Shake, Rattle And Haunt

by Terri Grimes

  “My place or yours?” he asked once we were settled in his car, seat belted.

  “What about your rule of not taking advantage of my fear of sleeping alone?”

  “You slept in your bed last night. Ergo, I pronounce you cured.”

  ”I’m serious, Sam.”

  “Last night was different. It was obvious you were nervous about being upstairs.” His voice lowered. “Our first time wasn’t going to be a quickie after a long night of investigating.”

  I inhaled sharply.

  “So, I repeat, my place or yours?”

  “Mine. My cousin is flying from California in the morning on the red eye so I need be there to let her in.”

  “That settles it. Your place it is,” he said, giving my hand a warm squeeze.

  I leaned back against the leather-clad seat, for once anxious to get home and climb the stairs to my haunted second floor and the confines of my bedroom. As focused as Sam and I were on each other right now the demon could have held the doors open for us as we passed and neither of us would have noticed.

  Nineteen

  Early the next morning, my eyes fluttered open just enough to witness Sam dressing in the half-light, appearing to take great care to be quiet. It didn’t work.

  “Shit!” he said as he stubbed his bare foot against the footboard of the bed.

  “You ’kay?” I mumbled in my half-asleep state.

  “Sorry, Gertie. I didn’t mean to wake you.”

  “It’s all right.” I patted the expanse of empty sheet next to me. “Come back to bed.”

  He bent down and gave me a light kiss on the forehead. “I have to change the DVD in the digital video recorder that I had set to auto record all night. I won’t be long.”

  I opened one eye. “You set up the DVR last night?”

  “No, no. It was already set up, I just flicked it on when I went downstairs to get that bottle of water for you after we…well…you know.”

  Oh, I knew all right.

  He gave my butt a firm swat. “I’ll be right back. Keep it warm for me.”

  I giggled. “My butt or the bed?”

  “Both.” He winked at me as his mouth curved in a lecherous grin.

  I felt myself getting warm and tingly all over and from only a look, no less. I had to admit the dude was good and in more ways than one.

  “Go back to sleep. I’ll be back in a few minutes and join you,” he said. I felt the lightest of kisses brush against my lips.

  “Mmm…” My eyes closed again as I snuggled deeper under the covers and returned to dreamland.

  It couldn’t have been but seconds later when I heard Sam come back into the room. As I struggled to leave slumber behind, I felt the mattress dip as he lowered himself onto the bed next to me. For the briefest of moments, I felt flesh against flesh, muscle against muscle, bone against bone as his body pressed against mine. With my eyes closed, I raised my arms to touch his unshaven face and run my fingers along his rugged jaw line, ending at his lips. But my hands pressed upward through chilled empty air. He was gone. Vanished as swiftly and silently as he had come. My eyes snapped opened. The room was empty.

  What the hell was going on?

  “Sam,” I called out. There was no response. Even though heated air flowed through the vent, the room was chilly, far colder than it should have been for April. When I opened my mouth to call for Sam again, I could see my breath coming out in puffs of white vapor.

  Had I been dreaming?

  “Sam?” I called a little louder.

  Again, no response.

  “Are you there?”

  My gaze flicked from the bathroom door, to the closet, probing the early morning shadows of pre-dawn. Everything appeared to be normal. I saw and heard no one, but could sense I wasn’t alone. The air around me seemed to have thickened to the point that it was difficult to take in a full breath. I lay in the bed, clutching the sheets to my naked breasts. There was a strong sensation that someone or something was watching me. Prickles started at the base of my hairline and went all the way down my spine.

  My body felt drugged. I was afraid that if I tried to move an arm or leg it would be impossible to make the muscles work. All I could do was lie there, my breath shallow, waiting for whatever controlled my body to release their hold on me. Yet at the same time cold, clenching panic hit me in the stomach filling me with an irresistible urge to jump out of the bed and run.

  But where?

