by Shyla Colt
“Is that what you do?”
“It’s what I choose to do for you. If you’d like me to.”
Setting aside her pride, she studied the man beside her. This felt like an off-the-record offer. Did he feel the same pull she did? Pride would have her alone in the house terrified and unable to rest. A smart woman knew when to ask for help.
“Please.”
“Let’s finish up here, and I’ll follow you home.”
The once delectable chocolate chip cookie now tasted like sawdust. She washed the cardboard down with the remainder of her milk and stood. He placed a hand on the small of her back and steered her out the front door. Drinking in the protective vibe he cast, she allowed herself to lean on him for strength as they walked the sidewalk to the parking garage. She unlocked the car door, and he opened it, waiting until she was inside to close it and pat the wood. The intimacy was water after a trek through the desert.
The small things—like touch, conversation, and the expression of care—were things she took for granted back home. Surrounded by loved ones, she lost sight of the little things that made life as a whole great. Here, forced to navigate a new world along with a threat looming over her head, she felt extremely isolated and bereft. Adrift on the ocean of life without a paddle, her character was being called into question. Her father came from a proud race of people descended from ancient warriors. Being strong meant much more than physical strength. This was her chance to prove their blood flowed through her veins.
Renewed by the short ride and reaffirmation of who she was and where she came from, she pulled into the parking lot prepared to go back into the fray with Micah as her backup. Kahles didn’t back down easily. How else could her father charge the big waves knowing the harm they could impart? Broken bones, concussions, and tight budgets never threw him off his goal. His determination and passion inspired her to reach for her own dreams. It had been years of putting work first as she tried to make a name for herself. This paranormal activity was not allowed to ruin that.
This is my time. The stone castle became a wave to charge.
Micah stepped up beside her. “You good?”
“Yeah, I forgot for a minute.”
“Forgot what?” he asked.
“Who I was. The fear infiltrated and broke me down. Being here alone and unsettled left me vulnerable. That’s over now.”
“You speak as if you’re going to war.”
“Aren’t I?” she whispered.
He inclined his head. “You might have a point there.”
They began the short walk and entered the quiet building. Holding her head high, she unlocked her front door and stepped inside. The house was quiet and peaceful. No sense of impending doom registered on her radar, and everything appeared to be in its proper place. She locked the door behind him. “Let’s look around.”
“Ladies first.” He gestured forward. He let her take the lead, and she respected him for it. Taking back her power and control helped distance her from the mini-meltdown she’d had in the face of the unknown. Removing her boots at the door, she padded through the living room to the kitchen and down the hall. The door was open just as she’d left it that morning.
“It looks good.”
“Why don’t I do some poking around while you go about your nightly routine?”
“Are you concerned, or curious about what my pajamas look like?”
Micah snickered. “Can’t I be both?”
“Smart answer. Please make yourself at home. There’s plenty to eat and drink in the kitchen. I won’t be long.”
“Take your time. I cleared the evening for you.”
The sincerity had her heart beating faster. He had an intensity that left her speechless as his eyes bore into her own.
“Thank you.”
“Mhmm.”
He went back to the living room, and she gathered her things and moved into the full bathroom connected to her room. Stripping down, she tossed her clothing into the wicker basket in the corner and turned on the water. Stepping underneath the warm spray, she grabbed her coconut scented body wash, placed it on her pastel blue scrubbing ball, and lathered it up. Washing away the grime of the day, she felt her muscles relax beneath the heated spray.
Feeling clean, she stuck her head beneath the spray and used the Aragon oil infused shampoo. She had her father’s defined curl, but her hair drank conditioner like her mother’s coarse 4C hair pattern. Massaging her scalp, she rotated her shoulders and moved onto the deep conditioner. After she combed through the curls carefully, she gave them a final rinse.
She stilled. Suddenly she didn’t feel alone in the room. Quickly working the conditioner out of her hair, she jerked back when the shower curtain moved inward. The impression of a hand made her scream. The shower curtain shook violently.
“Daize,” Micah yelled over the sound of the running shower, “I’m here.” He jiggled the door she hadn’t locked, and she fumbled with the shower knob. Her slippery hands were clumsy. It took two tries before she could get it right.
“Leave me alone,” she screamed. The curtain stilled. Not waiting for the ghost to strike again, she stumbled out of the basin, grabbed a large, fluffy towel, and wrapped it around her body.
Micah stumbled through the door, righting himself as he gripped her upper arms. “Are you all right? What happened?”
“I saw a hand pushing up against the curtain. I cried out, and the entire curtain started to shake.”
“Jesus,” Micah whispered.
“What?” She spun around and glimpsed the mirror. Written in the condensation was: We wait below.
“Get dressed and pack a few things. You’re not staying here tonight.”
“Then where should I stay?”
“With me. My brother just moved out with his fiancée, so I have a spare room in my condo.”
“I couldn’t impose.”
“I wouldn’t ask if I didn’t want you there, Daize.”
She clamped her mouth closed. “Give me ten minutes.”
“Make it five.” He glanced around warily as they backed into the bedroom.
