Cemetery Tours by Jacqueline Smith Page A

 
    “Was it after your car accident?”
    “Yep.  Flatlined for four minutes before they revived me.”  
    “And did you have an experience?   With the afterlife?” Luke asked.
    “I think I did, but it’s pretty blurry,” Kate said.   “They pumped me full of so many drugs, I don’t have too many solid memories.  My brother’s convinced my brain will never be the same.”
    “I don’t know what he’s talking about.   Your brain seems just fine to me,” Luke smiled.  Kate looked positively elated.       
    “This is just so cool.   I can’t believe you’re here,” she gushed.  “Will you sign my book?” 
    “Oh God, you bought his book ?” Michael groaned.  After the wild success of his stupid show, Luke Rainer had penned a memoir of his lifelong obsession with all things paranormal.  Like the show, the book had been well-received by women between the ages of fifteen and fifty-five.  By the critics, not so much.  
    “Of course I will.   It’d be my pleasure,” Luke responded with a cheeky grin.  “You know Mikey, I’m proud of you.  It’s about time you found a girl.  Especially one with such good taste.”
    “Well actually - ”
    “We’re not dating,” Kate interrupted him.  Luke raised an eyebrow. 
    “No?” he asked, eyeing her with renewed interest.  
    “No.   I am very single,” she replied emphatically.  Michael watched, incredulous.  How could a smart, level-headed woman like Kate be reduced to a silly, fawning fangirl by an arrogant tool like Luke Rainer?
    “Well lucky me,” Luke winked.   Kate looked like she was about to faint.  
    “Okay, well, it’s been fun, but you need to go,” Michael blurted before he could stop himself.
    “Going somewhere?” Luke asked, observing the suitcase in Michael’s backseat and showing no intention of departing.  
    “As a matter of fact yes, and I need to leave soon, so there’s really no reason for you to stick around.”  
    “ Au contraire , I think I’ve found a perfectly good reason to stick around.” Luke glanced back at Kate.  “What do you say, Gorgeous?  Are you doing anything today?”
    “My schedule is completely open,” she answered breathlessly.  
    “What do you say to dinner?   I know a great Italian place downtown.  Very expensive, of course.”  
    Michael clenched his jaw.   Please say no, please say no, please say no.      
    “I’d love to!” Kate beamed.    
    “Great.   I’ll swing by and get you around 7:30 ?  Does that sound good?”
    “It sounds perfect!”  
    “Excellent.   Why don’t I give you my number and you can text me yours?  My phone is charging back at my folks’ place.”  Michael knew Luke had grown up in Dallas and that his parents still lived there, but he hadn’t known that was where Luke stayed when he came back to visit.  It made him feel slightly better about Kate’s impending date with him, but not much.        
    “Sure!   Let me run and get mine.  I left it up in the apartment.”  Without bothering to collect her fallen towel, book, or water bottle, Kate dashed upstairs and across the landing, leaving Michael alone with Luke.
    “She’s something, isn’t she?” Luke asked.   “What was her name? Kaylee?”  Michael felt his usually mild temper flare.  
    “It’s Kate,” he snapped.   “Why are you doing this?”
    “She’s a pretty girl.   I haven’t been on a date in a while.  Plus I know you want her so that’s like a bonus.”  For the second time that morning, Michael was rendered speechless.  This time, however, it was out of anger rather than surprise.  “You really can’t blame me.  Knowing you, you probably haven’t even asked her on a date.  You can’t take girls like her for granted.  You’ve got to let them know you want them.  Otherwise, someone else is going to swoop in.”  Michael wanted to tell him that the last thing he wanted or needed was dating advice from a guy whose last