Page 56 of Any Luck at All

“Juvenile games?” Adalia countered, quick to anger as always. “This was Dottie’s idea, and she’s well into her seventies.”

“Eighties,” Dottie corrected, her head bobbing.

“Well, there you have it,” Adalia snapped. “She’smucholder than me.”

“Well, I’m not sure aboutmucholder,” Dottie muttered to River. “I’d like to think I’m young at heart.”

“Of course you are, Aunt Dottie.” River was speaking to the elderly woman, but his gaze was fully on Georgie and everything about him screamed,I’m so, so sorry.

“I think I should go first,” Jack said with a bit of a glare, but it was hard to know who it was directed toward since he wasn’t there in person. “I choose River to be my proxy, and I’m gonna need him to use the tuning rod too.” He held up a fist in front of his scrunched-up face and twisted it. “Like really grasp it tightly to feel the energy. Since you were so close to him and all.”

Dottie perked up. “Oh, that’s a good idea. Especially since Jack didn’t know Beau at all, and you did.”

River’s face froze and his eyes flicked from Georgie to the large crystal in Dottie’s hand.

Georgie moved next to the monitor, banking on the hope that Dottie was electronically clueless. “Maybe River and I should flip for it,” she said. “Does anyone have a coin? Dottie?”

Dottie glanced down at her hips, as though looking for pockets in a dress that obviously lacked them. Georgie took advantage of the moment and blindly reached behind the monitor, ripping a cord out of the back at random.

The screen went black. Maybe her luck had changed.

“Adalia?” Georgie called out in mock concern. “Jack? Lee?” She turned to Dottie wide-eyed. “I think Beau disconnected them.”

Dottie frowned, her lips thinning as she studied the screen for a moment.

“She’s right,” River added. “One minute they were there and the next they were gone. This must be Beau’s doing. I don’t think he wanted them here for the séance.”

“Hmm…” Dottie said, deep in thought.

Josie’s brows knitted together. “But didn’t Georgie—”

“I think it’s obvious that Beau’s spirit is already here,” River said, picking up the basket and grabbing a black rock. “I say we just pass this around.” He shoved it at Lurch. “Pick the one that speaks to you and hand it to the next person.” When no one was looking, he snuck a glance at Georgie and winked.

An odd mixture of emotions pooled in Georgie’s chest. Gratitude. Comradery. Appreciation. None of the other men in her life, past or present, would have handled this situation like River just had. Her father and Lee would have made withering comments and then started bossing people around (which Lee would have gotten around to if Georgie hadn’t pulled the plug), and her previous boyfriends would have stomped off or acted disgusted. Granted, Dottie was River’s aunt, but Georgie knew the respect and concern he’d shown for her feelings wasn’t limited to her. He’d shown it to Josie and to Lurch. He didn’t jump to conclusions or shoot off his temper. His kindness and empathy made him even more appealing.

No. No. No. You’re supposed to be thinking about him less. Not more!

He still hadn’t looked away, and the warmth in her chest shifted, now igniting her body, and she released an involuntary laugh. She must have it really bad for him if she was getting turned on in the middle of all of this.

Jezebel let out a loud screech as if to concur.

Several people scampered out of the way as the cat jumped off the table and shot into the kitchen, but the basket of crystals continued to make its way around the room until it reached Josie. She dumped them all onto her lap and began to sort through them.

Georgie was starving and there was no way she was eating anything on that table after Jezebel had wandered through it. She half-considered running into the kitchen to see if Dottie had any comfort food in the fridge, but she worried it would be rude. Plus, while she didn’t like admitting she was afraid of a cat, she was pretty sure anyone with half a brain was afraid ofthatcat. How much longer was this thing going to take?

“Dottie,” Georgie said. “What’s next?”

“Well, after everyone has their crystals, we’re going to communicate with Beau.”

Oh dear. Was Dottie going to use the Ouija board? Georgie wasn’t particularly superstitious, but after everything else that had happened, the last thing she needed was to open a demon portal in Asheville, North Carolina.

Dottie asked everyone to gather in a circle. River slid next to Georgie, his arm inches from hers. She felt the heat of his body seeping into hers, and found herself edging slightly closer.

“Okay, now,” Dottie said. “Holding the crystal in your right hand, take the hand of the person next to you.”

River glanced down at Georgie as his hand tentatively sought hers, as though he feared she might pull away.

She stared up at him, telling herself that holding his hand was a bad idea—theworstidea—yet she found herself linking her fingers with his, the smooth rock in his hand pressing into her palm.

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