Page 13 of Ghostmaker

“Ronan will feel the same way once Ten explains what happened to you all this morning.”

“I think so too.” Cope sighed. “What we need to do is put this all to the side for now and concentrate on dinner with this Strickland person.”

“Right. I wish there was a spell you could put on me so that I don’t say anything stupid or do anything stupid or wear anything stupid.”

Cope found his first smile in what felt like hours. “We’ll circle the wagons and make sure this man leaves tonight with a full belly and a changed attitude about psychics and the cold case team.”

“Here! Here!” Jude said. “There’s enough time for us to hop in the shower and blow off some steam before the kids get off the bus.”

“Jude Byrne, are you trying to seduce me?” Cope winked at his husband.

“Is it working?” Jude waggled his eyebrows and kissed Cope’s neck.

“It sure is.” Cope let Jude lead him up the stairs.

Even though the sky felt like it was falling in their world, Cope knew Jude would be beside him through it all. Banging his hot husband might settle him down enough to be cordial to the man who held Jude’s police career in the palm of his hands. If not, well, then there were spells Cope could use to turn the tide.

He’d only use them as a last resort.

Or maybe not.

7

Jude

Feeling more relaxed after his shower, Jude chopped vegetables for the salad, while Cope put the tray of baked ziti into the oven. He was cutting onions when the doorbell rang.

“I’ll get it!” Wolf called from the living room.

“Me get it!” Lizzie insisted.

“You’re too little!” Wolf shot back.

“Me no wittle!”

The bell rang again. “I’ve got it.” Jude breezed through the living room and hoped to god West Strickland wasn’t early. Thankfully Ten and Ronan were standing on the other side of the door. Ten held a bright pink bakery box in his hands. Fitz and Aurora were behind them.

“You good?” Ronan asked.

Jude shrugged. “We’ll talk in the kitchen.”

Everly walked up to Jude and wrapped her arms around him. “I love you, Uncle Jude.”

Jude hugged his niece back and shot Ronan a questioning look. He hoped to hell Ronan hadn’t told Everly about his breakdown in the office this morning. “I love you too, honey.”

Ronan shook his head.

“Hey, Cope,” Ronan said when he walked into the kitchen. “We grabbed a cheesecake. I figured we could all use a little treat.”

Cope took the box from Ronan. “Thanks, guys.”

Jude set the table while everyone settled into a seat.

“Tell me what you know about this Strickland guy and why he’s coming to dinner.” Ten frowned as he spoke. Obviously he wasn’t thrilled over the idea of breaking bread with that man either.

“To be honest, we don’t really know anything about him,” Jude said. “He’s an accountant and according to Fitz has been with his firm since college.”

“Inviting him to dinner was my idea,” Fitzgibbon said, wearing a guilty look. “He has our unit, our careers, and our partnership in the palm of his hand. I just figured if we could show him who we are, what kind of family men we are, that might go a long way in Strickland seeing the importance of the cold case unit.”