Page 46

Fish said she was interested in the crumbs, and I believe her more.

Fish, Sherlock, and Duchess are having the time of their furry little lives gobbling up stray cookies, and Buffy’s labradoodle Skittles is sprawled under the dessert table in prime crumb-catching position, not missing out on this good time either.

Macy and Mackenzie brought their white Samoyeds, Candy and Cane, who are cuddled up by the fire looking like two fluffy marshmallows that escaped the cocoa.

“Some of the other members couldn’t make it tonight,” Buffy says, opening her book with the sort of determination that suggests she’s not going down without a fight. “They’re all at the festival. Which means we have a smaller group, but that’s fine. We can still have a productive discussion about⁠—”

“The ghost kiss,” Georgie finishes. “And it was exactly that, toots—very productive.” She gives a knowing nod at Buffy, and already we’re all bracing for a very long evening.

Buffy closes her eyes and takes a deep breath.

Mackenzie looks my way and lifts her cider in a mock toast.

I bet she finds another body before Halloween, she thinks while settling into her chair. Here’s hoping it’s not mine. The Grim Reaper follows her around like a lovesick puppy.

I pretend I didn’t hear that. Not that she’s wrong. But still. It’s off-putting.

“Let’s discuss the vampire love interest,” Buffy tries again, opening to a bookmarked page. “What did we think of his motivations?”

“He was very tortured,” Mom says, because she actually read the book and is trying to help Buffy maintain some semblance of order. “I appreciated the depth of his internal conflict.”

“He was nothing compared to my ghost,” Georgie announces.

Buffy’s eye begins to twitch. “Georgie, this is a book club. We’re discussing a book. A fictional book about fictional vampires having fictional romance.”

Georgie makes a face. “And I’m discussing a real ghost having real romance with me. In real life. Which is way more interesting.”

She pulls up the video on her phone, and within seconds everyone except Buffy is crowded around watching it.

The video is shaky because whoever filmed it was clearly panicking about the violent haunting happening in front of them, but you can absolutely see the glowing blue figure rising up to the chandelier, untangling Georgie’s cape, floating her down, and then kissing her full on the mouth before disappearing.

Wow. It’s still just as breathtaking the second time around.

Face it. That ghost was hot.

I can’t help but note that the video already has two million views. And according to the caption below it, Ravenswood Manor is fully booked through next October, and the internet has confidently declared the whole thing a marketing gimmick with a projector and a stuntman on wires. Nobody believes a real ghost kissed an eighty-something-year-old woman in a sequined corset. Nobody except every single person who was standing in that room.

“Oh my goodness,” Macy breathes. “He is handsome.”

“Very handsome for someone who predates indoor plumbing,” Emmie agrees.

“Fine. He’s handsome. This is still not book club,” Buffy says.

“It’s better than book club,” Georgie counters.

Mackenzie is rewatching the video, slowing it down, zooming in on the ghost’s face. “Speaking of paranormal activity, Bizzy, have you tracked down Clawdia’s killer yet?” We really should find a reason to ship her off to the North Pole, Mackenzie grouses to herself. But then she’d probably find Santa’s body and there goes Christmas.

I can’t help but frown at her for the thought.

“We’re supposed to be discussing—” Buffy starts.

“The murder is way more interesting than the book,” Macy says, grabbing a pumpkin snickerdoodle from the dessert table.

“But the book is very good!” Mom protests.

“I haven’t finished it yet,” Emmie says. “Please don’t spoil it.”

A stuffed pumpkin flies across the room and hits Macy in the shoulder. We all turn to look at the playpen, where Ella and Elliot are laughing hysterically and preparing to launch a toy-laden assault on us. Emmie jumps that way and quickly puts an end to the war before it can begin.