Lucky Stars (Ghosts and Reincarnation #5)(79)

Belle found she was aggravated, not shy, not retiring, not meek, nor mild but straight out annoyed.

At Jack, who, she noted with irritation, was stubborn.

And a bit of a know-it-all.

Therefore, she asked tartly, “Okay, since they don’t exist then you won’t mind me doing… whatever… to help them on their way.”

Jack was silent a moment then he replied, “Knock yourself out, love.”

Belle smiled but Jack’s arms gave her a small shake.

“Just as long as you or your mother, who I’m assuming gave you this idea and is in on it with you, or your grandmother, who also disappeared after dinner, or Mum and Yasmin, who, if they get wind of this will want to join in, don’t put yourselves in danger.”

“We won’t put ourselves in danger,” Belle assured him, still smiling.

“I want you leading the pack,” Jack demanded. “I shudder to think what your mother would have up her sleeve.”

“Don’t worry, Jack. Mom will listen to me,” Belle kind of lied.

She might get her mother to listen to her.

She also might not.

Jack was silent another moment before he muttered, “I get the feeling I’m going to regret this.”

“Everything will be just fine,” Belle promised cheerfully.

Jack’s hand lifted and his fingers tangled in her hair.

“Can we go to bed now?” he asked, his voice dipped low and sexy and Belle’s belly did a flip.

Bed, with Jack, would be good.

Although bed, with Jack, could also be a place where things could get even more complicated.

Belle’s heart and soul were already ready for that.

Belle’s mind, however, wasn’t quite there yet.

Therefore she requested, “Can we watch the storm a while?”

Without hesitation, something else that helped convince her mind, just not entirely, Jack shifted her so her back was no longer to the window but she was facing it.

Then he lifted his knees and she fell between them.

His arms resumed their place around her, her torso twisted, she wound her arms around Jack, placed her cheek to his chest, her lower body curled between his legs and Belle lay in the protective shell of his large frame.

Thus, they watched the storm.

The thunder had long since died, as had the lightning but the rain slammed against the panes.

Belle relaxed in Jack’s arms and, there, she fell asleep.

* * * * *

Lewis and Myrtle

Myrtle stood invisible in the corner of the room as her beloved Jack lifted her newly beloved Belle and carried her to bed, Jack’s dogs jumping up to follow close at his heels.

Jack rested her in bed, carefully took off her dressing gown then pulled off his shirt and Myrtle blushed but she didn’t move.

She watched Jack join Belle in bed as Gretl settled on her side but Baron, although he lay down on his belly, watched Myrtle.

Myrtle gave the dog a friendly wave and Baron let out a gentle woof.

“Quiet, Baron,” Jack ordered softly and instantly Baron put his jaws on his front paws but he didn’t take his blinking eyes from the girl-child ghost.

Myrtle walked backwards, melting through the wall and once through, she zoomed to where Lewis was hovering at the window in the eastern turret, watching the storm.

“Lewis, Lewis, Lewis! Belle’s going to help us!” Myrtle cried upon reaching him, grabbing his arm to give it a good shake.

Lewis turned to look at his sister.

“She can’t help us, Myrtie Mine,” he replied, using the nickname their mother had given Myrtle so many years ago. “She has to be –”

“She saved a bunch of children from drowning. I heard it. She told Jack the whole story,” Myrtle explained excitedly.

Lewis’s ghost form went still at this news.

“She’s a real-life hero,” Myrtle announced. “She’s going to find a way. I know she is. I could tell by her voice. Everyone is going to help her. Everyone but Jack, that is,” Myrtle told him then suggested brightly, “I think we should appear in front of Jack!”

Lewis rolled his ghost eyes to the ceiling then back to his sister.

“I keep telling you, no. You’re always wanting to appear in front of Jack. You wanted to appear in front of Gareth too.”

“I liked Jack’s father,” Myrtle sulked. “I don’t know why you won’t ever let us –”

“I don’t either,” Lewis explained for the millionth time. “We just can’t. I don’t know why, I just feel it. We can’t. Something will happen, something bad.” He floated closer to his sister. “Please, Myrtle, just listen to me and don’t do anything silly. If Belle wants to try, we can help her. But you have to promise me you won’t appear in front of Jack.”

Myrtle looked sullen a moment then she nodded jerkily.

“Promise me, Myrtle,” Lewis pressed.

“Lewis –”

“Say it out loud.”

She crossed her arms on her chest then said waspishly, “I promise.”

If Lewis could breathe, he’d have let out a breath.

The rules were, if you promised out loud, you couldn’t break the promise, both of them new that by heart.

Myrtle floated away in full pout.