Page 13 of Road Trip With the Ghost Hunter

“It’s unusual. Most people would be uncomfortable,” he said, switching some things from his duffel bag to his backpack. That’s when I focused on the weird tools on the bed.

“What’s this?” I got closer to the bed and reached for one of them.

“No, wait—“ he tried to take it before I could, but I got there first.

I turned the rectangular box. “Radio?”

“No,” he said, trying to gently take it back, but I pulled it out of reach.

I studied the buttons. Turned it over. “What’s it do then?”

“It’s complicated,” he said, his voice tight, finally taking it from my hands. So, I reached for another thing. “Don’t—“ he sighed.

This was a thinner rectangular object with five colored lights at the top and some buttons. Holding it up, I raised my brows in question.

“You’re not going to let this go, are you?” he asked.

Smiling, I said, “Nope.”

Sighing, he replied, “Right.” He took it back and set it down. Pointing at each one, he named them. “EMF reader. Spirit box. Thermometer.”

I repeated them in my head, trying to decipher. Then, one of them made some sense. “Spirit box? As in, to talk to ghosts?” He just looked at me, not responding. “Is all this for ghost…hunting?” He exhaled again, still not clarifying. “Lucas! Are you going somewhere to use these? Tonight?”

He took in my wide-eyed disbelief. Facing the bed, he started packing everything. “I’ll be back before midnight, but don’t wait up for me. Get your rest.”

I pushed in front of him, blocking him. “Wait a second. You’re seriously not going to talk about this?”

“What’s there to talk about? This is my business.”

“Sure,” I argued,” But I’m the one stuck with you for the next forty-eight hours at least. So, what? You’re going off to piss off some spirits, get one to latch onto you in anger, then come back here to me where they’re going to torment me in my sleep and next you know, we’ll be in desperate need of a church, priest, holy water, and an exorcist! This isn’t funny!” I slapped his chest.

Grabbing my shoulders, he tried reigning in his laughter. “It’s a little funny.”

And, damn him for giving me this rare smile I hadn’t seen yet while I was having a panic attack. “Deep breath,” he said calmly while demonstrating.

I synced our breathing. My butt was against the bed, our bodies almost pressed together. His thumbs were softly caressing my shoulders as we breathed together. I stared up into those frosted blue eyes that held my warm brown ones prisoner. At some point, my hands had a mind of their own and grabbed hold of his waist. Every inhale had my chest brush his torso. On an exhale that parted my lips, Lucas’s gaze went straight to them. My breath caught involuntarily as my eyes also went to his full lips. His hands tightened as did mine, pulling each other closer.

My body swelled. My eyes became heavy. I looked back into his eyes that seemed closer now that his head was slowly descending closer.

Chirp.

We both jumped at the alert from one of our phones.

Lucas’s eyes closed as he harshly exhaled. “Shit,” he said softly before letting go and reaching in his pocket for his phone. Frozen in place, I tried regulating my breathing. I scooted out from between Lucas and the bed, putting some much-needed distance between us.

Lucas was checking a text, but I caught his eyes flicking back to me. “I gotta make a call,” he said before turning and heading to the attached balcony. He closed the door behind him, gave the room his back, and made his call.

I stared, but my mind was replaying what just happened. What just happen? Yes, the man is attractive. I’d have to be an idiot not to recognize that. But I don’t do this. I don’t get all stupid when a hot guy touches me. It was completely innocent. He wasn’t even trying to make a move. My eyes went to his bag.

And he’s leaving to go hunt ghosts? Is this man for real?

Did I believe in ghosts?

I didn’t know. I believed my lao lao was happy, free of pain, watching from a place better than this. I doubted she was lingering around, floating through our old home. I’d hate that. I didn’t want her in limbo.

There was that tightness in my chest again. My hand rubbed at it, hoping to ease the tension. Lucas ended his call and came back inside.

“I’ll be heading out now,” he said, grabbing his backpack.

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