02 Ghouls Night Out - Larue Donavan Page 6

  Mindy shot daggers at me with her eyes, then stuck out her tongue. I laughed.

  “There’s only one decent bar in town…,” Mindy said to Cooper, as she waved over her shoulder.

  “I’ll be back in a jiffy with the board to fix the door,” Callahan said.

  “Thank you…” I touched the cover of a book, not meeting his stare. “Callahan?” He turned to face me again as I looked up at him. “I’m sorry. I’m sorry our date was completely ruined.”

  He reached out and pulled me toward him, wrapping his muscular arms around my waist. My skin tingled with his touch. His scent only increased the sensation when I caught a whiff.

  “There’ll be other dates. Plenty of time,” he whispered.

  Other dates…doing a happy dance right there in front of him was probably out of the question.

  He leaned down and placed his lips gently on mine, softly at first with no movement, only a feathery touch across my lips. Then he parted my lips with his tongue. The warmth of his mouth and the touch of his tongue sent my heart pounding. For a moment, I forgot everyone around us. Callahan sure wasn’t shy. I couldn’t say the same; I felt the heat rise in my cheeks. I felt eyes on us. Anthony and Mae stared.

  “Aw look, a show before dinner,” Anthony deadpanned.

  Reluctantly, I pulled away. Nothing like an audience of ghosts to ruin the romance.

  Chapter Twelve

  An hour later and we were finally finished. So why did I feel as if things were still not right? Everything seemed unsettled. Like an itch I couldn’t quite reach. Trying to straighten out my life was like trying to solve a puzzle with missing pieces.

  I’d stacked up the books, swept up the glass, and Callahan had repaired the door. I couldn’t help but be reminded of what had just happened days earlier. Brianna had attempted many things to get revenge, although the only thing I’d ever done to make her unhappy was to have Callahan ask me for a date. Just like something straight out of a high school drama. I’d thought that was behind us now, but the store being vandalized brought back all the awful memories.

  While straightening up the books, I’d hoped the spirits would at least stay silent, leaving me alone with my thoughts. No such luck. After years of dealing with visitors from the other side, I should have known better. They offered their advice the entire time I talked with Callahan. “Kiss him,” Mae said. “No, don’t kiss him,” Anthony shot back. “Invite him back to your place,” Mae said. “Tell him to get lost,” Anthony said. I felt like one of those rubber stretch dolls with the long arms being pulled in opposite directions.

  As late as it was and in spite of not wanting my time with Callahan to end, I needed rest—time to forget about my problems. Sleep meant freedom from my fears. Just like Scarlett O’Hara, I’d worry about them tomorrow. I’d definitely be opening the bookstore late in the morning or, rather, later this morning. When Callahan and I walked out of Book Nook, Seth, Mae, and Anthony were already waiting on the sidewalk by his car. Damn.

  “Do you want to grab something to eat, or just go home and get some sleep?” Callahan asked as I locked the door behind us. “I know you must be exhausted.”

  “I don’t know, what do you think? I’m not sure I can eat now after what happened.”

  “It’s been one hell of an evening for you. First the ghost hunting, and now this. Why don’t you get some rest?”

  I leaned against the building and let out a sigh. “I know I should, but I’m not sure I can rest after all this. I’m still wired, you know, as if I drank about ten of your chocolate-covered-cherry lattes.”

  “As much as you love my lattes, I don’t think you could drink ten.”

  “I love his latte,” Mae said.

  Somehow I don’t think she was really talking about coffee. How could she keep a straight face when saying such things? It was all I could do not to burst into a giggle fit. Thank goodness, Callahan couldn’t hear.

  Callahan stared at me. “Besides, it’s over now. I’m sure nothing like this will happen again. And I doubt they’ll make a repeat performance. If it was a burglary attempt, they won’t want to take the chance of getting caught. They don’t usually hit someplace twice.”

  “This is such a small town, everyone knows everyone else for the most part. Who would do such a thing?” I asked.

  “Well, just like everywhere else, there are a few bad apples who are hell-bent on not living life on the up and up. Taking things that don’t belong to them is the way they want to live.”

