She stepped into the house. The foyer was huge, larger than their old living room had been. The house was dark. Dust covered the hardwood floors and cobwebs hung from the ten-foot ceiling. But the structure was stunningly beautiful.

Sunlight filtered through a crack in the drapes, highlighting the fancy molding and the curved staircase that led to the second story. The old place needed a good cleaning and a coat or two of paint. They could easily get that done before the movers arrived with their furniture.

"Mom?" Blake said, tugging on the sleeve of her red T-shirt. "What's that over there?" He was pointing to a far corner of the foyer where something small and dark moved.

"I'm not sure."

"I'm getting out of here," Lindsay said.

"Don't be ridiculous," Sandy said. "It's nothing." She started walking toward the small shadow. "It's just-"

The shadow moved toward the light. Sandy, Nichole, Blake and Lindsay screamed in unison.

Chapter 2

Kyle was halfway up the front-porch stairs before they finished screaming. He raced across the porch, flung open the door. Four people turned toward him-four pairs of eyes begged for help. As he hurried toward Sandy and her kids, he instinctively went for his pistol. There was nothing at his hip except for his jeans. Damn.

"What is it?" he asked.

Everyone answered at once.

"That thing there," Sandy said, pointing behind her. She shivered.

"Totally gross," Lindsay agreed.

Nichole moved closer and clutched his leg.

"It's coming toward us," Blake cried.

The four of them shrieked and descended upon him. Sandy pressed against his left side. Lindsay huddled behind his back. Nichole kept a hold on his right leg, while Blake held on to Sandy.

Kyle almost didn't mind. Having Sandy plaster herself against him gave him a nice warm feeling in his belly… and a few inches farther south.