Freaky Deaky Tiki Read online

  “I like them fine. In fact, I like him a great deal. I think she’s going to run him ragged over the course of this pregnancy. She is ... something else.”

  I narrowed my eyes. “You still think she’s hot, don’t you?”

  His chuckle was warm and dry. “She’s an attractive woman. I won’t pretend I don’t see that.” He tapped the tip of my nose and leaned forward. “I only have eyes for you, though.”

  His admission made me feel warm and gooey, which was ridiculous. I hated being such a girl, but he brought it out in me. “I don’t think it’s bad that she’s going to be demanding. She is the one who has to carry the baby. Besides, she’s not being demanding to be demanding. She’s terrified of giving birth.”

  He cocked an eyebrow. “How do you know that?”

  “I could feel it. Couldn’t you feel it?”

  “No.” His head shake was long and slow. “What do you mean you could feel it?”

  “I could feel it.” I wasn’t sure how else to describe what I sensed at the dinner table. “Whenever talk turned to the baby, if they wanted a boy or a girl, if they were going to get a new house, all that other stuff ... when the conversation shifted, I felt this overwhelming wave of panic. It wasn’t coming from me. It had to be coming from her.”

  Galen was officially intrigued. “You felt her panic?”

  It was only then that I realized that might not be normal. “Or maybe I imagined it. I don’t know.” I averted my eyes. “So ... thanks for dinner. We never did get our ice cream, but maybe next time.” If he wanted there to be a next time after I admitted I could occasionally see inside Aisling’s head.

  “I’m sorry about the ice cream.” As if reading my mind and recognizing I was about to bolt, Galen wrapped his arms around me so I had no choice but to remain. “I promise to get you ice cream as soon as we have time. Our dinner with Aisling and Griffin went a lot longer than I expected.”

  “She’s chatty.”

  He snickered. “You’re chatty, too.” He kissed my forehead, washing away some of the worry that was starting to build. “I’m glad you like her. As for feeling her fear, I’m guessing that’s because you’re growing in your powers. Before you know it, you’ll be the most powerful being on the island.”

  If he thought that was going to make me feel better, he was wrong. “I didn’t even realize it was weird that I could feel what she was feeling until I mentioned it to you. Doesn’t that suggest there’s something wrong with me?”

  “No. You’re perfect ... even that out-of-control mouth of yours.” He rocked back and forth as he moved his hands over my back. “Don’t let this get to you. I understand you’re new at all this, you don’t grasp how everything works yet, and you’re feeling uneasy because your footing doesn’t appear solid.

  “It’s fine,” he continued. “You’ll get your bearings. The island is amplifying your powers, making things happen faster than they would anywhere else. You’re handling it incredibly well.”

  Wait ... what did he say? “The island is amplifying my powers? How?”

  “It’s a magical island, Hadley. You’re a magical person who was denied knowledge of your powers for twenty-seven years. The island wants you to get control of things. It’s trying to help.”

  I pulled back, more confused than before. “You’re making the island sound like a living entity ... like on Lost. If this is going to turn into Lost, I’ll have to leave. I can’t deal with polar bears … and ghosts … and all those unanswered questions.”

  He chuckled. “I’m just saying that magical beings come here to make their homes for a reason. This is your home now. You can relax and be who you were meant to be. Because you can, things are starting to happen. There’s nothing to fear, because you inherently know what you can and can’t handle.”

  He sounded so reasonable. “That actually makes me feel better. Thank you for that.”

  “I aim to please.” He cupped my chin and gave me another kiss, this one softer and more sensual. Before I knew it, the breeze picked up and we were twined around one another, all groping hands and wayward tongues.

  We were so wrapped up in each other we didn’t notice the front door open until we heard a very distinctive throat-clearing.

  I jerked my head toward the door and found my grandfather watching us with cool-eyed contemplation. “Hello, Wesley,” I choked out.

  “I’ve decided you can call me ‘Grandpa’ if you want,” he said by way of greeting. “It seems weird for you to be calling me Wesley.”

