“Sorry, didn’t mean to shock you,” Ethan tries to cover up, bringing his hand to my shoulder. “Guess I should keep my hands to myself at the dinner table, right.”
“I hate when that happens,” Nik goes on, blotting up a bit of wine that spilled out of Ethan’s still-full glass. Knowing he’s not going to drink it, I reach forward and grab it, sucking down a big mouthful.
Smelling smoke, feeling cold breath on the back of my neck, and hearing voices…I’m either going crazy again or somehow, despite all the warding, a spirit has followed me home.
ChapterTwelve
“Anything?” I whisper to Hunter. I snuck away saying I needed to use the bathroom and am standing in the hall right before the powder room with my hands outstretched. “I don’t feel anything either.” Biting my lip, I let my hands fall to my sides. A chill came over me, but it’s probably because this old house doesn’t retain heat all that well and it is getting colder outside now that it’s dark.
“This house isn’t haunted.” I take a few steps down the hall, unable to shake the feeling that someone is in the living room waiting for me. “It can’t be because I would have known the first time I stepped foot in here.” I’m starting to feel more and more on edge, which is something I’m familiar with from picking up a ghost’s emotions. Shaking my head, I move to the middle of the living room.
“Look,” I start in a harsh whisper. “If you’re trying to get my attention, I’m listening.” I wait a beat and sigh. “I won’t cleanse the house yet, but just, uh, lay low for the next few hours, okay?” Standing perfectly still, I listen for the smallest of signs before going back into the dining room.
Everyone is done eating, and we all agree that we’re too full for dessert just yet. I start clearing the table, hoping to get a few minutes in the kitchen alone with Ethan so I can tell him what happened. It’s not like he’ll be able to detect anything I can’t but being on the same page keeps us both sane.
“What’s going on?” he asks as soon as we get to the sink. I put the plates I was holding in and turn on the water. Ethan’s hands land on my hips and he steps close, body just inches from mine. Heat comes off of him in waves, and I close my eyes, tipping my head up. The fact that I almost lost him to a life sentence for a murder he didn’t commit hits me and I close the small distance between us and kiss him.
Ethan slides one hand down my back and brings the other to my head, taking a fistful of my hair. He pushes his tongue into my mouth, kissing me harder. I softly moan as I wrap my arms around him, forgetting about everything else in the world for a moment.
“Don’t tell me the incubus is back,” Nik deadpans, coming to a stop in the kitchen. Ethan and I slowly break apart.
“Hah, not this time.” Ethan runs his hands down my body and takes a step back. “But I think something else is, isn’t it?”
I look from him to Nik and nod. “You didn’t feel anything?” I ask Nik.
“I felt a lot of things. You need to specify.”
“Anything ghostly.”
“No.” He cocks an eyebrow. “I thought you said this house wasn’t able to be haunted.”
“I did say that and I still believe it but—” I stop talking when Saanvi comes into the kitchen, carrying another stack of dishes.
“You don’t have to do that,” I tell her.
“Oh, it’s no problem at all. I like helping. I feel awkward sitting when someone else cleans up after me.”
“I know what you mean,” I tell her. “And I have an idea. How about we go to the barn while Harry helps wash dishes.”
She turns, looking at Harrison out of the corner of her eye. He’s doing a good job pretending he didn’t hear. “I like that idea, don’t you, babe?”
“I’m a guest,” Harrison protests.
“Exactly. You should show your appreciation,” Saanvi says and Harrison smiles, getting up and going over to her. The way she looks at him makes my heart happy. I really hope she doesn’t end up being evil.
We grab coats and put on our shoes and head outside.
“The barn is new?” she asks.
“Yeah. Like brand new. The inside arena isn’t quite done yet. Materials are back ordered, but the frame is up at least, and the weather has been decent so it’s not a big deal. It’ll be done before winter, that’s for sure, and I definitely took the heated arena at my previous barn for granted.”
“I bet. I lived in California when I rode. My definition of cold is probably laughable for you.”
“Hey, I’d happily get used to better temps. Of all the places my aunt could have lived, she picked the Midwest.”
Sundance and Mystery whinny to me when I step into the barn, and the donkeys start braying.
“I already fed you guys,” I remind them, but toss everyone more hay anyway. I give Saanvi a tour of the barn and then I take Sundance out of his stall, moving him into the grooming area. We talk as we take our time brushing each horse, not realizing just how long we’d been outside.