by Ellen Dugan
Lexie rolled her eyes. “See you Saturday night,” she said to us, then she called to Morgan, and the boy stopped at the fence and waited for his father with a sunny smile.
A few moments later the family of four meandered off together onto the next house on the street.
The hours passed quickly. I only had a little candy left over by nine o’clock, and we called it a night. We brought the pumpkins back inside and lined them up on the hearth. I switched off the porch light and locked the front door.
I’d barely made it down the one step from the landing before Duncan pounced. My pirate hat went flying and his hands were all over me.
“Well for goddess sake, Quinn,” I laughed when he allowed me up for air.
He cruised his mouth down and over my neck. “I’ve been waiting to get my hands on you since I pulled in the driveway and I saw you in that costume.”
My plastic sword hit the floor as he untied the sash from my waist. “I was hoping you’d like the costume and take the hint.” I wiggled my eyebrows at him.
“I’m in the mood to do some ravishing.” He unbuttoned my blouse and reached around to unhook my bra.
“Well thank the Samhain gods.” I opened his chambray shirt, shoved it off his shoulders and gave his earlobe a nip.
“Be careful.” His voice was deep and husky
I unzipped his jeans and did some exploring of my own. “I can take whatever you dish out.”
He shuddered, staring down into my eyes. “Is that a challenge?”
I tossed my head. “Yes.”
“Take off your boots.”
I bent, unzipped the over-the-knee-boots, and kicked them aside. Duncan swooped in and kissed me, and then our clothes went flying.
Duncan backed me towards the rug and nudged me down to lie on the plush gray carpet. I stretched out and sighed at the feeling of the soft carpet against my bare back. He began to kiss me, sliding over and on top. I widened my legs and allowed him to settle closer. He pressed himself against me and I groaned when he tangled his hands in my hair.
“Look at me,” he ordered.
My eyes fluttered open and with a jolt I realized that the vision I’d had of us together on the rug before the hearth was playing out in real time. Duncan tightened his grip and it pulled my head back and up. His eyes never left mine as he slipped inside me. He held still for a heartbeat, then two, and finally he began to move.
I wrapped my hands around his biceps and held on. He never broke eye contact as he made love to me. The pace and intensity began to pick up and he caught my hands, stretching my arms up and over my head, holding me gently in place. I strained to reach up and kiss him, but he kept me pinned.
“I love you,” he said, finally lowering his mouth to mine, and our kiss went on forever.
Afterwards, Duncan tugged the rust colored throw from the sofa and covered us with it. I lay on my side, with my head tucked on Duncan’s chest, and closed my eyes with a contented sigh. Luna came trotting over and climbed up my hip and settled down, happy to snuggle with us while we lay together.
Duncan ran a hand over the cat’s head and she began to purr. I smiled to myself, burrowed closer, and decided that Halloween night had turned out even better than I’d foreseen.
CHAPTER ELEVEN
The full moon of November rose in the eastern sky, and Holly, Ivy and I were all getting ready together for the Masquerade Fundraiser. The twins had come over to the bungalow, and it was sort of like old times when we used to live together at the Bishop family manor.
Holly sat on the bench at the foot of my bed in a robe, while Ivy worked the front of her sister’s wild curls into a soft twist, securing the sections back with a few sparkly hair pins. Ivy’s hair swung rich and brown to brush her collarbones, and was done in her typical long bob. As for me, I’d been a good little soldier and had fought the battle trying to make my straight hair curl. Armed with mousse, hot rollers and extra strength hairspray I’d attempted to do something different.
With the girls help, I now had loose, soft waves flowing over my shoulders. I considered my reflection in the mirror. Now that my hair had grown back out, the waves were nice...I only hoped the style would last through the night.
My makeup wasn’t quite as dramatic as I’d done on Halloween, but it was much heavier than I usually wore, and I had to admit that it looked great, even with my glasses. Catching myself primping, I walked away from the mirror and went to sit on the side of the bed. I slowly began pulling on a pair of opaque black tights.
