“Can’t be an official visit by Adam, he isn’t in uniform.”
“Hey, isn’t that – oh.” Ghost cleared his throat and glanced at Ali.
“Chris Smith,” she said. “Poor girl.”
Adam left the table, his expression controlled but clearly not happy. He sat down again and now Ghost could see that he was keeping company with Matt.
Small town. Wasn’t unusual for some of the single men to come to the restaurant for a home cooked meal on a Saturday night. It was well-known that Mrs Swanson took pity on them and gave them a hearty meal worth way more than they paid.
Ghost’s gaze switched back to the girl, wondering who she was and why she was annoyed with Adam, or for that matter, why Adam was annoyed with her.
“You’ll have to pump Matt for info later,” Ali said.
He grinned at her. “You think?”
She grinned right back. “Abso-freakin’-lutely.”
They both laughed, Ali leaning back in her seat.
The ice having broken between them, Ghost looked at her. “Okay, what’s happening between us?”
“You mean the whole awkwardness thing?” Ali shrugged. “This isn’t us.”
Curiously, he angled his head.
“Come on.” She gestured to his tie. “You only wear those to weddings and funerals. I’m not wearing white, so unless this is a funeral…?”
“It’s not.”
“Then for God’s sake, get rid of that before it strangles you.”
More than happy to oblige, he loosened the tie, sliding it free and tucking it into his pocket. “Better?”
“Feel comfortable in that jacket?”
“No bloody way.”
It was her turn to grin. “Then do what you gotta do.”
“For you, honey of my honey tree of life, anything.”
“Oh please. You can do better than that.”
“Love of my life?”
“You’re getting closer.”
“I demonstrate much better than I talk.”
“I’ll hold you to that.”
He leered.
“So while we’re at it, these freakin’ stockings are killing me.” Ali wriggled in her seat. “I’m going to the loo and get rid of them.”
“Can I come?”
“No.”
“I had a fantasy about them, you know.”
Looking severely at him, she stood up. “Stay right there, you hound dog.”
Grinning, he relaxed back against the seat and watched her thread her way through the tables towards the toilets. Now this was more like it.
A sudden commotion caught his attention and he glanced across the restaurant to see the new girl in town standing by Adam’s table. That wasn’t so odd, but what had his mouth hanging open was the fact that Adam had leaped to his feet and was now standing with the front of his pants soaking wet, an upturned glass lying on the table before him.
The girl said something to him, her face furious.
However, her furious expression wasn’t as furious as Adam’s. The easy-going cop grabbed her by the upper arm and hauled her out of the restaurant.
Every diner there watched avidly, Matt included. Ghost cast him a questioning look and Matt shrugged.
Ghost turned to the window but of Adam and the girl there was no sight. Intriguing. What was going on?
Getting up from the table, Matt ambled over to him. “Guess Adam has a few issues.”
“You think?” Ghost queried. “What happened?”
“I don’t know, one minute Adam was-”
“Hang about.” Ali appeared beside him minus the black stockings and a whole lot less makeup. “You can’t share juicy gossip unless I’m here.”
Matt glanced between them. “Oh, you’re on a date. There’s nothing to tell, anyway. I don’t know anything.”
Ali and Ghost exchanged a look.
“You eating by yourself now?” Ghost asked.
“Looks like it, but that’s not a problem.”
“Can’t let you eat all by yourself,” Ali said. “Hey, Mrs Swanson, can you bring Matt’s plate over here?”
Mrs Swanson, who had been on her way with a bucket of ice and champagne, looked askance. “What?”
“Oh no.” Matt was horrified. “I can’t possibly-”
“Yeah,” Ghost said. “You can.”
“We insist.” Ali smiled at him. “It’s okay, Matt. This fancy date stuff just isn’t us, so you’re not interrupting anything.”
When Matt looked at him, Ghost grinned. “What she said. She’s the boss.”
“Shame you only admit it when it suits you,” Ali retorted.
