The Biker Ghost Meets His Match (Gambling Ghosts Series Book 4)
Page 6
“Good to know.” She squirmed in her chair, feeling like a rhinoceros in a petting zoo. “Do you want me to tell you what really happened or do you want me to tell you a story?”
His smile warmed. “Isn’t one’s life all a story?”
Great. Just great. She had found a philosopher-Mounty. She fidgeted, finding her clothes suddenly too tight and itchy, and the chair too hard, and . . .
“Start with what happened.”
So, she did. Charlie told him everything. Well, she left out Three Sheets wanting a threesome. For that matter, she left out all the sex bits and her feelings for Rufus. She gave a PG-rated version of the evening.
As she explained her past with Rebel, the cop’s caramel eyes hardened to a brittle candy hue. When she talked about Rufus, his eyes melted to a buttery softness. It would be hard not to like and trust this guy.
And he scribbled. He scribbled a lot on a pad of paper. When she finished talking he held up his finger and reread his notes. He crossed out lines and then crossed out some more. He ripped out one sheet, scrunched it into a ball and threw it into a wastepaper basket on the other side of the room. He grunted.
“How does this sound,” he said. “Charlene Walker entered the house, because she had left her glasses there earlier in the day. She found the dead man lying on the floor.”
Charlie laughed. “I don’t wear glasses, but I guess they could be sunglasses. I’ll sign that.”
“I want to thank you for the information you gave us on Rebel and his associates. It will help stop his crew.”
She nodded.
After the formalities had been taken care of, Charlie stood to leave.
Reynolds stood and took her hand, as if he wanted to shake it, but instead he held it and gave her a hard cop stare. “If I could just give you one piece of advice.”
“Will you lock me up if I say no?”
His lips quirked at the edges, wanting to smile, but he kept his official demeanor. “It would be safer for you—that is, easier for you—to leave town today and never look back. Getting involved with the ghosts can be . . .” He hesitated. “Troublesome.”
***
That night under a waning moon Charlie sat on the back steps of the teahouse with Rufus at her side. He listened carefully to her story about visiting the police station. It sure was cool how he could listen.
“Well, what do you think?” she said.
Rufus gave a ghostly groan. “No man can promise you an easy life.”
“Hey, I knew you were trouble from the first moment I met you.” She laughed.
“Yeah.” Rufus gave her his bad-boy smile. “But, Babe, be honest, you like my kind of trouble.”
She smiled. “Maybe I do, but honestly, Rufus, this is all so confusing. I didn’t believe in ghosts before I came to Sunset Cove, and now I not only believe in them, I’m falling for one.”
“Falling, eh?”
Their eyes locked and the heat of the moment said more than any words could ever attempt to say. They were both falling. Hell, they had fallen. She sighed.
“How about we take it one day at a time,” he said.
“But you’re dead.”
“But not gone, Babe. I’m not gone, and the feelings I have for you are strong and real.”
A tear escaped from her eye. “Meeting the right guy is supposed to be easy, but this ain’t easy.”
“Nothing worthwhile is. Ask yourself one question and one question only: Do you want me in your life?”
“Yes. Maybe. I don’t know.” More tears fell. “Rufus, I want you in ways I can never have you. Let’s be practical here. I’m human.”
“And I’m a corpse.”
“Maybe we could visit every so often.”
“Is that what you want?”
“It’s not about what I want. It’s about making the most of what we have.”
Rufus looked away.
A thorny silence gathered around them as if they were imprisoned. The poison of reality, of practicality, of life and death pressed in on them.
But their eyes never wavered. Had Charlie finally found true love, only to be saying goodbye to him? The unfairness of it all swamped all other emotions. “Rufus . . .”
“No, don’t say anything more. Let’s not ruin what we have. Let’s leave it pure and perfect. I don’t have many memories like that.”
She winced. Perfect? It sure as hell didn’t feel perfect.
***
Rufus shimmered extra silvery, which happened when he had difficulty containing his feelings. “Charlie, no matter how hard it is to do, you should leave today and never come back. Live your life fully with all your energy.”
“Go forth and multiply?” She winced.
Multiply. Hell, he didn’t want to think of her with another man in that way, but yeah, that too. He nodded. “You deserve the love of a live man and children if that’s what you want.”
“Complete with a white-picket fence?”
“As long as there’s room for your Harley.”
The rosy color in her cheeks drained and she shivered. He wanted to hold her more than he had ever wanted anything in his life, or death. But if he held on to her, her life would never be all it could be, all it should be.
“Why don’t we meet up, say once a month?”
He shook his head.
“Twice a year?”
He shook his head. “No, not ever.”
“Not ever?” Her face collapsed and she took a step back. “Ever?”
“Babe, we’re not destined to be together.”
“But it feels like we are.”
“Then I’ll catch ya later.” He smirked, hoping to lighten the mood.
“Later? Like when I’m dead.”
“It happens to the best of us.”
She turned her back to him and folded her arms across her chest. All he could do was watch as her sobs raked his heart.
Without looking back, she walked to the front door of the teahouse. “Goodbye, Rufus,” she whispered.
***
Tears flooded Charlie’s eyes and spilled down her face as she started her Harley and headed out of town. Her job was done, she told herself. Rufus wouldn’t bother Mad Dog again. She knew that without his saying it. And Rebel would never hurt her.
