Call On Me (3 page)

One delicately
arched brow lifted.

“Maybe a
little,” he admitted.

“So glad I can
entertain you.”

“You have no
idea, honey.” Ghost turned his attention to the waiter approaching
the table. “Hey, Tommy, how’s it going?”

“Same old, same
old.” Tommy flipped the notepad open. “What’ll it be?”

“I’ll have a
chicken burger and a cup of coffee.”

“The usual,
then.”

“Ah, yes?”
Ghost glanced across the table to find Ali grinning widely. Okay,
obviously she knew what was going on.

Tommy didn’t
even look at her. “And what do you want?”

“I’ll just have
a cup of tea.”

“The usual for
you as well, then, I see.”

Ghost’s brows
rose. Hmmm, seemed like Tommy was having problems of his own. Tommy
avoided looking at either of them and simply walked off.

“Charming,”
Ghost remarked. “Luckily he’s the boss or he’d have to fire himself
for poor customer care.”

“He’s having
issues.” Ali looked after Tommy’s retreating figure before
returning her attention to Ghost. “So, how goes the monster
slaying?”

“Hang on a
minute.” Ghost leaned his forearms on the table top and linked his
fingers together. “What’s going on with Tommy?”

She placed a
fingertip against her lips. “Secret.”

“Are you sworn
to secrecy?”

“Yep.”

Damn. If there
was one thing Ali was good at, it was keeping other people’s
secrets. Some she found out by some weird method she had, some she
was told by the person themselves. Not once had anyone ever lived
to regret telling Ali their secret. Still…“Name anything you
want.”

“World
domination.”

“That’s a bit
steep, isn’t it?”

“You
asked.”

“Fine. World
domination. You have it. Now what’s the secret?”

She simply
smiled that slow, easy Ali smile that never failed to make him
smile back. Her green eyes sparkled with laughter, making warmth
slip through him.

Ali had always
provided him with not only amusement and annoyance, but an easy
camaraderie that made him relax in her company as he seldom did
with anyone. He had only a handful of people that he completely
relaxed with, and she was one of the privileged few. It probably
stemmed from the fact that she’d never thought him and his ideas
weird, and many was the time she’d stood up for him at school even
though he hadn’t needed it. Ali had been his champion as much as
he’d been hers.

And he’d known
her long enough to know when to surrender. “Okay. I give up.” With
a sigh, he sat back in the booth.

“Didn’t take
long.”

“I know when
I’m flogging a dead horse.”

Plucking a
paper napkin from the holder in the centre of the table, Ali
commenced folding it into intricate patterns. “How goes the murder
and mayhem business?”

Ghost watched
the movements of her dexterous fingers. “Good. In fact, I’m going
to seek inspiration tomorrow night.”

She glanced up,
interest sparking in her eyes. “Really? Where are you off to?”

“Screaming
Pond.”

“Screaming
Pond.” Ali pursed her lips. “Never heard of it.”

“Formerly known
as the little pond off the river.”

“Since when has
that been known as Screaming Pond?”

“Since a little
known legend was told to me by Parker.”

“Old Man Parker
isn’t really all there, you know.” Ali tapped her temple. “Sweet
old man, but…”

Ghost glanced
up as Tommy appeared and placed the cups of hot coffee and tea on
the table. Without bothering to place them before Ghost and Ali,
Tommy walked away. Ghost stared after him before turning back to
Ali with his brows raised in query.

Ali merely
placed her finger against her pursed lips.

“Right.” Ghost
sighed. “Secret.” He loved secrets. Loved finding them out, but
again, no use asking Ali.

Pulling the cup
of tea in front of her, Ali ripped open a couple packets of sugar
and shook them into her cup before stirring it briskly with the
teaspoon. “So, what did Parker tell you that has you slavering at
the mouth to go to this Screaming Pond?”

“Maybe I have
my own secrets,” Ghost replied smugly.

She snorted
derisively. “Yeah, right.”

He laughed.

“Come on,
spill. Must be something nasty to have you planning a midnight
rendezvous with something nasty.”

“I do love your
choice of words. A nasty something for a nasty something.”

Ali threw the
napkin at him.

Catching it, he
chuckled.

