Page 87 of Ghost Walk
“I can be quiet, so long as I’m doing something else with my mouth.” His lips grazed her neck and then started down her body.
“Stop that!” She laughed and scrambled to her feet, adjusting her skirts before he distracted her. “We’re supposed to be looking for Gregory. I’m sure you remember what happens tonight. I’ll give you a hint: It involves you, a rope, and me becoming a widow before I even get a wedding.”
Jamie glanced up at the vanishing sun. Twilight was upon them. “Aye. One hanging this lifetime was plenty.” He glanced at her, smiling as she Velcro-ed her top into place. “You sure you wouldn’t rather just go to Jamaica right now? We could be heading for azure blue waters within the hour, leaving this dreary little town behind us for good.
“Your name would never be cleared, if we did that.”
“Donea much care.”
“You’ll care when armed men come to hunt us down.” She retorted. “Plus, Clara would still be killed. Crazy nut-job or not, we can’t just let that happen. We have to stop thisnow. All we need to do is find Gregory and check his thumbprint.”
“And if he’s not a match?”
“Then we’re onto Plan B and the whole kidnapping thing. Don’t worry. I brought knock out powder, just in case we have to drug Clara and carry her out of here.”
“I do love the way your mind works, lass.” Jamie bounded to his feet, adjusting his clothes. “Whenisour wedding, anyway?”
Grace arched a brow. “Maybe when you actually propose.” She teased.
“Miss Rivera, would you do me the great honor of becoming my wife?”
She blinked, surprised by the instantaneous andcompletely civilized proposal. “Just like that? No Captain Hookish threats to make me walk the plank if I refuse? I thought pirates didn’t take chances on their brides slipping away.”
“I donea think I’m taking a chance. Because I donea think my bride is going to refuse. Because I think she’smyPartner, too.”
Grace gave him a slow smile. “I think you’re right.”
Blue eyes glowed with love. “So say ‘yes’ then, lass.”
“Yes.”
He beamed at that simple answer and gave her a smacking kiss. “You are the only Sunday school teacher in all of history abnormal enough to tie herself to a pirate.”
“Well, I’m expecting one heck of an engagement ring, considering you have a buried treasure around here some…” Grace stopped short, her eyes going wide. “There he is!”
Jamie turned to look and made a face when he saw Gregory, who was losing a game of ninepins to a group of ten year olds down the hill. Clearly, the Colonial version of bowling was serious business for the “Hero of Yorktown,” because he was loudly bitching at the kids as they kicked his ass at it.
“Bloody hell. If that moron truly becomes governor, we’re never returning to this state.” Jamie gave his head a disgusted shake and headed towards him. “Wait here while I go get his fingerprints.”
“Whileyouget his fingerprints?I’mthe one trained to collect evidence, Jamie.”
“You’re also the one Gregory voted to burn at the stake a few hours back. No one’s planning to lynchmeuntil tonight.” He sounded quite smug about his popularity. “I’m clearly the better choice to get close to the asshole.” He paused. “Also, I have a gun.”
“Which is unloaded.”
“Hedoesn’t know that, though. It will be fine.” Jamie glanced at her over his shoulder. “All we need is something he touched, right?”
Grace considered his arguments and gave a reluctantnod. It would take longer to talk Jamie out of doing this than it would to just let him do it in the first place. “Get his beer tankard. There’s gotta be usable prints on there. And don’t just grab it from him. Try to besubtleabout it.”
“Pirates donea do ‘subtle,’ love.” He winked at her and loped off, no doubt planning to grab the tankard right out of Gregory’s hand.
Grace rolled her eyes in exasperated affection. If there was ever a man worth giving up twenty-first century life for, it was that irrepressible jackass. Who needed Netflix and iPads, when she had Jamie around to occupy all her attention? Of course, he was also a little bit high-maintenance. If she wasn’t proactive about keeping him out of trouble, God only knew what kind of mess he’d get himself into.
Since it was a lousy idea to let him handle Gregory on his own, she started down the hill after him. They were Partners in this. In everything. There was no way…
“Help!” Eugenia Wentworth came running up, cutting off her thoughts. “Quick! You have to come quickly! I think he’s going to kill Clara Vance!”
Chapter Eighteen
