“That’s one hell of a nice welcome,” he said, when he finally could.
I laughed. “When it comes to things I desire, you’re a smidge above food, so consider yourself lucky.”
His gaze went past me, and his nostrils flared. “Is that black bean beef I’m smelling?”
“Yes.” I stepped back and waved him in. “There’s also lemon chicken, sweet and sour pork, roast duck, and special fried rice.”
&nbs
p; “Are you expecting an army or something?”
Belle came out of the kitchen with the last of the containers. “No, just a werewolf who times his arrival to perfection.”
He laughed and sat down. I continued on, grabbing an additional plate and some cutlery before sitting beside him.
“How’s Joe? Did you manage to get him out?”
“It took a bit of effort, but we did eventually extract him. Aside from a shattered leg, he seems to have come out of it all relatively unscathed.” He began filling up his plate. “What were you two and Ashworth doing near the Poverty Valley Track?”
I raised my eyebrows. “How did you know we were all there?”
“It’s my job to notice things.” A smile teased the corners of his lips. “And that red SUV of yours doesn’t exactly fade into the background.”
“Which is why that color was picked.” Belle claimed the lemon chicken. “Given your overprotective tendencies when it comes to our girl, you will at least be able to see the car easily enough if we get lost or get into trouble in some forgotten back forest.”
“While that may or may not be true, I haven’t dared bring out the overprotectiveness since that last flash of temper.”
“Neither of us believes you were, in any way, intimidated by that very minor display of annoyance, Ranger.” My voice was dry and his smile widened.
“So, to repeat, what were the three of you doing there?”
“Following a ghost.”
His eyebrows rose. “Why?”
“Because she’s been following me, and I thought I’d return the favor and see what she wanted.”
“Did you get an answer?”
“Do we ever?” Belle said, amused.
“Well, yes, even if it does sometimes take a while.”
“I suspect this is going to be one of those times.” I piled up my plate. “Although she did lead us to a blood-covered, bone-strewn rock and some random feathers. We collected samples of each, and Ashworth’s coming over once his dinner guests leave. We’re going to attempt a locator spell.”
“On the samples or the ghost?”
“On the feathers. They belonged to a shifter who felt evil.”
“Then I’ll definitely stick around, just in case.”
“Which is just another excuse to consume more brownies after you’ve finished the Chinese,” Belle said.
“A fact I cannot deny.”
I shook my head and got down to the business of eating. Conversation flowed easily, and we were halfway through cake and coffee when Ashworth finally appeared.
“The bloody rellies wouldn’t leave,” he grumbled as he stomped through the door. “I was just about to give them a magical prod when they finally made tracks.”