“I’ll wait beside the door. Keep it open.”
“Yeah.” The minute he disappeared through the frame, she swiftly towel-dried, threw on a pair of underwear, a bra, and gray sweats with a white T-shirt and a San Diego hoodie. Pulling on socks, she grabbed enough clean clothes for a week, shoved them into an oversized beach tote, and rushed out.
“I’m ready.” She grabbed her purse, bundled up in her peacoat, and followed him out of the house. Remaining silent until they escaped the building, she let out a sigh of relief. “What just happened?”
“Honestly, I have no clue. Nothing happened in the living room. It’s focused on you, and that worries me. We need to do a cleansing ritual and do a more detailed investigation. You can stay with me as long as you need to. But you aren’t going to stay in that house until we figure this out.”
“I’m not going to?” She placed a hand on her hip.
“If that’s a demon, I won’t have anything on my conscience.”
“I won’t be a burden. You can do your job just fine with me in a hotel. You saw me at my worst last week. I’m not that girl who needs saving.”
“I didn’t think you were. I only want to see you safe.” He held his hands up.
“I can tell you’re used to taking the lead in your life. I don’t operate well that way.”
He took a step closer. “How do you operate best?”
She could feel the heat from his body seeping into her. His minty breath caressed her face. Her mouth dried out like a sea star in hot weather. The gold flecks in his green eyes warmed her from the inside out. Lost in the tractor beam of his gaze, she swayed toward him.
“When I’m asked nicely and respectfully.”
“Please come home with me until we figure this out.”
“Why, Micah?” she whispered breathlessly.
“Because this is about more than a case, Dai
ze.”
“What’s that?”
He smirked. “Are you going to make me say it?”
“Yeah. I’m going to need you to do that.”
“I’m interested in more than keeping you safe, Daize. I tried to ignore the chemistry between us, keep things professional and separated. But I don’t act the way I should when I’m with you. I want to be more than your paranormal investigator.”
“You don’t even know me.” Her brow furrowed as she shook her head.
“Yet. What I’m saying is I’d like to get to know you. I keep the people I care about safe. My brothers and I run a company together, so I’m used to giving orders and being listened to. I can come off as heavy-handed. It’s not my intention, and I apologize.”
She wanted to deny his words. But the connection she’d formed with him was potent. For the first time in months, she no longer felt all alone in her new hometown. It was fast, unexpected, and completely inconvenient. None of it mattered.
“I want that, too. Apology accepted.”
They smiled at one another. “Let’s get out of here.” He took the bag from her. “I got this.” She relinquished control, holding onto the happiness she’d discovered in the midst of turmoil.
Chapter Three
Micah
“What did you say your occupation was again?” Daize asked as they walked into the gray building.
He knew the question would come up. The luxury condominium complex placed him at a certain tax bracket. He flipped on the light. She paused in the foyer. “You have a spiral staircase.”
“Yeah. It was one of the major selling points for my brother and me. Well, Asher. I have three brothers all together. I’m part-owner of Davenport Chocolates with my four siblings.”
“People here in Cincinnati must have one hell of a sweet tooth.” Her dry tone made him laugh out loud.
“Well, it’s an old, established family business. Our ancestors put in the hard work. We’ve maintained and built on what they started.”
“I like the way you acknowledge those who came before you. My dad’s Hawaiian and respecting, honoring, and remembering our ancestors and our history is a huge part of his culture.”
“Without them, I’m not sure what my family would be doing. My siblings and I all work there in some capacity. We uh ... inherited it when our parents died unexpectedly.” He shoved his hands in his pockets. Deep down where he could almost hide it from himself, that lost boy looking for signs that his parents lingered who felt excitement about the activity in her apartment. Unlike all the other cases he participated on, this had real interaction with an intelligent spirit. What would it reveal to them? Could this be the incident that helped him achieve the peace he’d worked so hard for?
His siblings had all moved on. He alone remained trapped behind, worried about where his parents had actually gone. At times, he thought he could feel them near.
“How about I show you your room?”
“That would be perfect.”
“It’s up the spiral staircase.” He wiggled his eyebrows, and she laughed.
He led her up the stairs to the light blue bedroom with a queen-sized bed and a dresser.
“I know it’s a bit barren. My brother just cleared out not too long ago.”
She shook her head. “It’s everything I need.”
He pointed to the door on the far side of her room. “There’s a bathroom right through that door, and I’m at the end of the hall if you need anything.”
“Are you going to sleep?” she asked carefully.
“It’s nearly midnight, and you have work in the morning, right?” He studied her face. On the outside, she seemed calm, but there was something off in her voice.
“I do, but there’s no way I can sleep right now.”
He was burning the midnight oil and pulling double duty between work and the CPI. She fixed her brown eyes on him, and he couldn’t conceive of letting her down. “I tell you what ... how about you settle in here, and meet me downstairs when you’re ready? We’ll binge watch a show on Netflix and eat popcorn until we grow tired.”
