Haunted by Danni Price Page B

her hand, only held onto it a second too long. When Daphne coughed, reality smacked Virginia in the face, and she jerked her hand away.
    The glorious blush returned to the top of Jake’s cheeks in full force. “Okay, thanks. Bye.” Eyes downcast, he murmured a few words in Daphne’s direction and bolted. By some miracle, he returned to his table and threw a few bills down without running into anyone.
    Virginia frowned down at the folder. The last thing she needed was to be dragged into someone else’s emotional train wreck.
    “So are you going to have sex with him, or can I have a go?” Daphne’s over-the-top question pulled Virginia back into the present.
    “What?”
    “Tall, dark and bumbling. You get first rights of course, but since you seem to have no interest in the male gender --”
    “Who says I’m not interested? And he’s not your type. I didn’t hear him objectify a woman once during our conversation.” The idea of Daphne exploring whatever lay hidden under Jake’s geek chic clothes bothered Virginia. And by the devilish twinkle in Daphne’s eyes, the woman knew it.
    “Hey, maybe I’m turning over a new leaf. He’s kind of nerd hot.”
    Virginia rolled her eyes. “It’s a moot point. He wasn’t asking me out. I think he wants me to try to contact his dead friend.”
    Daphne stuck her tongue out. “Bleh. That sucks. Nothing ruins the mood like a corpse.”
    Virginia waved at the nearby waitress to let her know they were ready for their drinks. “Tacky much?”
    Daphne opened her mouth to respond, but stopped herself when Mary, the very young and innocent waitress they had hired last week, approached the table with their iced lattes. The moment Mary walked away, Daphne pounced.
    “So what did he want, if it wasn’t to molest you, who, may I add, is in desperate need of molesting?”
    Virginia glanced down at the still open folder. “Let’s see, shall we?” She shuffled through a copy of the death certificate and an obituary. Past the official documents, she found a small stack of news clippings. The headlines weren’t familiar, but based on the most outlandish one, Local Couple Claims Spirit Saved Sex Life , she could guess what Jake was after. With a groan, she checked the date of the earliest article and sure enough it was about a month after Quinn’s death.
    “Only me,” she grumbled while stowing the clippings back into the folder -- but not fast enough. Daphne nabbed one. The giggles started five seconds later.
    “How can you not love your job?”
    Virginia scowled. “Because it’s messy, emotional and people get hurt.”
    “Oh, this one isn’t so bad. Actually, it’s perfect. The article claims the ghost acts like some kind of supernatural sex therapist for the living. It’s just what the doctor ordered for you.” Daphne slid the article toward Virginia.
    “What’s that supposed to mean?”
    “You do kind of have issues with sex. I love you, but it’s true. Maybe the ghost could help.” Daphne nodded with an apologetic shrug.
    “I don’t have a sex life, therefore, I have none of these supposed issues you speak of.” Virginia sipped her iced latte to emphasize her point.
    “Uh, that’s kind of an issue, and I’m sure your neglected lady parts would agree.”
    Damn her for being right . “It has to be fake anyway. I bet the stories are lies made up by sex addicts.”
    “Actually, most of them appear to be normal respectable people, which you’d know if you read the article. No, I think you’re a big chicken.”
    “Don’t do it, Daph.”
    “Is little Virginia afraid?” Daphne crossed her arms in front of her chest and laid down the ultimate challenge. She clucked and flapped her arms.
    Virginia jumped to her feet. “That’s it. Dare me !”
    A smile spread across Daphne’s face that would have made a shark do a double take. “No backing out. Pinkie swear on it.”
    Pinkie extended, Virginia stretched her hand out across the table. Hands joined, they