Chapter 16
Chapter Sixteen
“Talk to Trace lately?” Luna asked on the way to pick up Miss Elva.
“Who’s Trace?” Rafe asked from the back seat. He’d shown up just as we were leaving, seriously miffed that Luna had sent him on a wild goose chase to see some naked ladies.
“Oh, you’re talking to me again?” Luna asked.
“Maybe,” Rafe sniffed, angling his head away from Luna.
“Trace is one of Thea’s best friends. And he has a crush on her. She kind of has a crush on him, too. But instead, she’s chosen the sexy, wealthy investor who also makes her blood boil. It’s tough being Althea,” Luna said dryly and I smacked her on the shoulder.
“Don’t make me rip this cloak of yours,” I grumbled.
“What is an investor?” Rafe asks.
I glanced at Luna before answering. “Well, basically an investor gives money to businesses and then when the businesses become profitable, they return the money with interest. More or less.”
Rafe nodded seriously. “And what does this Trace do?”
“He runs a scuba diving boat.”
“A captain of his own boat? Why, you must choose him,” Rafe said excitedly.
Of course the pirate would tell me to go with the sea-faring man.
“It’s not that simple,” I said, rolling my eyes at Rafe.
“In my day, I just took who I wanted. It was quite simple,” Rafe said, leering down the V-neck of my caftan.
“Guess we’re lucky it isn’t your day anymore,” I said, tugging my dress higher up.
“Those were good times. Plundering, pillaging, taking captives. People are so polite here,” Rafe observed.
“You mean they’re decent humans?” Luna asked.
“Who says I’m not decent?” Rafe demanded.
“Well, you pretty much try to sexually harass Althea and I every chance you get,” Luna pointed out.
“I would think two such beauties as yourselves would enjoy that,” Rafe said, honestly confused.
“I think he just complimented us,” I said to Luna.
“Yeah, he’s trying to flatter me into not banishing him,” Luna muttered as she pulled to a stop in front of Miss Elva’s house.
“Should we get out?”
“Yes, let’s go up there. I don’t want to spring Rafe on her in the car,” I said.
“Do you think she’ll even be able to see him?” Luna asked.
It was true. Most people couldn’t see ghosts. Luna and I had that extra fun ability.
“I guess we’ll have to see.”
We all got out of the car and made our way to Miss Elva’s porch. The sun hung low in the sky – just kissing the horizon – but the heat was still present per usual. The sky was clear and a light breeze kicked my caftan up. A good night for full moon festivities, I thought.
“Whoa,” I breathed, stopping on the stairs as Miss Elva stepped from her weathered front door.
Her outfit put mine and Luna’s to shame.
A sequined turban with peacock feathers sticking easily a foot in the air was perched on her head.
A fully beaded and sequined cloak in a rainbow of colors flowed around her large body, shimmering and shaking with her movements.
She looked like that moment when the sunlight hits the water and explodes in shimmering diamonds.
“Praise the Lord for delivering such beauty to me,” Rafe crossed his chest.
“You’re Catholic?” I whispered, but he ignored me, his enraptured gaze focused on Miss Elva.
“Well, now. What have you brought me?” Miss Elva demanded, her hands on her hips as she surveyed Rafe. Rafe floated over to her and my jaw dropped as he took his hat off and bent at the waist, delivering a sweeping bow to Miss Elva.
“I am Rafe de Leon Rackham, head of the great Santa Maravilla, the sweetest pirate ship in the waters. And never have I been presented with such beauty in my life. I implore you to allow me to love you,” Rafe said, and Miss Elva’s cloak shimmered with movement as she let out a belly laugh.
“I thought he just pillaged his lovers,” I whispered through clamped lips to Luna. She just shook her head as we watched the spectacle unfold.
“Well, I’ll be damned, you’ve got yourself quite the rake here,” Miss Elva said, batting her eyelashes at Rafe.
“Did she just bat her eyelashes?” Luna whispered.
“I’m your rake,” Rafe insisted, his eyes drinking in all that was Miss Elva.
“Sho enough, you’ve got a naughty one on your hands,” Miss Elva slapped her leg and laughed her big laugh. Turning to us, she smiled. “Where’d you find this one?”
I opened my mouth to explain, but Luna cut in.
“Someone over here likes to drink before trying to cast a circle,” Luna said. I poked her in the side.
“Knock it off,” I whispered.
“Child, didn’t I tell you to listen to Luna?” Miss Elva said, her tone implying I was a total idiot.
“Yes,” I sighed, “you did.”
“And did Luna tell you that you could drink before doing a ritual?” Miss Elva said, hands on her hips, Rafe hovering around her in rapture.
“No,” I said meekly.
“And what made you think you could disobey that?”
I threw my hands up. “I’m sorry, okay? I got it. Listen to Luna. Listen to you. No drinking before spells. Don’t you think I’ve learned my lesson? Rafe is punishment enough.”
Rafe drew back, looking offended.
“I like him,” Miss Elva declared, and Rafe immediately went back to fawning over her.
“And I like you, my great queen,” Rafe said.
“What are you doing with him?”
“He’s going back at the next cycle of the moon,” I said.
Miss Elva turned and surveyed Rafe.
“I think I’ll keep him.”
“Oh, my beauteous lovemountain, I will do anything for you,” Rafe gushed, floating around her in dizzying circles.
Miss Elva chuckled deep in her throat and I just shook my head, turning to look at Luna.
“Can she have him?”
“By all means,” Luna said, and Rafe crowed in delight.
“It’s like he’s a lost puppy or something,” I muttered as we made our way down the steps to Luna’s car.
I slid into the small back seat, knowing Miss Elva would need the room of the front seat.
Rafe squeezed next to me, his presence cold against my skin whenever he brushed against me.
His eyes were focused adoringly on Miss Elva.
“Rafe, I thought you loved me,” I said, deciding to poke the bear a bit.
“I lusted after you. I like your curves. But I love Miss Elva. She’s more woman than you’ll ever be,” Rafe scoffed and I drew back, stung a bit.
“Rafe, that’s unacceptable. Just because not all women are as powerful and full-figured as I am doesn’t mean you can be mean to them. I don’t tolerate such nonsense around me. We celebrate all women’s beauty,” Miss Elva scolded.
Rafe looked like she had kicked him. “Sorry, Althea,” he said, his head hanging.
“I get it,” I said, deciding to be nice. “We all aspire to be Miss Elva one day.”
Her laughter all but shook the car and I couldn’t help but grin as we zoomed through the streets of Tequila Key towards the outskirts of town. But as we left the main road, a wave of nervousness washed through me.
“You calm down back there. Everything’s going to be just fine,” Miss Elva said, her voice authoritative.
Famous last words.