  “Oh, well ... .” I didn’t know him that well. Sure, he’d killed a man to save my life, but even though he was spending a great deal of time at the lighthouse, very little of it was shared with me. He was much more interested in May and her ghostly antics.

  “She might not be comfortable with that yet, Wesley,” Galen interjected. “You guys need to get to know each other better.”

  “What’s to get to know?” Wesley made a face. “I’m her grandfather. She should call me ‘Grandpa.’ It’s not rocket science.”

  “I get that, but ... .” He trailed off, collecting himself. “You know what? That’s between the two of you. If you want to argue about what she should call you, have at it.”

  “We can’t argue if you have your tongue down her throat.”

  Galen’s cheek felt warm against mine. It was dark enough I couldn’t tell if he was blushing, but I had the distinct impression that he was wishing for a hole to open up in the ground beneath him so he could escape the conversation.

  “Give him a break, Gramp-sley.” I corrected myself halfway through, eliciting a chuckle from my grandfather.

  “That’s an interesting thought. Maybe we’ll go with Grampsley, huh?” He patted my shoulder before fixing Galen with a pointed look. “It’s getting late. Thank you for making sure Hadley got home safely. I’ll take it from here.”

  I pressed my lips together to keep from laughing.

  “I’m not done saying goodnight yet,” Galen argued. “My tongue feels lonely.”

  Wesley scowled. “It’s not right for you to be making out in public like this, where anyone can see.”

  Galen glanced over his shoulder. “Who’s watching? The lighthouse is set back from the road. Besides, there’s nothing wrong with making out. In fact, I kind of like it, so ... .” He gave Wesley a small nudge with his hip. “Go away. Our date isn’t over.”

  “You go away,” Wesley shot back. “I want to spend time with my granddaughter and it’s almost her bedtime.”

  My eyebrows shot up my forehead. “Okay, wait just a second ... .”

  Wesley ignored my warning tone and grabbed my arm. “Say your good nights, Hadley.”

  “Goodnight, Galen.” I flashed a wan smile. “Do you remember what we were talking about on the picnic blanket earlier? You said it wasn’t a concern. Do you still feel that way?”

  He shook his head, rueful. “No. We definitely need to come up with a plan.”

  “At least you’re finally seeing reason.”

  “Yeah, yeah.” He used his muscles to keep Wesley from shutting the door in his face and gave me another quick kiss. “I’ll be in touch tomorrow. I’ll make sure you get that ice cream I promised you.”

  He didn’t get a chance to say anything else because Wesley finally managed to slam the door and then turn his frustration on me.

  “Was that a euphemism for something? The ice cream thing? Do I need to have a man-to-man talk with him?”

  I decided to ignore the question. “I’m going to bed. Try to keep it down to a dull roar if you and May start arguing again.”

  “No promises.”

  I WOKE WITH THE BEGINNINGS of a bad headache the next morning. I showered, ran a comb through my hair and then headed for the kitchen to hunt down some aspirin. Thankfully, Wesley had left sometime during the night. May, however, hovered near the sink when I made my entrance.

  “Good morning, Sunshine.”

  I mumbled something unintelligible in ret
urn.

  “You’re always such a grumpy goose in the morning,” May chided. “I don’t see why when you live on this fabulous island. You should be happy all the time.”

  Her tone grated. “May, while I’m thrilled that you seem to be a morning person — upbeat and perky despite the fact that you can’t imbibe caffeine — I’ll never be that way. Can you just, I don’t know, take it down a notch?” I rubbed my forehead as I regarded her.

  If she was bothered by the suggestion, she didn’t show it. “Do you have a headache?” She made a clucking sound. “You really should take some aspirin.”

  “That’s what I’m working on.” I found the bottle of aspirin in the cupboard. “It must be extra humid today. I always get headaches when the humidity skyrockets.”

  “You’re simply not used to it,” May said. “In a few months you won’t even notice.”

