Page 57 of Air Of Mystery
“I left my turban at home,” George said easily. Picking up the second ginger ale, he then passed it to Estella. “Well, nevertheless, this is for you, dear.”
Estella frowned. “I don’t like ginger ale.”
George smiled. “Maybe not, but you’ve been drinking it lately anyway, to try and settle your stomach.”
Estella’s eyes went wide.
“The nausea will let up in a few more weeks,” George said softly. “Congratulations by the way.”
I was now close enough that I saw her go pale.
“That’s impossible,” she whispered, setting the glass down. “Only my husband knows...”
George smiled. “Don’t worry, I have plenty of practice keeping secrets.”
Estella jerked back from him, spun on her heel and stomped out of the room. She brushed past Charlie on her way out.
“What’s with her?” Charlie asked. “Where’s Estella going in such a huff?”
“Holy shit,” I muttered to George. “Did you have to do that? Now she’s really going to hate me.”
“No, I didn’thaveto.” George smoothed his silver hair back. “Consider this one on the house.”
I waved at Charlie, and out of the corner of my mouth I said, “Jeez, George.”
“At least this way she’ll stay clear and won’t interrupt your interviews,” he pointed out.
I shook my head. “You know it wasn’t too long ago that you busted my chops for scaring a mundane...”
George arched one silver eyebrow. It was a look he was particularly proud of. “Well dear, she’s not a mundane. And as a Witch she should know better than to pick a fight with a psychic.”
I could only shake my head at the mischievous smile George was giving me.By the goddess,I thought,we are off to a roaring start with this investigation.
“Who picked a fight?” Charlie asked as he walked over. Clearly he’d caught the tail end of our exchange.
“Hey,” I said to Charlie, going up on my toes for a kiss.
He lingered over the kiss for a moment, turning a casual greeting into something more. When Charlie lifted his mouth from mine, he was smiling at me. “You look great.”
“It’s my interview outfit,” I explained, reaching up to wipe my lip gloss from his mouth.
“She thinks a dress makes her seem more approachable,” George said.
I glared at him. “Stay out of my head, George.”
“You know I’m right,” the psychic said, tossing one end of his scarf over his shoulder.
Charlie grinned. “Nice to see you again, George.”
“And you.” George shook Charlie’s hand. “I’ve been hearing good things about the veteran’s group you’ve been working with.”
Charlie smiled. “Thank you.”
“My brother is a veteran,” George explained. “He struggled to adapt to civilian life after he...” George cleared his throat. “Well...I have nothing but respect for the work you are doing. It makes a difference.”
While I did know about George’s brother, I was still surprised to hear him speaking about it to Charlie. Before I could say anything else, Camilla Midnight-Ames blew into the room like a whirlwind.
“I’m here!” she announced. “Let the paranormal experience interviewing begin!”