I worked them up and then stood, pulling the tights high enough so the waist band went to the bottom of my bra.
Holly laughed. “What are you doing?”
I gave the tights a final adjustment. “Pulling the tights up high keeps you from having a line at your waist. It gives you a smooth silhouette this way.”
Holly rolled her eyes. “You could wear thigh high stockings instead.”
I snorted at her. “Who actually wears that kind of stuff?”
In answer, she pulled the bottom of her robe aside and showed off the lacy tops of her sheer, nude thigh-high stockings. “I do.”
I raised my eyebrows in surprise. “Whoa, Blondie.”
Ivy laughed. “Or you could do like me, and not wear any stockings at all.”
“Ah, no thanks,” I said, unzipping my cocktail dress from the hanger.
Ivy helped me slip the dress over my hair. I waited for her to zip it up, and went over to the full length mirror on my closet door to straighten the hemline of the sequined dress. The dress was simple, with all over matte, champagne gold sequins. It boasted a deep scoop neck and three quarter length sleeves. It was short, clingy and stopped a few inches above the knees.
Ivy whistled. “I do like the way the black tights contrast against the champagne gold of the dress, Autumn.”
I slipped on my black flapper style shoes with their chunky kitten heel. “Witness the miracle of a pair of heels I don’t wobble in,” I said to the twins, adjusting the shoe’s strap.
With a flourish, Ivy stripped off her robe revealing a strapless bra and matching black panties. “I want to know what you two think of my dress.” She unzipped a garment bag and I caught a flash of sequins as she casually tossed her club dress over her head. It was all black and gold sequins in a diamond pattern with thin black shoulder straps.
I grinned. “I should have known you’d find a Harley Quinn inspired cocktail dress.” I walked over to her. “That’s awesome and very edgy for the masquerade.”
“I found a black and gold harlequin patterned mask on a stick too.” Ivy stepped into a pair of killer black patent leather platform pumps. We were now almost eye to eye. “You can’t call me Shorty in these.”
I watched her strut around the room. “I don’t know how the hell you can walk in those.”
“Magick.” Ivy tossed me a wink.
“I guess we’re three for three on the sequins,” Holly said, pulling her dress out of a garment bag. The top of the cocktail dress was solid bright gold sequins. It had a simple round neckline and cap sleeves, and the short skirt was shimmering white tulle. “Zip me up will you?”
She presented her back to me and I pulled the zipper up. “That’s pretty, Holly,” I said, watching as she went to the mirror and fluffed up the poufy skirt of the dress that ended above the knees.
“Holly, whatever you do,” Ivy said, “don’tbend over in that dress unless you want everyone to see your thigh high stockings.”
Holly laughed. “Here, help me tie the mask on.” She held out a small mask in white with gold trim and sparkly scroll work. “I need to have my hands free. I have to work this event.”
Holly stepped in front of the mirror again and held the mask in place while Ivy slipped behind her and tied the satin ribbons. I fetched the bobby pins and Ivy pinned the mask in place. With Holly’s strawberry blonde curls, the pins disappeared.
“You look like a faery princess,” I said to her.
“Or a
n angel,” Ivy said, smoothing a strand of her sister’s hair.
I saw the slight reaction Holly had at the word angel. Thinking to comfort her, I placed my hand on my cousin’s shoulder and got a quick precognitive flash of information.
Holly and a man in a passionate embrace. Green luxuriant foliage surrounded them. It was dark and shadowy but Holly’s hair and the white and gold dress stood out. The man was dark. Dark hair, black tux and a simple black mask over his eyes. I didn’t recognize him.
Shaken, I blocked my emotions and slid my hand away from her shoulder as casually as possible. I stepped away and picked up my own mask. I studied the champagne gold half-mask with its black trim, sculpted feathers and large gold satin rose on the side. It also was attached to a stick—glasses and tie-on masks really didn’t work together.
