Page 48 of Ghost
Later thatevening…
“That was one hell of aperformance,” Ghost said as he and Ray crawled into bed. He neverwanted to take these moments for granted.
“Thank you,” Ray chuckledas he pulled Ghost close. “I’ve often found if you can appeal tosomeone’s sense of self-preservation and show understanding,they’re more likely to take the easiest way out to save their skin.Unless they’re a psychopath, then there’s no reasoning withthem.”
“Spencer and Harris arestill digging into the land purchases, but it appears Brick’sintuition is leading him in the right direction,” Ghostsaid.
“Something tells me yourteam leader is typically a step ahead of most. I guess that’s whatmakes him the best.”
“After watching you worktoday, I’d say you’re the best at what you do.” Ghost had beentruly impressed by Ray’s ability to get Jake to cough upinformation when it was obvious the man didn’t want to.
“You’re biased,” Raychuckled.
“It’s true. You got Jake totalk. No one else in that room would have.”
“Thank you, but I’ll behappier when we know what’s really going on around here. It seemswe’ve gone down a damn rabbit’s hole, and whatever’s happening hasbeen well planned out for a very long time.”
“Me too,” Ghost said, thenhe remembered something important. “Once we solve this mystery,what are your plans?”
“Plans?” Ray lookedhonestly confused by the question. Had he not thought this farahead?
“Yeah. Like returning toSeattle kinda plans,” Ghost explained.
Ghost hadn’t realized until then hownervous he was about Ray’s possible answer. Would he stay even ifhe didn’t like living in a small town like Marshall, or would Raywant Ghost to move to Seattle? Could he move to Seattle afterfinally finding his home among the Fire Lake team? For Ray, he’dtry to do anything.
“I told you, you’re nevergetting rid of me. I’ve already decided to give my notice back inSeattle,” Ray said easily, as if this was a given.
“You’re moving back toMarshall? But you don’t like it here. I don’t want you to resent mefor making you live somewhere you’d hate,” Ghost said. It would beworse if, after everything, Ray grew to regret hisdecision.
“That was back when I wasyounger. I never felt like I fit in here, especially with yourfamily being the law. Friends were hard to find, but judgment fromeveryone was readily available. However, Marshall has changed overthe years I’ve been gone. It’s much more open and accepting, and Ibelieve you’re happy here, right?”
“Yes. It feels like Ifinally have a home.” Ghost’s heart was bursting withhappiness.
“Well, then it’s decided.We live in Marshall somewhere,” Ray declared with a grin. “We couldlive in a hut, and I’d be happy as long as you’re withme.”
“Thank you, baby.” Ghostdove in for a kiss. “But I believe we’ll have better options forliving accommodations.”
“I would never do anythingto hurt you, ever. I mean…” Ray fell quiet, and when he lookeddown, the look on his face rendered Ghost speechless. “I think Ilove you. You’re the first man I’ve ever said those words to, andyou’ll be the last. You and me, we’re forever, babe,” Ray said,running the palm of his hand along Ghost’s jaw. “You’ve made myworld better. Hell, you are my world. I’m a very selfish man, sothere’s no way I’m letting you go.”
Ghost had never been someone’s wholeworld before; it was an odd and exhilarating feeling. He straddledRay’s waist and hugged him close.
“I love you too. I’vealways believed I was better alone, but now I know how empty itwould be without you.”
“You’ll never have to findout,” Ray assured before pulling Ghost in for a long, lazy kissthat quickly turned heated, and soon both were lost in their needfor each other as hands roamed freely over their heated bodies.Nothing had ever been so right. Ray was his, and no one would takehim away.
That night, they spent hoursexpressing their love for each other in multiple ways until bothlay exhausted and satiated for the moment.
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
Ghost
“We need to head out toBryan’s ranch,” Brick announced at the breakfast table the nextmorning.
“We looking for anythingspecific?” Ray asked.
“Spencer and Harris wereable to narrow down a group who’s been busy buying up land aroundMarshall, and I want to look at the patch of Bryan’s property thatfell within the yellow-shaded area of Cross’s map.”
“It wasn’t easy,” Spencersaid. “They had the information buried so deep we had to create avirus to bring down a few security walls so we could get a peekinside. The group is named Ever Clear Investments and is out ofDallas. Before that, Riverside Developments was originallyincorporated as Cross and Berry Inc., but names were quicklychanged. The original company came into existence back in theforties. The principles were Ronald Cross and ProsperBerry.”
