Page 36 of The Haunting of Lockton

He angled his head down a bit more, and the heat of his gaze struck the center of my chest and shot straight to my groin. “Yet, we’re still standing here.”

Paxton was so close I felt his breath on my lips. Lips I wanted to fucking taste more than I wanted my next lungful of air. “Well, thisisa nice spot.” I shifted even closer. I loved that he was taller than me. “It’d be a shame to waste it.”

“It’s a nice spot, huh? What’s so special about it?”

“You’re in it, for one,” I responded.

“Are you flirting with me?” He chuckled. “That’s not very professional of you, Skyler Knox.”

“Damn.” I exhaled a laugh. “You caught me.”

Paxton took a step forward, and I tilted my head up to hold his stare. He’d backed me up against the wall, and the cold along my back contrasted with the fire coursing through my veins. It took me by surprise. He was normally shy and reserved. So him showing a glimmer of dominance as we stood close together, the wall at my back and him staring down at me with that heated gaze… well, it thrilled the fuck out of me.

The more time I spent with Paxton, the more I found myself crushing on him. Hard.

“If Iwasflirting with you,” I said, deciding to go for it. “Like for real. How would you feel about it?”

“I…” He blinked at me. Then blinked again. “I don’t know. Can’t say I’ve had many people flirt with me before.”

Was he joking? There was no way that could be true.

“Then consider me flirting.” I rested my hand on his side. The touch was hesitant at first, something I certainly wasn’t familiar with. I boasted with confidence when making moves on people I liked. But Paxton had my head all screwed up. The wires in my brain twisted and short-circuited.

“I…” Paxton’s gaze dropped to my mouth. “I might not mind it.”

My body heated, and I tingled with anticipation. Was he going to kiss me?

A door slammed down the hall.

We jerked apart and whirled around. The breath seized in my lungs. “You think there’s a squatter here?”

“They regularly do sweeps of this place,” Paxton said with a frown. “If anyone was here, they would’ve been found long ago.”

“Jules?” I called out, thinking it might’ve been him.

Steps sounded from down the hall before Julian appeared. “Are you guys okay? What was that?”

“You heard it too?”

“Of course. It was loud as hell.” He reached us and stopped.

I walked in the direction the sound had come from. “Think it was a draft? This place is ancient.”

“A draft is possible,” Paxton said. “But the doors are really heavy. It would’ve had to be a strong gust to slam it shut. We were also standing by the window, and I didn’t feel any wind.”

When I reached the closed door, I got out the thermal-imaging camera, looking for cold spots. If a ghost had touched the door, there would be a handprint or surface area that was cooler than the rest. Admittedly, I was more concerned that a living person was behind the door.

What if it was a psychopath who would jump out and attack us?

I pushed the door open and scanned the room with the thermal. There were no heat signatures to indicate anything warm-blooded, so that was good. A wiry bed frame leaned against one wall, and there was a small barred window straight ahead, probably only big enough to put your head through.

“This is one of the patients’ rooms,” Paxton said. “Men’s ward.”

“If there are any spirits here, we’re not gonna hurt you,” I said. “I’m Skyler, and this is my brother, Julian, and our friend Paxton.”

The three of us stood in the middle of the room. Waiting. Listening.

“Someone is definitely here.” Julian rubbed at his chest. “I sense them.”