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Angling my flashlight toward him, I noticed he had messy ash brown hair and was tall. In fact, quite a bit taller than Caley, since he towered over her. He had wide shoulders in his black leather jacket, thick thighs clad in dark blue jeans, and a very pouty mouth. He even had a playful glint in his chocolate brown eyes. “Do you plan on talking or just standing there staring at me?” At his grin, I rolled my eyes and added, “And you would be…?”
“Jake Hunt—dead four years, motorcycle accident.” He gave me a once-over in a slow sweep that didn’t resemble an examining stare, but a more personal look. “You are interesting, aren’t you?”
I frowned. “Interesting, how?”
“Not only sexy, but clearly gifted, too.” His smile became devilish. “Very interesting you are, darlin’.”
I gaped at him. “Are you seriously flirting with me?”
He winked. “Trying to.”
“A ghost is flirting with you,” Caley grumbled with a look of absolute revulsion. “God, that is so disgusting.”
Now I glared at her. “You do realize what you just said, right?”
“Oh, I don’t mean you and Kipp.” She flicked her hand dismissing me, looking everywhere but at me. “You know that’s different.”
“No, it really isn’t.” But why argue semantics? I focused on Jake, who continued to give me a heated look, which made my cheeks warm. Even if I loved another ghost, who was a helluva lot sexier than the one before me now, I couldn’t deny his appeal. “What can I do for you?”
A very sexy smile crossed his face. “What would you like to do for me?”
“Good grief.” As if I needed another ghost after my tail, since one had already seduced me and made me fall in love with him. “Trust me, Jake, I’m not in the mood. If you want my help, you better get to it quickly before I send you away.”
He folded his arms, a little of the heat fading from his eyes. “Don’t need any help. I’ve been exploring the past years and I’m content doing that. I was walking and saw you, and well,” his gaze did another slow slide over me, “you look different than the others, so I was curious.”
“That’s it?” I retorted, staring him down, not believing that for a second. “You want nothing from me? You were simply curious?”
He leaned down and, in an instant, his eyes once again smoldered. “Never said I wouldn’t want you, sweetheart.”
My cheeks burned hotter. Sure, I shouldn’t be reacting to his charm, but I wasn’t dead—just in love—and well, this ghost had mastered the art of seduction. “Okay, great. We’re kinda busy at the moment, so it was great meeting you, but you better be on your way.”
Jake looked at Alexander with a firm nod, then to me, he said, “The pleasure in meeting you was all mine, beautiful.” With an incline of his head, he gave me his charismatic smile before he strode away toward the forest.
I watched him and his fluid stride until he faded into the dark night, totally shocked. “Oh my god, he wanted nothing.” I looked at Caley. “Seriously, he just came and talked to us then left. And he was nice about it.”
Most ghosts that didn’t want my help were crotchety, exactly as the old gentleman had been at the swamp and always seemed to think I had some evil plan to force them away.
Oddly enough, the interaction with Jake was almost refreshing. To not be needed, pulled into some mystery I didn’t want any part of and simply talked to without some motive behind it felt…nice.
Caley snorted, flicking her locks over her shoulder. “Clearly, he was very nice to you. Your cheeks are bright red.”
I parted my lips to defend myself, but before I got a word out, Gretchen interjected, “I’m ready.”
Glancing over my shoulder, and with the help of my flashlight, I spotted her a few feet away. Her two fists clenched around something in her hands. With a full cringe of my body, I glimpsed sideways at Caley. “Here we go.”
Even in the dark night, her skin looked pale and her eyebrows were furrowed. “Let’s get this over with before I change my mind.”
Gretchen finally reached us, settling in front of Caley, and held out a hand to her. When I angled my flashlight down toward her palm, I noticed a locket with black ribbon. “What’s that?”
My best friend took a step forward, examining the necklace with suspicion. “Yes, what is that?”
Gretchen chuckled softly, probably at the horror crossing Caley’s face. “You need to wear this. The lilies in the locket will protect you. Alexander won’t be able to cause you any harm or do any mischief—.”
Without letting Gretchen finish, Caley grabbed the necklace and slid it over her head. After which, she lifted the golden locket and gave it a hard look. “This shit is weird.” She raised her head and the incredulity in her eyes had deepened. “It will honestly keep me safe?”
Gretchen nodded. “It will.”
While I trusted Gretchen and her magic, I understood why Caley didn’t. If I hadn’t seen Gretchen’s spells work with my very own eyes, I doubted I’d feel as confident as I did now. “I know it’s hard to believe, but she’s telling the truth.”
