The Scarlett Legacy (Woodland Creek)(37)

Nothing.

The silence was unnerving, but at least she was assured that she wouldn’t run into Avalon in the halls at that hour.

There was a time when she was a young girl that she was afraid to venture into those halls alone, but she and Parker would make it a game to sneak away from their class and explore the many rooms.

Albrecht Mansion was one of the first homes built when the town was founded. Tales of hauntings had always frightened her when Woodland Creek Elementary would take field trips there. As an adult, she still hoped those tales to be untrue rumors the village people liked to spread.

Evie used her phone’s flashlight to navigate the darkness and descended the staircase to the main floor. Crossing the foyer she opened the door that led to the study and walked down another staircase.

A dim light made her pause. “Who is there?” Only he would be up this late doing research.

“Come on in, Evie,” she heard Avalon reply.

She wished she’d stayed in the safety of her room.

But, was anywhere in that mansion safe?

She took a deep breath and walked to the landing. Once she turned the corner she saw Avalon sitting in one of the chairs with a book in hand. A fire crackled in the fireplace, making the room nice and toasty.

“Couldn’t sleep, my dear?” Avalon closed his book on his hand and turned his gaze to her.

She wished he wouldn’t call her that.

Evie closed her kimono over her lavender bra and boy-short set. If she’d have known that Avalon would be down here she would have at least put on some clothes and brushed her hair. But it was his house. She should have known better.

After their kiss, Evie decided that perhaps it was time that she tried a new approach. Maybe Avalon would drop his guard if she feigned an attraction to him.

Who was she kidding? There was no feigning anything. Her body didn’t lie. And it wanted him, even if her heart and mind screamed at her for even considering it.

Three days had passed since she moved in, and being petulant wasn’t helping her at all. Her ‘privileges’ were scarce, and all she wanted was to communicate with her family.

Evie stood before Avalon with tangled waves and her white lock fully exposed.

He noticed. “Look at you,” he said, his eyes looking her up and down. “You still have that white lock of hair.”

She pulled it back and found a seat near the fireplace on a few cushions that one of the Albrecht ancestors had brought back from India.

“I can’t seem to get rid of it.”

“Why should you? It’s beautiful.”

She forced a smiled. “Thank you.” She noted a coffee mug next to him on a side table. “Coffee? At this hour?”

He picked up the mug and took a drink. “Yeah. It’s quite good. Would you like some?”

“I would actually.”

He set it back down and stood. “I’ll go get you a mug. Do you take milk and sugar?”

“I do. Thank you.”

Avalon gave her a nod and retreated upstairs to the kitchen.

She stood and glanced at what he was reading. Her face paled at the title on the book.

Dark Spirits and Demons.

She shivered and pulled her kimono even closer to her skin. Where did he even get that book? It looked old with its withered yellow pages and wear on the spine. She took a step backward as a chill entered the room.

She rubbed her arms and looked around. Every sense was on edge as she imagined a ghost or spirit watching her.

She swallowed and sat back down. Why was Avalon reading such a dark subject?

When Avalon returned he handed her a coffee cup on a saucer with a small silver spoon.

“Thank you.” She accepted it, enjoying the warmth of the cup.

Avalon stood there as if waiting for her to try it. He smiled that kind smile he sometimes gave her, the one that made her wonder if he really was just a guy desperate to win her affection. He nodded for her to give it a try.

Evie took a gingerly sip. Surprise filled her eyes. The flavor was incredible.

“Wow.” She took another sip. “You made this?”

He nodded and picked up his cup. Instead of sitting back in his seat he sat next to her. “I have a secret stash from back home. It’s good, right?”

“It’s great actually.” She drank some more and watched the flames in the fireplace. There was no way she could focus on studying with him sitting next to her.

Another loud thunder crack seemed to shake the house with its intensity. She didn’t know how anyone could sleep through that storm. She imagined Parker sitting up in bed, looking out his window, thinking about her.

Perhaps he slept peacefully, having already forgotten her. That image stung. Was it wrong for her to wish that he was still so broken that he couldn’t sleep at all… just like her? That scenario gave her hope that she could win him back.

Evie could only wish that he still even thought about her.

“Does it storm like this often in Woodland Creek?”

“At least once a year.”

“I love storms.”

She looked at him. “Me too.”

“Woodland Creek is nice. I can’t quite say I remember it being this nice, not with a father like mine anyway,” he said, his voice trailing. He shrugged. “I can see the appeal, but Scotland is beautiful.”

“It sounds lovely.”