“We promise we’ll stay out of your way and—”

“I said no. Beyond that, I didn’t know who you were when you booked your reservations. I have no intention of allowing the hotel to be part of your show. Furthermore, you haven’t asked permission to photograph or videotape the hotel for the purpose of sharing with the public.”

“Slight technicality,” Stanton said. “I thought one of my brothers had received permission.” He gave them a condescending look. They gave him the slightest knowing smiles back.

She knew he was lying, and she really didn’t like these men.

“What seems to be the trouble?” CJ asked, coming up behind the men so quietly that she hadn’t even heard him. But his voice wasn’t the least bit quiet. It was darkly baritone and stated he meant business.

Except that he was carrying a purple-and-yellow polka-dot box that ruined the tough-guy image. She hoped he wasn’t bringing her a gift now that her sisters were gone.

“No trouble.” Stanton glanced down at the colorful box, a slight smile appearing on his thin lips, as if he thought CJ was a joke. “We’re staying here tomorrow, and we wanted to get some readings before everyone else arrives because we have a TV—”

“Show. We know.” CJ’s dark expression told the men they had no business here. Even so, he waited for Laurel to say if she agreed.

She appreciated CJ’s gesture.

“You may not have permission to film or photograph the hotel or properties while you’re here,” she repeated in front of the deputy sheriff, so that he could share that with Darien and the sheriff in case these men ignored her rules. “I don’t want you disturbing other guests with your paranormal equipment. You’re welcome to come tomorrow and check in after the grand opening like everyone else and to use your rooms. For sleeping. If you aren’t happy with the rules, I will gladly cancel your reservations without penalty.” She folded her arms and managed a small smile. “Sorry. We really need to get some things done. Hectic day before the grand opening tomorrow.”

Stanton looked like a bulldog, and he and his brothers weren’t budging from the porch. He finally said, “All right. But you’re making a mistake.”

She raised a brow. Was he threatening her? CJ took a step toward him, though she wasn’t sure what he was going to do if things got physical, since he was still holding the polka-dot box.

Stanton held his position. “I mean, because we could do a lot of good promo for your hotel.”

She narrowed her eyes. “What? Saying the place is haunted? Or not haunted? I don’t think so.”

“Whichever way works best for you.”

She snorted. “And here I thought you were the real deal.” Not.

Stanton smiled a little. “Believe me, we’re the real deal. But we could slant it one way or the other, whichever way you preferred. No one but us would be the wiser.”

“Tomorrow, gentlemen. Rooms are for overnight guests only. Deputy Sheriff Silver, would you like some breakfast before we get to work?”

The men’s expressions changed subtly from pushy to surprised.

She was glad they hadn’t ignored that revelation.

“Yeah, sure. See you tomorrow at the grand opening.” CJ waited for the men to clear out.

“You think he really is?” Vernon asked the others under his breath. He was blonder than his brothers and a little shorter, but just as muscled and serious.

They looked back at CJ, still standing on the porch. He’d moved closer to Laurel, and she felt safer with him around. Not that these men would really pull anything, but they seemed to think their TV-show fame gave them rights that no one else would have.

When the men drove off in a blue van, CJ and Laurel entered the hotel, and his gaze shifted to the wall and the letter C.

“I’m glad you told them up front that they couldn’t film here. That will give me better leverage in kicking them out if they do anything you don’t like.” CJ didn’t care for those guys already. “Are you fixing breakfast here or at your place?” He didn’t smell anything cooking in the kitchen, and he doubted that she would be making a meal here since they didn’t plan to have a restaurant. Maybe in the future. The kitchen could be used for special refreshments for their guests though, just like they were using it tomorrow to serve Silva and Sam’s food and drinks at the opening.

“At the house. I only have a few things in the kitchen here for the big opening tomorrow.” She released a relieved breath. “I don’t know why I didn’t think about it before, but it suddenly occurred to me that the ghost busters hadn’t asked permission to do any ghost busting here. And I have every right to limit what they do in the hotel.” She led him outside, and they walked along the stone path that meandered around the fountain and gazebo on its way to the house.

“Looks like they could be trouble. Brett might have informed you already, but he couldn’t bring the information about the hotel over until much later today, so when he learned I was coming here this morning, he sent it over with me.”

She eyed the purple-and-yellow polka-dot box. “That’s great. Colorful box.”

He shook his head. “Not that I have anything against polka dots or colorful boxes, but I could have used something a little manlier when I was facing down the ghost-buster crew. I don’t think they took me very seriously.”

She laughed. “Was it Brett’s idea?”

“No, Lelandi’s. You know Darien’s brother, Jake, the photographer. Lelandi, Darien’s mate, gave him the photo box. I’m sure he couldn’t wait to pass it along to Brett when he was gathering all this information for you.”

“And now I have it.”

“Don’t tell Lelandi, but Jake doesn’t want it back.”

“What about Brett?”

Smiling, CJ shook his head.

She chuckled. “Do you like French toast?”

“Sounds great.”

While she fixed them breakfast, CJ spread out the pictures and copies of other documents on the table for her to look at when they were done eating.

It wasn’t long before she’d served the French toast, and he was smothering his in maple syrup. He noted she was reading one of the documents when he asked, “Would you like to go skiing some time with me?” He figured he’d start this courtship right away since the ladies were ready to open the hotel. No more excuses for not having time to let down their hair a bit.

“Ohmigod. One of the people who owned the hotel was named Wernicke. And his sister ran it for a time, but they both vanished,” Laurel suddenly said.

Surprised, CJ frowned at her. “Did you know them?”

She looked up at him. “No, but the ghost busters said they had the same name. What are the odds?”

CJ closed his gaping mouth. “Hell.” He got on his cell and called Darien. “Hey, Brett gave me some information about the old hotel. Do you know anything about the Wernicke family that owned it?”

“Not really.” Darien’s voice darkened. “Wait, isn’t that the name of the ghost busters?”

“Yeah, same name. Too much of a coincidence, don’t you think?”

“It sure as hell is. Are they wolves? They’re staying at Bertha’s bed and breakfast, but she didn’t say anything about them being wolves. She would have informed me right away.”

CJ watched Laurel pull over another document to read. “I didn’t smell any wolf scent on them. Were the Wernicke sister and brother wolves?”

“I don’t know. My father was in charge of the pack back then. I thought he was concerned about keeping Silver Town as wolf-run as possible, just as I’ve been since I took over. Maybe he’d sold it to the Wernicke family just so that someone was operating it.”

Laurel set her fork down on her plate, only half of her French toast eaten, and began to look at the pictures in earnest. Her face blanched a bit, and CJ noticed that she was looking at the picture of the quilt bearing the letter C.

She began to look quickly through the rest of the documents, and he wondered what she was searching for.