MacGowan's Ghost by Cindy Miles Page B

“You’re afraid of having your heart broken again.”
    Turning her back, Allie ran a comb through her tangled hair. “That’s not true at all.”
    â€œYes, love, it is,” he said, gentler this time. “I was there when it broke the first time. Remember?”
    Allie stopped combing and sighed. “Okay, so maybe that’s it a little.” She turned and leaned against the dresser. “But there are many other reasons—”
    â€œSo you admit you like him?”
    Allie frowned. “I’ll admit nothing. What I’m saying is that I was hired to come here and bring to heel a motley crew of naughty souls. It’s not working, in case you haven’t noticed. I’ve been here two days and already they’ve coerced me into working against my employer.”
    Dauber smiled. “You’re never coerced, my girl. And you never do anything unless you truly, fully believe in it.”
    Her frown deepened, despite the fact Dauber was right. “That may be, Alexander Dauber, but my life is an ocean away from here.” She glanced out the window, and at the beauty of the sea. “Once this job is finished, I’ll go home.”
    Dauber sighed. “I suppose it’s too early to decide anyway, I imagine.” He grinned. “But we’ve still time enough.”
    Allie shook her head. “You coming?”
    â€œWhere are you off to?” Dauber said.
    â€œFirst, down to the bakery. Leona makes the best meat pies ever. Then the post office. I want to send mom, Emma, Boe, and Ivy a postcard. Then”—she grinned and grabbed her peacoat—“I’m calling to order a ghostly get-together with the Odin’s lot. Interested?”
    â€œYou mean,” he said, scratching a place under the bill of his soft cap, “just walk into the bakery and post office with you?”
    She smiled. “Cool, huh? This is a very open-minded village when it comes to ghostly souls. And you’ll love Leona—she’s really nice. Now come on. My stomach is growling and you know how I get when there’s no food in my belly.”
    â€œComing right along, then,” said Dauber.
    Together, they left the room and headed downstairs.
    The pub was empty, and Allie couldn’t help but glance toward Gabe’s workshop door. She couldn’t tell if the light was on, but the door was closed fully, so she suspected Gabe had finally gone to bed. And since the pub didn’t open until eleven for lunch, he might very well be catching up on sleep.
    As she and Dauber made their way out into the crisp October air, she couldn’t help but wonder just what kept the man awake so much. He had to be exhausted.
    With that curious thought in mind, along with the plan to ask the others about it later, she and Dauber set off down the street toward Leona’s.
    Â 
    Gabe pushed out of Odin’s front door.
    And nearly took off Allie’s nose in the process.
    She stumbled back, and Gabe reached out and grabbed her arm, steadying her.
    She grinned. “Thanks. What’s the big rush?”
    Christ, the girl was beautiful. A wee bit of October morning sun had slipped from behind the clouds, reflecting off the loch and throwing all those glorious curls into a yellowish glow. Her eyes were bright and they sparkled when she smiled. He felt all bloody tongue-tied around her, which usually led to him just saying nothing at all.
    Not that he’d ever tell anyone that. He’d never hear the end of it. He sounded like a witless arse as it was.
    Gabe cleared his throat. “Wee Mary is sick this morning, and me mother’s gone to the doctor in Inverness, so neither can come over to help.” He glanced behind him. “And I’ve just burned lunch.”
    With both hands, she grabbed his forearms. “Calm down, MacGowan. Why didn’t you call me earlier?” Her smile, bright and confident, widened. “I’ll help. No