Page 84 of Fire and Ice Cruise

“And I’m fine,” Marina assures us all, though she’s rubbing her shoulder.

“We’ll have a medic see about that,” Ransom says, then looks my way. “And you?”

“I’m really fine. But the ship lost a deck chair. I’m afraid Celeste sent it out to sea.”

Wes’s eyes enlarge as he looks at me, then glances at Marina. “Did you just⁠—”

“I may have let my supernatural quirk slip.” I shrug. “She knows.”

Marina nods. “And your secret is safe with me.”

I press my lips tight. “Thank you. And just for the record, if you ever feel like sharing anything with me, I’d keep your secrets safe, too.”

Marina’s expression softens. “I know you would.”

Wes clears his throat. “Come on, let’s get you both medical clearance before we cut the cake. Can’t have the birthday girls missing their own party.”

He offers Marina his arm and she takes it, and they head back inside where music and laughter still pour out into the night.

Ransom pulls me close, his arms wrapping around me as though he’s afraid to let go. “You scared the heck out of me.”

“I scared the heck out of myself.”

“You caught a killer on your fiftieth birthday.” He presses a kiss on my forehead. “Most people just get cake.”

“Hey, I’m getting cake, too.” I tickle his ribs. “It’s not an either-or situation, is it?”

“Never.” He lands another kiss on my forehead. “Happy birthday, Detective Troublefield Baxter. I love you more than I can possibly express with words.”

“Then show me,” I say, tilting my face up toward his.

And he does.

Right there on the deck under the stars and the purple-pink sky, with the ocean stretching out forever and the party raging inside and a ghost somewhere nearby probably making commentary about our kissing technique.

Fifty might be terrifying, but steamy moments like this? These make it worth every single year.

CHAPTER 28

Back in the Golden Era Ballroom, the Second Act Society party has ratcheted up another notch. The music’s louder, the laughter’s bigger, and someone’s doing the Electric Slide with more enthusiasm than coordination.

Bess and Nettie practically jump all over Ransom and me.

“You solved another one!” Bess howls.

Nettie nods. “Rumor has it you landed under a man and you showed him what’s what.”

“She did indeed,” Ransom says as he tips his head my way. “More importantly, she lived to tell about it.”

“That’s because she’s the best amateur sleuth on the planet,” Bess says as she pulls me in for a quick embrace and Nettie wraps her arms around us both.

Nettie pulls us in tight. “Next time you let a man jump your bones like that, invite me to the party. I’ll show him what’s what, too.”

“Will do,” I say with a laugh.

Wes and Marina return from the medical bay just as Tinsley wheels out the most magnificent chocolate lava cake I’ve ever seen. It stands three tiers tall with gold sparklers shooting from the top and enough candles blazing like a birthday bonfire.

“I got the all’s clear!” Marina announces, beaming. “Not even a bruise.”