a reason to live(81)

“More often than I’d like,” Jack sighed. “She always has her nose to ground, sniffin’ out a story. Usually the type that puts her in a position where I have to put my foot down.”

“I’d prefer managin’ editorial pursuits than prayin’ Mia hasn’t been mauled by a bear on a daily basis.”

Shane nodded in agreement, then Jack and Max looked at him and raised a brow.

“I’ll trump your concerns and see you one madman with a vendetta.”

“Been there,” Jack grumbled.

“Done that,” Max added, leaning back and crossing his arms. “You’ll have to dig a little deeper if you want to top us.”

Shane raised his hands in defeat. “I’ll let you win this round. It’s not a title I want.”

“Give it time. You’ve only been together a few days. Sage has been on her own for a while and is set in her ways. It won’t always be smooth sailing for you both,” Max stated.

“I’m thinkin’,” Jack grinned as he raised a glass of tea to his lips, “that Max wins, though. He has two aggravating women in his life.”

All three chuckled.

“Maxine alone would have won the contest,” Shane laughed.

They continued to swap stories while they waited for their food. When their burgers arrived, Jack’s radio crackled then went quiet.

Raising his burger to his mouth, Shane paused when the radio jumped to life again.

Jenn, how does this thing work?

It was Maxine.

“What the fuck?” Jack grumbled.

“Was that Maxine?” Max asked mid-bite.

You . . . button . . . then talk.

Shane rose a brow when Sage’s sweet voice kept disappearing as she explained how to use the radio.

“Why are they messing with the police band?” Shane wondered out loud.

Maxine, don’t mess with those yet. We have to change the channel or Jack will hear.

The line went dead.

Jack scowled, mumbling, “Too late,” then reached out and started flipping channels until the static disappeared and Jenn’s voice came through.

Testing 1.2.3.

You’re coming in loud and clear, Jenn.

Okay, you and Sage check that end of the cemetery, and Mia and I will check this end for any hazards.

“Why the hell are they at a cemetery?” Max asked.

“She better be pickin’ out her plot. If she’s there for anythin’ else, I’ll wring her beautiful neck,” Jack bit out.

According to the legend, the miner whose ghost haunts this cemetery is looking for his stolen gold.

We should have brought a metal detector then. We could have searched for the gold while hunting for his ghost.

I’m not hunting for the gold. The old miner would haunt me for the rest of my life if I found it.

Pish posh. Betcha he’s as friendly as Casper. That bein’ said, you do know you should be gettin’ hazard pay for this, Jenn. It’s one thing to investigate a story, but hangin’ out in a cemetery in the dead of night is goin’ above and beyond.

We’ve got an open grave here. Mia, watch your step.

Wonder who’s being buried there?

As long as it’s none of us.

Okay, the radios work. Let’s save the battery for later. Signing off.

Shane’s attention shot to Jack and he scowled. “Tell me this is a joke.”

Jack closed his eyes, shook his head, and grumbled, “Pain in my fuckin’ ass,” as he switched the radio off.

“So the toy party was just a ruse so they could search for a ghost in the dead of night? Unprotected, I might fuckin’ add, with a killer on the loose.” Shane’s hand twitched with anger. His little minx had boldfaced lied to him. He could already feel the soft skin of her ass against the palm of his hand.

“Give me the keys to a jail cell,” Max rumbled low, holding out his hand. “If Mia can’t use her head, then I’ll lock her up for peace of mind.”

“We could hunt them down and lock them up,” Jack advised, rubbing both hands across his face, “but I can tell you from experience Jenn won’t stop until she’s staked out the cemetery. And all those women are resourceful enough to help her. They’ll find a way.”

Max took a deep breath and let it out slowly, his hands fisting then releasing. Shane figured he wanted to wring Mia’s neck as much as he wanted to spank Sage’s ass.

“So you think we should let them have their way while we keep an eye on them? A very close eye, by the way. If we don’t, Mia will find a way to turn ghost huntin’ into a search and rescue mission.”

“Fuckin’ ghost huntin’ in a deserted graveyard,” Jack grumbled. “I married a nut.”

Shane scowled at the idea of letting them continue with their reckless plan, but Jack was right and he knew it. Short of locking them all up, they’d find a way.