Gypsy Magic - J.R. Rain Page 0,44

in shambles, courtesy of the two men inside. Henner was crouched over the spilled innards of the ghost box again. It managed to look even worse this time, thick black wires trailing like octopus tentacles across my floor. The thing looked like it might scoot away of its own accord soon. Two red lights blinked in the center console like beady little eyes glaring in my direction.

In the distance, boxes holding all my kitchen implements continued to mock me. I still hadn’t even so much as researched general contractors, let alone hired one to start the job. I’d just been so busy lately, I hadn’t gotten around to it.

Yet, I promised myself. But, as soon as you can catch your breath, that’s your next to-do item.

Henner was holding two other gadgets, one looked like an EMF meter, and I wasn’t sure what the other one was.

A new man, who I could only assume was the mysterious RJ, had only his shapely posterior protruding from the interior of the oven. As he straightened, I saw the rest of him matched his strong backside and legs.

RJ was tall. Six feet and change and probably two hundred pounds or so. Slap a hard hat and a sleeveless top on him, and he could have made a killing as a construction-themed exotic dancer.

His shirt had three-quarter sleeves and showed off tanned forearms, covered in a layer of blond hair. He dusted his palms off, knocking a bit of filth free to float to the kitchen floor. Then he turned around to face us, and it was then that I realized he looked like he’d just stepped off a Viking ship from the middle ages. Square jaw, nice straight nose, big green eyes and a mane of thick, blond hair atop his head.

When he spotted me in the doorway, he smiled, bright and sincere. “Hello there! You must be Poppy.”

I took a step forward and held out my hand. “Yes, it’s nice to meet you!”

“I’m RJ,” he answered and then disregarded my outstretched hand as he wrapped his arms around me in the beariest of all bear hugs, lifting me off the ground as if I didn’t weigh a thing.

Then he seemed to remember he was filthy and plopped me back on the ground, stepping away with an embarrassed smile. “Darn... I forgot I was covered in dirt. Sorry about that. Didn’t mean to get you all dirty too.”

“Oh, I’d love for him to get me dirty!” Darla purred as she blipped into existence, seemingly out of nowhere.

Both Finn and I jerked in surprise, eyes darting her way until we could spy her near the coffered ceilings. She bobbed there like an unwelcome spectral balloon that had stayed long past its expiration date. She stared down at the assembled, mostly male crowd, like I’d sat her down in front of a smorgasbord. And she was right, sort of. There wasn’t a bad looking one in the bunch.

I shot her a brief warning look before returning my gaze to the men in the kitchen. RJ was waiting expectantly, his smile wilting a little around the edges. Not immediately responding with an assurance was a breach of the social contract.

“Sorry, I just uh… spaced off a little,” I answered with a smile. “I’m not worried about dirt,” I continued as I faced the stove. “But what exactly were you doing buried up to your waist in my stove?”

RJ scrubbed the back of his neck sheepishly, smearing soot in a solid black line across his neck. “Marty actually called me in to see if I could take a look at your stove. He mentioned it was acting funny. I just so happen to be something of a handyman when it comes to appliances.”

“Oh, well, I appreciate it very much. Thank you.” Then I looked over at Marty, who was already looking at me with a strange expression on his face—maybe one of admiration? I wasn’t sure. “Thank you,” I said, and he just gave me a quick nod.

Darla had come to hover around RJ’s shoulder, stroking the swell of his arms. I twitched, but tried not to let the consternation show on my face. If he noticed her presence, it didn’t show. Most normal people were like that. They wouldn’t be able to see a ghost if it kicked them in the keister. Some people didn’t even notice cold spots.

“Oh, I could just kiss him… all over!” Darla purred. “And I think I will.”

And she did.

I did my