  The hairs on my arms tingled and stood on end. I felt the rustle of the sheets. I watched, horrified, as the sheet rippled from the end of the bed, slowly toward my ankle, rising upward. A cold unpleasant tingling snaked along the entire length of my left thigh, inching higher and higher. The nerve endings in my thigh sparked with static electricity.

  “You are just having a nightmare, Gertie old girl,” I said, wishing I could find at least some measure of courage in the sound of my own voice. I’d had similar emotions once before when I was a child, afraid to look under the bed, knowing nothing was there, but afraid to look just in case.

  “Stop it,” I shouted in an attempt to rouse myself from my dream.

  As quick as it had come, the sensation of being watched left me. The air didn’t seem chilled anymore. I could even hear a robin warbling in the maple tree outside my bedroom window.

  Footsteps sounded in the hallway outside the bedroom door. Sam’s muscular frame filled the doorway.

  “See, I told you I wouldn’t be long” he said with an upbeat tone.

  I had never been so happy to see someone in my life. “Hold me,” I requested with a shaky voice.

  Confusion seemed to mar his rugged, handsome features, but he did my bidding, kicking off his shoes, unzipping his jeans and leaving them in a puddle on the floor. Sliding between the warm bedding, he gathered me in his arms and held me tight. “Did you have a bad dream?”

  What could I say? I wasn’t sure myself what had happened, or even if anything had happened. “I think so.”

  “Do you want to talk about it?”

  “I don’t remember what it was. I just remember how it made me feel.”

  “What do you mean? How did it make you feel?”

  “It made me feel…well…I just don’t know how to put it into words.” It was as if every ounce of joy had been sucked out of the world and all that was left was the most incredible mind- numbing sadness. I could feel a tear making its way down my cheek as I fought to maintain my composure.

  His hand was gentle as he smoothed my hair. He brushed a wayward strand out of my face while he continued to hold and comfort me.

  “Don’t think about it, Gertie. Everything’s okay now.”

  I willed my mind to not think about what may or may not have happened. It was too horrifying of an idea to even entertain. Soon I found myself relaxing, pressing closer to the warmth of his body as his strong arms enveloped me.

  What had happened when Sam was checking his equipment? Was it just the remnants of a bad dream? I pushed it to the back of my mind, refusing to dwell on it. I had better things to think about. Such as the aching yearning in my breasts as they pressed against Sam’s muscular chest. My hand slid under the covers, my fingers trailing on his stomach, making their way downward.

  Chuckling, he slipped a hand under my chin and raised my face to his. Looping both my arms around his neck, I drew his face down to mine, capturing his bottom lip between my teeth with a playful nibble before pressing my lips against his. He responded with a throaty groan as he rolled over, pulling me on top him.

  Every nerve ending in my body stood on full alert, as the electrical jolts from his kisses rocketed through my body. I closed my eyes, giving in to the sensations, going with the moment.

  After several minutes of intense kissing, I felt him pull away.

  I opened my eyes.

  “Gertie.”

  “Yes?”

  “We’ll never get out of bed at this rate.”

  “And that’s a bad thing?” I laughe
d, landing a kiss on his ear lobe.

  He responded with this own throaty chuckle before pulling me down, deeper into the covers and him.

  Some time later, as I snuggled next to him, I felt a prickle of guilt. I knew I needed to get showered and dressed before my cousin arrived. Instead, I closed my eyes while I rested a hand on Sam’s thigh, enjoying the warm, secure touch of having him next to me.

  Twenty

  Later that morning as I stood on my front porch watching Sam’s van fade from sight, I was shocked to see a sleek black limousine pull up in front of my house. I looked at my watch. It was a little before eight o’clock. I hadn’t expected my cousin to arrive until at least ten o’clock.

  “Lori,” I squealed, running down the sidewalk to hug her as she exited the limo. “What are you doing here so early?”

  “Hello to you too.” She laughed, hugging me back. “I was able to get on an earlier flight. I would have called you, but I didn’t have the time.”

  “Doesn’t matter. You’re here now and I can’t wait to catch up.” I clasped her in a bear hug and did the girlfriend squeal. “I’m so glad to see you!”

