’s do that.
  We can just walk and check out the shops and stuff.”

Vienna nodded her agreement.  She really didn’t want to go to a bar or a club. 
And she knew that James had confided in her through emails about wrestling with a drinking problem.  She was pretty sure not many people knew about that, Steve being one of them.  Plus, she knew she was a big mess, too.  Her hair was one big windblown knot.  In fact, since she was thinking about it, she opened her small purse and felt around for a hair tie.  To her relief, she found one.  She grabbed her hair, twisted it into a loose bun and secured it with the black scrunchie.  She hoped her hair looked messy, but cute, and not scary and stupid.  Either way, she was sure it was better than it had been. 

Coast Highway wasn’t far from the pier.  It was within walking distance. 
Up ahead, a few blocks down, Vienna could see the lights of the shops, bars, and restaurants that lined Coast Highway.  People were walking along the sidewalks. 

James held Vienna’s hand as they walked behind Kim and Steve who were still chatting and laughing. 
They walked down a dark quiet street towards where their car was parked in a parking garage, next to a parking lot.  As they crossed the railroad tracks, just before the parking lot, Vienna got the eerie feeling that they were being followed.  Within the corner of her eye, she could’ve sworn she saw a dark shadow form.  Stopping, she looked over her shoulder and the shadow ducked behind the cars away from the security lights. 

“You okay?” James asked
, when he noticed she had stopped walking.

“Um
, yeah.  I could’ve sworn someone was following us,” she said, knowing her words probably sounded ridiculous.  “I saw someone duck behind those cars over there.”

James followed her gaze.  “Don’t worry,” he assured.  “Steve and I can take care of things.”

Vienna nodded and they continued walking.  She couldn’t help but glance over her shoulder again.  There was no sign of the shadow.  Walking at night always made her nervous anyway.  And Jack’s warning to be careful didn’t help her any with her fears.  But then again, she and Kim were accompanied by two active duty marines.  It wasn’t like they were alone.  Muggers would think twice before jumping them.  But if it
was
a ghost, the same one that Jack had warned her about, how would they fight that?  There’d be no way they could protect her.  Her mind wandered back to Jack.  He’d protect her.  Or at least he’d try.

James sensed
Vienna’s insecurity and pulled her closer to him.  He wrapped an arm around her waist and gave her side a playful squeeze.  Vienna had to admit, being so close to him, helped to calm her nerves.  She’d just have to hope that Jack had her back if a ghost was trailing her. 

Reaching Coast Highway with all of the people swarming the streets, enjoying the nightlife, Vienna’s worries melted away.  She and James followed Kim and Steve into a tourist type of shop filled with shells, beach type items, and lots of Oceanside Souvenirs.  Immediately Kim started pricin
g items and squealing with delight.  Shopping was right up her alley.  Vienna wasn’t much of a shopper, but she loved shells.  She perused the aisles entranced by their beauty.  There were three long rows with colorful shells of all sizes and colors.  Small wicker shopping baskets were stacked at the beginning of each row. 

James and Steve headed straight for the back wall that had novelty signs with funny sayings painted on them.  She could hear the guys laughing and joking around, reading them out loud. 

Kim came up beside Vienna to show her a little glass bottle filled with sparkling white sand.  A tiny cork kept the sand inside.  Painted on the front of the bottle was the word Oceanside and then beneath it was a picture of a little Palm tree.  They were the same little bottles she’d seen in the tourist shops on the main strip in Palm Springs when she’d visit her dad.  The only difference was that this one said
Oceanside
instead of
Palm Springs
.  And the funny thing was the sand wasn’t sparkling white in either places. 

“Cute, huh?” Kim asked.

“Yeah,” Vienna said.  “Except I doubt the sand is from here.  Probably came from somewhere in China where the bottle was made.”

“You’re no fun,” Kim teased
, playfully sticking her tongue out at her before disappearing back into the aisles of the shop to look for more souvenirs.

Vienna picked up one of the little baskets and looked around at the shells.  Each type had a different price ranging anywhere from a few cents to a few dollars.  She picked out several that she found enchanting. 
She thought they’d make the perfect souvenir to remember her weekend getaway to Oceanside.  She planned on putting them in a small crystal bowl on her dresser.