Tequila for Two: An Althea Rose Mystery (The Althea Rose Series Book 2)

by Tricia O'Malley

  “Luna, what the hell?” I whispered to Luna, moving closer to her.

  “You broke the circle while I was invoking water. You can’t break the circle. Ever,” Luna hissed at me. “Now we’ve pulled this ‘Rafe’ from the water.”

  “So send him back,” I hissed back.

  “I can’t. You can only undo what’s been done at the precise time and moon phase. We need an entire month before the next almost-full moon cycle,” Luna said angrily.

  “Get. Out.” My mouth hung open in shock.

  “I will not ‘get out,’ not when I have two such beauties at my fingertips. Though I much prefer you, my curvy wench. A man likes to run his hands over a señorita’s soft curves when the nights are long.” Rafe winked at me and I shuddered.

  “That’s it, clothes are going back on,” I said.

  “Stop. I have to close the circle,” Luna ordered and I paused, waiting on her. My eyes followed Rafe as he floated around us, his delight in our naked bodies clear on his face.

  “I give thanks, harm none on your way.” Luna put her hands down and stepped back from the circle, eyeing Rafe.

  “That’s it?”

  “I abbreviated. We have bigger problems. The circle is closed for all intents and purposes.”

  “A witch!” Rafe hissed and floated around to stare down at Luna. She straightened her back and looked up at him. I moved to her side, ready to do battle but not sure how.

  “I am, at that,” Luna said, never breaking eye contact with Rafe.

  “In my day, you would have been burned,” Rafe observed.

  “Then I guess it’s a good thing it isn’t ‘your day’ anymore,” Luna said. Her words were met with silence as Rafe considered her carefully.

  “Fair enough, pretty witch. I will be watching you closely, though. Now, introduce me to your lovely companion.”

  I groaned as Rafe winked and smiled at me.

  “I am Luna, a white witch and one of great power,” Luna warned, before throwing me a glance. “And this is Althea, a great sorceress who can see the future.”

  “A sorceress,” Rafe breathed, floating over to hover right in front me, his dark eyes searching mine.

  “Bang,” I said, clapping my hands suddenly in front of his face.

  “She-devil!” Rafe screamed and flitted across the beach.

  Luna and I looked at each other and tried to contain our laughter. It was a wasted effort, though, and we were soon both doubled over, struggling for breath.

  “God, Thea. Sometimes I just can’t with you,” Luna gasped.

  “I’m sorry, I don’t know what is wrong with me,” I gasped back.

  “You’re going to get us in real trouble one of these days,” Luna said, packing the candles and incense back into the velvet bag, since she was already bent over.

  “Think he’s gone?”

  “I most certainly am not, daft wenches,” Rafe said from across the beach, and I shook my head.

  “So does he stay with us for the whole month or what?”

  “I suspect he does.”

  The thought of Rafe hanging out with me for a month instantly sobered me.

  “You take him.”

  “I will not. This is an excellent learning opportunity for you,” Luna sniffed, and turned to me.

  The hair on the back of my neck stood on end and I grabbed Luna’s arm, yanking her to me.

  “Don’t speak,” I ordered, closing my eyes and using my other senses to scan the beach.

  A wave of malice rushed across the beach and hit me like a freight train, and I knew we had to get out of there. Something bad was about to go down.

  “Run, now,” I said out of the corner of my mouth.

  And so we ran, the evil wave pulsing at me as we scrambled and gasped our way down the lane, trying desperately to be quiet. I bit down on my lip as the gravel dug into my feet and belatedly realized that I’d forgotten my flip-flops on the beach.

  “My shoes,” I whispered to Luna as we reached the car.

  “Screw your shoes,” Luna said, and I had to agree. They were just flip-flops. The passenger door wasn’t even closed when Luna gunned the Bug down the lane, keeping the lights on her car off, bumping and careening recklessly around the curves.

  “Was it a spirit?” Luna bit out, trying to focus on the road but desperately wanting to know what was going on.

  “I don’t know. Evil, just pure evil washed over me. I don’t think it was a spirit but I just felt this impending evil.”

  “To us? Or to someone else? Do we need to call the cops?”

  I thought about it for a moment.

  “I honestly don’t know. I don’t think so…”

  The new sheriff in town was one I actually liked, unlike the last one who had tried to kill me. You know, a minor detail. Chief Thomas had worked with the Coast Guard and was now getting his land legs beneath him as he took over patrolling Tequila Key. Though he was a fair and equitable sheriff, I just didn’t know how to explain this one to him.

  “Where are you taking me in this fine, strange chariot, ladies?”

  Thank God Luna’s windows were closed and she’d put the top up, because our screams would have woken the entire neighborhood we were now slowly cruising through.

  “Rafe! You cannot do that to us,” I exclaimed, turning my head to eye the pirate in the backseat.

  “Do what? The witch told you I’d be around for a while. Well, here I am. Pretty lady,” Rafe said, reaching out to run his hand down the back of my neck. I felt a light shiver over my skin and the softest brush of a touch, almost like a kiss.

  “Hands off, buddy. I’m spoken for,” I said hotly, craning my head away from him.

  “We’ll just have to see about that, won’t we? I like taking things that aren’t mine.” Rafe looked at me, his smile wicked in his face.

  “You’ve got to be kidding me,” I groaned, burying my head in my hands.

  “Maybe we don’t drink and try to do spells,” Luna said, her saccharine voice grating at me.

  “Damn it,” I said.

  “Yeah, I can smell it on your breath,” Luna said.

  “Thanks, Mom. Got it,” I grumbled. “Just get me home.”

  Luna leveled her gaze in the rearview mirror.

  “Rafe, if you step a foot out of line with Thea, I’m going to banish you to the darkest corner of hell,” Luna said, her bitch face in full effect.

  “No need for such a threat – can a man not have a bit of fun?” Rafe protested.

  “I mean it,” Luna said as she pulled to a stop in front of my house.

  “Wait, you mean he’s coming with me? I thought you were just kidding,” I protested, my eyes darting between Rafe and Luna.

  Luna shrugged, smoothing her unwrinkled white dress.

  “There are some things I can’t control,” Luna said.

  “But, I can’t have a ghost come live with me.” I glared at Luna.

  “Then perhaps you shouldn’t have invited one in.”

  Maybe she had a point, but it wasn’t like I’d directly asked for a ghost to come visit me. I wasn’t summoning anything. It had been purely an accident.

  “We’re so fighting,” I grumbled, grabbing my purse.

  “No we’re not. ‘Cause otherwise you won’t know how to send him back.” Luna blew me a kiss and I sighed, knowing she was right.

  Luna’s always right. Though you won’t ever hear me admit that. Well, maybe once in a while. But we can’t have her getting a big head now, can we?

  “Milady,” Rafe intoned, bending at the waist and gesturing towards my door.

  I shook my head as I moved to the door, wondering just how I was going to put up with a lecherous pirate ghost for a month. “This is my life,” I said out loud.

  “At least you have one,” Rafe quipped as I pushed the door open.

  I couldn’t argue with that.

  CHAPTER ELEVEN

  “WHAT. IS. THAT?” Rafe asked, hovering worriedly over Hank as Hank bounce
d 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 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.