Free Secondhand Spirits by Juliet Blackwell Page B

doesn’t know what he’s doing. You must have figured that out if you’ve spent more than five minutes with him.”
    He looked at me thoughtfully for a moment. “I’m Max, by the way. Max Carmichael. And you are . . . ?”
    â€œLily Ivory.” I reached out a hand, and we shook. The vibrations jumped between us, almost like a spark. His eyes flew up to mine and I snatched my hand back and smiled. After a moment he smiled back.
    I couldn’t help but notice that his spirit was completely on guard. Human, but tested. A lot of war veterans are like that—even normal humans can’t experience repeated trauma without learning how to build a psychic shell to protect themselves.
    â€œSo, why are you going out with Charles, exactly?” I asked.
    â€œI ‘out’ people like him.”
    â€œLike Charles Gosnold?”
    â€œPeople who prey on other people’s superstitions and fears.”
    â€œAh. You’re a . . . ?”
    â€œMythbuster, for lack of a better word.”
    â€œIs that like a professional skeptic?”
    â€œSomething like that.”
    â€œSomeone pays you for that?”
    â€œI even get benefits,” he said with a crooked smile.
    â€œBut the bay . . .”
    â€œWhat about it?”
    Okay, Lily, get hold of yourself . It was true that I suspected something untoward was going on out near the bay, but La Llorona stole children, and this was a grown man. Still, the specter had been known to seduce handsome fellows, luring them to their doom when it struck her fancy. And, truth was, there was something out of the ordinary about this Max Carmichael, a distinct energy that was attracting me and might draw spirits. . . .
    The bell tinkled as a tall, lithe brunette opened the door. Smartly dressed in a chic dove gray designer outfit that probably cost more than half my inventory combined, she hovered on the threshold as though afraid of catching something.
    â€œMax? You about ready?”
    â€œBe right there,” he said over his shoulder. He looked back at me and winked. “We’ll be careful.”
    Before he turned away to go I snapped the medicine bundle from around my waist and pressed it into his palm, cupping his hand with both of mine. I fixed him with my gaze. I felt his guard go up against me, but I was strong enough to make him listen, if not obey.
    â€œDo me a favor and carry this with you? Just stick it in your pocket and forget it. Think of it as a lady’s favor.”
    â€œ Max ,” the woman in the doorway urged, annoyed.
    Ignoring her, Max dropped his gaze to my hands holding his, then back to my eyes.
    After a moment he blew out a breath and nodded.
    â€œAll right. But I want to talk to you about this.”
    â€œYou know where to find me,” I answered just as a premonition hit me. My eyes flew to the front door.
    The bell tinkled as the woman left in a huff, and in her place entered two men, one of whom flipped the sign on the door to CLOSED.
    Yikes .

Chapter 6
    Out of habit I grabbed for my medicine bundle, only to remember that I had just given it away.
    The two men hesitated in the foyer, just as the woman had. My daily protection spell gave a lot of people pause, especially if they weren’t well-intentioned toward me or the store.
    â€œWell, if it isn’t Max Carmichael.” The smaller man was the first to cross over to us, a shadow of a smile on his lips. Not much taller than my own five-foot-five, with a shaved head, trim mustache, and near-black eyes, he was attractive in a not-so-tall, dark, and handsome way. He wore black running shoes, khaki chinos, and a thigh-length black leather jacket. “I didn’t know you were back in town.”
    â€œCarlos, good to see you,” Max said with a nod but not much warmth. They shook hands.
    Carlos turned to the man standing by his side. He was of medium height, husky, and so blond that his eyebrows disappeared against his pale