  “I’m glad to see you too,” she squealed right back at me. “Now,” she said, holding me at arms length. “Let me take a look at you.”

  I pulled my shoulders back, forcing myself to stand up straighter under her intense scrutiny.

  “Do I pass muster?” I asked.

  “Well, you’re too skinny and from the dark circles under your eyes, you’re not getting enough sleep.” Her gaze trailed up and down. “But your hair looks good. You’ve either changed to a better shampoo than the last time I saw you or else you’re getting lots of really good sex!”

  Damn, she was good. Too good!

  “Must be because I stopped using the generic shampoos I

  was getting from the Dollar store,” I quipped.

  “I doubt that’s the reason, but for modesty’s sake, I’ll pretend I believe you.”

  Laughing, we walked arm in arm up the front steps and into the house. Turning, we marched up the stairs and into the guest room to deposit her luggage.

  I set Lori’s bag on the bed before seating myself on the bed as well.

  “So why the one bag?” I asked once I had settled myself against the pillows.

  “It’s something I like to carry with me on trips to hold little luxuries like pajamas and underwear.”

  “Smart-ass.”

  With a serious expression on her face, she stopped in her unpacking to walk over the side of the bed and clasp both of my hands in hers. “Sorry, Gert, but I’m not going to be able to stay long. Only one, or maybe two days at best.”

  I was puzzled. “You flew halfway across the country just for one or two days? I mean, I’m flattered, but it seems odd to fly that far for so short of a stay.”

  Lori shrugged. “I’d fly to the ends of the earth just to spend five minutes with my cousin because that’s the way we Sugarbaker’s roll.”

  I tried biting the inside of my cheeks but it didn’t help. I burst out in a belly laugh. I was grateful to hear her join me.

  “Not buying it, huh?”

  “Nope, not even for a second.”

  “Oh well, it was worth a try.” She bent low in the closet, depositing two pairs of shoes in the shoe rack on the floor. “Now, didn’t I hear you say something about pecan waffles when I called you from the airport yesterday?”

  I happily nodded. “And while I may not have mentioned it, I also had Le Peeps famous mocha hazelnut cappuccinos in mind.”

  “Oh yeah?”

  “Uh huh. Extra frothy too.”

  “Oh girl, now you’re speaking my language,” Lori breathed rapturously as she shoved her now empty suitcase under the bed.

  I stood, smoothing the comforter where I had been seated.

  “Lead the way, oh hungry one,” I said, gesturing to the door. We laughed as we ran down the stairs. Visions of buttery pecan waffles and frothy mocha hazelnut cappuccinos danced in my head.

  ~ * ~

  “So, what are your plans for the short time you’ll be staying, Lori?” I asked once we were seated at one of Le Peeps finest tables, drinking creamy cappuccinos while we waited for our pecan waffles to arrive.

  “I thought I would go with the flow for once and we could just hang out, or do whatever we like as the mood strikes us. I don’t have any plans or schedules this time around.”

  Somehow, I doubted that. Lori had every minute of the rest of her life carefully planned out in her trusty day planner. If she ever went missing all the police would have to do is find her day planner. Three p.m., manicure. Three-thirty, kidnapped and held for ransom. Four p.m., assist kidnappers with spell check while writing the ransom note.

  I quirked an eyebrow. “No plans?”

  She shook her head. “Not a one,” she said firmly, her eyes wide with innocence.

  “Humph,” I snorted. “Something is up, Lori, and you can be sure I’ll get to the bottom of it before the end of the day.”

  “Speak for yourself, Gert. You think I didn’t see that white van pulling out of your driveway as my car turned onto your street? I may have just gotten off the red eye but I’m not blind. Methinks you have some ’splainin’ to do, cuz.”

  I felt myself turning red as she stared me down.

  “Well? And don’t even try to tell me he was the milkman.”