  I hoped she was right. “Yeah, well ... did you hear about Jacob Dorsey? He was found dead yesterday on the docks. Someone stabbed him ... and put a weird tiki mask over his face.”

  “Jacob Dorsey?” It was strange to see a ghost wrinkle her nose, but May managed to pull it off without looking completely nutty. “I know him. He was a local boy, married that girl ... um ... what was her name?”

  “Casey?”

  “Yes, but her maiden name.”

  “That I don’t know. I met her briefly last night. She’s extremely pregnant and she fainted when Galen told her the news. We had to take her to the clinic and leave her there for the doctors overnight. I’m sure Galen will be heading back there today.”

  “Galen is good at his job. You don’t have to worry about that.” May managed to pour me a cup of tea, seemingly proud of herself as she slid the cup in my direction. “There are fresh lemons in the refrigerator.”

  “This is fine.” I dunked my teabag and watched her. I wanted to ask if she could find a way to cut down on Wesley’s visits — or perhaps spend time with him at the ranch — but I was desperate to do it in a way that didn’t offend her. I didn’t get the chance because she decided to take the conversation in another direction.

  “Why haven’t I been seeing as much of Galen the last two weeks?” she asked rather pointedly. “You two aren’t running into trouble, are you?”

  “No trouble.” That was mostly true. “Wesley pretty much kicked him out last night. We didn’t even get a chance to say a proper goodbye.”

  “Oh, Wesley.” She made a dismissive hand gesture that caused me to grin. “Don’t worry about him. He was the same way with your mother when she started to date. He can’t stop himself from being an overprotective prude.”

  “Yeah, well, I don’t know that he needs to be overprotective.” I chose my words carefully. “I am an adult. I mean ... if I want to have an overnight guest, I should be allowed.”

  “Who says you can’t have an overnight guest? It’s your lighthouse. You can have whoever you want over.”

  That wasn’t exactly true with Wesley and May taking over my private space. “I don’t think Galen feels comfortable spending the night with Wesley watching his every move.”

  “I don’t see why that would be an issue. It’s not as if you and Galen are doing the clamshell shuffle or anything. At least not yet.”

  It took me a moment to realize what she was saying ... and I was scandalized. “May!” My cheeks felt as if they were on fire as I tried to rein in my rampant embarrassment. “I can’t believe you just said that.”

  “Don’t be such a prude. You get that from your grandfather, by the way. It’s not an attractive trait. You just finished telling me you were an adult and didn’t need to be watched over, and now you’re acting like a school girl and refusing to make eye contact.

  “This may come as a surprise to you, my dear granddaughter, but I’m well acquainted with sex,” she continued, pinning me with a dark look. “I’m not so old that I don’t know how it works in a new relationship. It’s not my fault that Galen isn’t spending the night.”

  I didn’t like what she was insinuating. “Are you saying it’s my fault?”

  “I’m saying that you need to put it out there if you want him to take it.”

  I was growing increasingly uncomfortable with the conversation. “I happen to believe that things will occur naturally if we ever have time to ourselves,” I countered. “It’s impossible for that to happen if Wesley is kicking Galen out of my house.”

  “Then you need to tell Wesley how you feel. I’m not his keeper.”

  “You both need keepers,” I muttered under my breath. “By the way, after seeing you two in action the last two weeks I can see why you divorced. All that yelling is another reason I have a headache.”

  “I think you have a headache because you want Galen to alleviate all that stress you’ve been carrying since you found out you were a witch,” May countered. “That will never happen if you don’t open the door and let in the horses.”

  Her euphemisms were getting more and more difficult to swallow. “I don’t even know what to say to that.”

  “Then don’t say anything. Just get it done. Like tonight, for example, when Galen comes to pick you up, answer the door wearing nothing but plastic wrap. I saw that in a movie and it was very sexy.”

  Now it was my turn to make a face. “What movie?”

  “I don’t know. That young man from television was in it, the one who was on the show about the family of funeral directors.”

  I searched my memory. “Michael C. Hall?”

  “I have no idea.”

