Chapter 3
“You and Ronin went all out!” Granny Edna Ashgrove exclaimed as she sipped on a Pirate’s Booty Cold Foam.
Tempi glanced around the park and nodded. “Yeah, I guess we did good.”
Granny Edna scoffed. “Trust me, you two did more than good. Look around you, Tempi. Everyone is having such a grand time.”
Moonlight Bay’s annual birthday celebration was in full swing.
Hundreds of citizens and supernatural tourists filled Crescent Park and Tide Street.
While pirates seemed to be the costume of choice, followed closely by mermaids, mermen, and bar wenches, Tempi had spotted a SpongeBob and Patrick wandering through the crowd carrying butterfly nets.
Magical light orbs hovered overhead, and every few minutes, one of them exploded and shot out tiny pieces of confetti stamped with Happy Birthday, Moonlight Bay!
The magic made sure the pieces disappeared before they reached the ground.
“And you look simply beautiful!” Granny Edna continued. “That dress is gorgeous on you.”
“Thank you.” Tempi wiped away the trickle of sweat running down her temple. “Although I’m starting to think a mermaid costume wasn’t the smartest choice for this September Georgian heat.”
It was barely mid-morning, and she was already miserable. She had no idea how she was going to go hours wearing it.
“Beauty has its price, dear,” Granny Edna said.
Tempi glanced down at the two-piece mermaid dress Ronin had made for her.
She hated to admit it, but the outfit was exquisite.
The enchanted aqua, teal, and purple all shifted every time she moved, giving the illusion of mermaid scales.
And the material fit her perfectly. She just wished it wasn’t quite so snug around her hips.
Her favorite part was the tulle that started at her knees and ended at her feet.
The aqua, teal, and purple made it look like waves were billowing around her feet.
“This is going to be so much fun!” Adeline Beaumont gushed as she hurried over to Tempi and Granny Edna. Emory trailed a few steps behind her. “A real-life treasure hunt for the Crimson Heart.”
Tempi smiled and rolled her eyes. “It’s not a real-life treasure hunt. It’s a fake treasure hunt based on a real pirate’s treasure.”
“Close enough for me,” Adeline said.
“Well,” Granny Edna said. “I need to run and change into my outfit. The girls and I want to make a grand entrance right before the treasure hunt starts.”
Emory groaned. “Do I want to know, Granny?”
Granny Edna threw back her head and cackled. “You probably don’t.” With one last wave, she took off across the park.
“What do you think that’s about?” Tempi asked.
“With my grandmother?” Emory shook her head.
“Could be anything. Remember last year when she and Mrs. Abernathy showed up to the Moonlight Bay Ball wearing matching sequined tuxedos? The year before that, they serenaded Mayor Huntington with a song they wrote about his mustache.” She shuddered. “Three verses and a chorus.”
Princess Muffin Top leaped onto a nearby rock. “Speaking of entertainment, don’t look now, Tempi, but your co-chair is over near the registration tables making friends with half the town.”
Tempi refused to look. She wasn’t going to fall for Princess Muffin Top’s nonsense. She absolutely would not look because that was exactly what the cat wanted her to do.
She looked.
Sure enough, Ronin Seawald stood near the registration tables laughing at something Mayor Huntington had said.
His sandy hair was windblown, and he’d dressed as a pirate in dark breeches and a white shirt that had no business fitting him as well as it did.
He’d told her yesterday he’d bought a long brown pirate coat to wear over it, but obviously he thought it was too hot.
“It should be illegal to look that good in a pirate costume,” Emory said. “I could just eat him up.”
Tempi shot her friend a look. “It should be illegal to say that out loud.”
“I’m just stating facts,” Emory said, sipping her cold brew.
“And if I’m not mistaken, which I rarely am,” Princess Muffin Top continued, “your co-chair appears to be making everyone within a ten-foot radius fall in love with him.” She examined a paw. “Imagine that.”
Tempi scowled at the Maine Coon. “Thank you for that unnecessary observation.”
“All of my observations are necessary,” Princess Muffin Top said. “The world is my playground, Witch.”
“Cassie!” Emory called out. “Over here!”
Deputy Cassie Casswell made her way through the crowd toward them. She was dressed in her deputy uniform instead of a costume. “This is a great turnout.” Cassie stopped in front of them. “Everyone sure is excited.” Her gaze dropped to Tempi’s outfit. “And you look sexy as all get out.”
“Thank you,” she said. “It’s actually hot as all get out, but I’m wearing it.”
Adeline looked down at her pirate costume. “Now I feel drab.”
“You’re dating the hunky police chief, Adeline,” Emory said. “Nobody feels sorry for you.”
“Speaking of,” Cassie said with a laugh. “Here he comes now.”