She gifted him with a weak smile. “Sounds good.” A shade of her usual self, her eyes didn’t reflect her usual joy. Her lackluster response pained him. The poor woman probably had yet to process what she’d experienced. Eager to ease her mind, he moved downstairs, popped two bags of popcorn, and opted for Harry Potter and The Sorcerer’s Stone. They could all use a little good triumphing over evil.
“Oh, a man after my own heart. Are you a fellow Potter head?” she asked as she walked in clad in black and white flannel pajama pants and a matching button down top
“I am. Moment of truth. What’s your house?”
“Oh no, I’m not going to give it away.” Plopping onto the sofa beside him, she turned her body toward his. “Guess.”
“Let’s see. Smart, kind, and beautiful with a nice sense of humor. Brave and strong. Are you a lioness or a dark bird who’s too smart for its own good? I’m leaning toward Ravenclaw, given your profession.”
“Well played, sir. Now it’s my turn. Tall, dark, intense, and successful. Protective, and knowledgeable. I see the spark of ambition inside of you. Slytherin.”
He blinked. “Most people never guess correctly.”
“I’m not most people.” She grabbed one of the bowls of popcorn and moved closer to him on the couch.
No, you’re not.
“It’s so different watching it when you know all he’ll go through. He’s so young when the movies start, but not innocent. He’s already seen too much for that.”
“It’s a sad story in many ways. In the end, I like to believe he found true happiness, but after all he’d gone through, you know he could never regain all he’d lost. The last book was brutal.”
“We said good-bye to so many! I won’t lie. I ended up a sobbing mess.”
“Well, no tears tonight.” He reached an arm around her shoulders, and she pressed up against his side. She rested her head on his shoulder. Frizzy curls tickled his nose. Determined not to move, he endured it to gain the closeness. She smelled like tropical fruit, and her warm weight was welcome against him. He bent down and slowly inhaled, filling his lungs with her scent.
“Are we going to ignore what happened in my apartment?” she asked suddenly.
“For tonight? Yes. There’s nothing we can do, and I think we both need to recharge. Real life doesn’t stop because the paranormal is at work.”
“Ain’t that the truth. I feel like I’m living on a few stolen hours of sleep every night.” She rubbed her forehead with her palm.
“I don’t want to keep you up.” He moved his arm, and she grabbed his hand.
“No. Stay, please. I ... I like having you beside me.”
“Are you ready to talk about it?” He wanted to be a sounding board if she needed it, without pushing her.
“Having it just appear in the shower like that violated my privacy. If they can show up there, what’s to stop them from showing up anywhere at any time? I feel paranoid.” The anger in her voice pained him. She expected so much of herself. “I can’t stop looking over my shoulder and turning my head because I think I see a shadow out of the corner of my eye.”
“That’s all normal. You just went through another traumatic event. Both were unexpected. It’s okay to react and process.”
“You’re shrink talking me.” She frowned.
“I’m logically walking you through,” he contradicted.
“And yet, you remained unmoved.” She gestured toward him with a sweeping motion.
Unable to let her believe she was alone, he let down his walls. “I’m not. I have a million different thoughts running through my head all the time. The pressure to do right by my family and my team is a constant struggle. Above all else, I fear failure. There are many people constantly counting on me, and I want to do right by all of them. The ghosts that haunt us aren’t always an outside fixture. We torture ourselves fine without outside influe
nces.”
“Seems like we could both use a distraction.”
He winked. “That’s what the movie was for, pretty lady.”
She leaned in and batted her lashes comically. “What else could a boy and girl do for a little distraction?”
“Why don’t I show you?” He leaned in, holding her eye contact as their lips brushed. Her pupils dilated, and her lips parted with a sigh. He brushed her lips again and hovered millimeters from the delectable pink mouth he wanted to devour. “Do you want that, Daize?” She swallowed. He forced himself to wait for her response. She’d lost enough control. This needed to be on her command.
“Only if you make it worth my while.” Her sassy response made him chuckle.
“I must warn you, I take challenges very seriously, and I always play to win.” He cupped the back of her neck and slipped his tongue between her parted lips. She tasted like butter from the popcorn and possibilities for the future. Humming, she stroked her tongue alongside his. They sparred. Parry, thrust, and advance. They fought a silent battle for control. Giving and taking, he explored her mouth as he massaged her neck. She tilted her head back and moaned as he found a knot and worked it loose. Kissing his way down her throat, he nipped gently at her skin. She pressed closer, and speared her fingers in his hair, caressing his scalp with her perfectly manicured nails. A shiver ran down his spine.
He pulled away, breathing hard, and rested his forehead against hers. “It’s late, and our emotions are still running high. I don’t want to move too fast and screw this up. I have a habit of leaping before I look. Not this time.” His relationships tended to burn hot until they were exhausted and he and the girl in question drifted apart. What he sensed from Daize was worth protecting.
She breathed heavily. “Y-you’re right.” Her voice sounded smaller and uncertain.
He cupped her face. “It’s not for lack of want.” He glanced at the clock. Two a.m.
She yawned. “Oh, excuse me.”
“It’s getting late, and we both have work in the morning. You won’t hurt my feelings if you want to crash.”