“If you’re not
going to tell me-”

“Of course I’ll
tell you, honey. Don’t I tell you everything?”

She crossed her
eyes at him.

Growing
serious, Ghost leaned his folded arms on the table top and leaned
forward, amused when, unconsciously, she mimicked his stance.

“The legend
isn’t well known because it hasn’t been around for a long
time.”

So how do you
know it’s a legend?”

“Because
legends have to start somewhere, right?”

She nodded.

“Remember that
woman who disappeared five years ago?”

“No.”

“Huh. Go
figure.”

“Did you check
up on it yourself?”

“Where’s the
fun in that?”

“Silly me. What
was I thinking, asking you a question like that? As if you’d need
to validate it first.”

“Exactly.”
Ghost tapped one finger on the table top. “Apparently, she was
murdered but her body never found.”

“So how does
Parker know she was murdered?”

“He reckons
he’s seen her ghost.”

“Seriously?

“Seriously.”

“I don’t
believe it. Tell me you don’t either.”

“I’m going to
check it out.”

“Really?”
Resignation resonated in her tone.

“Really.”

“When?”

“Tomorrow
night.”

“Why not
tonight?”

“Because I had
to rescue a damsel in distress.”

She stared at
him for several seconds before blinking. “You were on your way out
there when you saw me?”
“Yep.”

“So if you left
now-”

“Nah.” Ghost
shook his head. “It’s a two hour drive over a dirt road and she
only appears at a certain time. It’s too late now.”

“Aw, crap.”
Reaching out, Ali laid her hand on his forearm. “I’m sorry, Ty. I
know how you love following these stories around and checking them
out.”

Shrugging, he
turned his hand to catch hers and squeeze gently. “No worries, Ali.
I’ll go tomorrow night instead. Besides, it’s a full moon tomorrow
night and all things spooky come out then.”

“But you needed
inspiration to continue your current book tonight, right?”

“I have
inspiration. This was a pleasure trip to capture atmosphere.” He
rubbed his thumb along her palm, marvelling once again at how soft
her skin was, how warm her hand. Ali had always been the embodiment
of warmth and softness. At least, body-wise. Her tongue could be
sharp with both annoyance and humour, depending on her mood.

“Only you could
get pleasure from chasing ghosts and bloody legends.” She grinned
widely.

“So, do you
have any plans for tomorrow night?”

Her face lit up
instantly. “Are you asking me out?”

“Up for a bit
of ghost hunting, honey?”

“Are you
kidding me? Of course!” Withdrawing her hand from his, she grabbed
her cup of tea. “It’s been awhile since we’ve stalked the
countryside in search of murder and mayhem.”

Picking up his
own cup, Ghost took a sip and studied her over the rim. Her eyes
sparkled with delight, a soft flush filling her apple cheeks.
Enthusiasm spilled over her and he couldn’t help but grin inwardly.
Ali on a ghost hunt was fun. What had been going to be a solitary
hunt was now promising to be entertaining.

He just loved
being entertained by Ali.

“So how many
ghost hunts have you been on since our last one?” Ali queried.

“Two.”

“What?” She
looked indignant. “And you didn’t ask me?”

“You were on
dates. Two disastrous dates, if I remember correctly.”

“All my dates
are disastrous.” The delight left her face to be replaced with a
downcast expression. “I don’t know what’s wrong with me.”

“I think we’ve
been down this path before. Many times.”

Normally this
would have produced a sarcastic reply, but this time Ali just
looked at him with a hint of sadness on her face.

Okay, that
sadness got to him. Happy Ali, sarcastic Ali, angry Ali – he could
handle them all. But sad Ali? That got to him,
really
got to
him. Lowering his cup, he attempted to jolly her along. “Now,
honey, don’t go into the doldrums. Your hero will come along.”

“I’ve thought
that for years.”

“You’re not
that old.”

“Old enough.”
She took another sip of tea, her thick lashes lowering over her
eyes. “Maybe old enough now to finally stop hoping my hero will
come along.”

“You should
never stop hoping.” Reaching out once more, he patted her hand.
“Stop moping. The Ali I know never gives up.”

“Maybe I’m
maturing.”

