Chapter 11
Chapter Eleven
“What. Is. That?” Rafe asked, hovering worriedly over Hank as Hank bounced around, sniffing the air below Rafe. Hair rose at the back of Hank’s neck and he emitted a low growl. Astonishment washed through me as I don’t think I’ve ever actually heard my happy-go-lucky dog growl before.
“He’s a ghost hunter. You’d better watch out,” I said and was rewarded when Rafe zoomed to the other side of the room, Hank racing across the hardwood floors after him.
Maybe there was something to this having a ghost around after all. If I could order Rafe to zoom around the living room all day, Hank would be all tuckered out by the time I came home from work. Mulling it over, I pulled my cell phone from my bag to see what call I had missed.
Trace.
I sighed and punched the button to call him back. I hadn’t actually spoken with Trace in a while. Typically Trace and I had a fairly set diving schedule, but with recent events we hadn’t gotten wet in a while.
“Hey,” I said, keeping my eyes on Rafe as Hank jumped onto the back of a red leather sofa and prowled after the ghost.
“Hey, how are you?” Trace asked, sounding distracted. I could hear a woman’s voice in the background and was immediately annoyed.
“Oh you know, same ol’ thing, you? Did I interrupt a date?” I tried to sound cheerful but suspected that I just sounded bitchy.
“Um, sort of. I just wanted to check if we were diving in the morning?”
My eyes went to Rafe again and then I thought about the Pagan festival tomorrow. I suspected I’d be busy in the morning with all the new people in town.
“I don’t think so. There’s some Pagan festival in town and I think the shop is going to be pretty busy. I’d like to get some sleep instead,” I said, watching as Rafe reached out to try and pet Hank’s head.
A sharp bark warned Rafe away and I huffed out a small laugh.
“You’ve got company as well, I see?”
Trace’s words were polite but I could sense a current of bitterness below them. I sighed, wondering when we would go back to the easy friendship we’d once had, or if we ever could go back there. I missed my dive buddy, and my friend.
“Nobody important. Maybe Sunday or Monday we could do a dive?” I asked hopefully, knowing I could use some time underwater to clear my head.
“Sure, let’s plan for Sunday morning.”
“Deal. See you then,” I said softly as a woman’s voice called to Trace.
“See ya.”
And that was just that, I thought, turning the call off and staring down at my phone, wondering if I should call Cash.
I couldn’t help but feel a little irritated by the woman’s voice in the background.
Trace was supposed to be into me. I rolled my eyes at that thought.
What kind of woman was I turning into? I just wanted Trace to lust after me while I gave my attention to Cash?
I jumped when the phone rang in my hand.
Cash.
Well, then. Seems like my psychic powers were on overdrive tonight.
“Hey,” I said softly, turning away from Rafe as a warm glow spread through me at his voice.
“Hey yourself. Did I catch you at a bad time?” His voice, which sounded like whiskey-soaked sin, reached to me through the phone and I realized just how much I missed him. Which made me feel even guiltier for having a brief lusty thought about Trace.
“Well, it’s been better. But that’s a story for when you’re here,” I said. Emphasis on here, I thought.
“That’s why I’m calling. I think I’ll be able to make it down at some point this weekend. What do you have going on?”
Hmm, how do I tell my investor boyfriend I had acquired a pirate ghost and was going to a Pagan festival to make sure nothing bad went down?
“Oh you know, this and that. Going to a festival with Luna and Miss Elva tomorrow night, maybe a dive on Sunday.”
“A dive? With Trace?” Cash’s voice sharpened and I rolled my eyes.
“Yes, with Trace. He is the one with the dive boat, after all.”
“That guy,” Cash said, disgust evident in his voice.
“Calm down, Cujo. He’s dating someone.”
“Really? That’s excellent news. I wish him much happiness,” Cash said sweetly and I chuckled.
“Well, at least he gets to see her often, ahem,” I said, wincing at the petulant sound that came through in my voice. A sigh greeted me through the phone.
“I know. I miss you, too. It was shitty timing for me to get called back to Miami. I think we have a lot of the problems with the club figured out, however, and I’m hoping to be back full time in Tequila in a few weeks. You’ll have to help me look for a house,” Cash said.
Well, now. How could a girl get mad at that? Hot boyfriend planned to come back soon and was buying a house, which translated to – he’s putting down roots here.
Perfect.
“I’d love to help you pick out a house. I can chase out any lingering spirits for you,” I teased.
“I plan on it,” Cash said and then I heard voices in the background. “Ah, back to work. I’m at the club training on the new security system.”
Now, normally most women would go into hyper-overdrive, trying to figure out if Cash was lying. Remember that whole psychic thing I have going on for me? It works great for situations like this, as I could read the truth in his words.
“See you soon,” I said softly as we hung up.
“Your betrothed?”
My head shot up to see Rafe sitting on my counter, Hank pacing in circles beneath him.
“My betrothed? No, my boyfriend. Get with this century, Rafe. Speaking of…what’s your story anyway?”
Well? If I was going to have a ghost hanging around I might as well get some background info on the guy. It was going to be a long month otherwise, if I couldn’t figure out ways to drive Rafe crazy.
Rafe stood up on my counter so that I had to look up at him, his head disappearing into my ceiling. Reaching up, he pulled his hat from his head and executed a sweeping bow, made all the funnier for his head disappearing in and out of my ceiling.
“I am Rafe de Leon Rackham, captain of the great Santa Maravilla, the sweetest pirate ship in the waters.”
“That’s quite a name,” I said, watching as he stood straight again, his head disappearing into the ceiling.
