âYouâre safe now,â John said. âIâm so sorry.â
âThe light went out. I heard someone in the tunnel above me. He was there, John.â
John shook his head. âYou are one tough cookie.â
Olivia dropped her gaze to Johnâs chest. âI was on the verge of a heart attack. Iâm not tough.â
John put one finger under her chin and lifted her face, looking her straight in the eye. âYou were confronted with your worst fear in a house thatâs been in your nightmares for as long as you can remember, and you were still collected enough to find your way down the tunnel to the exit. Youâre incredible, Olivia.â
He stared at her for a moment, the indecision on his face clear as day, and thatâs when Olivia realized he was going to kiss her. Her heart leaped into her throat as he lowered his lips to hers, kissing her softly, his lips barely brushing her own. The kiss deepened, and her skin, previously cold from fear, began to tingle and warm with desire.
Suddenly, he broke away and took a step back. âIâm sorry. I didnât mean toâ¦â
If she was a betting woman, sheâd bet anything that John was more afraid of that one little kiss than sheâd been locked in that tunnel.
Jana DeLeon
The Secret of Cypriere Bayou
To my critique partners, Cari Manderscheid and Cindy Taylor, for your constant cheerleading and support on every new venture I take with my writing career. To my friend Colleen Gleason, who always pushes me to action when Iâm on the fence.
To my friend Tracey Stanley, who tells everyone who will listen about my books. To my daily chat buddy, Leslie Langtry, for always reminding me that we canât take ourselves too seriously. To my parents, Jimmie and Bobbie Morris, for never doubting I could accomplish anything I set my mind to. To Jimmie, Donna and Katianne Morris, for your continued support in an unpredictable career path. To my agent, Kristin Nelson, for venturing into unknown territory and creating my relationship with Harlequin.
To my editor, Allison Lyons, for your patience with me in learning the ropes and your enthusiasm for the work itself. Itâs always a pleasure to work with people who truly love their product. And to my cousin, Cathy Jane, who no longer has an excuse for not reading one of my books, as this one is short.
Jana DeLeon grew up among the bayous and small towns of southwest Louisiana. Sheâs never actually found a dead body or seen a ghost, but sheâs still hoping. Jana started writing in 2001 and focuses on murderous plots set deep in the Louisiana bayous. By day, she writes very boring technical manuals for a software company in Dallas. Visit Jana at her website: www.janadeleon.com.
Olivia MarkhamâShe makes her living by renting haunted houses and writing about them, but when she rents laMalediction, she realizes itâs the house from her dreams. Sheâs determined to figure out her connection, but someone is just as determined to ensure she doesnât.
John LandryâThe New Orleans cop is on the hunt for his missing stepsister, and is desperate to find her before she becomes another statistic. Heâs posing as a caretaker at laMalediction, his stepsisterâs last known destination, but he canât conduct an investigation with Olivia Markham looking over his shoulder.
Russ WheelerâThe attorney for the Borque estate should have informed Olivia that heâd hired a new caretaker, but failed to mention it. Given the deterioration of the house and grounds, it looks like one was needed long before now.
Sheriff BlanchardâIt was clear to Olivia that the small-town sheriff didnât appreciate her appearance in his town, and especially at laMalediction, but was he a superstitious fool or was he hiding something far more earthly?
Tom BreauxâThe café owner gave Olivia directions to laMalediction despite the obvious disapproval of the sheriff, but didnât seem happy to learn that not only had she located the house, she intended to stay.
Aubrey MurphyâThe old caretaker supposedly took leave due to a family emergency, but none of his family seems to know what the emergency is or where Aubrey is now.
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
The sky rolled with a mass of gray clouds, and the air became thick with humidity. Olivia Markham glanced anxiously at the swirling sky as she pulled into Cypriere, Louisiana, all five weather-beaten buildings of it. Peering down each side of the street, she searched for signs of life. It would be the first sheâd seen in well over two hours of driving deep into the bayous.
A wooden sign swung under the awning of an old brick building to her left. The painted lettering on the sign had long since faded, but Olivia could barely make out the word âcafé.â Surely someone inside would be able to give her directions. She pulled into an open parking space right in front of the café and hurried inside. Bells on the door jangled as she crossed the threshold and the eight or so patrons stopped what they were doing to stare at her.