  Callahan stepped closer, reaching out and touching my cheek with his fingers. He brushed a strand of my hair back and tucked it behind my ear. Silence lingered, but we didn’t need words. His gaze focused on my mouth. I looked to his full lips, staring as he leaned in closer. He tilted his head, pressed his mouth to mine, and our lips blended. Where his lips ended and mine started, I had no idea. The most desire I’d ever experienced rushed through my body at that moment.

  “Let me take you home,” he whispered.

  I nodded as Callahan took my hand and guided me toward his car.

  Callahan had boarded up the door just as he said he would. I was lucky I had him. But for how long? Would he stick around with all the craziness of my life? Especially when he discovered I talked to dead people. And undoubtedly, he would find out. I couldn’t keep something like that from him for long. People close to you always find out these types of things. I guess that’s why I kept most people at arm’s length, never allowing them too close.

  I peered up at the Book Nook sign dangling above the door as I waited for Callahan to unlock the car. Seth stood right next to him, as if standing guard. Callahan would probably like to know his grandfather was here. But now wasn’t the time to break the news to him. I had too much on my mind.

  My cell phone rang yet again. If it was more bad news, I didn’t know what I’d do. I climbed in the car and pulled it from my purse.

  “I feel really bad for not helping you, but I know you need some alone time with Callahan,” Mindy said through the other end.

  “No, listen, I’m fine. Forget about me, it looked as if you wanted some alone time with Cooper?”

  “What? No way. He’s not my type.” She snorted.

  “Are you crazy? I think he’s any woman’s type. Well, in the looks department, anyway.”

  “Yeah, okay, hey, Cooper’s coming back, I’ll see you tomorrow.” She hurried her words.

  Callahan climbed behind the wheel.

  “Do you want to meet me at Book Nook at eight?” I asked, then smiled at Callahan.

  “What? Are you kidding?” Her voice raised a few decibels.

  “Mindy, I couldn’t kid about something so serious.” I snorted.

  “I need my beauty sleep and it’s one now.”

  “All right, calm down. How about ten?” I asked.

  She let out a deep breath. “I guess.”

  “How about swinging by for breakfast on your way?”

  Dad’s Bakery blueberry glazed doughnuts always perked up my spirits. My spirits…not the ones surrounding me. The bakery was on Mindy’s way, and since she drove right past…

  “The things I do for you. Diet Coke, too?”

  “Yes, please,” I said with a smile in my voice.

  “I’d only do this for you, you know?”

  “I know. Why do you think I ask? You’re the best.” I hung up as Callahan turned the ignition.

  He pulled the car away from the curb. Before we made it out of historic downtown Magnolia, the chatter had started from the backseat. I glanced in the passenger side mirror. A huge feather hat blocked the view.

  “I called shotgun,” Mae said.

  How she figured she deserved the right to ride in the passenger seat, I had no idea. Technically, she was dead, so maybe she should get special treatment, but it would look a little odd if I slid onto the backseat. Besides, she was needed in the backseat. Maybe she’d keep Anthony from being glued to my side until I could figure out how to get him to cross
over.

  As we drove toward my old farmhouse on the outskirts of town, visions of my battered little store ran through my mind. I fidgeted in the seat, tapping my finger on the car door armrest. Books had been toppled onto the floor from displays and shelves. They had smashed my front door open to gain access, for heaven’s sake. Obviously, that’s how they’d gained entry. Shards of glass had littered the floor. Not to mention, five hundred dollars was missing. How stupid could I be? I shouldn’t have left the money there. Although, maybe not finding cash would have angered them further and they would have damaged even more. A hard lesson indeed.

  Callahan’s car hummed along as we navigated the old country lane. Not one cloud hovered in the night sky. No lights along the way made for a spooky setting and I already had the ghosts in the backseat to add to the scene. Although the full moon did illuminate the dark sky, it was still a creepy setting.

  Anthony leaned forward from the back seat and nestled his lips close to my ear. So close, in fact, his breath tickled my skin. Funny how I felt such a thing from a ghost.

