Sheer Panic

By Trish Jackson

Breanna Barton's love life sucks. That's why she's staying home and taking care of her eight-year-old niece, Shari over spring break instead of heading over to Panama City for some surf, sun and sex.

She's glad college is over for a couple of weeks so she can escape from Roderick, the maintenance man who always seems to seek her out and make twisted comments, and she doesn't think Dorky Dorian will follow her again after her septuagenarian neighbor's dog, Panda attacked him.

The only bad thing about Joaquim, manager of the stable where she keeps her horse, is the fact that he's nine years older than her. He has the power to make her hot all over just by looking at her.

Out of the blue, she gets a friend request on Facebook from Lance, the boy she was obsessed with at high school. Strange and terrifying incidents start happening. Is she being stalked? And was someone in her bedroom at night while she was sleeping?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Trish Jackson
• Release date: Aug 11, 2015
• ISBN: 9781310784187

Trish Jackson

Trish Jackson grew up on a farm in Zimbabwe, Africa, which sparked a love of adventure and suspense, and being a romantic at heart, she writes romantic suspense thrillers and romantic comedy. She moved to the U.S. in 1990, loves country living, horse riding, chocolate and all animals. Trish's passion is helping the innocents of the world - children, the elderly, the mentally challenged, and animals. Her stories are set in small towns, where the people enjoy country values, and the pace of life is a little slower, and her characters always include the four-legged kind.

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All rights reserved. The reproduction or utilization of this work in whole or in part in any form by any electronic, mechanical or other means now known or hereafter invented, is forbidden without the written permission of the author or publisher.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and events described herein are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to actual events, locations, organizations, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

CONTENTS

Acknowledgments

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Thirteen

Chapter Fourteen

Chapter Fifteen

Chapter Sixteen

Chapter Seventeen

Chapter Eighteen

Chapter Nineteen

Chapter Twenty

Chapter Twenty One

Chapter Twenty Two

Chapter Twenty Three

Chapter Twenty Four

Chapter Twenty Five

Chapter Twenty Six

Chapter Twenty Seven

Chapter Twenty Eight

Chapter Twenty Nine

Chapter Thirty

Chapter Thirty One

Chapter Thirty Two

About the Author

Sheer Panic

Trish Jackson

One

You must be the only nineteen-year-old in the whole school who isn’t getting laid. I don't get why your love life is such a total mess, Janet said. It's not right. It's not that hard.

Their footfalls echoed as they made their way to along the hallway to the cafeteria.

Brianna, petite with shoulder-length red hair and freckles, clamped her jaw and rolled her eyes. Here she goes again. I wish she'd leave it alone already.

She sucked in a sharp breath.

The creepy guy was standing there again, leaning against the wall near the cafeteria’s doorway, and staring at her. What was it that unnerved her so much? He was ugly—scary ugly, like some sort of monster, with a barrel chest and thick, hairy arms, a mouth that twisted when he spoke. But that wasn't it. There was something else about him. She just couldn't put a finger on it.

Hello gorgeous, he leered.

Her breath quickened and she shuddered, even though she knew he wouldn't do anything to her. She didn't want to look at his eyes, but it was as if an invisible magnet compelled her to do so. Dark, almost black eyes. Demon’s eyes. The intensity of his stare was enough to scare anyone.

Janet nudged her with an elbow and sniggered.

Shut up, Brianna snarled.

Meow, meow, he jeered, and made a hissing sound.

Brianna sucked in a sudden breath when it looked like he was going to block her pathway. Come on, baby, I know you can hear me, he taunted.

Brianna hurried past him, taking special care not to brush up against him, even though he had left little room between her and doorway. She blew out air loudly when she was past him, and forced her wobbly legs to keep moving.

She followed Janet, picked up a tray, and willed herself not to glance back. She knew she was being paranoid. He had never followed her into the cafeteria. With those overalls, he obviously isn't a student here, so how does he get onto the campus? she said quietly to Janet’s back as she chose a ready-made chef's salad.

Why don't you read his badge? Janet’s long, dark ponytail swung to the side as she turned her head to squint over her shoulder at the doorway.

I did. His name's Roderick something. It said he was a janitor or handyman. I can't remember which one. Why do I always end up staring at his eyes instead of his name badge? Janet didn't get it. She thought it was funny that he was trying to hit on Brianna like that, almost every lunchtime.

Brianna took a seat at an empty table across the table from Janet. I wish you would back me up here, she said as she peeled open the packaging and pulled out the eating utensils. He's creepy and you know as well as I do that he always tries to get me to make physical contact with him.

