Ryan doesn’t expect too much from his weekend at the Shadows and Souls fan convention in Tahoe -- he wants to meet his online friends, engage in a few heated debates about the plot for the upcoming season, and maybe shake the hand of the TV show’s star, Johnny Marlowe. But his weekend goes off course almost immediately after his arrival. First, the hotel loses his booking. Then Johnny Marlowe talks to him like they’re actual friends. And while his head is still spinning, a ghost attacks him in the elevator.<br><br>Despite fighting ghosts every week on television, Johnny Marlowe does not believe in the spirit world. However, he does believe he should get to know Ryan better. Fan or not, the man is not only gorgeous, he’s down-to-earth, fun, and makes Johnny forget about the fake life he’s forced to lead and the ex-boyfriend who refused to participate in the charade. Unfortunately, every time Johnny tries to get close to the handsome ginger, something explodes or the earth shakes or lights blink out -- and none of that is as sexy as it sounds.<br><br>Johnny doesn’t believe in ghosts, but he knows he has to get to the bottom of this haunting if he ever wants to get close to his biggest fan.

Between the Shadow and the Soul

He might’ve complained about it before, but as Saturday progressed, Johnny appreciated June’s overzealous scheduling more and more. It kept him too busy to think about what was to come tonight, and if each glimpse of the deepening bruise on Ryan’s face sent a pang of regret through him, he had a few hundred smiling fans to distract him further. He shook hands and chatted during the autograph session, shook hands and smiled during the photograph hour, then shook hands and deflected personal questions when June surprised him with a private meeting for all the con workers.


Still, it was a relief when the banquet came to an end. Ryan hustled him out of the room while June made the announcements about the screening.


In the elevator, he shoved his hands into his pockets to keep from reaching for Ryan, though he lounged against the mirror to watch him. It felt like hours since he’d had the freedom just to look. “Are you nervous?”


Chapter 28