Page 38 of Wild Scottish Fortune

“If you don’t know it yet, you’ll find out soon enough.” Miss Elva beamed at Graham as he approached with drinks, his face set in stone. “And look at this gorgeous one. Care to come on my travels with me, handsome? I’ll make it worth your while.” Miss Elva winked, and Graham almost dropped his tray of drinks. Setting them down hastily, he gave Miss Elva a quick nod.

“Appreciate the offer, but it looks like you have your hands full already.”

“There’s always room for more.” Miss Elva pursed her lips.

Rafe appeared over Miss Elva’s shoulders and hissed at Graham.

“Imbecile. Ungrateful beast.”

My eyebrows winged up as I tried to pretend that I didn’t see a pirate ghost throwing a hissy fit behind Miss Elva’s back.

“You hear that, Graham? The more the merrier.” Agnes slapped Graham on the back, and he turned a forced smile at her.

“Surely there is. Yet I’m busy running this pub, and what’s that, Finlay? Another pint you say?” Graham hurried back behind the bar while Agnes’s shoulders shook with laughter.

“That one has his eye on you.” Miss Elva nodded to Agnes.

“Me and every other woman that crosses his path,” Agnes said, rolling her eyes.

“Nah, honey. It’s you. But you’re not ready to see that, are you?” Miss Elva’s gaze sharpened on Agnes, and I watched with interest, wondering how Agnes would respond.

“It’s complicated,” Agnes said after a beat of silence.

“Aren’t they all, honey? It’s why I never tie myself to one man. Aside from my sweet Rafe, that is.” Rafe winked back into sight over her shoulder, an adoring light in his eyes.

“That’s right, my lovemountain. I’ll always be devoted to you even if you share your body with others.”

“And why shouldn’t I share? There’s more than enough for me to go around. I can’t help that I attract menwherever I go.” Miss Elva boomed her rolling laugh and Agnes looked over at me, a question in her eyes.

“Um, there’s a ghost here. A pirate to be exact,” I whispered in her ear.

“Rafe?” Agnes guessed.

“That’s the one.”

“Interesting. A ghost lover. Very progressive.”

“That’s me, child, I’m open to it all.” Miss Elva winked at one of the men across from her who reached out and trailed a hand down her arm.

“Can I be you when I grow up?” Agnes wondered out loud.

“Or at the very least, bottle your confidence?” I asked, and then took a hasty sip of my Coke. Usually I wasn’t so bold in what I said to strangers, but exhaustion had dropped my guards.

“What’s going on in this town? There’s a lot of power here.” Miss Elva leaned forward, bracelets jangling as she braced her elbows on the table.

“It’s…” Agnes glanced to the three men.

“Gentlemen, would you mind taking your dinner at another table? Looks like it’s going to be us girlies for a bit.”

“Anything you want.” The men rose as one and we all, along with every other woman at the pub, watched them cross the room and take another table.

“Where did you find them? They’re, like, perfectly matched,” Agnes asked, turning back to the table.

“Aren’t they just? Child, they just flock to me. I don’t blame them either. They know a good thing when they see it.” Miss Elva preened and I laughed. She was impossible inthe best way, and I loved how confident she was with herself.

Graham arrived at our table, carrying a large tray of food, and my stomach grumbled.

“I ordered a bit of everything, does that suit?” Miss Elva looked at me.

---