labyrinth. “Trent?”
I knew in my gut the slumbering evil that I’d heard so much about had awakened.
I spotted Trent in the parlor and the unease lessened. My heart slowed. He gave me a look, one eyebrow cocked upward. In the dabbled sunlight, even with that arrogant grin on his face, he looked sublimely gorgeous…safe. Not a ghost. Just Trent. I stared at his lips. Intense emotions washed over me like a wave lapping against a jagged shore. My first impulse was to go to him and fling my arms around him. All I wanted was to be wrapped tenderly in his embrace. Feel those bulging muscles against my skin. Strength. Protection. Like how my dad used to make me feel protected until I started seeing paranormals and he didn’t believe me.
That’s crazy , right ? I didn’t even know him. Yet. Sheesh, I was a total lust bunny!
Trent removed a sheet from a table. Dust rose to the ceiling and I fanned the air with one hand. The stale air resettled and filled my lungs, igniting a coughing fit.
Trent started to open the windows, but I noticed the large room remained shadowy and dim despite the open curtains. Odd.
“I won’t make you get all dusty,” Trent said, “but maybe you could open the windows and let the fresh air in.”
Whew. No way am I removing dusty sheets and sneezing all over the guy I’m crushing on.
Trent continued to remove the sheets while I threw open drapes and windows and let light and fresh air flood into the rooms. Sneezing loudly, I followed him into the adjoining room, gawking at the Tiffany lamps, marble fireplaces, and antiques. Even in shambles, Ravenhurst still illustrated wealth. On my way to the next window, I tripped on the Oriental rug and bumped into a grandfather clock, getting caught in a sticky spider web. I let out a yelp.
At Trent’s quizzical look, I said, “Ewww, spiders!” I fake shuddered. “I hate spiders. They’re super creepy, with all those long hairy legs. Thousands of eyes. How do they not bug you?” I burst out laughing. “Get it? Bug you?” Leaning against the wall, I attempted to gather my poise, not even caring that I’d just acted like a total dork. Or that I’d lumped arachnids in with insects. Way to impress a smart guy.
“Yeah, I get it.” He raised a brow, his gaze lingering on my mouth. “Don’t worry, I’ll keep you safe.”
I stopped giggling. He flashed a sexy smile, then moved closer. The heat from his body flowed into mine. His nearness forced me to repress a shiver. His gorgeous eyes, so vivid they looked like emeralds, sparkled impishly. He touched my upper arms with the tips of his fingers.
Damn he’s wicked hot. And I like him. Really like him. Hopefully it isn’t one sided.
“I wish we’d met sooner. It’s so effing boring in this backwards town. And you’re like the coolest person I’ve met.”
Wait, what’s Trent saying?
“Me? Are you sure you have the right girl, Donovan?”
He bobbed his head. “Duh. You’re snarky and weird. I like you.”
Floorboards above us creaked and groaned like footsteps. I heard a squeaky door slam closed somewhere upstairs. An instant tingling hit the pit of my stomach. I froze, listening, no longer focusing on Trent telling me he liked me. A sob came from the vaulted ceiling.
“Did you hear that?” I asked, shivering.
“That pesky cat meowing?” Trent ripped a dingy sheet from an armchair.
A cat, Shiloh. That’s all the sound was. A cat. Not paranormals ready to attack. Dust motes zipped up my nose, and I sneezed super loud. I stepped over to a window and wrenched it open. On the grass below sat an adorable Siamese kitten. “Aw, it’s a kitten, Trent. Can we let her in?”
Trent wagged his head, throwing up his hands. “Sure. There’s milk in the kitchen. I’ll be right back.”
I leaned out the window and lifted the kitten. She purred and I rubbed her soft fur against my cheek, tension that had snapped my spine straight when I’d heard the eerie cry easing with the
I knew in my gut the slumbering evil that I’d heard so much about had awakened.
I spotted Trent in the parlor and the unease lessened. My heart slowed. He gave me a look, one eyebrow cocked upward. In the dabbled sunlight, even with that arrogant grin on his face, he looked sublimely gorgeous…safe. Not a ghost. Just Trent. I stared at his lips. Intense emotions washed over me like a wave lapping against a jagged shore. My first impulse was to go to him and fling my arms around him. All I wanted was to be wrapped tenderly in his embrace. Feel those bulging muscles against my skin. Strength. Protection. Like how my dad used to make me feel protected until I started seeing paranormals and he didn’t believe me.
That’s crazy , right ? I didn’t even know him. Yet. Sheesh, I was a total lust bunny!
Trent removed a sheet from a table. Dust rose to the ceiling and I fanned the air with one hand. The stale air resettled and filled my lungs, igniting a coughing fit.
Trent started to open the windows, but I noticed the large room remained shadowy and dim despite the open curtains. Odd.
“I won’t make you get all dusty,” Trent said, “but maybe you could open the windows and let the fresh air in.”
Whew. No way am I removing dusty sheets and sneezing all over the guy I’m crushing on.
Trent continued to remove the sheets while I threw open drapes and windows and let light and fresh air flood into the rooms. Sneezing loudly, I followed him into the adjoining room, gawking at the Tiffany lamps, marble fireplaces, and antiques. Even in shambles, Ravenhurst still illustrated wealth. On my way to the next window, I tripped on the Oriental rug and bumped into a grandfather clock, getting caught in a sticky spider web. I let out a yelp.
At Trent’s quizzical look, I said, “Ewww, spiders!” I fake shuddered. “I hate spiders. They’re super creepy, with all those long hairy legs. Thousands of eyes. How do they not bug you?” I burst out laughing. “Get it? Bug you?” Leaning against the wall, I attempted to gather my poise, not even caring that I’d just acted like a total dork. Or that I’d lumped arachnids in with insects. Way to impress a smart guy.
“Yeah, I get it.” He raised a brow, his gaze lingering on my mouth. “Don’t worry, I’ll keep you safe.”
I stopped giggling. He flashed a sexy smile, then moved closer. The heat from his body flowed into mine. His nearness forced me to repress a shiver. His gorgeous eyes, so vivid they looked like emeralds, sparkled impishly. He touched my upper arms with the tips of his fingers.
Damn he’s wicked hot. And I like him. Really like him. Hopefully it isn’t one sided.
“I wish we’d met sooner. It’s so effing boring in this backwards town. And you’re like the coolest person I’ve met.”
Wait, what’s Trent saying?
“Me? Are you sure you have the right girl, Donovan?”
He bobbed his head. “Duh. You’re snarky and weird. I like you.”
Floorboards above us creaked and groaned like footsteps. I heard a squeaky door slam closed somewhere upstairs. An instant tingling hit the pit of my stomach. I froze, listening, no longer focusing on Trent telling me he liked me. A sob came from the vaulted ceiling.
“Did you hear that?” I asked, shivering.
“That pesky cat meowing?” Trent ripped a dingy sheet from an armchair.
A cat, Shiloh. That’s all the sound was. A cat. Not paranormals ready to attack. Dust motes zipped up my nose, and I sneezed super loud. I stepped over to a window and wrenched it open. On the grass below sat an adorable Siamese kitten. “Aw, it’s a kitten, Trent. Can we let her in?”
Trent wagged his head, throwing up his hands. “Sure. There’s milk in the kitchen. I’ll be right back.”
I leaned out the window and lifted the kitten. She purred and I rubbed her soft fur against my cheek, tension that had snapped my spine straight when I’d heard the eerie cry easing with the
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