Holly and Ivy were doing the final check on their lipstick and were chatting happily, which allowed me a moment to consider the vision. My cousin’s dress and the man’s mask meant that whatever I’d seen would happen tonight. I narrowed my eyes at her as she gathered up her coat and purse. To my knowledge, Holly wasn’t dating anyone. So who was he?
Ivy rooted around in her purse. “Before we go, I have a little something for all of us.” She held up three pendants on golden chains.
I focused on the matching pendants. They were little crescent moons. Chunky and thick and covered in tiny black crystals. “Pretty. What are they?”
Ivy handed one to me. “These are black druzy pendants.”
I fastened it around my neck, and it stood out nicely against the matte champagne sequins of my dress. Ivy slipped hers on and it sparkled against her skin.
Holly added hers. “Thanks Ivy, these are wonderful.”
“Now let’s get a few quick pictures.” Ivy pulled out her cell phone and we squished together for the obligatory selfie session.
I checked the clock. “It’s time to go, ladies.” I grabbed my mask and black velvet clutch, and we filed down the stairs of the bungalow.
Upon arriving, we discovered that the Drake mansion had been illuminated with golden yellow spot lights. They’d hired a parking service and as soon as we’d stepped out, a valet handed me a stub and left with the car. I tucked the stub away in my bag and joined my cousins on the sidewalk. Luminaries lined both the front walk and the drive around to the back of the mansion. Men in tuxedos and women in gowns or cocktail dresses glittered and laughed as they arrived to the party.
“Hot damn,” Ivy murmured.
Above us the moon shone down in a pale gold, almost as if it had decided to coordinate with the evening’s theme. “It’s all gorgeous,” I agreed, staring up at the refurbished mansion and the rising moon. Oh god, what was I doing here? I thought. This sort of event was so out of my league.
As if to confirm my thoughts, Ivy pointed out a limo. We watched as a gorgeous couple arrived. “I feel like I’ve stumbled on a movie set,” she said.
I grimaced. “Don’t say stumble. Remember I am wearing heels.”
That made the girls laugh, and suddenly I didn’t feel quite so nervous anymore.
“Shall we?” Holly linked her arm through mine.
“Absolutely.” I stuck my other elbow out to Ivy and together the three of us strutted up the front walk and into the Drake mansion.
We checked our coats and made our way through the house. We walked past a massive display of black, white and golden pumpkins in the hallway. They were arranged on a long console table at various heights. Some sporting elaborate masks, other were decorated and some were carved. Old gold candleholders flickered away, and I couldn’t resist running my fingers along a masked black painted pumpkin as we passed.
To add to the fantasy of the evening, “Hedwig’s Theme” was playing as we walked into the ballroom. High top tables covered in black or sequined gold cloths were arranged around the perimeter of the room. Each boasted centerpieces of golden yellow flowers spilling over black glass containers. Tall taper candles flickered everywhere, and on closer inspection I saw that they were LED candles.
I was trying to wrap my head around the sheer cost of the party décor when a hand rested on my shoulder, and a familiar zip of energy ran down my spine.
Hello gorgeous. His voice was clear in mind.
I turned around and smiled at Duncan in his tailored black tuxedo. He wore a golden-beige vest over a white shirt with a matching tie with subtle stripes. “Hello Duncan,” I said.
He leaned forward and brushed a kiss over my cheek, and I was caught off guard by the public display of affection. “You look wonderful.” He flashed a smile at Holly and Ivy. “All three of you do.”
“You clean up nice, Duncan,” Ivy said.
Duncan grinned at her. “I like the dress, Ivy.” He focused on Holly. “Holly, the gold and white suits you.”
Holly was contemplating the ballroom, and the compliment had her glancing over at him. “Thank you,” she said. “I’m supposed to help with the auction tonight, would you know where I could find my boss?”