My stomach rumbled and I was reminded of the soup I had eaten earlier this evening.
Grabbing an apple from my fruit bowl, I turned to the fridge and pulled out a hunk of Drunken Goat Cheese, my favorite.
Adding some crackers and quickly slicing the cheese and apple, I soon had a little fruit and cheese board going.
Uncorking an already-opened bottle of Rose wine in my fridge, I poured a glass and gathered everything in my arms.
“Rafe, why don’t you get off the counter and come join me on the verandah?” I asked, stepping past the counter where Rafe stood.
“That devil beast will accost me!” Rafe said, indignation bristling from him.
“He’s a dog and he’s a sweetheart. Maybe try being nice to him,” I offered as I unlocked my patio door and slid it open, flicking the switch for my patio lights and large fans to go on at the same time.
The heat had finally died down a little, though the ever-present humidity was just something you learned to deal with when living in the Keys.
I sat down on one of the couches, leaning over to place the tray on the low table and snuggling back into the pillow for a moment. Taking a sip of the cool wine, I let the impressions of what had happened tonight settle over me.
Leaving a circle while it’s being cast or protected or whatever is bad. Got it.
Rafe poked his head out of the door.
Otherwise things can slip through.
Like Rafe.
I mentally played back the scene when I had felt that press of evil on the beach.
Closing my eyes, I reached out with my mind to see if I could identify Rafe’s energy signature.
He was fairly easy to pick out, even with my eyes closed, and I would have known he was a ghost from a mile away.
Which left me thinking that the wave of evil that had washed over the beach was not from the spirit realm.
And all too human.
I shivered as Rafe sat on the couch next to me.
“Don’t be nervous, milady. I may look like a ruffian but I will be gentle with you.”
I choked on a sip of wine and gasped for air, bending over as tears pricked my eyes and I tried to breathe. Gasping, I sat back up with a smile on my face.
“Okay, buddy, we’re going to set some ground rules here.”
“Ground rules?” Rafe seemed to be rolling the words around in his head.
“Ship rules? Captain’s rules?”
“Ah yes, Captain’s rules. That makes sense,” Rafe said.
“This is my house. I am the Captain of this house. You must obey my rules.”
“I’m not very good at obeying rules,” Rafe said casually, picking something out of his teeth as he mulled my words over.
“Get good at it. Rule number one. Stop hitting on me,” I said, popping a slice of cheese in my mouth as I watched him.
“I would never strike a comely wench,” Rafe drew back, his eyes wide and horrified.
I swear this would be funny if it wasn’t happening to me.
“I meant no sexual overtones. Or undertones. Or whatever you call it. Basically don’t touch me, don’t flirt with me, pretend we are just friends.”
“Friends?”
“Yes, friends. No sexual innuendos. You talk about your day and your work. What your dreams are…that kind of thing.”
“What if my dreams are about having my way with you?”
I glared at Rafe, a piece of apple in my hand.
“Nothing sexual. Period.”
“Well, that’s simply no fun,” Rafe griped.
“Rule number two. You stay out of my bathroom and my bedroom.”
“I can’t watch you bathe?”
“Absolutely not. You must respect my privacy.” I said, driving my point home by jabbing my finger into the air. Hank stood below me, his head turned toward Rafe, and sniffed the air.
“Fine, but you have to call off the devil-beast,” Rafe grumbled, sneering down at Hank.
I sighed and patted the cushion next to me. Hank immediately jumped up and faced Rafe, his hackles raised once again.
“See? He hates me!” Rafe exclaimed, moving further away from Hank.
“Maybe he doesn’t like some of the comments you’ve made about me,” I said snidely – then I saw the very real fear in Rafe’s eyes.
“Calm down. He’s just a dog. Here, I’ll introduce you two,” I said, leaning over to pet Hank until his stance became less aggressive.
“Hank, that’s Rafe. Be nice to him,” I said, pointing to where Rafe sat. Hank swung his head between the ghost and me.
“It’s okay. Really,” I insisted, and Hank moved to where Rafe sat, sniffing curiously at the ghost as Rafe crossed his arms and looked up at the ceiling, biting his lip. When Hank didn’t lunge at him, but instead sat and cocked his head curiously at Rafe, I smiled.
“See?”
“I can’t believe you keep this animal in your home,” Rafe said, though I saw he was shooting glances at Hank over his shoulder.
“Rafe, didn’t you have any pets? Where are you from anyway?”
“We had a cat once. Before I left for sea,” Rafe admitted.
“Ah, you’re a cat person. Got it,” I smiled down at Hank, offering him a piece of cheese. He took it from me delicately in his teeth and hopped from the couch to eat his snack in the corner.
“I’m not one for forming attachments. You really couldn’t as a pirate,” Rafe said, and I felt sadness wash over me as I thought how lonely that life must have been for him.
“You never knew who you would have to kill,” Rafe finished eagerly.
Yup, sadness all gone.
“Rafe, I’m going to bed. Sleep downstairs, but stay out of the upstairs,” I ordered as I collected my dishes and called for Hank.
“I don’t know if I can sleep,” Rafe wondered.
“Well, go do something useful with your time. But leave me alone.”
Praying that the pirate would find somewhere else to go, I made haste to my bedroom, slamming the door and locking it behind me for good measure. Hank jumped up to his favorite spot on the bed.
“Hank, you’re on ghost patrol.”
And this is what my life has come down to, I thought as I stripped my dress over my head and pulled on a sleep tank. Ordering my dog to warn me about ghosts.
Never a dull moment around here.