Mrs Swanson approached the table with Matt’s unfinished plate of food in one hand and the bucket of champagne on ice in the other. “Uh…Matt?”
“Thanks Mrs Swanson.” Taking the plate from her, Ali plopped it on the table while Ghost grabbed a spare chair from another table.
Matt, totally confused, sat down slowly.
“And Mrs Swanson.” Ghost smiled charmingly at her. “We’ve changed our minds on the drink. Can I have a Coke instead, please? Thanks. Ali?”
“I’ll have an iced chocolate,” Ali said cheerfully. “And I’ll have chips added to my dinner order. Thanks heaps, Mrs S.”
Bewildered, Mrs Swanson walked away.
“Really,” Matt began. “I shouldn’t be here.”
“Sure you should.” Ali brushed his arguments aside. “We don’t mind at all. Right, Ghost?”
“You’re the boss, honey.”
He laughed when she ruffled his hair on the way to her chair. Within minutes they were all chatting easily and he was content. This was how it was supposed to be. Fun, relaxed, themselves. Just Ali and Ghost having a good time their way. Well, with a friend thrown in for good measure, but still, it wasn’t all bad. There were other ways to be alone.
Much more fun other ways, and he had a plan in mind already.
~*~
“Did you pack enough food?”
“Don’t I always?”
“Just checking.”
“Did you pack a blanket?”
“Why, Ali Mackay, do you have wicked intentions in regards to my body?”
“You wish. I meant to sit on.”
“You naughty girl. You want to sit on me?”
“Look, Sinclair, I’m not parking my arse on the cold ground while we wait for the ghost to show.”
“You can park it on my…lap.”
Hands on generous hips, Ali glared at him, a spark of laughter in her eyes.
Ghost held up his hands. “Fine. Yes, I packed a blanket for your precious little bottom.”
“Thank you.”
“Though it would be more interesting if you sat on me.”
“Ghost!”
“Just saying.”
Amused but refusing to show it, Ali pointed at the panel van. “Just get inside and start it, Sinclair.”
“I do like it when you’re bossy.” Grabbing her around the waist, Ghost pulled her hard against him for a fast, hard, toe-curling kiss that left her gasping and clinging to him. He grinned down at her. “Good thing that’s most of the time.”
“Keep this up,” she panted, “And I’ll make you wear a tie.”
“Cruel woman.” Releasing her, he went to the panel van and sat inside, starting it up.
Grinning, Ali waved to Lori standing on the veranda. “Sure you’ll be okay?”
“I’ll be at work. You’re the one checking out a haunted old house.” Lori gave a shiver. “Dumb pair.”
“Matter of opinion.”
“Hey, Ali,” Ghost called. “If we’re going to get to the house in time, we need to get going.”
“Thought I was the boss?” she tossed pertly at him.
“I just took back control. Get your sweet arse in the van and let’s go.”
“What a charmer.” She wrinkled her nose at her laughing sister before obeying.
Once they were past the town limits,
she picked up the map and opened it. “So this is a whole five hour drive.”
“Yup.”
“I’ve never heard of this house.”
“Old Man Parker reckons it was only recently discovered when the farmer was clearing some land. It was the original old farm house from a century and a half ago.”
“Won’t be much left now.”
“Spirits don’t need walls, honey.”
“Says you.” She tried to fold the map.
He glanced at her. “Do not even think to tell me you can’t fold it neatly.”
“I won’t, don’t worry.”
“Geez, Ali, you do this all the time.”
“Blah blah blah. You’ll want me to give directions and I won’t be able to do that if I can’t read the map, will I?”
“Maybe if you’d studied it yesterday like I asked you to, you’d know the way by now.”
Not looking at him, she folded the map the best way she could while saying casually, “I have a packet of Tim Tams in the bag at my feet.”
“Oohhh.”
“Which you will get none of if you keep up your moaning.”
“Honey, I love the way you fold maps.” Reaching over, he patted her jean-clad thigh. “It really does it for me.”