Tempi smiled as she took in the werewolf’s costume.
He’d already told them it would be a cold day in the Underworld before he wore a costume to a town event…
but Adeline had obviously won out. He wore black pirate breeches, black boots, a white shirt, and a dark sash across his chest. His sheriff’s badge was pinned directly to the sash, which didn’t surprise her in the least.
“Nice touch with the badge,” Tempi said as he stopped in front of them.
Mason patted it. “I’m technically working.” He winked at Adeline. “I let Adeline talk me into the outfit to blend in more, like I did when I was an undercover detective with PADA. But I’m still working.”
Adeline smiled up at him. “You look like a sexy pirate I want to jump.” She waggled her eyebrows at him. “Or maybe you can arrest me again. Did they do strip searches in pirate times?”
Princess Muffin Top pretended to throw up. “Get a room, you two. It’s bad enough I have to hear this talk at night. I don’t need to hear it in public. Poor Goldie is tired of it too.”
“Who’s Goldie?” Tempi asked.
“Mason’s goldfish,” Emory said. “My grandma gave it to him as a housewarming gift.”
“And it’s the only creature in the house who understands my suffering,” Princess Muffin Top said.
“Tempi!”
She turned and found Ronin walking up to their circle. He stopped two feet from her, his eyes wide.
Tempi barely stopped the urge to cover herself. “What?”
Ronin opened his mouth, but nothing came out. He cleared his throat and tried again. “Tempi...gosh, you look—” He stopped and rubbed the back of his neck. “Wow.”
“High praise, indeed,” Princess Muffin Top said dryly.
Ronin’s ears turned pink, and Tempi barely stifled her smile. Was it weird she liked knowing she could make him stammer like that? She never knew she had that much effect over him.
He gave her a sheepish smile. “I mean to say—”
“Aunt Tempi!”
Tempi whipped around as her niece and nephew hurried toward her through the crowd, with Thora and Charles following behind them.
Not that she should be surprised, but Thora and Charles had both elected not to wear a costume.
Thora was instead dressed in black slacks that had to be miserably hot and an off-the-shoulder red top.
Her silver-blonde hair was pulled back in a chignon, and her sandals had a small heel on them.
Extra-large black sunglasses covered her face, and she was carrying one of her many designer purses.
Charles looked equally miserable and hot in khaki pants, a button-down shirt, and brown loafers.
She could see sweat running down his temples.
“Aunt Tempi!” Alden called again as he ran up to her.
“Hey, buddy.”
Her eight-year-old nephew wore a pirate costume complete with eye patch, sash, and plastic sword. Lexi, who had officially become a teenager two months ago, had gone with a mermaid costume in pink and silver.
“You look really pretty, Aunt Tempi,” Alden said as he held out his arms by his side. “You like my costume?”
“I do,” she said. “Especially the sword.”
Alden pulled it from his sash. “It’s fake.”
“Good to know,” Mason said. “I’d hate to have to arrest you for carrying a deadly weapon.”
Alden laughed. “You should see how far I can throw it!”
Charles immediately shook his head. “Absolutely not.”
Alden sighed and shoved the sword back into his sash. “Fine, but I can throw it really, really far.”
Tempi ruffled her nephew’s hair, then realized Mason probably hadn’t met her extended family since he’d only been in town a month. “Mason, let me introduce you to my sister and her family. This is Thora, her husband, Charles, and my niece and nephew, Lexi and Alden.”
“Nice to meet you,” Mason said.
“The children are right,” Thora said. “You do look lovely, Tempi. Is that new?”
Before Tempi could answer, Lexi stepped closer. “Can I borrow it next?”
Tempi laughed. “No.”
“Why not?” Lexi demanded.
“Because you’re thirteen,” Thora said. “That dress is much too old for you.”
Lexi rolled her eyes. “I know how old I am, Mother.”
Cassie laughed and placed her hands on her hips, accentuating the Binder she had around her utility belt. “For the record, Lexi, I had the same reaction. I want to borrow it too.” She glanced down at her uniform. “My outfit tends to stand out in this sea of lawless pirates.”
Alden immediately whipped out his sword and pointed it at her. “You can pretend you’re in the Royal Navy and hunting us bad pirates down.”
Cassie narrowed her eyes and put on a fake scowl. “Are you one of those lawless pirates I should be hunting down?”
“I am!”
Mason tapped his sash across his chest to show Alden his badge. “Then I guess we’ll be meeting on the high seas shortly.”
“Peak!” Alden exclaimed.
Princess Muffin Top waved a paw through the air. “For those of you over twenty, the boy is expressing excitement.”
“I knew that,” Emory said quickly.
Nobody believed her. Everyone knew teenagers had a language of their own.
