Page 49 of Tall, Dark and Haunted

“I don’t think we have time to figure it out,” Davy says. “We need funds now.”

I take a deep breath. “About that…”

I gesture to the nearest person, who happens to be a grown woman dressed like a princess—but like a stripper princess, or maybe even a dominatrix princess, with a pair of elf ears. An elf with long white hair is with her, and I heard him call her princess several times during the cheering earlier, so maybe she’s actually a real princess. After all, this is Silver Springs.

“Can I borrow your mobile?” I ask. “I mean, phone?”

The princess looks super excited to hand it to me, even though the other elf doesn’t seem to think it’s a very good idea. “But, Princess—”

“Don’t be daft, Maro.” She turns back to me and says, “I don’t really know how to use it, so I hope you know what you’re doing.”

“Thanks. I was only a ghost for a day, unlike my mates, so I’ll be fine.” Then I go online and pull up the article. The same article they saw at the cafe.

“That’s… me.”

“It doesn’t look like you,” Davy says after examining it. “I’ve been between your legs, and there’s no beaver there. Definitely no teeth.”

Red chuckles.

My cheeks flush.

“Look, I don’t know how to say this, but when I died, I… fell into a fountain.”

“I’m sorry to hear that,” Topher says.

“And when I fell into the fountain, I was in bear form,” I add.

Red grunts.

“And when I was in bear form and I slipped, I shifted back into human form.”

The guys nod.

“And I wasn’t wearing any clothes.”

Davy smirks and gives me a once over.

“And I landed with my legs in the air,” I add.

Red starts to smile. I just know they’re all struggling not to laugh at me.

“And they kind of spread open after I died.”

Topher’s eyes glint. Goddess, this is so embarrassing!

“And a bunch of reporters with cameras showed up and took photos,” I finish with a grimace.

“They what?” Davy shouts.

“How dare they?” Topher growls.

“I’m going to kill them,” Red snaps.

“But the good thing is that we have a lot of money. In fact, I would say we’re rich. In more ways than one.”

And then I take turns kissing each of my mates. Because I’m no longer a ghost and I can touch them all I want.