“I love you.”
Jameson’s eyes went wide, and then a grin bloomed across his lips. He bent and kissed Avery in a sweet expression of affection and then hugged him tightly.
“And I love you.”
They stood like that for a long moment, and then Avery pulled away to take one last look at the house.
“What do you need, honey?”
Avery shook his head. “I’m okay. Maybe I’ll break down later but… I’m okay.” He turned back to Jameson. “Would you mind if we stopped at the cemetery before we get on the road?”
“Of course not.”
“Thank you.” Avery bit his lip, wondering if he should voice his thoughts, and then decided if anyone would understand, Jameson would. “That’s the hardest part, I think. Leaving that behind.”
Jameson slid a hand into his hair and massaged his scalp. “We can come back to visit whenever you want. You know that, right? Say the word, and we’re in the car.”
Avery did tear up then, and he didn’t try to stop it. Jameson immediately pulled him into his arms, and Avery let himself cry for a minute.
“I’m so lucky I met you.”
“I’m the lucky one, Avery. Don’t ever doubt that.”
Avery pulled back. “You really believe that, don’t you?”
Jameson nodded. “I do.”
Avery shook his head, but he was smiling. “You’ve taken it in stride since the first moment we met. My being a widower and having been bonded never fazed you.”
“You being with Luke? All those years and experiences made you who you are today. And that’s the man I love. I can’t be sorry about it.”
Avery’s heart swelled. It had taken a long time to heal his broken heart and even longer for his heart to make room for someone new. But he was finally there, and he had a kind, sweet, loving man at his side. Even when the road got bumpy, Avery knew Jameson would be there to steady him.
“Okay.” Avery breathed in deeply, took one last look around, and then smiled up at Jameson. “I’m ready.”
Epilogue
JAMESON looked down at Avery and gave him a lascivious leer just to make Avery roll his eyes and laugh. He wasn’t disappointed, and he chuckled too as he took his seat beside him.
“I’m nervous,” Avery admitted.
Jameson just smiled. “No reason to be. We’ve done this before. It’s only been a few weeks, right?”
Avery nodded. “Right.”
“And I’m here. I’ll take care of you. Whatever happens, we’ll work through it, right?”
“Right,” Avery agreed again.
“And,” Jameson dropped his voice an octave, “you look totally hot without your shirt on and when we get home, I’ll do something about that, right?”
“Ri… wait a minute.” Avery squinted at him.
Jameson chuckled and took the tablet from Avery’s unresisting fingers. He set it on the small table in the corner of their office. The space was so small that he could reach if he stretched. Avery had complained about the size, but beggars couldn’t be choosers, and it was the only one available.
“You’re good. You’ve got this. The case should be an easy one. We’re working our way up. No problems at all.”
“You’re using your voice.”
Jameson hid a smile. “That’s how I talk.”
Avery side-eyed him and then closed his eyes. “It’s your “calm Avery down” voice.”
“Like I said, that’s how I talk.” Jameson leaned over and kissed Avery. He knew his ghostwalker was worried about their first case and even more worried about getting in the swing of working full-time again. But Jameson wasn’t worried at all. “I love you.”
“I love you too. Let’s do this.”
KRIS T. BETHKE has been a voracious reader for pretty much her entire life and has been writing stories for nearly as long. An avid and prolific daydreamer, she always has a story in her head. She spends most of her free time reading, writing, or knitting/crocheting her latest project. Her biggest desire is to find a way to accomplish all three tasks at one time. A classic muscle car will always turn her head, and weekend naps are one of her greatest guilty pleasures. She lives in a converted attic with a very fluffy cat and the voices in her head. She’ll tell you she thinks that’s a pretty good deal. Kris believes that love is love, no matter the gender of the people involved, and that all love deserves to be celebrated. And she loves to hear from readers, so feel free to drop her a line.
Email: [email protected]
Blog: kristbethke.com
Twitter: @KrisTBethke
Facebook: www.facebook.com/people/Kris-T-Bethke/100014524539852
By Kris T. Bethke
DREAMSPUN BEYOND
REQUIEM INC.
#12 – Ghost of a Chance
#18 – Lost Souls Found
#27 – Somebody to Die For
Published by DREAMSPINNER PRESS
www.dreamspinnerpress.com
Now Available
Ghost of a Chance
By Kris T. Bethke
A Requiem Inc. Story
Only love makes life worth living—over and over again.
