‘If I was do you think a pillow wall is going to stop me?’
‘Any precaution will help.’
He rolled onto his side and switched off the lamp. ‘Good night.’
‘Good night, Daniel.’
Fern closed her eyes, willing herself to go to sleep. She was shattered, but she was also wide awake, aware of every little noise as the room creaked around them. Somewhere in the depths of the antique shop below, a clock chimed ominously. The wooden beams groaned above them. A floorboard creaked outside the door. She swore she could hear the mannequin shifting in the bathroom, adjusting its stance in the darkness.
‘Daniel?’ she whispered.
A grunt came from the other side of the pillow wall.
‘Do you hear that?’
Silence. Then a very deliberate ‘No.’
Fern swallowed. ‘I think there’s something in the room.’
‘There isn’t, I promise.’
She leaned over the pillow wall and lightly tugged his arm. ‘I’m serious.’
‘So am I. Go to sleep.’
She tried, she really did, but then something rustled. Her pulse raced and she looked up to see the moose head’s shadow elongate as the curtains billowed. She let out an unholy shriek and launched herself across the bed, straight into Daniel, the pillow wall collapsing between them.
‘Fern!’ he gasped, startled awake. ‘What are you doing?’
‘There was… there was something…’
He gently held her by the shoulders. ‘It’s just the wind. It sometimes gets a little breezy living by the sea.’
She was practically on top of him, breathing heavily, her heart pounding against his chest.
‘Are you sure?’
‘Positive.’ His voice was low, amused. ‘Would you like me to check for ghosts?’
‘Don’t joke.’
His hands on her arms were warm, steady, and she became abruptly aware of just how close they were, their noses nearly brushing in the dark. His scent– something woodsy and clean– filled her senses. She swallowed nervously.
Slowly, deliberately, she peeled herself away, returning to her side of the bed. She tried to rebuild the pillow wall, but Daniel just sighed, plucked one from the pile, and tucked it under his head.
‘Try and go to sleep, Fern.’
She lay back down, staring at the ceiling. It took a long time for her heartbeat to settle, but somewhere in the early hours of the morning, she finally drifted into a restless sleep. She dreamed of winding corridors, of antique clocks ticking out of sync, of Daniel standing in the doorway of the shop.
Then she woke up. Warm. Comfortable. Safe.
She opened her eyes, blinking against the weak morning light streaming through the mismatched curtains. Something was…
Oh, God.
She froze. Her arms were wrapped around him. Her forehead was resting against his chest. One leg had somehow tangled with his, and his arm… when had that draped around her waist?
Slowly, she shifted back, but the movement made Daniel stir. He mumbled something incoherent and pulled her slightly closer before realising…
