Page 41 of The Accidental Ghost

Shamus pulled her close, letting her rest her head on his muscled shoulder. “Just rest, Ralph. We’re not far.”

Nina adjusted the rearview mirror, her eyes glittering in the dark car as she glanced at the screen in the SUV. “Just got a text from Wanda. Georgie and Dex are at the house. Our resident angels. Maybe now we’ll finally get some fucking answers.”

It wasn’t long before they were driving up the winding path to Nina’s castle, the bumps along the way making Ralph’s stomach roll.

She gripped Shamus’s arm, wincing. “Do ghost’s feel…things? Like internally?”

Shamus’s face expressed his worry as he cupped her chin, tipping it upward, running his thumb over her bottom lip. “Internally? Are you in pain, Ralph? What’s wrong?”

“Not pain, per se, I just feel…off. My stomach’s in an uproar, and my head is throbbing. I feel weak as a newborn. In fact, I feel exactly like I did after Gloria, and now I’m afraid…”

“You’ll end up back in Hell,” Nina finished for her, slamming on the brakes and putting the SUV in park. “Not if I have a fucking say in it. C’mon, let’s get your glowing ass inside, where we can talk to Georgie and Dex.”

Shamus scooped her up while Nina popped opened the door, but Ralph struggled. “You don’t have to carry me, Shamus. I can walk. Really,” she protested, but it sounded pathetically weak even to her own ears.

“I don’t mind,” he grumbled, hauling her upward and traipsing through the snowy, cold night into Nina’s castle, where the women, Darnell, Arch, and who she presumed were Dex and George, immediately surrounded them.

He carried Ralph to Nina’s red couch and gently set her down, where she somehow managed to stay put rather than floating to the ceiling.

Marty raced to her side, her pretty face full of worry. “Ooo, what happened, honey? Are you okay? Tell us what we can do to make you feel better without smothering you with hugs you can’t feel and cookies and milk you can’t eat.”

Ralph chuckled lightly, her heart clenching with gratitude that she’d met these people who were so willing to help her.

Wanda leaned over the back of the couch, her eyes sympathetic and full of warmth as she tried and failed to cup Ralph’s chin with no luck. Regardless, the sentiment was there.

“Nina told us what you did for Drucinda and Katriana. What a lovely moment, Ralph, but it looks as though it exhausted you. Is there anything I can get you to make you more comfortable?”

“Thank you, Wanda, but I’m okay. Just happy I’m still here and not down,” she whispered, “there…”

A gorgeous woman with twinkling eyes and a broad smile came into view, a tall handsome man with raven-black hair and chocolate-brown eyes by her side. The woman tucked her hair over her shoulder, reaching out to place a hand on Ralph’s arm.

“You’re tired because you haven’t fully transitioned, Ralph. “I’m George, by the way, and this is my husband, Dex. We’re guardian angels.”

“You can touch me?” Why was she more surprised George could touch her than the admission she was a guardian angel?

The beautiful woman nodded, her eyes warm and inviting, her face glowing. Literally. “I can because I’m of the heavenly variety, just like you. Or like you will be when we figure this out. Now, you,” she said, pointing to the couch, “need to stay put and regain your strength while we talk. Deal?”

Dex and Shamus shook hands. “Good to see you again, Dex,” he said with warmth in his gravelly tone.

Dex slapped him on the back. “You, too, buddy! How’s my man Dale?”

“He’s aces. Just aces. In fact, he’s around here somewhere. The ladies were kind enough to pick him up from my place for me while we were gone. He’ll sure be happy you’re here.”

Nina threw her arms around George, giving her a squeeze. “Wings! Haven’t seen ya in a while. You look happy. You happy? ’Cause if you’re not, I’ll kick Dex’s heavenly ass.”

It was funny to see Nina in a moment that felt almost gregarious, light even. But it was also clear she cared about her past clients, despite all her grumbling.

“Did you miss me, Vampire Lady?” George asked on a saucy grin, giving Nina a kiss on the cheek.

“Nina,” Dex said, opening his arms to the vampire with a deep laugh. “Bring it in, lady.”

She gave Dex a hug, dropping a kiss on his cheek. “Ya look good, Dexie. How’s the rescue?”

Dex smiled, handsome and easy. “The rescue’s great. We’ve had a lot of adoptions and our new foster program is going crazy-good, thanks to all your networking. How’s the business of accidental paranormals faring?”

She laughed with a roll of her eyes. “Same old same. Whining, crying, ‘oh, no, this can’t be real’. Wah-wah-wah. You know, the uzhe bullshit, just a different day.”

Ralph watched the exchange between them, and she couldn’t help but remind Nina, she hadn’t cried—not once. Or at least not in front of them.

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