Page 85 of The Aura Answer

Nick murmured, “Ouch. Thegovernorwanted to steamroller Afterthought?”

“Yup,” Gracie whispered back. “He was Block’s buddy and hates Larraine. Now he probably hates a useless rat like Rhodes for spoiling his fun.”

Larraine waved off their whispers. “I do not indulge in gossip. People gotta hate. I’m here to spread the love. Anyway,with the evidence of blackmail and ballistics, Rhodes has been charged with killing Arthur Block as well as Layman and poor Samuel Walker, as well as assault onmoi. Since the reward was not set up for conviction, just evidence, we are presenting the Sensible Solutions Agency with the prize of a hundred thousand plus change. With ballistics and the fingerprints on the guns, plus on the vehicle you found, the one Rhodes used to flee after shooting at me, Troy thinks he can get a confession without need of Bertie’s ghost.”

Even Ariel whooped in the library.

“The answer’s always in the aura,” Evie said with satisfaction, helping herself to what remained of the omelet appetizers.

Gracie wasn’t ready to celebrate yet. Would Nick take his share and go home? She was surprised by how much she hated that thought. She chewed her fingernail and waited while the others shouted and cheered, and Pris popped a Prosecco bottle they’d chilled for dinner.

Toby held out a folder to Jax. “Bill Wright told me to give you this. As soon as dad died, I gave Bill the portfolio of mortgages. Since his is the only bank in town, he’s familiar with most of the property and the owners. He’s had his employees checking credit files and property reports and so forth. His bank isn’t large enough to refinance everyone, but he’s making recommendations to larger companies for the loans he can’t handle.”

Gracie held her breath, watching the folder exchange hands as if it were the Holy Grail. Nick squeezed her shoulders, and she didn’t pull away.

Jax flipped the folder open and scanned the top sheet, then glanced up at Gracie. “He can take you, if you can cover the closing costs. Bill isn’t doing this out of charity. His bank stands to make a lot of money out of these properties. But his interestrates are considerably lower than Block’s. You’ll earn the money back in a year or two.”

Gracie nearly wilted. Evie and Nick cheered. Iddy and Pris clinked their glasses. Tears welled as she whispered, “Will my share of the reward cover the closing costs?”

“And then some,” Jax predicted. “And you can put the amount you save on monthly payments into Aster’s college account.”

Gracie covered her face with both hands to hide her tears of joy.

“Are you willing to rent a room to a boarder to add to Aster’s college fund?” Nick whispered.

Startled, she hastily wiped her eyes. “You have no car. You can’t drive to your new job from here.”

He grinned in a way that woke all her dormant hormones. “Say yes.”

Warily, against her better judgment, she nodded.

He broke into the excited conversation flowing around them. “Do you think Judge Satterwhite might rent the Antique Barn to me and Mr. Patel? We’ve been talking, and it only seems fair...”

Gracie gulped air so fast, she almost fainted.

Recovering, she defiantly floated a glass of Prosecco off Pris’s tray. Pointing and cheering, encouraging floating alcohol, everyone lifted their glasses. Even Nick grinned and clinked his glass to hers when she snatched it from mid-air.

He was staying. Oh my. Gracie threw back a healthy swallow—then boldly hugged Nick’s neck. “If you are very, very good, you might find a better present under your tree tonight.”

He laughed andsnoggedher right in front of everyone.

Lyingin Jax’s arms that night, exhausted by the day’s excess, Evie pressed kisses along his solid chest. “You must be part Native American like Iddy to always be brown.”

“And Italian, like Dante. And tenacious, like my parents. You promised to give me a date, Evangeline. I’m no longer poor. Neither are you. Even if your Aunt Val wants her house back, I think we can afford our own place. Give me a date.”

Evie fingered her lovely spoon engagement ring. “Beltane.” She’d never had a relationship last for a year, and that would be more than a year.

“Beltane,” he repeated warily. “And that is?”

She giggled. “You really were raised by wolves, weren’t you? May Day. A wedding will distract my mother from lighting bonfires.”

She didn’t mention all the other superstitions associated with the celebrations for a fertile summer. Her mother wanted more grandchildren.

“May, a year after we met. I like that.” He propped himself on his elbow and kissed her thoroughly.

Evie threw herself into the moment with enthusiasm. Kissing led to many pleasant activities.

The covers were on the floor and the schnauzer leaping up from her puppy bed before they heard music drifting from below.

“Don’t,” Evie said sleepily as Jax prepared to exit the bed to do his protector-of-his-fiefdom duty. “Pris and Dante are working things out. And the twins are on the stairs, keeping watch.”

“How do you know this?” He returned Morrigan to her bed and the covers to theirs.

“I didn’t say I banished all ghosts,” she murmured, snuggling under his arm again. “Some of them are rather useful.”

It was an old house, always owned by her family. Their spirits lingered, watching, guarding, and sometimes returning.

Evie hoped their target was Pris and Dante tonight. Maybe they could make it a double wedding—if no more mad judges ran loose.