Ghouls Just Want to Have Fun Read Online Free PDF

and a la mode," I said.
    "A scoop of cinnamon, right?"
    I nodded. "A big scoop," I added as Donita went to irradiate the pie. I'd need some serious energy reserves if I planned to drop in for a visit at the creepiest house in the county. Plus, a necklace of garlic and a cross might not be amiss.
    "And a Bible," I muttered.
    "A Bible? I'd ask what you're planning, but I don't think I want to know."
    The stool beside me swiveled, and I turned to see Ranger Rick Townsend settle his tattooed tush upon it. Tattoo? Well, you see, the good ranger and I made this over-the-top bet concerning the outcome of a certain double murder case. Townsend lost and, as a result, sports an adorable but classy raccoon tattoo on his cute bum. How do I know the raccoon tattoo is adorable? Well, I did have to verify that Townsend hadn't welshed on the bet, didn't I? The cute bum? Well, when you view a work of art, you do tend to notice a spectacular canvas. Everybody knows that.
    Townsend was in uniform, his long legs cloaked in dark green fabric with black stripes down the sides. Now that fall was upon us, the hunky but vexing officer had switched to his winter uniform, including long sleeves and a tie.
    "Why aren't you wearing my birthday present?" I asked, casting a pouting look at Townsend's totally lame tie tack with the DNR logo on it. "I put a lot of effort in locating that raccoon tie tack, you know. It was almost a perfect match for your tattoo. I'm hurt, Townsend. Really hurt."
    Rick grinned. "Not state-issued, I'm afraid. But I was touched you remembered my birthday. As I recall, that's the first gift you've given me. If you don't count the horse shit you wrapped in a Godiva chocolates box and left on my doorstep several years ago."
    "How do you know that was me?" I asked. "I'm certain there wasn't a card attached. 'To Rick. Enjoy this poop on your special day.' Besides, there must be tons of people out there who like you enough to give you crap on your birthday."
    Townsend laughed. "But only one has given me enough crap to fertilize the high school football field until my twentieth-year reunion."
    I shrugged. "I still say, prove it," I said.
    "Well, afternoon there, Rick." Donita greeted Townsend with a grin and placed a large slice of pie with a generous scoop of ice cream on the top on the counter in front of me. The ice cream was beginning to melt and seep down the sides of the newly nuked pie. Just how I like it. I picked up my fork and shoved an unladylike amount into my mouth.
    "What'll you have?" Donita asked Ranger Rick.
    "Just give me a glass of milk and a fork," Townsend instructed. "I think Turner here has more than enough to share."
    I gave the demented ranger a dark look. "You touch my pie, you die," I told him.
    Rick raised an eyebrow. "On second thought, Donita, I guess you'd better bring me my own slice--about half the size of that one." He nodded at my plate. "I've learned not to get between Tressa here and her sweets--especially during certain times of the month. I still bear scars from the time we battled over the last chocolate cupcake at the Coffee Clatch opening."
    I stopped shoveling pie long enough to defend my actions. "Hello, it was creme-filled," I said by way of explanation, and shoveled in another mouthful followed by a long swallow of coffee.
    "So, Ranger Rick," I said, "what's up with you? Is the hunting community behaving itself? Is everyone wearing those lovely orange vests and hats so they don't get mistaken for some poor unsuspecting stag?"
    Townsend took a drink from the tall glass of milk Donita had placed in front of him. I found myself staring at the taut line of his neck and the way his Adam's apple bobbed up and down. I shook my head. I was totally pathetic.
    He set down the glass and wiped milk from his lips. "So far so good. A few near misses, but nothing out of the ordinary. How's the news business? And the retail sideline? Oh, and the ice cream hawking, too. I expect with the weather getting