Isla's Inheritance Read online

Twenty minutes later, Dominic pulled his sedan onto the verge in front of my house, putting on the handbrake but leaving the engine running. I was both disappointed and relieved—he wasn’t expecting me to invite him in. The house was dark, the driveway empty; Aunt Elizabeth wasn’t home. The only sign of life was Hamish, Sarah’s black, rough-coated terrier, who poked his head between the curtains, watching the car.

  “Thanks for the lift.” I undid my seatbelt. “And for leaving early. Sorry I dragged you away.”

  “I don’t mind. Given that I dragged you into the séance, it was the least I could do.”

  There was an awkward silence. I took a deep breath.

  “Would you—”

  “Mind if I—” Dominic said at the same time. We both laughed. “You first.”

  “No, you.”

  “Mind if I give you a call some time?” he asked. “We could go out for coffee.”

  “I like coffee.” I was sure I was blushing again and was glad the only light source was the headlights. I wasn’t good at this dating business. If that’s what we were doing. I wasn’t very good at pre-dating either.

  I’d say I also wasn’t good at post-dating, but I hadn’t yet had an opportunity to prove it.

  “What’s your number?”

  I recited my mobile number and he programmed it into his phone, reading it back to be sure he had it right.

  “That’s it.” I grabbed my purse and fished out my house keys. “Thanks again for the ride.”

  “You’re welcome.” He grinned. “I hope the evening wasn’t too ghoulish.”

  I laughed, shaking my head, and slid out, closing the door behind me. Dominic leaned over to wave through the window, his lips quirked in a smile. I waved back and began to pick my way to the front door across the grass. It crunched under my boots.

  Hamish barked, his high-pitched yapping distorted by the window as he danced on his back legs, scratching the glass.

  And someone ran at me from the bushes bordering the neighbour’s property.

  I leapt sideways as the figure approached, sniffing as though he had a cold. He was about my height, with a strange face and long ears partly obscured by a hoodie. I tripped and fell backwards onto the grass. Pain shot up my arms.

  “Hey!” Dominic jumped from his car. A brief scuffle ensued, and the hooded figure darted away, disappearing into the bushes.

  “Are you okay?” Dominic’s hand warmed my fingers, helping me to my feet. My palm stung in his grip.

  “I … I think so.” My heart raced. “Who was that?”

  “I don’t know. A kid in a Halloween mask, I think. He had pointed ears and a wrinkly face. Like an alien. But not green.”

  “Bastard.” My laugh shook as I examined my wrists. Bits of grass were embedded into my palms, and the makings of a bruise blossomed beneath the surface. I felt like an idiot. Again. That was the theme for the evening. “Thanks for coming to my rescue.”

  “My pleasure,” he said, handing me my purse and keys. “Shall I see you to your door, ma’am?” he asked with a little bow.

  “Yes. Please.”

  He stuck by my side as I walked up the half-dozen stairs to the door. The porch light turned on with a soft click, the keys jangling as I opened the lock with a trembling hand. Hamish poked his head out and gave Dominic’s shoe a sniff before staring at the bushes, ears pricked.

  “Thanks.” I looked up at Dominic, feeling like a broken record.

  “You’re welcome,” he said. My heart lurched as he brushed a soft kiss across my lips. Disappointment stirred my insides as he stepped back. “I’ll call you.”

  I stepped into the hall and locked the door, unable to stop myself from turning and watching Dominic through the window. He hurried back across the lawn to his still-idling car. He was tall, lean and neatly dressed, even though under his sheet he could’ve gotten away with scruffy clothes. I caught my gaze straying to the seat of his jeans—they hugged his butt in a way that made my stomach flutter with butterflies—as he rounded the back of his car. Laughing softly at myself, I flicked on the hall light.

  Hamish trotted at my heels as I walked to the bathroom, turning on all the lights as I went. I wasn’t scared of the dark, but adrenalin pumped through my veins as though driven by a steam engine. It made me feel better to be able to see everything around me—even though I knew, if there was a stranger in the house, Hamish would have alerted me. Loudly.

  Putting my purse and keys on the basin, I washed my hands, rinsing off the grass and bits of dirt clinging to my palms. The skin was dimpled from the impact. I splashed water on my face and winced as I brushed the hairspray from my hair. Satisfied with the lack of makeup and with my hair sticking on end, I went to bed.

  Once I was curled under the covers, wearing an oversized Big Bang Theory T-shirt and satin boxer shorts, with my childhood teddy bear, Mister Monkey, nestled into the corner of the bed, I realised I had forgotten to brush my teeth. But I decided not to get up. My lips still tasted sweetly, of soft drink and Dominic, and I didn’t want to lose the sensation.

  I smiled in the dark, drifting off to sleep.