  “No, he wasn’t the milkman.” I giggled, shifting in my seat as I took my time answering. “Um, you see, well…um…he’s just a friend.”

  “If you don’t want to tell me who he really is, that’s cool. After all, I’m only your cousin.”

  “No, it’s not like that.”

  Lori waved a dismissive hand in my direction. “It’s all right, I understand. It’s okay that you don’t want me to meet your boyfriend.” Her voice held more than a hint of martyr.

  “He’s not my boyfriend,” I protested.

  She took a sip of her cappuccino as she raised an eyebrow in my direction.

  “Okay, we might be dating…sort of.” I wondered if sleeping together and ghost hunting side by side could be considered a date. “But,” I continued. “We aren’t boyfriend, girlfriend.”

  Lori still stared at me over the rim of her cup, blinking a couple of times.

  I couldn’t help it, I cracked. “All right. I give up. We met in the bar at Figbee’s about a week ago and we’ve been hanging out ever since.” I wasn’t about to tell her he was investigating our ancestral home for a ghost.

  Lori set her cup down with a clatter. “Gertie, I’m shocked. You let yourself get picked up at a cheesy family chain restaurant? That is such a slutty thing to do and so unlike you. Girl, I’m so proud of you I could burst!”

  “No, no,” I protested to no avail. “He didn’t pick me up,” I lied. “We’re just friends.”

  I realized Lori had turned her listening skills to the off position and wasn’t hearing a word of my feeble denials, so I just let the matter drop. She would think what she wanted to think anyway, so why waste my breath. Besides, what she was thinking was true anyway there was no use in denying it.

  By the time we had finished our breakfast and were back at the house, she was still chortling and cackling with delight.

  “I’m glad you find my slutty exploits so entertaining.”

  “Can you blame me? After all, in high school you were voted the person most likely to never have sex with the lights on.”

  “No, I wasn’t,” I protested with a giggle.

  “Oh yes, you were.” She nodded. “We just didn’t tell you because you were such a prude we knew it would hurt your feelings.”

  “Oh, but it’s okay to tell me now and hurt my feelings,” I teased as I rummaged through my closet.

  “You’ve grown a thicker skin since high school.”

  “I’ve grown thicker, but I’m pretty sure it was my butt and not my skin.”

  Lori giggled as she attempted to look at my butt. “You
might be right about that, Gert.”

  “Hey,” I protested as I backed out of the closet. “You aren’t supposed to agree with me!”

  “Sorry, you just make it too easy sometimes.”

  I ignored her as I rifled through my dresser drawers.

  “Looking for something?” Lori asked, her voice laced with innocence.

  I straightened, closing the dresser drawer I had been searching through. “Have you seen my Hermes scarf?” I asked, with narrowed eyes.

  “Would that be the plum silky scarf with sage green interlacing palm fronds?” she responded in a perky, cheerful manner.

  Oh no, this wasn’t looking good.

  “Um, yes. Have you seen it?” I repeated.

  “Oh, did you want that? I thought it was in the Goodwill pile for charity.”

  “Folded up in my scarf drawer?” Each word hit a higher note until I was almost shrieking.

  “What, that wasn’t Goodwill?”

  “No,” I said with the firmest tone I could muster.

  “Are you sure about that?”

  “Yeah, I’m sure.”

  “Humph, odd,” Lori said with a nonchalant shrug. She walked out of the room.

  I knew Lori had a penchant for taking things that weren’t hers, but good grief, she hadn’t even been here a full day. She didn’t mean anything by it, but my cousin had always had a habit of sticking Grandma’s stuff in her suitcase when she came to visit and apparently now mine too. But she had a heart as big as her suitcase and that made it impossible to stay mad at her.

  I followed her out of the room. “Hey, Lori?”

  “Yeah?” She turned to look back at me at she stood at the top of the stairs, heading downward.

  “I was hoping we could sit on the front porch and maybe catch up?”

  “Sure, that would be fine. Is everything okay, Gertie?”

  “Of course,” I said too quickly, causing her eyebrows to rise in alarm.