His hand right there did funny things to her, too, but she knew full well what he was wanting. “What if I gave you only two choices, Ghost? Me or a Tim Tam?”
He was silent for several seconds before saying slowly, “I have to choose?”
“Is it so hard?”
“Will you hit me if I say yes?”
“You nut.” Laughing, she fished the Tim Tam packet out of the bag at her feet and opened it.
When she handed one to him, he took her hand and kissed it before taking the chocolate biscuit. “Thanks, honey.”
“You owe me.”
His grin was wolfish. “Don’t worry, I aim to pay in full.”
The rest of the trip passed in banter, periods of quietness, and general chit-chat. Another night ghost hunting, the ease between them touched now with a closeness that hadn’t previously been evident. Not this kind of closeness.
Ali could feel it, the invisible thread that bound them together. Every touch had a special meaning, every laugh, every shared look. Their friendship had turned into a relationship, but the friendship was still there, becoming lovers hadn’t diminished it. In fact, it had enhanced it into something special.
She’d never been as content as she was since taking the risk and embarking on a relationship with Ghost. And fallen in love. Deeply, unrevokably, in love. Two months ago she would have laughed at the suggestion of it, but now the truth was crystal clear.
She had no idea if he felt the same, he certainly whispered endearments into her ear. He made love with dedicated passion, seeing to her pleasure before seeking his own. He made her laugh, made her mad, made her life a whole lot brighter.
But did he love her?
She didn’t know and she wasn’t about to ask. Right here, right now, was where she wanted to be, and she wasn’t about to rock the boat. She’d enjoy herself, be one with him, and wait to see if he felt the same way about her, if he loved her. But she wouldn’t push him into saying it. When – if – the right time came, it would come.
“We’re almost there.” Ghost’s voice interrupted her musings and she straightened in her seat as the panel van turned onto a dirt track.
“Geez.” She wound up the window to keep the dust out. “Why do all these hauntings happen at the end of dirt roads?”
“Good taste, I guess,” he replied in amusement.
She snorted.
The bushes looked eerie and lonely as the headlights moved over them. Eyes shone as they reflected back from the bushes, the wildlife fleeing as the van drew near.
“You know,” Ali said, “We should check out haunted houses in a town or city, not just out in the bushes.”
“Getting freaked out already, honey?”
“Not at all.”
“Don’t worry, Ali, I’ll protect you.”
Of that she had no doubt. “Who’ll protect you?”
“Angels always look after good boys.”
“Like I said, who’ll take care of you?”
“Ali, really, are you saying I’m a bad boy?” He steered the panel van easily over potholes.
“After last night nothing can convince me you’re a good boy.” Hoo boy, never again. That bad boy streak went way deeper inside Ghost than she’d ever dreamed possible. Thank God.
His chuckle was threaded with remembered heat. “Oh, honey, that was just the tip of the ice berg.”
“Wow.” She looked at him. “Maybe we should do this another night and head back home.”
He burst out laughing.
“You are such an arse sometimes.” She was unable to help laughing with him.
“You, Miss Mackay, are insatiable.” He pulled the van to a stop beside a heap of broken down rubble, the remains of what was once a place where people lived.
Diverted by the broken down shell of the colonial house, Ali studied it. “Wow. Freaky.”
“I wouldn’t call what I did last night freaky, I-”
“No, you nong. I meant that.” She pointed to the ruins.
Ghost followed the direction of her finger. “Yep, that’s a little freaky.”
Alarmed that he thought so, too, Ali looked at him uncertainly.
He smiled at her. “But not that freaky.”
“Okay then.” She unclipped the seat belt. “Let’s do this.”
Getting out of the car, she stretched and inhaled deeply, the scent of the bushland fresh in the cool air. With a shiver she grabbed her jacket out of the car and slipped it on before joining Ghost at the back of the van.
He was already munching on a piece of fruit cake.
Rolling her eyes, she picked up one of the torches.
“What?” he said. “It was a long drive.”
“You’re a bottomless pit, you know that, right?”
“Never argued it.”
