Page 59 of The Haunting Plot

My words are cut off by the look of horror on Sawyer’s face.

I turn back toward the house to see what he’s looking at and see movement in one of the upstairs windows. It looks like a figure standing in the window. When I see it move, I yelp, running straight into Sawyer’s chest. Without thinking, I wrap my arms around him and burrow against him, letting the warmth of his body soothe my frayed nerves.

It’s just a prank. It’s just a prank.

“Who the fuck is in your house?” he whispers.

My head tilts so I can examine his face. He looks terrified, and his heart is racing under my touch. “That wasn’t you?”

His eyes lock with mine. “No. I swear. I had nothing to do with that.”

I inhale deeply, holding it for several seconds before I exhale. “There’s a logical explanation.”

“You keep saying that, but I’m having a hard time finding it. Does anyone else have a key to your house?”

“Just the kids, and they’re at school.”

“I’m gonna check it out.” He holds out a hand. “Can I have your keys?”

I pull them out of my purse, looping them on my finger. “I’m coming with you.”

He glares down at me. “Not that I wouldn’t love that, but if you stay out here, you could keep an eye out in case anyone exits.” He grabs the keys off my finger and drops his in my hand. “But I’d prefer you stay in the truck… just in case.”

Before I can respond, he’s on the porch, unlocking the door and sneaking into the house. After I climb into his truck, I stare at the house in nervous anticipation, worried about him. There was definitely a person in that window. Not a ghost.

My knee bounces as I try to calm my breathing. He’s been in there for a while now. A crow caws nearby, landing on the mirror next to me. His head cocks to the side, and his beady little eyes stare at me as if trying to figure out if I’m a friend or foe.

A loud noise startles us both, and the crow flies off as I look over at the driver’s side window to see Sawyer holding a Michael Myers mask as he knocks on the window.

“Shit, you scared me.”

He opens the door and climbs in, tossing me the mask. “I found that on the floor by the window.” Sawyer’s still talking, but I can’t make out any of his words as a loud ringing pierces my ears. I don’t own a mask like that. Where did it come from? Was someone in my house?

My vision tunnels, and I wrap my arms around myself, trying to calm the rising panic attack. Sawyer calls my name several times, but I have trouble focusing. Warm arms wrap around me, and he pulls me across the bench seat and into his arms. The instant the masculine, woodsy smell of his skin hits my nose, the ringing in my ears lessens. He scoots closer to me, as if reading my mind, and I climb into his lap, straddling him as I cling to his shoulders and bury my face in his neck.

“Hey, hey, hey. You’re gonna be okay. I’ve got you. I’m here.” He soothes a hand up and down my spine. “Shhh. I need you to take a deep breath in through your nose and hold it.”

Nodding against his neck, I inhale.

“Now, exhale slowly through your mouth. Okay?”

I purse my lips and release a slow breath. Sawyer shudders underneath me, shifting in the seat as he bands his arm tighter around my waist, while the other makes slow strokes up and down.

“Oh fuck… that’s…” he groans before composing himself. “That’s perfect. You’re doing so good for me. I can feel you calming down. One more time.”

Pinching my eyes shut, I focus on the way he feels under me as I shakily inhale through my nose and exhale through my mouth.

“Good girl. So good for me. Keep breathing like that.”

The hand stroking my back glides up to my shoulder, and he pulls me closer in a tight hug. How did he know I needed to be touched right now? How did he know that touch is the only thing that calms my panic attacks? Only Kris knew that.

Once I get my breathing under control, I pull back and examine his face. He reaches up and tucks a loose strand of hair behind my ear, and it takes everything in me not to lean into his touch.

“I love this strand of white hair. It’s really striking against the black.”

“I’ve had it all my life. Kids teased me all the time back in school.” The urge to break eye contact is strong, and I drop my head, trying to calm my racing thoughts.

He crooks a finger under my chin, forcing my head back up. “It suits you.”