Page 53 of Checkmate
“You could have made a bunch of bullshit stories and sold them as fact. And, yes, you’ve taken some creative spins on certain stories, but you’re still talking about real people. The real history of our city.”
He pushed his plate away after eating his food, leaning back in his seat and listening to her. Her excitement brought a sparkle to her eyes, her entire face lit up with animation.
She was a sight to behold.
“And that’s the thing. Henry and his wives made the Tudors interesting, and King Tut inspired a fascination with Egypt. Madame de Pompadour made us care about eighteenth-century France.
“Events don’t make history, people do. And you are giving our audience one hell of a history lesson, whether they realise it or not.”
“Events don’t make history, people do,” he repeated. “I like that.”
He fell silent as Erica finished her meal, going over everything she had proposed to him. He was surer than ever that he needed her on his team.
Pairing up with her to get back at the soon-to-be exes was fun and thrilling. He’d hoped by the end of it all, they could part ways as something close to friends.
Now he wanted Erica in his life.
Despite the circumstances of their meeting, she had proved herself to be exactly what he needed. Someone intelligent and passionate. Warm and giving. Supportive and ambitious.
More than ever, he needed someone like her in his life, and he could think of nothing better than giving her a stake in the business they were now carving together.
“I really want you to work with me,” he said as she took a drink. “This is your baby, too. I want you to be a story one day. A history maker.
“When these ghost tours take off, and thanks to you, I really think they will, I want your name right there next to mine. I want them to look at our business and think ‘damn, they make one hell of a team’.”
Erica spread a slow smile, tilting her head. “And what would they call us?”
“No idea. What’s your maiden name?”
“Starling.”
He chuckled, smirking over at her. “And I’m a Crowe. Two birds teaming up.”
“Crowe and Starling present Phantom Footsteps.” Erica made a soft and appreciative sound.
“Has a nice ring to it, doesn’t it?
“It does,” she admitted.
“So, Erica Starling, what’s it to be?”
Chapter 14
Erica
Erica let herself in the house, leaning back against the door with a happy sigh as she hugged her bag to her chest.
She’d had an incredible afternoon with Marcus, one that had eased all her stresses and made her feel as though she were floating on air.
There was just something about him that made her relax. Something that soothed the pain in her heart.
Lottie would tell her they had an instant connection, but Erica was more practical than that. Relationships took work, and nothing was easy, even if it was ‘destined’.
What she believed was Marcus shared a unique relationship with her, brought about by their mutual heartache. It forged a rapidly strengthening bond between them and made it easy for her to accept his offer.
She’d love to stay in his life beyond the little mind games they were playing with their spouses.
Right on cue, as though he could sense her thinking about him, Alex walked down the stairs, calling for her.