Ghostwalker Blake Jones dies every day. It’s his job and how he helps trapped souls cross over. But to return to life, he needs an anchor. His new partner, Derek Scott, is a surprise. Not only is he male, but his appearance belies a caring and gentle heart. Despite attraction and a strengthening relationship, they know they shouldn’t take things further.
But there’s a big difference between knowing and doing.
Their growing love presents a problem, though not the one they expect. Blake and Derek have to decide if they should take their relationship to the most permanent level—an unbreakable metaphysical bond. Doing so offers both risk and unimaginable reward. Can Blake let go of his fears and put his complete trust in Derek in order to have the happily ever after he’s always craved?
Now Available
Lost Souls Found
By Kris T. Bethke
A Requiem Inc. Story
Dying is all in a day’s work. Love is more dangerous.
Ghostwalker Sam Jones has been half in love with Michael King since he started working at Requiem Inc. But Michael is his boss and a Guardian, to boot. Sam thinks they could make it work anyway, but Michael uses his position and his age to keep Sam at arm’s length.
When Sam continues to volunteer for the most dangerous cases, Michael has to intervene. He tells himself he’s just doing his job, but he’s always seen Sam as more than another operative, and he can’t bear the thought of not taking his chance. The connection between them has been strong from the beginning, and Michael’s telepathy adds unexpected depth and an edge to their new romance, but working together while they try to build their relationship might be the hardest part of their job if they don’t make some sacrifices.
Coming in October 2018
Dreamspun Beyond #29
The Librarian’s Ghost by Sean Michael
The Supers
Can love survive the perils of MacGregor House?
The Supernatural Explorers are back and looking for their next big paranormal case. They might’ve found it in a plea from Payne, a mild-mannered librarian who has inherited the family mansion—MacGregor House. Since moving in a few months ago, Payne’s exhausted the list of ghost hunters and experts in his quest for help. The Supers are his last chance.
So why does normally good-natured cameraman Will take an instant dislike to Payne? For that matter, why has he felt irritable and angry since they arrived at the site? It soon becomes clear that the answers they seek will be found in the basement—where nobody has gone since Payne was a little boy. As the haunting grows deadlier, things get sweeter between Will and Payne, but hell’s about to break loose when they breach the basement door.
Will they be ready?
Dreamspun Beyond #30
Calculated Magic by SJD Peterson
Never too late for love.
&nb
sp; Three-hundred-and-fifty-year-old warlock Tikron must find his true love or forfeit his immortality. But if he hasn’t found his ideal mate in all these centuries, the prospects don’t look too bright.
That is, until he sees mathematician Richard Beaumont. It’s love at first sight and Tikron’s future just got a whole lot brighter.
Except Richard doesn’t believe in love at first sight. He doesn't believe in love at all. He certainly doesn’t believe in magic. His life is ruled by statistics and logic, and they tell him a relationship with Tikron has only a 10 percent chance of success. That’s unacceptable—even if the attraction between them is off the charts.
With his powers waning and the clock ticking down, Tikron’s last hope is showing Richard the true meaning of magic.
Coming Soon to
www.dreamspinnerpress.com
Published by
DREAMSPINNER PRESS
5032 Capital Circle SW, Suite 2, PMB# 279, Tallahassee, FL 32305-7886 USA
www.dreamspinnerpress.com
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of author imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.
Somebody to Die For
© 2018 Kris T. Bethke.
Editorial Development by Sue Brown-Moore.
Cover Art
© 2018 Aaron Anderson.
[email protected]
Cover content is for illustrative purposes only and any person depicted on the cover is a model.
All rights reserved. This book is licensed to the original purchaser only. Duplication or distribution via any means is illegal and a violation of international copyright law, subject to criminal prosecution and upon conviction, fines, and/or imprisonment. Any eBook format cannot be legally loaned or given to others. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without the written permission of the Publisher, except where permitted by law. To request permission and all other inquiries, contact Dreamspinner Press, 5032 Capital Circle SW, Suite 2, PMB# 279, Tallahassee, FL 32305-7886, USA, or www.dreamspinnerpress.com.
Digital ISBN: 978-1-64080-537-8
Paperback ISBN: 978-1-64108-053-8
Library of Congress Control Number: 2017917866
Digital published September 2018
v. 1.0
Printed in the United States of America
Somebody to Die For Page 17