“Because you know when I’m right – ahhh!” She jumped when a loud noise thumped behind her, leaping into Ghost’s arms. “Oh shit, the spirit!”
Holding her securely against him with one arm, Ghost shone the torch into the clearing. “It’s a ‘roo.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yep.”
“I knew that.” Clearing her throat, she made to pull away only to have Ghost’s arms tighten around her.
“Mmm,” he murmured, lowering his head. “I think I deserve a reward.”
“For what?” Nervously she glanced around. “You didn’t do anything.”
“I came to your recue. I held you safe in my arms.” He arched one brow. “I always come when you call.”
“It was just a ’roo.”
“But we didn’t know that at first. Besides, I want a kiss.”
She looked up to find him grinning widely. “Seriously? Here? Now?”
“Honey, I could do you anywhere, anytime.”
She couldn’t stop the giggle from escaping her. “Ghost!”
“Come on, a kiss for my bravery.”
Never one to throw away an opportunity, she threw her arms around him and kissed him. Deeply. Slowly. When she pulled her head back, his eyes were decidedly hot as he looked down at her.
“How about we blow this joint and find a motel?” His hand slid down from her waist to palm one of her buttocks.
“No! We’re ghost hunting, remember?” Though it wasn’t a half bad idea. “You know you’ll kick yourself if we miss this opportunity.”
He looked down at her, his face suddenly sober in the torch light. Wondering what he was thinking, she arched one brow.
Reaching out, he cupped her cheek in one hand. “Ali.”
Ghost being serious at a time like this wasn’t like him and it had her catching her breath, especially when he lowered his head towards her. He stopped when his mouth was just hovering above hers
.
So close, she could see the stars reflected in his eyes. It was a heady moment when combined with his masculine scent that was so uniquely his.
“Ali,” he said softly. “You are the most important person in my life. You know that, right?”
“Well…I guess so,” she whispered.
“More important than a ghost hunt, more important than a bestselling novel.”
“Oh.” Surprised, she could only stare up at him.
“Ali…” With a sigh, he looked up at the sky.
Why couldn’t he look at her, why did he have to look away? A sudden chilling thought slammed into her. Oh no. Please, no. Her heart started beating double time in fear. “Oh God. Oh no, don’t say it, Ghost. Don’t.”
His gaze dropped quickly to meet hers. “Ali-”
Pushing back from him, she held out one hand that was already shaking.
Shaking as much as her heart was breaking.
“Ali, let me-”
“No!” She sucked in a sharp, agonised breath. “Don’t you say it, Ghost. Don’t you say it.”
The pain was suddenly in his eyes, his features tightening. “Ali, I didn’t mean to say it here, not now, but-”
There could be only one reason he looked pained, looked sorrowful. Her nightmare had happened, her worst fear was coming true. She stumbled back another step, her heart feeling like it was going to tear out of her chest. “How could you? How could you tell me here? How could you do this to me?”
“Ali, please.” The pain on his face was clear in the torch light. “I’m sorry. I was afraid of this, afraid that if I told you, you’d take it like this. I’m so sorry.”
“Damn you, Ty!” She threw down the torch and it fell to the ground with a dull thunk, but it didn’t go out. “I can’t believe you’re doing this to me! You told me it wouldn’t change things, you promised!”
“Things happen.” Placing his torch on the floor of the open panel van, he reached out for her. “Honey, please, don’t cry. Oh Jesus, don’t cry.”
Only now was she aware of the tears coursing down her cheeks. She couldn’t believe it, didn’t want to believe it. “When were you going to tell me, Ty?” She slapped his hand away. “When?” A sob broke out. Then another.
Ignoring her slapping hands, he took a step forward and wrapped her in his arms, pulling her into him, one hand palming her head so that she sobbed into his shoulder.
“I’m sorry, I’m so sorry,” he said, rocking her on the spot. “I never meant to hurt you, Ali. I love you so much. I was so scared of telling you, worried you’d act like this, thinking-”
Call On Me Page 21