She had always said the best thing about riding a motorcycle was the wind in her face. She increased her speed and flew around the curves leading up the hills to the main highway. In the past, she had hit the road when a relationship came to an end. The one thing better than a man was the road, she told herself. That’s all she needed. Open road.
The light of the full moon had an eerie glow and she had an urge to howl. Howl the rage of loss she felt right down to her bones. The stars glittered in a romantic way, perfect for young lovers, but she would never enjoy them with Rufus again and she doubted anyone would ever take his place. Not in her heart, at any rate.
An hour later she pushed her motorcycle flat out on the highway. At this rate, she would be in her own bed within the hour.
With her mind on the freedom of the ride and the ghost she had left behind, she didn’t notice the oil slick on the pavement.
The accident happened so quickly she had little memory of it. The wheels flipped out and she flew through the air and landed on her head. She heard the snap of her neck.
Darkness. Deep darkness.
And then there was a light, and in the light stood Rufus with his arms opened wide.
Maybe some things do happen for a reason, after all.
A Note from Jo-Ann Carson
Dear Readers,
Every time a reader leaves a review a writer gets a new pencil or two.
It may sound like a cheesy-line, but it’s true. Reviews help readers find books. Please, take a few minutes and write a review. Don’t be intimidated by the task. I’m not asking for a book report, just a review. All you need to do is string a few words together. If you’re stuck, I’ll give you some examples: 1) I loved The Bike
r Ghost Meets His Match and can’t wait to read Jo-Ann Carson’s next book. Or 2) The Biker Ghost Meets His Match made me laugh and cry. It’s a witty mix of fantasy, adventure and romance. I enjoyed it. 3) Sexy ghosts, intrigue and romance. A short, fun read. The best place to post my reviews is on Amazon. The next best is Goodreads. I’d love both. Word of mouth and written reviews are pure gold for writers.
You can learn about my latest publications from my newsletter (sign up here). Want to connect? My home on the Internet is my Website, which contains all my social media links.
To send me a personal note, you can email me at connect@jo-anncarson.com. I’d love to hear your thoughts on the story.
On the next few pages you’ll find information about the other books.
Thank you for reading my story.
Jo-Ann
My Other Books
Confessions of a Pirate Ghost
Novella #3
Everyone has secrets
Escaping the clutches of a mobster, art forger Harley Davis dives off a yacht in the middle of the night and swims ashore to Sunset Cove, a small town in the Pacific Northwest, where the only light she sees comes from inside a haunted teahouse. Soaking wet and shaking, she pauses at the door. No one in their right mind would enter such a creepy place, but she has no choice. She needs to hide.
Pirate ghost, Three-Sheets, enjoys his extended life on earth, gambling and flirting with the ladies, but when he meets Harley, he discovers he wants more out of death than a good gambling hand.
As the charming Three Sheets woos Harley, her former boss puts a contract on her head. What do you get when you mix a saucy thief, a pirate ghost and an angry godfather? Another fun, Gambling Ghost story.
A Viking Ghost for Valentine’s Day
Novella #2
To feed her three children, Widow Abigail Jenkins takes the only job available in Sunset Cove: night cleaner in the notorious, haunted teahouse. She figures the wild, supernatural rumors about the place are pure fiction. After all, ghosts don’t exist.
Eric Eklund, a sexy spirit from Sweden, is over a thousand years old. Having missed his chance at Valhalla, the Viking spends his time roaming the world and gambling. That is, until he sees Abby whose feisty, earthly-spirit turns his ghostly world upside down.
When the two meet sparks fly, but their romance is interrupted by a poltergeist hunting children.
What happens when you mix a naughty Viking ghost, built like a Norse god, a strong woman who suffers no fools and a nasty poltergeist? Answer: another fun Gambling Ghost story.
A Viking Ghost for Valentine’s Day is a lighthearted novella filled with love, laughter and just enough ghouliness to thrill and chill you to the bone.
*****************************
A Highland Ghost for Christmas
Novella #1
Jilted by her fiancé, librarian Maddy Jacobson is nursing a broken heart, when her best friend gives her an early Christmas present. Intended to be a fun, psychic reading in a spooky, tea house, the gift turns out to be life changing. Maddy becomes haunted by a mischievous, Highland ghost.
Ruggedly handsome, Cullen Macfie, the Highlander, has been dead for over three centuries, and never in all those years has he been so attracted to a woman, as he is to Maddy. He falls hopelessly in love and decides to woo her.
Can there be a future for a librarian and a naughty, Highland ghost?
A Highland Ghost for Christmas is a sweet, romantic comedy guaranteed to warm the cockles of your heart, make you laugh out loud and leave you craving a man in a kilt … and shortbread, of course.
* * *
The Mata Hari Series (A single woman ~ A double life)
Covert Danger
Ancient Danger
Lovin’ Danger
* * *
The Vancouver Blues Series (Danger waits in the alley …)
Black Cat Blues
Ain’t Misbehavin’
About Jo-Ann Carson
Jo-Ann Carson’s stories are a saucy mix of fantasy, adventure and romance. Her latest stories are in the Gambling Ghosts Series: A Highland Ghost for Christmas, A Viking Ghost for Valentine’s Day, Confessions of a Pirate Ghost and The Biker Ghost Meets his Match. She also wrote the Mata Hari and Vancouver Blues series.
Once a school teacher, she loves watching sunrises, playing Mah Jong and drinking coffee.
Jo-Ann loves to interact with readers on social media:
Website * Blog * Twitter * Facebook