Star People Legacy Smith, T.L. (e book free reading .TXT) 📖

He always had a thing for being a bit matchy-matchy. His cowboy-tight Levis and snug tank top displayed his chiseled muscles, front and back. I loved his arms and now with the way the Ci’in tattoo laid over the bulging triceps…

I turned away to dress before my imagination got any more lurid. There was power over him in those tattoos and it didn’t take much for me to take advantage of that fact. I dressed quickly. The Levis fit perfect. He liked them a bit tighter, but I needed to be able to move. The shirts were simple, a black tank underneath a white women’s oxford. All new and crisp.

At least they didn’t replace my favorite cowboy boots, worn to the point that my pinkie toes threatened to pop out through the leather. I’d had them since high school and resoled them at least three times. They had a good half-tread still on them, treaded for desert terrain.

I tied off the shirt as someone knocked on the door again, followed by Stephanie’s voice. “Your breakfast is set up in the salon.”

I rushed to the door, but she was already disappearing out of the suite. I let out a sigh, backing into the room again. “Go ahead and get started while I finish up.”

“Appreciate it.” Casey slipped around me. “I’ll save you something.”

“Do that.” I headed to the dressing table and finished brushing my hair. It still smelled of eucalyptus, and was soft from the oil. I was lingering again, then nearly jumped out of my skin when an apparition appeared behind me in the mirror.

I spun around. “Lutz! Really?” I wanted to reach out to try touching him, but knew it would be pointless. “I’m not dreaming or under the influence. So you can just show up anywhere now?”

He grinned. “Yeah, kinda. You didn’t have all your abilities to see me before, so that was my only choice”

“Well, now I do, and if you haven’t noticed, this is the bathroom. My bathroom, in my bedroom. Like, did manners die with you?” I grimaced as I heard myself. “Sorry.”

Lutz shrugged. “No offense taken. And I listened before entering, since I haven’t learned to knock yet.” He silently rapped on the door. “I’m still in Ghost 101. Knocking and chain rattling comes in Haunting 210.”

“Okay, I’ll give you that one.” I rolled my eyes at him and got up from the dressing bench. “So what’s up? You here to deliver some prophetic message?”

“Wow, testy are we? I’d have thought you’d be all mellow today.”

“Ewww, you just said you didn’t peep.”

He laughed. “Partner, I didn’t even try to listen, but that hooting and howling was enough to wake the dead...” He paused, looking down at himself. “Well, maybe not. Still dead.”

“Don’t do that.” I closed my eyes, his image at the bottom of the cliff something I’d never forget. “Joking doesn’t make this easier.”

“Sorry. I didn’t come here to upset you.” I felt a pressure on my arm, a stroking, but I didn’t open my eyes. “I’m not really dead. There is an afterlife, but I need to be a part of this battle, before you release my soul. So don’t torture yourself.”

His touch was comforting and I dared to look at him again, though my throat knotted tight. “I have to explain this to Sabrina.”

Lutz pulled his hand away. “Yeah, that sucks, but she knew she was marrying a soldier and bad shit happens. By now she’ll be wondering why she can’t reach me.” He eased away, clearing the door to let me out of the bathroom. “Maybe before you release me, I’ll pay her a visit, try to ease the impact.”

He followed me across the room. “I promise I’ll do whatever I can to help.”

“I know you will.”

I went out into the main room. Lutz still following me.

Casey looked up from pouring coffee and spilled half the pot all over the table. “What the hell?”

I stepped away from Lutz, glancing between them. “You can see him?”

“Shit!” Casey started grabbing napkins from the service tray as coffee started dripping off the table. “Yeah, I can.” He tried sopping up coffee, but couldn’t take his eyes off Lutz. “You’re dead!”

“What?” Lutz started slapping his chest, looking totally horrified. “I am?”

“Knock it off.” I headed to the other side of the table, using more napkins to soak up a run-away trail of coffee, shaking my head at Casey. “It appears death unleashed a twisted, not-so-funny, sense of humor.”

“I am too funny.” Lutz acted offended, then shrugged a shoulder. “Sorry to freak you out, dude. Apparently I’m not the only one who went through a change. Normally YOU shouldn’t be able to see me.”

Casey rubbed his chest, turning away only enough to grab a bar towel. “I’m sorry about what happened to you. Is there a reason you’re… here?”

“Wow, dude! Thought we were friends.” He gave me a wink.

“He’s tied to me until I do a ceremony to release his Spirit. He wants to help, somehow.”

“Well, however I can.” Lutz lingered as I took one of the chairs. “I went out to my body when they came to get it. Yazzie and her people made it look like they picked up two bodies. She fed the coyotes and they disappeared down the gulch. By the time they’d loaded up the bikes, the bad guys had shown up. Yazzie’s people pretended not to see them as they took off.”

“And they didn’t get shot at?”

“Almost. A couple of the guys took aim, but the pack leader said it would draw too much attention if anymore locals disappeared. Plan is to lay low until after the Marines come out to investigate.” Lutz nodded at me. “Actually he seemed a little sad that you were dead. Think he’ll be planning to come to our funerals?”

I rubbed my face with both hands. “Dude, really, the information’s useful, but don’t know how much more I can take of you talking about being dead so nonchalantly,