Hunter Beaumont doesn't understand his grandmother's deathbed wish: "Destroy Beaumont House." He'd never even heard of the place. But after his grandmother passes and his first love betrays him, the family house in the Wisconsin woods looks like a tempting refuge. Going against his grandmother's wishes, Hunter flees to Beaumont House.<br><br>But will the house be the sanctuary he had hoped for? Soon after moving in, Hunter realizes he may not be alone. And who -- or what -- he shares the house may plunge him into a nightmare from which he may never escape.<br><br>Sparks fly when he meets his handsome neighbor, a caretaker for the estate next door, but is the man salvation...or is he the source of Hunter's terror?

A Demon Inside

“Oh, come on! I expect nothing in return, and who knows? The heat could go out. You could lose power. It’s not all that unusual. Then what would you do?”


“Get in the car. Go to that little bed-and-breakfast in Stoketon. Point is, I’d be fine. I can take care of myself.”


“Why are you so stubborn? What’s it going to hurt to just have the key in the house? It’s not going to bite you, for Christ’s sake.”


“I’ll be fine, thanks. Enjoy your trip to Chicago.”


“Suit yourself.” Michael left the kitchen.


Hunter started the dishwasher. He tried to keep his mind free of thought as he stared out the window at the snow, now coming down heavily. “Jesus, it’s April. Does it ever stop?”


Softly a sound issued from the foyer. Hunter couldn’t quite identify what it was or its source, but now that he thought about it, he didn’t recall hearing the front door opening or closing. What was Michael up to, anyway? And why didn’t he just go out the back door, which was closer?


Chapter 60