Page 5 of TBR: Dead But Well Read

Lochlan scowled and took another bite of his burger. Unbothered, Ev snatched several fries from Loch’s pile.

“No, we were talking about a ghost I met at the library this afternoon.” Grabbing a bottle of ketchup from the fridge, Isqueezed some out onto my wrapper. “She’s been dead for three years.”

Ev froze with a fry halfway to his mouth. “Three years? Even if that were possible, she’d be nothing more than flickering energy at this point.”

I shook my head and picked at my food. “But she isn’t. In fact, she’s so vibrant I could’ve sworn she was a living, breathing woman when I entered the archive room.”

My heart jerked in my chest at the memory of her gorgeous smile, inquisitive eyes, perfect curves, and her plump, kissable lips. I’d gone years without experiencing the stir of carnal desire, but today I’d been slapped in the face with it. Hard.

“Hello? Anyone in there?” Loch snapped his fingers in front of my face.

Blinking away the image of the seductive spirit, I brought the room back into focus. “Uh, yeah? I mean, did you ask something?”

“I asked if you knew how she died. But based on your expression, I’m thinking maybe I should ask how hot she was.” A smirk lifted the corner of Lochlan’s mouth. “I didn’t think it was possible for the renowned, cold-as-ice Rhodes to be smitten.”

Rather than denying my attraction, which would only have served to make him more suspicious, I answered his first question. “She claimed she got run over by Santa.”

Ev choked on a fry and Lochlan slapped his back. When at last he could speak again, Ev wheezed out, “She said that?”

I chuckled. “Yep. With a straight face.”

“Interesting. I like this chick already.” Lochlan laughed, then turned thoughtful. “I think I’ll visit the library tomorrow.”

Ev choked a second time and spluttered, “You? At a library? Someone check the weather report; I bet hell has frozen over!”

“Whatever. Books might not be my thing, but I’m pretty good when it comes to ghosts.” Lochlan leaned against the counter and raised a brow. “And I’m even better with women.”

There was no denying the truth of the statement. We made a good team, each of us pulling our weight during our missions. While I tended to be more of the muscle, and Ev did the lion’s share of research, Lochlan handled most of the communication with the living and the ghosts.

I knew most people considered me emotionless and cold, but since I preferred being left alone, I did nothing to change their perception of me.

With his perfectly messy golden hair, crystal-blue eyes, and boyish good looks, Evander could’ve had a different woman in his bed every night. But he preferred spending his evenings with a book. In fact, the man spent every waking minute with his nose buried inside the pages of a book. Heck, if it weren’t for Lochlan and me, Ev would probably have died of starvation at this point.

So suffice it to say that Ev and I didn’t have the best people skills. Lochlan was different though. He was good with both the living and the dead. And it wasn’t just his cover-model good looks that had women falling all over him. No, he exuded a sincerity that had strangers willing to spill their deepest secrets within five minutes of meeting him.

Which meant he’d be able to get the library ghost’s backstory far faster than I could. It made logical sense for him to go, so why did the thought of Loch meeting her make my stomach feel like I’d swallowed several lead weights?

Why did the thought of her big brown eyes with their beautiful green rings going all soft over Lochlan’s boyish good looks make me want to punch something? Something like Loch’s face.

“I still believe you must’ve misheard her.” Ev’s forehead creased as he tossed his wrapper into the trash can. “There arevery few ghosts that haven’t faded a year after their death. After eighteen months, even the strongest ghosts have disintegrated. In all my studies, I haven’t run across a single record of a ghost who has survived two years past their death.”

“You think I don’t know that? I’ve been a collector since I was fifteen. I’m well aware of the ticking clock that starts the moment a person dies and what will happen if they aren’t sent off the Earthly plane before the time runs out,” I snapped, then regretted it when Ev dropped his eyes to the table.

Before we’d formed our posse, Evander had been placed with collectors who had little use for emotions and zero appreciation for his intellect. They’d eagerly worked to tear down his confidence, continuing the work Ev’s parents had done on him for years.

We’d been a posse for five years, but Lochlan and I were still working to undo the damage that had been done before we met him. Having Ev be comfortable enough to question me out loud was a big deal. Now, my surly tone might have set us back.

Swallowing my pride, I sagged into the chair opposite him. “Sorry, Ev. There is something different about her and it has me unsettled, confused. Being near her was as though I’d stepped from the dark into the light.”

Ev’s eyes lifted to study my face, and he pushed his glasses up his nose. I waited, but he didn’t question me further, his continued silence confirming that he’d retreated from me.

He’d become my brother, and I hated for there to be a wall between us. I didn’t want him to feel as though he couldn’t question me without fearing the repercussions. If I wanted to pull him back out of the shell he’d retreated into, I’d have to be vulnerable—something that would’ve been much easier to do if Lochlan wasn’t leaning on the counter listening to every word.

Lochlan was also like a brother to me—the bratty little brother.

Deciding to pretend Loch wasn’t there, and hoping he wouldn’t use the conversation as blackmail later, I took a deep breath and admitted, “Ev, I wanted to kiss her. Hades! I didn’t just want to, I almost did.”

“What?!” My admission practically yanked Ev from his shell. “You don’t even like anyone well enough to let them in your personal space, let alone allow someone to touch you.” His blue eyes glittered with interest.

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