And he smells bad.

Exactly. And we haven’t even started on his yellow teeth. Seriously, though, I don't know what to do. I think I'm gonna have to find another place to eat lunch.

Why don't you report him? He's obviously way out of line, and they'll probably fire him if they hear he's been harassing you.

I don't know. There’s something about him… People like that… They retaliate if you cross them.

Oh come on, Brie. You don't believe he would come after you if you get him fired? Janet’s soft brown eyes crinkled at the corners as she forked a mouthful of pasta into her mouth.

Maybe he would. You don't know he wouldn't.

Janet chewed and swallowed. You watch too many of those true crime murder stories on TV. You’re freaking over nothing. Anyhow, it's almost spring break. Two and a half weeks of bliss. Maybe he'll be gone when we get back.

Yeah. In a perfect world.

Janet grinned. If you had any kind of love life you'd be coming with us to Panama City. That would get your mind off that loser.

Go on, rub it in again. I’ll be staying here and you'll be at the beach getting wasted and getting it on with Eric—or some other hot guy.

You can still come with us. There's room in Eric's car. It's not like anyone’s forcing you to stay here.

You know as well as I do I promised Alicia I'd take care of Shari. She doesn’t often get a chance to go anywhere alone with Dan. Brianna took a forkful of salad.

Shari could have gone to your Gran. You don’t have to take her. You’re using her as an excuse for not coming with us. Why would you not want to come? I’ll tell you. It’s because you don’t want to get laid. She shook her head. Weird. That's what you are. I mean, sex is good. It's natural. You like having sex don't you?

I told you, Brianna said, I don't want to do it with just anyone. That's not weird.

'I can name at least five hot guys who would jump your bones in a heartbeat if you would let them. I mean, look at you. Janet waved her hand in front of Brianna's face. You're gorgeous with that hair and those enormous green eyes. Eric says so all the time."

Brianna felt herself going red. She threw a glance back toward the doorway.

He's gone, and if you had a boyfriend he wouldn't bug you like that.

They ate in silence for a while.

Oh my God, check that out. Janet pointed. "What the fuck do you think she’s doing dressed like that? With those ugly fat legs."

Brianna was glad Janet had changed the subject. She was getting sick of her going on at her like that. She doesn't understand. Or maybe she’s right. Why do I always compare every hot guy I meet to Lance? He didn't even know I existed, so why can't I forget about him and move on?

Janet drained her bottle of water, stood up and lifted her tray. You ready? she said.

Brianna wondered if she would make it to the vacation time. Having that freak taunt her like that every day was wearing her down and setting her nerves on edge. Was it her imagination or was there something a little sinister about the way he stared at her?

Two

Brianna's heart sank when she saw Dorian standing by his locker. She thought about turning around and walking away, but it would be too obvious she was avoiding him.

Hey, Brianna, he greeted her with that goofy smile as always. Ready for spring break?

You have no idea, she said, opening her locker and stuffing her jacket into the cramped space. It can't come quick enough for me.

Let me guess—you're going with Janet to some beach place—or is it Vegas this year? I've heard that's the newest hot spot. He closed his locker door, clicked the padlock closed, and leaned a shoulder on it.

No, actually I'm staying right here and taking care of my sister's kid. Why did I tell him that? It’s none of his business. And what is it about him that's so weird?

He wasn’t bad looking. His dark brown hair was neatly cut, and he had those blue eyes under dark lashes. The nervous tic on the right side of his mouth made him look like he was smiling lopsidedly. She would probably be okay with that if he didn’t stare right through her when he looked at her, almost as if she was invisible. She shuddered involuntarily and then chuckled to herself. This was Dorian, the nerd. She was feeling creepy because Roderick—or whatever his name was—was getting to her. Dorian was probably seeing math problems or some science formula when he looked at her like that.

What's so funny? he said.

Oh, nothing. Nothing at all. I was just thinking to myself.

And you don't want to share your thoughts? The tic was out of control now.

It was nothing. I just remembered something Shari, my niece told me, she lied.

What? What was it? He was getting quite intense, and it made her feel seriously uncomfortable. He had done this once before. She couldn’t even remember now what she had said, but he had ended up throwing his books out of his locker and stomping on them, and yelling too.

It wasn’t important. Just girl stuff. Really. He kept staring, his breathing harsh. Please don’t let him throw a tantrum again. I have to say something to make him calm down. Hey, maybe we'll see each other around during the break. Dumb. Why did I say that? He's the last person on earth I want to see.

Seriously? You don't even know whether I'm going away or not.

No. Er… Are you?

"I was thinking