Strange events are heavy on Barker Christian's mind this summer at Northshire Inn along Lake Erie. Although the inn feels sleepy, romantic, and hidden, innkeeper Barker knows all its annoying in and outs, and supernatural and grating secrets. Barker's very much aware of the drug use that occurs in room 202, and there are disturbing ghosts in room 112 that haunt the paying guests. Nor can he forget about Radcliff Roberts, the famous horror writer in room 210, who is up to something naughty during the evening hours. Two other strange events occur: Matty Lavender, lead singer of The Thorns, is missing; and a watercolor artist appears on the opposite side of the pond that some guests can see and others can't. Barker stays grounded by his interest in Cal Pipp, the inn's maintenance man. Cal is breathtaking, easy on the eyes, and someone Barker's heart desires. Only problem is Cal doesn't know Barker likes him. Until summer heats up, ghosts materialize, and a different side of Cal appears ...

The Men of Northshire Inn

Once, as I scanned the bar code on the latest Harlan Coben, one of his favorite thriller writers, he told me, “You have a very pleasant smile, Barker. Have I ever told you that?”


Could he see my semi-smile, since he used a walking stick that a seeing-impaired person used? I thought so, but maybe not as well as the average Joe on a Templeton street. “All the better to eat those horrible children that come in here looking for video games to play over books to read,” I played with him.


“And what handsome brown eyes,” he said, smiling, obviously flirting with me, interested in me, toying with me.


“Better to see what little heathens I will be munching on for lunch,” I quietly growled and snapped my choppers together.


“I can’t say that I like the Twilightbooks or movies, but I am fond of the main vampire. He’s very good looking…such as yourself.”


“You mean Edward Cullen.” I leaned over the wooden counter that separated us. “He’s adorable.”


Chapter 3