Page 38 of Ghost Walk
He paused for a beat, like he was trying tonotsay something and unable to hold it back. “It was bloody foolish of you to climb that trellis, though.”
She frowned at the non sequitur. “At the Wentworth’s?”
“What other trellis would I be speaking of?” He’d clearly been brooding about it. “I’m trying to be calm and reasonable and let you breathe, but I rememberallof it, Grace. There was someone in her room and you went up the damn trellis, anyway. It nearly kills me all over again to recall it. What the hell were you thinking?”
“I thought maybe I could save her. Or at the very least, I could see who the killer was.” Grace shook her head, remembering her uncharacteristic flash of optimism. It had been… nice. It left her wanting more. “I just got there too late. The evidence I collected isn’t enough, though. If I could have gotten some more…”
“You should not have been there, a’tall!” Jamie interrupted at a very unOprah-ish roar. “And now the killer is pissed off at you, yet you want to continue this investigation.”
“Well, how else do you suggest I clear your name?”
“I would not have you endanger yourself for any reason.” He shook his head. “Not foranyreason, Grace. What would have happened if you’d gone into her room and the killer had attacked you? Did you even think of that?”
She frowned. “Not really.”
“Not really?” He echoed incredulously. “You’re supposed to be a timid lass! Just leaving that bloody boring tour nearly had you in a faint. Why am I having to tell you to stop chasing after murderers alone?”
“I wasn’t alone.” She turned so she was facing him on the pillow. “Youwere there, Jamie.” And maybe that’s why she’d climbed up that trellis without hesitation. Because she knew Jamie was going to somehow keep her safe. “You had my back.”
He stared at her for a long beat, patriot blue eyes flicking down to her lips. “Do you know whatelseI remember from that night?” He asked in a predatory tone.
“Ummm…” Grace’s heartbeat sped up. See? Incorporeal or not, he wasdefinitelynot going to just lay there. “Whatever it is you remember, I’m sure it’swrong. Given the amount of ale you were drinking, I’d say all your memories are fuzzy.”
“Not this one.” He leaned in closer. “I’ve got arealclear recollection of you kissing me… and that’s not a thing I’m likely to forget.”
Grace felt herself turning red. She’d always blushed easily and Jamie seemed to delight in triggering it. “I was under a lot of stress at the time. I can’t be held responsible for that.”
“Well, surely you donea think it wasmydoing?” He splayed a palm on his chest. “Why, I was standing there, innocent as a lamb, when you arrived to lead me astray. I was lured in by your feminine wiles.”
“That issonot true!”
“Really? Who kissed who again, lass?” His smileglinted, loving this.
Crap, he had a point. “Like anyone has to work real hard to lead a pirate astray.” She muttered. “I supposed all those British merchants ‘lured’ you into stealing their gold, too.”
“Certainly felt that way.” He sighed. “I miss my gold.”
Grace rolled her eyes at his sad tone. “Just don’t tell me you buried it somewhere.”
Jamie remained quiet.
“Oh for God’s sake…” Her lips parted in astonishment. “You seriouslyburied your treasure, Jamie?”
“Well, I was drunk at the time!” He defended. “It seemed the thing to do. But the map’s become slightly misplaced over the years, so I’m the first to admit it was an ill-advised plan.”
“You buried a chest of gold and thenlost the map?!”
“Well, I was dead when it went missing, so I’m hardly to blame. Ned Hunnicutt had it, last I heard. The gigantic jackass was even worse atfollowingmaps than he was adrawingthem, though, so he couldn’t find my gold.” His mouth twitched. “T’was quite amusing to watch him try.”
“Youseriouslydislike that guy, don’t you?”
“He was a ponce. Treated all the serving girls poorly and water down his ale. Having him get his grubby, probably-a-Tory, hands on my treasure would have been a blasphemy.” He frowned. “Havinganyoneelse find it would vex me, as a matter of fact. It’smine.”
The man was nothing if not possessive. “Can’t you justrememberwhere you buried it?” Grace could go dig it up for him, if it would make Jamie happy.
He hesitated uncomfortably. “Well… As I mentioned, I was a wee bit drunk at the time.” He made a face. “I’m nearly positive it’s by a tree.”
Grace couldn’t contain the laughter that bubbled up. “You’re the worse pirate I’ve ever…”
