Free Medium in Paradise: A Humorous Paradise Romance by Tabby Moray

off the panic threatening to overwhelm her. Her throat closed up as she tried to squeeze out the words, ‘Will you go out with me?’ leaving her swallowing convulsively and on the verge of a panic attack.
    “I—will you--,” She closed her eyes, took a deep breath and haltingly started over. “Would you like to go out for coffee after the class is over?” The pressure on her back disappeared and she was finally able to awkwardly disentangle herself from Detective Barney Nichols arms, her eyes darting everywhere but on him. He regarded her thoughtfully for several long, uncomfortable moments, during which time Dina wished the floor would just open up and swallow her whole.
    Finally, he said, “No,” very coolly. Then he turned on his heel and walked away, leaving a shocked and humiliated Dina seething in his wake.
    **
    “That’s exactly why I don’t ask men out!”
    Sam the Ghost appeared just as Dina was slipping into a steaming bath filled with strawberry pineapple scented bubbles and water as hot as she could take it. She also had an unopened bottle of very good Syrah she’d picked up on the way home. She hadn’t bothered bringing a glass because she intended to drink straight from the bottle.
    After her embarrassing first attempt to ask a man out, she’d finished her first class with the police department with a distinct lack of enthusiasm. Once class was over, she’d rushed to her office, hiding there until everybody had left, unable to face Detective Barney Nichols after his chilly dismissal.
    Sam the Ghost sat on the toilet lid, drawing her legs up and resting her chin on her knees. “I’ll admit I was taken for a loop when he said ‘no’, but I guess that means you’ll just have to try harder the next time.”
    “The next time?” Dina whipped her head around to glare at the ghost in disbelief. “There won’t be a next time. I think I’ve suffered enough humiliation at your hands.”
    “So that’s it? That’s how you achieved success in your life? You try something once, it doesn’t work and you just give up?” She crossed her arms, tossing her a disgusted look.
    “Sam, just stop. Your little mind games aren’t working on me.”
    She picked up the bottle of wine and took a large swig. Her body was flooded with curls of warmth, the delightful vino going down like smooth chocolate and ending on delicious tones of blackberry and cinnamon just as the description had said it would. She’d just have to work out extra hard this week to burn off all these empty calories.
    “We’ll figure something else out.” She looked deep in thought, her eyes looking faraway. “I sure wish I could taste some of that wine.” She gazed longingly at the bottle.
    “Why don’t you just conjure some of your own?” Dina asked, eyes closed as she took another deep swallow from the bottle.
    “It’s just not the same. Nothing here tastes as good as it did when I was alive.” The ghost sighed, then perked up, saying, “Someone’s at your door.”
    Sure enough, the doorbell chimed. Dina shook her head with a groan. “That better not be my mother or I’m gonna kill her.” She considered ignoring it, but it rang again. Sighing heavily, she slipped into a robe, then walked down the hall to the door. Sliding the security panel open, she was more than a little taken aback to see Detective Barney Nichols staring back at her.
    “Can I help you?” she asked, warily.
    “I stayed behind to make sure you got this--,” he said, holding her cellphone up to the panel. “—but when the lights went out I realized you were gone.”
    “Thanks,” she said with a frown. “I didn’t even realize I left it.” She’d been in such a rush to get out of there, it’s a wonder she hadn’t left something unlocked. On second thought…she probably had.
    Unlatching the door and turning off the security alarm, she unlocked the screened-in door so he could hand her the phone. His eyes strayed to the damp bit of skin exposed