Free Grave Danger by K.E. Rodgers

Descendent Digest was hit with readers,
rivaling living magazine distributers in readership. And in the
fashion world, Phantom Fashion was the choice source for the newest
must haves.
    “ I got this in yesterday. It’s their
fall/winter collection.” Lizzy opened the thick magazine, placing
it on the counter so Richard could see. Flipping through the glossy
pages she searched for something she would like to see Richard
wearing. Most of the magazine was filled with adverts, ads for pest
protection from the living, creams to keep your ghostly skin
looking radiant all year long, or information on ghostly activities
in the greater area.
    “ Do you see anything you might like to try?”
She knew he didn’t care for any of this, but it was worth a shot to
see if he might at least attempt to wear clothes from this modern
era.
    Richard leaned over the counter, brushing his arm
against her as he looked down at the pages of the fashion
catalogue. Lizzy cleared her throat and stepped a few inches to her
right. She was his senior by a good ten years or so. But in looks
they appeared closer in age. However, looks were deceiving and
besides they were from entirely different worlds. If only she could
tell her tingling arm that. A brush of his ghostly flesh against
her and she was turned into a spectral puddle.
    “ No one actually wears clothes like this in
public.” He pointed to the page. “This guy looks like a total pansy
in that get-up.” Tapping his ghostly finger he continued. “This is
female propaganda against guys like me to get us to wear these
stupid outfits. I’ll keep my own threads on and save myself the
embarrassment.”
    “ You’re being ridiculous and I think he looks
very nice. You see the cut of the shirt sets off his chest and it’s
a good color for his complexion.” Lizzy fingered the photo,
imagining Richard wearing the clothes the model was sporting so
well in the photo. Richard would look really good in something
other than his usual eighties rocker outfit, which in her opinion
lost its appeal soon after coming into fashion back then. Now, he
looked more than dated. Maybe he wasn’t a pretty boy model, but he
had a decent build and a masculine handsome face that would
showcase the fall collection superbly.
    But Lizzy suspected that Richard kept his aged look
for reasons other than because he couldn’t stand current fashion.
He was holding on to more than his old wardrobe. She could relate
to whatever hurt kept Richard from moving forward with his
afterlife. Though she would never say so, they were kindred
spirits, lost and lonely souls.
    “ Is this what you like, Lizzy?” Richard
furrowed his dark brows leaning forward till their faces were only
inches apart. “These kinds of guys with their prissy haircuts and
tailored designer duds, is that what you’re into?”
    Lizzy could feel his ghostly presence so close to
her. It was exciting and frightening. She had never been attracted
to another ghost, not in her entire death. She’d never thought
about such things. Moving here three years ago from New York, she
had pictured having a different existence. But in all her
planning’s she had never thought about love.
    She was aware that ghosts could and did have
relationships with each other. Mr. and Mrs. Mendez was one couple
in particular. Finding love even in death was a special blessing as
those two had both been fortunate to find.
    “ Sure,” she answered him. Turning her head,
she met him, eye to eye. She noticed he had green eyes with flecks
of brown in them and they were spectacular. “I’m a dressmaker, so
of course I like to see put together men, prissy hair and
all.”
    He didn’t seem to like her answer, pulling back as
he made a disgusted face at her. “That just figures, doesn’t it?”
he said angrily.
    Lizzy folded her arms across her small chest,
defensive, raising her delicate eyebrows up at him. “What do you
want me to say, Richard? That I like guys who dress like they