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      Cover Copy

      In order to fully inherit a millionaire’s fortune, Allie Knowles must survive a month on her property—easier said than done when the enormous house is haunted by a violent ghost who claims to know Allie. But the true mystery lies with Cole Kinsley, the handsome groundskeeper. Cole and Allie have never met, though he’s been driving her wild in her dreams for years. Yet now, every effort to get closer to him pushes him further away…

      Cole has only ever loved one soul and that love has endured for centuries. Now that soul rests within Allie’s body and it takes everything in his power not to confess the truth. For her presence has put them both in mortal danger. Racing against the clock, Allie will have to break the ghost’s curse—or history will be doomed to repeat itself.

      Visit us at www.kensingtonbooks.com

      Books by Odessa Gillespie Black

      Cursed Series

      Ever After

      Published by Kensington Publishing Corporation

      Ever After

      A Cursed Novel

      Odessa Gillespie Black

      LYRICAL PRESS

      Kensington Publishing Corp.

      www.kensingtonbooks.com

      Copyright

      Lyrical Press books are published by

      Kensington Publishing Corp. 119 West 40th Street New York, NY 10018

      Copyright © 2015 by Odessa Gillespie Black

      All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any means without the prior written consent of the Publisher, excepting brief quotes used in reviews.

      All Kensington titles, imprints, and distributed lines are available at special quantity discounts for bulk purchases for sales promotion, premiums, fund- raising, and educational or institutional use.

      To the extent that the image or images on the cover of this book depict a person or persons, such person or persons are merely models, and are not intended to portray any character or characters featured in the book.

      Special book excerpts or customized printings can also be created to fit specific needs. For details, write or phone the office of the Kensington Special Sales Manager:

      Kensington Publishing Corp.

      119 West 40th Street

      New York, NY 10018

      Attn. Special Sales Department. Phone: 1-800-221-2647.

      Kensington and the K logo Reg. U.S. Pat. & TM Off.

      Lyrical Press and the L logo are trademarks of Kensington Publishing Corp.

      First Electronic Edition: September 2015

      eISBN-13: 978-1-61650-601-8

      eISBN-10: 1-61650-601-6

      First Print Edition: September 2015

      ISBN-13: 978-1-61650-602-5

      ISBN-10: 1-61650-602-4

      Printed in the United States of America

      Dedication

      I’d like to dedicate this novel to Chasity and Chance Moss.

      Thank you for believing in me.

      Acknowledgements

      There are so many people I’d like to thank; I hope I don’t leave anyone out. First and foremost, as always, I’d like to thank my Lord and Savior: Jesus Christ for giving me the ability and patience to sit down at a computer and write without my ADD kicking in. From there, I’d like to thank Chasity and Chance Moss for all the hours put in reading and re-reading this novel so we could get it to perfection. Your love and dedication will not be forgotten. I’d like to thank Robert Howard Gillespie, known to me and my children as Granddaddy, for the values I try to exhibit in my writing. Thank you, Mama for the final edits and the inspiration you’ve been in getting the novel finished. Brant, thank you for “wiping off my seat” and being the best husband a woman could ask for during all the signings. AnnaMarie, you’ve been the best sister and promoter ever! Maria, thank you for being a wonderful personal assistant and for keeping my sanity intact. Codie, Ceara, Shelby and LaceeDawn, you guys are a blessing from God. I continue to thank him for you daily. Nancy Bloomfield, thank you for reading everything I’ve ever written and being the best cheerleader ever. Your input and editing skills were priceless. Nanette, thank you for selling beau coups of novels to every person you saw! I couldn’t have done this without you!

      I’d like to give special thanks to North Valley Forge Gate company at www.gatesiron.com for allowing me to use a gate from their Ultimate Gate Collection as my cover photo. As soon as I saw it, I knew it was “the one.”

      And last but certainly not least, I’d like to thank the first little angel who believed in me enough to ask me to put my autograph on a napkin for her in McDonald’s in Cherryville, NC: Brianna Nicole Putnam. I hope it looks cute in the frame! Hugs, Brianna!

      Chapter 1

      Between dream and reality, I fumbled for my phone, knocking over my nightstand lamp in the process. The phone felt like a cold wrought iron handrail of a sweeping Victorian staircase from my dream. I shook off the feeling and answered. “Hello.”

      “Allie, you have some mail here,” Mama said. “It’s marked urgent. From the Law Offices of Preston Dawkins of Nashville, Tennessee. You’re not in trouble, are you?”

      “Seriously? When was the last time I was in trouble?” I righted the lamp and turned off my alarm. It was set for eleven AM, and I had two minutes before it blared some ridiculous talk show host’s voice in my ear.

      Mama sighed and glasses clinked in the background. “Well, it’s odd it came here instead of your apartment. And you are too perfect. I’m just waiting for the other shoe to drop.”

      “Because I fell from the same tree as your other rotten apples doesn’t mean I have to be tainted, too. It’s probably junk mail.”

      “Well, to ease an old woman’s mind, would you have time to come open it?”

      “You’re not old. Let me put on some clothes.” A night of restless sleep had left me drained, so I wobbled as I stood. “You could always open it for me. I’m not going to convict you of a felony.”

      “I’ll just wait. Besides, it’s a good excuse to see you.” She let out a laugh that had always made my less than desirable childhood experiences bearable.

      I hung up and fumbled around, looking for my other shoe. Every morning, after that stupid recurring dream, my chest ached, and the cramped one-bedroom apartment was even lonelier. Most psychology books would instruct me to go to a club with people my age and fraternize more.

      Outside, a mixture of baby diapers and rotten salmon patties scented the air. Even breathing through my mouth hadn’t helped. The dumpster next to the apartment overflowed. The little two-door monstrosity, which the local car lot had called the best car there, fired to life. Welcoming the fresh air, I cranked the window down as I made my way to Mama’s.

      * * * *

      “And you’ve never heard of her?” Mama and I eyed the letterhead, the address, and the body of the letter.

      “Nope. She’s no long-lost relative of mine.” Mama scanned from over my shoulder. “But it has a legal letterhead, and

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