  “Are you sure it was a movie? Could it have been a television show? And were the people wrapped in plastic wrap perhaps on tables instead of answering doors?”

  “I don’t know. I just remember the plastic wrap.”

  “Yeah. That was a television show and he was a serial killer in it. He wasn’t having sex with his victims, just killing them. I don’t think I want to go that route with Galen.”

  “Definitely not,” May agreed. “Are you sure he was a serial killer? He was very funny and went after bad guys.”

  “That’s the whole point of the show. He can only kill bad guys.” I held up my hand and sucked in a calming breath. “You know what? It doesn’t really matter. I don’t think I’m going to pull a Dexter on Galen. That’s not a turn-on for anybody. Besides that, I can’t do anything with Wesley acting as my great protector. He needs to knock that off.”

  “You need to discuss your issues with your grandfather. I can’t get involved.”

  “Why not? You fight about everything else.”

  “Those are our disagreements. You need to handle your own.”

  “Maybe I will.”

  “I think you should.” May leaned closer. “Drink that tea. I didn’t make it for nothing.”

  “Whatever.” I did as she asked, but only because I was in no mood to kick off another argument. Once I was finished, I slowly got to my feet. “I need to shower. Then I need to figure out what the mask that was placed over Jacob Dorsey’s face represented. Tiki masks represent different things, right?”

  “Absolutely.” May bobbed her head, solemn. “The tiki culture is rich and goes back a long way on this island. Why are you so interested in Jacob’s death?”

  “Because it looked ritual.”

  “Ritual? As in pagan?”

  “Yeah. I definitely don’t think it was a straight death. Plus, his soul was running around after the fact. I met a reaper last night, so I know that’s not supposed to happen. Speaking of that ... why are you still around? If reapers are supposed to absorb souls, shouldn’t you be on the other side?”

  “I am not bound by the same rules as others, my dear. I may do whatever I want.”

  That wasn’t really an answer – at least a definitive one – but I decided to let it go. “I’m showering and then heading out. If you and Wesley can get your arguments done before the end of the day that would be great.”

  “Because you want to use my plastic wrap idea on Galen?” />
  “Because I would like a quiet evening around this place for a change.”

  “No promises, but I’ll do my best.”

  “That’s all I ask.”

  6

  Six

  I left before Wesley showed up. Actually, I had no idea if he planned to visit — he had work to tend to at his own farm — but I didn’t want to risk a run-in. May was ridiculously chatty when it came to my love life, and the last thing I wanted was to continue that particular conversation in front of the grandfather I’d just met.

  I wasn’t sure where to start looking for information on the tiki mask. May had a multitude of books in the upstairs library, which happened to be one of my favorite rooms, but I didn’t remember seeing anything having to do with tiki masks. I figured Moonstone Bay had a library, but I had no idea where it was located. I didn’t want to bother Galen with something so trivial, so I decided to hit up another source.

  Lilac Meadows – that’s her real name, no joke – was one of the first people I’d met when I moved to the island, and she’d essentially adopted me as a sidekick of sorts shortly thereafter. She owned a tiki bar downtown, and I figured if anyone knew where I could find information on tiki masks, it would be her.

  “Hey, Hadley.” She offered me a half wave when I entered her bar, drinks balanced on a tray as she delivered them to a table in the corner.

  I greeted her with a smile and headed to the bar. She was back by the time I situated myself on a stool and she spoke before I had a chance to get a single question out.

  “So, what’s the deal with Jacob Dorsey? I heard he was found on the docks yesterday, his head ripped off and stuffed on a pike and his innards taken for some sort of ritual.”

  My mouth dropped open. “Who told you that?”

  “It’s going around town.”

  “Well, that’s not what happened.” I told her about the body, glossing over some of the grosser details. Moonstone Bay was a small community, so gossip spread like a communicable disease in close quarters. It was only after I told her the truth that I realized it was potentially a mistake. There was every chance Galen might not want his crime scene details spread about. “You might not want to share that information.”