Secrets and High Spirits: Secrets, Book 4

Secrets and High Spirits: Secrets, Book 4 by Lou Harper Read Free Book Online Page A

Book: Secrets and High Spirits: Secrets, Book 4 by Lou Harper Read Free Book Online
Authors: Lou Harper
Tags: bartender;m/m;male/male;ghost;psychic;pot grower
something between you two?” Helen asked Teag as soon as they were alone in her car. “I could’ve sworn I felt something.”
    “You’re wrong,” Teag hurried to put her straight.
    “It wouldn’t be the worst thing in the world,” Helen persisted.
    “It quite possibly would. Can you imagine if Charlie and I were in business together?”
    She puffed up her cheeks. “Charlie was a special case. I never liked him.”
    “The point is, no relationship lasts. You know how the saying goes: Don’t shit where you eat.”
    She wrinkled her nose. “Gross. Can’t you come up with a less revolting image?”
    “Fine. Don’t bone your business partner, because when the honeymoon is over, the mess will bite you in the ass.” It didn’t have quite the same ring.
    “Of course you won’t have a lasting relationship with that attitude. I wonder if you were subconsciously self-sabotaging when you took up with Charlie.” She had her know-it-all expression on, the one he’d found so insufferable when they’d been kids. “I bet you’re against Bruce because he’s not like Charlie. God forbid you find a guy you can be happy with.”
    “I thought you were a nurse, not a psychologist,” Teag jibed.
    “Don’t be a smart-ass. You know I’m right. You’re too afraid to get involved with someone who might work out.”
    “Like Mom and Dad worked out?”
    “They lasted for twenty years. That’s not too shabby.”
    “How about you? How many boyfriends have you had?”
    “Hey, don’t you be slut-shaming me, little bro. I’m still looking. Some of us have to kiss a lot of frogs before we find our prince, and might as well have fun while doing it.” At the next red light, she turned to him and said sweetly, “How about we invite Bruce over for dinner?”
    “No.”
    “You know, sometimes I just want to grab something bumpy and hit you on the head with it. Repeatedly.” The light changed to green, and the car’s tires squealed as she jammed her foot on the gas.
    “Duly noted. Now, I’d like to go through this checklist, if you don’t mind.” He waved the notepad in his hand.
    She sighed the sigh of a martyr but drove on in silence while Teag immersed himself in his notes. Bruce apparently had a lot of useful friends, among them a general contractor who’d helped them draw up the plans and gave advice, although Bruce and Teag decided to do most of the unskilled labor themselves. Bruce had recruited a couple of his brawnier Ren Faire buddies to help with the demolition.
    One of the guys Bruce liked playing dress-up with turned out to be a licensed electrician, who agreed to do the wiring at a friendly rate.
    On Teag’s side, Dylan, Olly and even Olly’s friend Jem offered their help. Not quite in the same league as Bruce’s recruits, but Teag appreciated the gesture. He figured they could employ the trio for the fiddlier jobs, like scraping layers of old paint from the upstairs window frames. Several of those had been painted shut.
    In addition, Olly’s boyfriend, Rich, was building their bar out of hard maple. Teag hoped to hell their relationship lasted till the work was done. So far they seemed nauseatingly happy.
    “What about the kitchen appliances?” Helen broke the peaceful silence.
    “Bruce is taking care of it.” Teag had to admit, Bruce had proven more than capable at handling all those tiresome and boring details Teag hadn’t had the time or patience for. Being unemployed at the moment, Bruce had time too.
    “Such a reliable man.”
    “Stop it.”

Chapter Four
    Seeing Teag regularly but never alone had been like Chinese torture to Bruce. He’d resigned himself to keeping their relationship strictly professional, but he hadn’t been able to erase the memory of Teag marching into the Glitter Lounge like the righteous angel of craft cocktails. The electricity had been so thick in the air then, it was a small miracle fuses didn’t blow. Nightly recalls had etched every second of that meeting

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