“As much as I’d love for Alden to be thrown in jail,” Lexi said, “I want to talk about the dress. Where did you get it? And why haven’t I noticed it in your closet before?”
“It’s a mermaid costume,” Tempi corrected. “It’s not a party dress.”
Lexi rolled her eyes…again. “Whatever.” She leaned in, putting her back to her mother. “Forget what Mom said. Can I borrow it?”
Tempi laughed at her niece. “I’m borrowing it myself, Lexi. I’m sure the person who designed it wants it back after the treasure hunt.”
“No, I don’t,” Ronin said. “It’s yours.”
Thora’s eyebrows shot up, and Tempi wanted to kick him. Why had he said that in front of her sister? Now Tempi would have to listen to Thora ask countless questions about the outfit and her relationship with Ronin.
Not that they had a relationship, of course, but Thora wouldn’t see it that way.
“You made that?” Thora asked him.
Ronin nodded. “I did.”
“Oh.” Thora looked at Tempi, then back at Ronin. “How nice.”
There it was. The look. The one that said Thora would have lots and lots of questions for her later. Tempi suddenly felt like grabbing Alden’s sword and running Ronin through with it.
Lexi looked Ronin up and down. “You know how to sew? Alden’s right, that’s pretty peak.”
“Well,” a familiar voice said behind Tempi, “can I borrow the dress?”
Tempi turned and smiled at her grandmother...then let out a squeak when she saw what her grandmother was wearing. Grandma Draven stood beside Mrs. Abernathy and Granny Edna...and all three women were dressed as very sexy pirates.
And darn if they didn’t look amazing.
At ninety-two, Grandma Draven apparently had no problem showing off her legs or any other part of her body.
Her long burgundy skirt fell to the ground in the back but stopped several inches above her knees in front.
Her white shirt was tied beneath her breasts, and a sword hung from her side.
Mrs. Abernathy and Granny Edna wore similar outfits.
“Oh, my goddess,” Emory said. “Don’t you all look...wow, sexy pirates. I didn’t see this coming.”
“Grandmother!” Thora hissed as she glanced around the park. “What are you wearing?”
Grandma Draven spread her arms and glanced down at herself. “What? I’d have thought what I’m wearing is obvious.”
“Yeah, Mom,” Alden said, rolling his eyes. “It’s a girl’s pirate costume. Anyone can see that.” He frowned and pointed to his head. “Where’s your hat, Great-Grandma? You forgot your pirate hat.”
“I did no such thing.” Grandma Draven fluffed her gray curls. “I spent far too much time fixing my hair to flatten it with a hat.”
“You’re actually searching for treasure too?” Thora mused.
Grandma Draven stared at her oldest granddaughter. “Why wouldn’t I be?”
Granny Edna nodded. “Exactly. Why wouldn’t we be?”
Mrs. Abernathy rested a hand on the hilt of her sword. “And we plan on winning.” She pretended to give Alden the evil eye. “So no one better stand in our way, or else we’ll make them walk the plank!”
Ronin chuckled. “I believe it.”
“Me too,” Mason said. “I’ve already tangled with Mrs. Abernathy once. I know for a fact she’ll do what she says.”
“Well, I think you look beautiful, Granny Edna.” Emory kissed her grandmother’s cheek. “You three are going to be breaking hearts today.”
“That’s the plan,” Granny Edna said.
Grandma Draven patted Tempi’s arm. “You really do look beautiful, sweetheart.”
“Thanks, Grandma.”
Thora’s phone buzzed. She glanced at the screen, frowned, and silenced it. Charles noticed and looked away.
“Everything okay?” Tempi asked.
“Fine,” Thora said quickly. “Just work.”
Grandma Draven turned to Mrs. Abernathy and Granny Edna. “Ladies, shall we take our positions?”
“Lead the way, Captain,” Mrs. Abernathy said.
The three women marched off through the crowd, swords and hips swinging and looking like they had absolutely no intention of losing to anyone under the age of eighty.
The screech of a microphone cut through the crowd, and everyone turned toward the small platform near the Grandmother Tree. Mayor Huntington stood behind the magically suspended microphone with Lucinda Toweck beside him.
“Ladies, gentlemen, pirates, merfolk, and all others in attendance,” the mayor said with a chuckle, “can I have your attention, please?” The conversations around the park began to quiet down. “We’re ready to start this year’s treasure hunt!”
The crowd erupted into whistles and applause. Alden threw both hands into the air and screamed, and Lexi joined him. Tempi laughed as another light orb burst overhead and Happy Birthday, Moonlight Bay! confetti filled the air.
Beside her, Ronin leaned closer to her. “Ready, co-chair?”
She looked at him and smiled. His green eyes were bright with excitement, and for once, Tempi didn’t feel like arguing. “Ready, co-chair. Let’s find some treasure.”