A half an hour passed, and Courtney felt even closer to Owen, if possible. She’d always felt connected to him. The few phone calls she’d dared make to him over the years always ended up lasting hours, making her feel whole until she hung up. She hadn’t understood then that he was her other half.
Now, if only she could make him get it.
With the lecture over, most of the kids went back to their seats except for a few who had bombarded Owen with more questions. A lesser man would be annoyed.
“Chief McNally?” Nicky started. “You got a girl?”
Oh God. The air in her chest clung to her lungs like glue. Her hands shook as she tried to gather up her things to leave. She could see Owen from the corner of her eye. He squatted, rested his hand on the boy’s shoulder, and smiled.
“That’s a mighty personal question. Why do you ask?”
Courtney kept her focus on putting the leftover cake on a tin tray to leave behind.
“I’m trying to find the right one for my uncle. I thought maybe you could tell me where you got yours.”
Owen smiled. “You don’t shop for girls like you do clothing or something.”
“Oh, I know. Courtney says that when you find the right person, well, you just know it. She knows where her heart belongs, so it can’t be with my uncle.”
“I see,” Owen said. “And where did she find her guy?”
“Her grandmother probably helped her. You know her house is haunted, right? But with good ghosts. Kind of like Casper.”
Owen shook his head. “I’m sure your uncle will find the right person, and you really shouldn’t meddle in those kinds of things. It just upsets people.” Owen patted him on the shoulder. “And for the record, there are no such things as ghosts. Just very vivid memories of those we love.”
“So you haven’t found your girl, yet?”
Her heart fluttered in a panicked frenzy. She glanced over her shoulder and watched Owen whisper something in Nicky’s ear. Nicky smiled then gave Owen a high five. Being the bionic woman would come in handy right about now.
Grandma, what did he say?
You know the rules, dear.
Screw the rules. I need to know what he said.
Ask him yourself. He’s connected. He might hear.
Okay. Courtney closed her eyes and concentrated on Owen, and only Owen. I know you can hear me.
Silence followed. Damn her grandmother and the stupid rules of communicating with the dead and the living... Like anyone cared. Besides, who would make up a rule that ghosts couldn’t share the communications of the living with other people.
Because it could mess up the future, and that would be bad, very bad.
Spirits help Owen with his so-called gut instincts.
Different. And you know it.
Whatever.
Courtney gathered up her things, said her goodbyes and headed out the door, refusing to talk to her grandmother anymore. On the way out, Courtney heard Ms. Ricter’s voice, but she couldn’t actually hear the words. Probably a good thing considering it sounded like she’d just asked Owen out on a date.
Once outside, she slid the box in the back of her Civic, slammed the door, then leaned against the cold metal and took in a heaving breath.
She really had only herself to blame. She’d been acting like a stupid teenager with her approach to snagging the man of her dreams, instead of a grown woman. Footsteps echoed from somewhere behind her, and she knew they belonged to Owen. Time to fly off on her broom.
“Not so fast there,” he called.
“I’m really busy today.”
“So am I.” He positioned himself between her and the driver’s side door. “I think we need to talk about what happened.”
“Between us? Or with Jake?”
He arched a brow. “All of it.”
Not exactly the answer she’d been looking for, but since he brought it up. “I’m not sorry about what I did.”
“You used my nephew, that’s low and irresponsible on your part.” He shifted, blocking the sun from her eyes, making him easier to see, which really didn’t help because he still scowled. “You put me in an awkward position at work, and if you wanted me to stop over, you should’ve just asked.”
Oh, yeah, like asking him to take her to bed would’ve gone over any better—much less like asking him to spend the rest of his life with her would do the trick, either. He already thought she was a bit off the beaten path. He didn’t talk much, and unless she called him, or showed up at his place, he didn’t even act like she existed. “I’ll remember that next time.” She wanted to kick herself for being such a sourpuss. He did have a valid point.
“Good.” He stared at her for a moment before turning and heading for his patrol car. “And when will the next time be? Just so I’m prepared.”
“You’re impossible.”
“I know.” He smiled.
“All right. I want you to come over tonight, but I also want to know what you said to Nicky.”
He tossed his head back and laughed. “I’m sure you would.” He turned and started walking away.
“Does that mean you’re stopping by tonight? What time?” She sounded pathetic to her own ears.
“I’ll be in the neighborhood.”
“That didn’t answer my questions.”
He glanced over his shoulder and waved. “Nope. It didn’t.” Then he got in his car and drove away.
Well, now who was the one playing games?
Just be honest, her grandmother’s voice whispered.
“Honest about what?”
How you feel, dear. Just tell him you love him.
She laughed. Like that would help. He’d probably have her committed. Somehow, she had to find a way to make him see the light. It was obvious he couldn’t be pushed into it. Nor could she continue to play games. But somehow, she’d manage to make him see that his life wouldn’t be the same if she wasn’t in it.
4
Owen sat across from Pat at the local diner, listening to him grumble