  “You have the most beautiful eyes,” he whispered. “What color are they?”

  I let out a sigh.

  “Are you okay?” Callahan asked.

  I’d never felt a spirit as strong as Anthony. His presence was almost as if he were alive—a living, breathing person right next to me. No doubt he had been a heartbreaker when he was alive.

  Mae let out a humph from behind me.

  “They’re hazel,” I whispered. Short and to the point, I didn’t want to encourage him. But I hadn’t meant to speak. All the stress was causing me to slip up.

  “Did you say something?” Callahan glanced over at me.

  “Oh, just that it’s a beautiful night.”

  “It is beautiful…just like you.” He glanced at me again and smiled.

  “Oh, please. Don’t fall for that lame attempt at a pick up line.” Anthony’s voice sharpened.

  “It’s not a pick up line, I’ll have you know. She’s involved with my grandson,” Seth said sharply.

  I looked at him from the visor mirror. Seth wore a fedora, had rosy cheeks and big brown eyes. Always chipper, but not so much at that moment. He looked steamed. Anthony glanced over his shoulder at Seth as he leaned forward in the seat, but never changed his demeanor.

  He turned back to me and moved in closer to my ear again. “Does he have a radio in this thing he calls a car?”

  “Does your radio work?” I asked.

  “Yes, it’s not the best, but it works. You want to listen to it?” He reached for the knob with one hand while steering with the other.

  “Sure, that would be nice.”

  I bit my tongue, trying not to lash out at Anthony. What was wrong with Callahan’s car anyway? So what if it rattled and bounced. It was perfectly fine in my opinion. Not everyone had to drive a fancy new car. Before the thought had completely left my brain, a clanking noise rang out from the back section of the car.

  “Sounds like something’s stuck in the wheel.” Callahan steered onto the shoulder, coming to a halt next to a wooded area on the side of the road. “I’ll check it out real quick. You stay here, okay? I don’t want a car to come by while we’re standing out there and hit us.” Callahan climbed out of the car before I could protest.

  Chapter Thirteen

  I didn’t want Callahan to be hit by a car either although, as isolated as it was, I doubt one would come by anytime soon.

  Darkness covered the night sky, but moonbeams cascaded down, illuminating the area with a mystical glow. The stars twinkled softly in the indigo twilight like tiny rhinestones.

  As soon as Callahan closed the door, Anthony spoke up, “A beautiful babe such as yourself should be toolin’ around town in a pink caddy convertible.”

  “Oh yeah, that’s just what I need.” I snorted. The last thing I wanted was to draw attention to myself by driving a gigantic pink car. Under the radar, that’s where I liked to stay.

  I flipped the dial on the radio, hoping that would distract him and derail the conversation, or drown out the chatter. I’d take either option. I switched the station from Talk Radio to Top Forty.

  “Everyone likes this music, right?” I asked, not really concerned whether they enjoyed my choice of channels.

  I peered around the shoulder-to-shoulder ghosts perched in the backseat to see if Callahan might need my help. He said I should stay in the car, but when did I ever listen to what anyone told me.

  “Without a doubt, this is the worst music I’ve ever heard,” Anthony barked.

  All right, clearly I was wrong about the station being suitable for everyone’s taste. “Why don’t you tell me what you want to hear then, instead of making me guess?”

  “How about classical?” Seth suggested.

  Anthony looked at Seth, then finally said, “I like classical, but I could go for Fifties.”

  Please don’t let them bicker over the radio like eight-year-olds. I moved the dial to the oldies station. “You Belong to Me” glided from the little speakers on the car doors. Anthony’s breath grazed my ear, tickling a little.

  “Just remember, darling, you belong to me.” He sang only a few lyrics, but his voice was amazing. Did I dare tell him? Even my toes tingled. Nope. No need to encourage him.

  “I’m feeling neglected over here. I’m accustomed to attention from the opposite sex,” Mae said.

  “You’ve got all my attention,” Seth replied.

  “Trust me, Mae, it’s not all it’s cracked up to be.” I rubbed my temples. “At this particular time, I’d rather you had the attention than me.”

