Amanda

 

 

The “monster” that initially scared the crap out of me has turned out to be the hottest guy I’ve ever met—all silver blond hair, piercing blue eyes, and black leather over bulging muscle. His smile is like a flash of light, and from the way he’s looking at me, I’m starting to think tonight might have a much happier ending than I’d expected.

 

This is no softboy, but at the same time, I know he’s got some kind of agenda outside of what he’s told me. Whatever it is I suspect it involves fucking me, and I’m already half sold on that idea. It’s more than looks; he’s got a brain in his head, and something resembling a conscience, which puts him above Chad in those categories too.

 

He seems to have understood his mistake in shocking me like that, and has been working very hard to try to put me at ease. I appreciate it, and it’s working. Once again, that puts him a cut above Chad.

 

As he helps me pack up my gear and asks questions about how to work the camera and audio recorder, an idea is growing in my mind. I’m remembering how jealous Chad was at the very thought that I might possibly have moved on, and I’m watching how this hot stranger Drake eclipses my ex in every way without even knowing he’s doing it.

 

I’m thinking about revenge. Not romance. I know better than to risk my heart while on the rebound from Chad, even if it has been over a month since I left him.

 

But fucking an incredibly hot guy after going on an adventure with him, one that furthers my career on top of everything? Forget free drinks. Right now, I’m wondering how it would feel to have him pin me against something.

 

If I can trust him, that is. Some guys put up a hell of a front to get what they want and then turn on you. Even Chad managed it for a while, and he’s an idiot. So I’m still in wait-and-see mode as I put on my backpack, he grabs the big equipment bag, and we both hold up a camera and click on their lights.

 

“Okay, so pan around slowly as you walk, but make sure your movement is smooth. Sometimes you have to turn to get a shot fast, but too much shaky-cam and you’ll make your audience queasy instead of excited.” I’m trying to keep my mind on my work and set up a little professional rapport, but my mind keeps straying back to the prospect of fucking him.

 

Normally a strange, hulking guy giving me a hungry look in a totally abandoned, isolated location would put my guard up right away. But when I saw those sultry blue eyes and that shock of silver-gold hair that looks perfect for holding onto during a hot make-out session, I have to admit, my judgment got a little skewed.

 

Things are working out so far. But as we move down the hall and I do the walk-through part of the show, I think about what could happen once the second bout of EVP is done and we’re leaving the cameras to record back in the mental ward.

 

“How do you power all this stuff?” he asks as he practices panning the camera around.

 

“Rechargeable battery packs. That big box I left behind is a portable solar power station with a high-capacity battery at its core. I power lights, my heater, and my laptop off of that, and charge the battery packs for the cameras and audio recorder.” I’m focusing through the lens of the FLIR as we walk, letting him lead the way a little, his glowing form showing up in ghostly shades of translucent silver.

 

“You really take all this seriously, huh? Most ghost hunters I’ve met are basically hobbyists.” He turns the camera on me, and I smile—not my professional smile, but a real one, just a touch shy. I can’t help it around him, and his gentle way of flirting makes it worse.

 

“I’ve got a whole lot of channel followers who have been patiently waiting on a new segment until I finished moving and dealing with some things in my personal life. This was supposed to be my comeback episode.”

 

“It’s how I make my living,” I explain. “I run the channel, I gather evidence, I write books and I have a website.”

 

“Wow. That’s creative.” He chuckles. “I totally admit, the urban exploration thing has always been more of a glorified hobby for me. Otherwise I would have a bit more of the kind of connections you've got.”

 

“Oh, well, it’s a matter of finding the right person and then asking nicely.” I wink at him. Shit. I just winked at him. I’m flirting now without even meaning to, but I guess there’s something about him that makes me feel bold. I don’t even know if I can really trust him yet. Shit.

 

Then again, if I can get through this filming without him taking off with my gear, getting creepy, or just being an ass, that will tell me a lot about his character. I hope it works out. I may not have much experience—or luck—with sex, but the heat of his gaze makes me tingle all over.

 

Could this be the guy who drives away the bland, bored, frustrated, used feeling that Chad left on my skin with his own heat? Talk about a palate cleanser.

 

“So where are you taking us?” He walks slowly enough to take things in as I lead him into the depths of the building.

 

“My secret sex dungeon,” comes out of my mouth before I can stop it. I wince, almost hearing the laughter from my imaginary audience. Oh no, I’m not clumsy at this flirting thing at all. Nope!

 

He lets out a loud laugh that startles a couple of small bats off the rafters. They flutter and squeak at the edges of our lights for a few seconds before settling. “Oh really. Well, I’m all for it. Prefer if you turn the cameras off for stuff like that, though.”

 

His wink makes me giggle in spite of myself. “Uh, well, actually, I thought I’d go straight to showing you one of the weirdest things about this property. Besides me, that is.”

 

“Sounds good. Where is it?”

 

I give him a wicked smile. “Deep down in the lowest sub-basement. That’s an addition dating back to the turn of the century—but it really saw use around 1918.”

 

I am telling this story for my viewers as much as for him. I still don’t know how I’m going to work this tour seamlessly into my special, but I’ll figure it out. Once again, the show must go on.

 

Chad’s attempt to derail things has left me even more determined to not only move on with my romantic life, but to kick ass at my channel’s comeback. How Tall, Pale and Handsome here might figure into the second part, I’m not sure yet. I just hope he’s as interested in me as he seems—and that he doesn’t have any really serious skeletons in his closet.