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“How did he die?” She already told me he died on her sixth birthday, but she never said how. Although, I think I probably already know. A tear slips down her cheek and she quickly wipes it away.

“He shot himself.”

“Oh, baby, I’m so sorry.”

She nods, dropping her chin to her chest and I grab her hand and give it a tug. Peeking up at me, I offer her a smile and point to the center of the booth.

“Come here, Princess,” I whisper, scooting along the booth until my back is to the window and I pat my leg.

“Here? Everyone will look at us.”

I shrug. I couldn’t give a damn. She’s upset and I’m not going to let our location stop me from comforting her. Besides, we’re in the back corner so it’s not like we’ll draw that much attention to ourselves. She glances around again before scooting over to me. When she reaches me, I wrap my arm around her shoulders and pull her legs into my lap. A few people glance over before quickly turning back to their dinners but it’s not near the scene she assumed it would be.

I slip my hand into her hair and massage the base of her neck as I press my lips to her forehead. She lets out a breath and once again, I wish we were alone. Why the hell did I think this would be a good idea?

“Ladies and gentlemen,” a voice booms over the speakers scattered across the restaurant. A hush falls over the crowd and Carly turns to me with questions in her eyes. “As many of you may have heard, this restaurant is well known for being…haunted and now, as part of your dinner service, we’re going to lower the lights and see if anyone wants to reach out from beyond the grave and speak to us.”

Her eyes light up and a smile slowly stretches over her face as they dim the lights in the dining room. Excited whispers echo around us and she beams at me.

“You brought me on a real-life ghost hunt?” she asks and I nod, pulling an excited giggle out of her that makes the blue balls I’ll be suffering from for the next few hours worthwhile.