  Seth chuckled from the backseat.

  Anthony didn’t acknowledge Mae’s statement. “What do you see in that guy?”

  “She probably sees him in her bedroom?” Mae quipped.

  Anthony leaned back in the seat. “All right, doll, but I’ll make you fall in love with me.”

  Dare I remind him that he was dead? I watched the three of them in the rearview mirror. They smiled innocently.

  Movement in my peripheral vision caught my attention. I turned my focus on the wooded area on the side of the road. We really were in the middle of nowhere. Was it another spirit out there? I didn’t have room for another one, unless it wanted to ride in the trunk or hang on to the top of the car. Trees lined both sides of the road. Anything or anyone could be hiding out there and we’d never know until it popped out.

  And that’s exactly what this thing did. It popped out from behind a tree. My vision was limited because of the darkness, but the headlights and the full moon provided just enough light to allow me to see this creepy dark silhouette.

  The faint light only added to the creepiness. What if it was a serial killer? Callahan was outside of the car—an easy target. I’d seen that exact scenario played out one too many times in the horror movies.

  The dark figure seemed to watch us, but I couldn’t be sure because no facial features were distinguishable. Somehow, I knew it was observing us.

  “Do you all see that shadow figure staring at us?” I asked the ghost gang.

  “Where?” Anthony leaned up toward the front seat.

  “Over there by the trees.” I pointed.

  “Well, there’s only a million trees over there, sweetheart, so how can we know which trees you’re referring to?” Mae shifted in the seat.

  She did have a point. “Well, there are no distinguishing markers, so I guess I won’t be able to point it out. I need to go out there with Callahan.”

  “Now, what good do you think that will do? If it’s some crazy person, do you really think that strong man will need your help?” Mae asked.

  “Well, maybe. You never know. I could cause a distraction while Callahan knocks them over the head with the tire iron.”

  “Or your distraction will cause Callahan to get knocked over the head with the tire iron.” Anthony chuckled.

  I wouldn’t even give him the satisfaction of a response. When I glanced
in the rearview mirror again, I noticed Seth was out of the car and beside Callahan. Bless his dead heart, he was out there ready to protect his grandson from a would-be killer. I couldn’t let Callahan stand out there alone. So what if I wouldn’t be strong enough to fend off an attack, I had other methods of protecting myself. And so what if Callahan probably would prefer to be the macho, tough guy and have me sit in the car and wait. It just wasn’t my personality, he’d have to deal with it.

  The dark figure had popped back behind the tree. For all I knew, I was seeing a ghost and not a person. I prayed it wasn’t a demon. I could handle a person or ghost, but I didn’t want to face a demon.

  I climbed out of the car and hurried around to the back.

  Callahan looked up. “You look like you’ve seen a ghost.” He set the lug wrench down. “The tire was flat. I’m going to have to change it.”

  I stepped closer to the grassy area, but glanced over my shoulder several times.

  If one spirit was out there in the woods, there’d be a good chance on two or twenty roaming around.

  “You don’t have to stand out here with me.” He grinned.

  Should I tell him I thought I saw something? Would he think I was being paranoid? Heck, maybe I was being paranoid.

  “I thought I’d see if you needed any help. I don’t like not helping out. It’s my nature.”

  “Yeah, well, I like your nature. But I wouldn’t want you to get your pretty clothes dirty.”

  “He’s so sweet,” Mae said. “I love brawny men.”

  “Yeah, he’s a real hero. Anyone can change a tire,” Anthony said.

  “I doubt you could. You’re too scrawny.” Seth shot Anthony a cross look.

  Standing on the side of the road with a flat tire, a possible crazy person in the woods and bickering ghosts…aw, ain’t life grand.

  “I’ll just stand out here and keep you company,” I said, wrapping my arms in front of my chest to fight off the chill.

  “I don’t want you to get too cold, but I’d love your company.” Callahan smiled again. “I have to say, I am completely impressed with your skills. The way you took command back there tonight. I can tell you’re passionate about your work.” He placed the jack under the car.