He almost
laughed out loud until she glanced across at him and he saw that
sadness in her eyes. Ah crap, that look was bound to make him do
something stupid. Always had done, always would do. “Honey, I’ll
help you find your hero.” Oh look, it had happened again.

He was just
mentally cursing himself for getting involved in his friend’s love
life – or lack thereof – when she shot him a sarcastic look. “Oh,
really?”

Brows rising,
he looked back at her. “What, you think I couldn’t do it better
than you?”

“You think you
could?”

“I just said
so.”

“You can’t be
serious.” Now she was laughing at him.

“Honey, I know
men. I’m a man. I think I’m a better judge of character than you
are when it comes to the members of my sex.”

“Now that
sounds dirty. Is there something about yourself you’re not telling
me?” She batted her lashes at him.

He couldn’t
help but be partially amused. “Yeah, I think you might be wrong
about the maturing thing.”

“Don’t try and
change the subject.”

“You’re way off
from maturing that much.”

Ali just
grinned.

“Just leave
your love life in my hands.” Ghost waggled his hands at her. “I’ll
get you a man.”

“I’m not
that
desperate.”

“Honey, you
issued a challenge.”

“Are you
serious?”

“As a heart
attack.”

She just shook
her head at him.

“I can
guarantee you won’t be dumped on the side of the road at night on
your own.”

“Thanks, Ghost,
but I’ll find my own man.” Ali drained the last of the tea from her
cup before snapping it briskly back onto the saucer. “However, when
you
need a hand to find a man, let me know.”

“Two things
wrong with that,” he drawled.

“Oh?” She
smiled innocently.

“Yeah. One, I
don’t want to be left on the side of the road.”

“You’re like a
dog with a bone.”

“And two, I
don’t need help finding a
woman
.”

“You’re still
single.”

“I still don’t
need help finding a woman. I have plenty of female company anytime
I want it.” No bragging, a true statement.

“It’s been
awhile since your last girlfriend.”

“Have you been
keeping track?”

“You weren’t
exactly begging Linda to stay with you.”

“She got a job
in the city.” Lazily, he swirled the coffee in his cup while
watching Ali closely.

“You didn’t ask
her to stay.”

“Why would
I?”

“Undying
love?”

“I didn’t love
her.”

“So what was
it? I mean, she was practically sucking face with you every chance
she got.”

Ah Linda His
last girlfriend could kiss a man with enough expertise to make his
toes curl. Good memories. Still… “Goodness me, Miss Mackay, have
you been spying on me?”

“Kind of hard
to miss you two doing everything but fornicating in the middle of
the street.”

“Jealous?”

“Hardly.”

He grinned at
her. The light was back in her eyes, the green dancing with
laughter, just the way he liked to see them. Laughter, not shadows.
He just had to make sure the laughter stayed there. Crap, that also
meant that maybe he should give her a sneaky hand to find the right
man. God knew she had bad taste that got her into trouble.

Cripes, the
things he did for his friends. It was enough to make him shake his
head at himself.

“So, what time
do you want me to be ready?” Ali queried.

“Huh?”

“Tomorrow
night. Ghost hunt.”

“Oh.” He
refocussed. “Be ready at nine.”

“I’ll be
there.”

“Looking
forward to it.” And that was no lie.

~*~

Entering the
house, Ali locked the door behind her and headed for her bedroom.
Entering, she tossed her little clutch on the dressing table,
kicked off her shoes and yanked her dress off before heading for
the shower. By the time she was back out, Minx, the old ginger cat,
was sitting on the floor beside her bed.

“Hey, Minxie.”
Bending down, she lovingly stroked the old cat’s ears.

Minx purred
softly, her wise old eyes half closing in pleasure.

“Another
disastrous date,” Ali informed her. Pulling on her nightie, she
popped her head through the neckline to find Minx regarding her.
“Same old story.”

Minx
blinked.

“But Ty came to
the rescue yet again. Saved, lectured, given soothing tea. Same old
story
again
.”

Minx
purred.

“Yeah, I know.
Hero to the rescue. It’s just a shame he’s not my hero.” Sighing,
Ali pulled the bedclothes back and slid into bed. Patting the
mattress, she smiled as Minx jumped up, watching as she settled
herself stiffly into a small ball beside her.