Page 2 of Spooks & Specters

“I did, yes, and got his phone number.” Beckett hip-checked Kit. “You haven’t opened the envelope yet?”

“No, I got distracted watching you make a play for Cupid.” Kit giggled. “And good grief, I never thought those words would come out of my mouth.”

“You just never know.”

“No. No, you really don’t.” Kit stared at the envelope. His name was written across the front, and he recognized Hudson’s handwriting.

“I’m dying here, open it.”

Chuckling, Kit did just that.

X to the O! Please join us to celebrate Valentine’s Day in a very special way!

Skating by the Sea

February 14th at The Rink in Downtown San DeLain

A limo will arrive for you at 6:00.

Everything you need is in the duffel.

Love, Hudson and Connie

“What in the world is Skating by the Sea?”

“I have no idea. But it sounds interesting.” Beckett pulled out his cell phone. “Give me a second to google The Rink.”

Kit opened the duffel bag while Beckett was researching. “Huh. These are some of my winter clothes.”

“The Rink is a man-made ice-skating rink that’s located near the ocean. That’s cool. I didn’t know we had something like that.”

“Ice-skating? Good grief. It’s been years since I’ve gone ice-skating.” Kit dug around in the duffel. There were jeans, a long sleeve shirt, sweater, a jacket, gloves, shoes, and a beanie. “Looks like there’s everything I’d need here.”

“Good. It says to dress warm. What a lovely way to spend Valentine’s Day. I wonder which one of them thought of it.”

“I don’t know, but whichever one of them did, they did a good job.” Kit zipped the duffel and picked it up. “I’m taking this back to my office. It looks as if I’m going ice-skating for Valentine’s Day.”

RIGHT BEFORE lunch, Kit received a text message from Hudson saying Kit’s lunch was being catered and would arrive in ten minutes. Exactly ten minutes on the dot, Beckett was back in Kit’s doorway.

“Lunch is here.”

“Oh good. What did he send?” Standing, Kit walked around his desk and joined Beckett in the doorway.

“Nope. You’re going to have to come see.”

“Please tell me it’s not another nearly naked Cupid.”

“Sorry to disappoint, but no. The delivery guy was completely dressed. It’s set up in the break room.”

Kit smelled it before they reached the eating area. His mates had sent pizza, which was perfect. Opening the door, Beckett let Kit go first. The delivery guy had already left, and there were several pizza boxes arranged on a small table set up in the back, along with a nice assortment of two-liter sodas, red plastic cups, and a cooler of ice. The plates and napkins were Valentine themed.

And, of course, there was a big pink envelopeanda big red envelope sitting right in the middle of the table with Kit’s name written on both of them.

A sense of warmth filled his chest as he rushed to the table. He reached for the pink envelope and eagerly tore it open, revealing a Valentine’s card adorned with glittery pink hearts.

On the inside it said:Happy Valentine’s Day! I can bear-ly wait to see you! Love, Connie.

Kit’s eyes stung. Wasn’t that the sweetest thing? “Well, damn.”

---