Lucky Stars (Ghosts and Reincarnation #5)(122)

Jack felt his jaw grow hard before he said, “I didn’t see them but I heard the boy and you didn’t answer my question.”

“Well, that’s something, it’ll be better if you believe,” Cassandra put in.

Jack’s angry gaze swung to her, he ignored her comment and commanded, “Perhaps one of you will answer my f**king question.”

“Calm down, mate. It isn’t like this gig is easy. It’s not like it’s a love potion. Ghosts can be unpredictable,” Cassandra told him.

“Especially child ghosts. They’re always the toughest to deal with,” Angus grumbled.

“One of you, I don’t care who,” Jack cut in, “have two seconds to give me one good reason not to toss you out on your asses right f**king now.”

“Cassandra leaves, half of her protection goes with her,” Angus replied swiftly. “It’s connected to her essence. There will be some protection but we’re guessing, considering the unusualness of this job, that you need all you can get, lad.”

Jack glared at the Scot.

“And, regardless of this, Angus is the best in the business. You couldn’t get better,” Cassandra put in.

“Thanks, Cass.” Angus grinned at her.

“Well, it’s the truth,” Cassandra said to Angus.

“I know that. Still, nice to hear,” Angus returned.

“Fucking hell,” Jack muttered.

Angus looked at Jack and his face grew serious. “I promised you, I’d no’ let you down. This is a setback but, Bennett, that promise holds true. I’ll no’ let you down.”

“You need to be patient,” Cassandra added.

“And you need to understand that Belle and my room is off-limits,” Jack returned.

“We can’t –”Cassandra started.

“Off-limits,” Jack repeated firmly.

Cassandra opened her mouth to speak but Angus got there first.

“Cass, let it go,” Angus muttered out the side of his mouth. “If he’s declaring limits, that means he’s no’ kicking us out on our arses.”

“Oh yeah,” Cassandra muttered back.

“Fucking hell,” Jack muttered in return.

Cassandra’s face grew soft and she murmured, “Patience, mate, seriously, you have to trust us.”

Jack was unaffected by her soft look. “I’ll trust you when you give me reason to do so. Until then, you need to know, another stunt like this, you’re gone.”

“Understood,” Cassandra said immediately.

Jack scowled at them both trying to ascertain if they did, indeed, understand. When he could tell by their faces they did, he turned his back on them, stalked down the stairs and to Lila’s room.

The minute he entered, Belle flew to him.

His arms closed around her as her hands settled on his chest and her head tipped back.

“The children?” she asked.

Jack’s gaze slid to Lila then back to Belle. “They’ve disappeared again.”

“Damn it to hell,” Lila muttered.

“Gram’s been telling me that Cassandra and Angus can’t find them,” Belle told him.

Jack put his arm around her shoulders and moved her to the door. “We’ll have a full briefing tomorrow.”

“Do you think they’re okay?” Belle asked as Jack whistled for the dogs and nodded his goodnight to Lila.

He had no idea how to answer her.

Firstly, he now did, indeed, believe there were ghosts, as outrageous as that concept was. He couldn’t believe his ears but he also couldn’t deny he’d heard, distinctly, a young, disembodied voice shouting the name Myrtle.

Secondly, given the fact that they were ghosts, he doubted they were okay.

Lastly, they were being pursued by the Laurel and Hardy of ghost hunters and therefore felt the need to flee then disappear which meant they were seriously not okay.

“I’m sure they’re fine, love,” Jack murmured his lie.

“I hope so,” Belle whispered and before he closed the door behind them, Jack locked eyes with Lila who was biting her lip.

“It’ll be fine,” Jack assured Belle but his words were also meant for her grandmother.

As he closed the door, he saw Lila pull herself up and nod.

Then Jack waited for Belle to say her goodnights to her grandmother before he guided her and their dogs to their bedroom.

And, approximately fifteen minutes later, dogs settled, Belle’s weight heavy in his arms, Jack looked at the clock and saw that it was twelve oh three.

Finally, he thought, this f**king Sunday is over.

Chapter Eighteen

Happy

Belle

Belle woke up, hearing her own low, deep-throated moan.

This, she realised immediately, was because Jack’s hand was cupped on her breast, his thumb doing lazy circles around her nipple which did delicious things to her state of being and his tongue was gliding along the skin behind her ear which made those delicious things delectable.

“Jack?” she whispered, her brain not yet connected to her body and her body not under her control.

This point was further proved when, the instant Jack heard his name, he shifted her to her back and covered her with his long, hard frame, his lips taking hers in a deep, open-mouthed, tongues tangling, mind-boggling, upon-waking kiss.