CHAPTER ONE
If anyone had been watching, they would have thought it was raining as wet as Lance was as he tried to keep his dog, Haunt, in the bathtub. She shook again, sending water droplets every which way. Lance groaned. He was going to have to wash the walls and entire bathroom after this.
From the doorway, Bethany and Ray stood laughing, watching as he tried his hardest to rinse the suds from the dog's fur. Lance glared at the two ghosts who had become good friends and now lived with him. "You two find it so funny, why don't you get over here and help me keep her still? It's not like the water will bother either of you."
"It's more fun to watch." Bethany laughed but slowly floated toward the tub and got inside with the dog. She stooped down and brushed her hands across Haunt's ears. "Easy, girl. You'll feel so much better after this."
It still amazed Lance that ghosts existed and that he could see and communicate with them. Even more surprising was that animals could see and interact with ghosts too. But unlike the living humans, the animals could still feel the touch of the ghosts. Lance was told it has something to do with vibrations and energy levels that humans couldn't feel, but he really couldn't understand how it all works.
"You sure the water's not too cold?" Ray stood behind Lance and watched.
"I didn't want it to be too hot, but it's not freezing. I could stand in it and not be uncomfortable." Lance ran his hand down the dog's back, watching the suds fall. "I think I used too much shampoo."
Bethany seemed to be calming the dog as she spoke softly to her. "Maybe we should let her outside and just turn on the sprinklers. You know she loves running through those."
"And rolling in the flowerbeds after. She'd be covered in dirt again." Lance sighed. "Why is it our dog loves sprinklers and even that wading pool Franks bought for her, but hates the bathtub?"
"What in the world did I walk in on?" Angus asked from the doorway.
Lance glanced back and sighed but didn't release his hold on Haunt. While Bethany could pet the dog, she didn't have the energy to hold her. "You want to come help?" Lance asked his boyfriend with a hopeful bat of his eyes. "I'd love you forever."
"You better love me forever either way." Angus pulled off his shirt. "Why are we washing the dog at six in the evening? Wouldn't have been better to wait for the weekend?" He moved into the bathroom.
"Bethany and Ray are here, just so you know we're not alone," Lance warned as he scooted to the side to make room for Angus to kneel beside him. "Your precious girl decided to dig in the flowerbeds today while we were at work. Bethany and Ray came home to find her covered in dirt and the flowers we planted destroyed along the back fence."
"I think she was after something. Maybe a vole or gopher. Not sure what you have around this area." Ray now appeared to be sitting on the counter.
Lance repeated what Ray had said for Angus since he couldn't see or hear the ghosts.
"Could be, but whatever it is, it's new. She's never torn up the flowerbeds before. I'll have a look once we get done here." Angus scrubbed the suds off Haunt's hind end.
"How was work?" Lance asked.
"Quiet. Too quiet. It's that calm before the storm kinda feeling around the station. I'm trying hard not to worry, but when it gets this slow, something big is usually right around the corner." Angus was a detective with the Fairway Police Department.
"Don't jinx yourself," Lance said softly. "Just enjoy it while you can."
Haunt shook again, sending water flying.
"Damn it, hold still." Angus laughed as he blinked water from his eyes.
Just then the doorbell rang, and all hell broke loose. Haunt, hearing the bell, jerked free from everyone and leapt from the tub, running full speed to the front door, dripping and spraying water as she went.
"Grab towels." Bethany rushed after Haunt.
Lance grabbed the towels he'd set on the toilet to dry her when he was done and turned to follow Angus down the hall, frowning at the wet carpet as they went to the front door where Haunt was shaking her body, trying to rid herself of the excess water. "I've got her. Give me a second before you open that door." Lance wrapped a towel around the dog, then drew her to his chest to keep her from escaping again.
Angus waited for Lance's nod, then opened the door.
"Surprise." Jackson smiled.
Lance fell back on his butt, releasing Haunt as he stared at his brother in the doorway. "You're home."
"I was going to call, but I wanted to surprise you." Jackson narrowed his eyes as he took in Lance's wet clothes and hair. "Bad timing?"
"Never." Lance stared at his brother in shock. He looked so good. "Tell me you're here to stay." Lance stood, water dripping from his shirt, but he didn't care. Jackson was home. Lancesmiled at the ghost standing behind Jackson. "You brought Kel with you."
"Is that okay? I didn't think you'd mind." Jackson glanced over one shoulder, then the other. "No idea where he's standing, but I told him I was coming home to stay and asked him to come with me."