Duncan raised his hand to someone and I saw that Julian Drake was working his way over to us. He was suave and sophisticated in a midnight colored tux and black bowtie. Beside me, Holly tensed.
“Good evening.” Julian nodded to all of us, wearing a plain black mask.
“Julian.” Holly’s voice sounded normal, but she twisted her hands together nervously.
Maybe she’d had words with Julian over something at work? I considered it, but there was nothing about the two of them—besides Holly’s unease—that struck me as odd. “Hi Julian.” I went for a polite tone and I pulled it off.
Julian began to talk to Holly about the upcoming auction, and then Nathan arrived in a black suit, wearing a black and gold diamond patterned mask. Ivy leaned over and gave her boyfriend a kiss on the mouth in greeting. He and Ivy wandered over towards the bar, and that left me with Holly, Julian and Duncan.
“If you’ll excuse us,” Julian said, and he and Holly walked off, talking about the auction.
Feeling suddenly awkward, I tilted my head towards the bar. “Buy a girl a drink?” I said to Duncan, hoping I sounded chic and calm.
Duncan put his hand proprietarily at the small of my back and led me to a high top table near the bar. He left to get us drinks, and I entertained myself by people watching. There were some amazing dresses in dozens of combinations of black and gold. I self consciously tugged my hem down a bit. I hoped my dress was suitable, I’d ordered it online and had snagged a sale.
“You’re beautiful, stop worrying.” Duncan handed me a glass of white wine.
I focused on him and saw he had a beer in a pilsner. “Thank you.” I took a sip of the wine.
Thomas Drake appeared at my elbow, wearing a traditional black tux. “Autumn, Duncan, good evening.” He smiled and was so sincere that I had to squelch down my first impulse which was to do a double take at the happy and relaxed expression.
“Duncan told me yesterday that you’d returned to town,” I said to him. “How did everything go?”
Like magick, a waiter appeared and set a glass of champagne in front of Thomas. He nodded his thanks to the waiter and took a sip. “It went very well. I was happy to be on hand to offer my assistance.”
“So are they both okay?” I asked.
“Yes, they will be. I have retained an attorney for her, and things are moving forward smoothly now. I’ve invited them to live here in William’s Ford.”
“In the stone cottage,” I said as everything clicked into place.
“Yes.” Thomas took a sip. “I expect them after the first of the year.”
That didn’t give me a lot of time. I’d have to talk to my family and tell them about Irene’s daughter and granddaughter as soon as possible. “I have to ask,” I said, my voice low. “Does the woman have dark brown hair, and blue eyes?”
“That’s correct.” Thomas nodded.
“And the little one,” I said, remembering the vision. “She has long brown hai
r in pigtails?”
Thomas toasted me with his glass. “Spot on.” He took a step back as if to go.
I touched a hand to his sleeve before he could leave. “I wanted to say thank you for the washer and dryer. It was very generous.”
His lips curved up slightly. “It was the least I could do. I’m glad you are happy with them.”
“Yes I am. Thank you,” I said and let my hand drop.
“I’ll leave you two to enjoy your evening.” Thomas waked away and went directly to a group of people who’d been waiting for him.
I sighed and took a sip of my wine. “Your uncle? He’s nothing like I thought he was.”
Duncan took my free hand. “I know. For the past three years, he’s been rock solid. Quietly offering his support, and his love.”
“I’m so glad that both you and Julian have him to lean on.” I swirled the wine in my glass and thought about Thomas Drake flying down to Louisiana to help a relative he’d never met before. “I’m going to take a wild guess and bet he hired the best damn attorney he could for Maggie Parrish.”
Duncan slanted his eyes towards me. “Put money on it. He’s fierce about protecting his family.”
“Who’s fierce about family?” A stunning blonde in a gold sheath paired with a black velvet jacket elbowed her way to our table. “Well, besides us.” Lexie set her glass of champagne down.
“Hi Lexie,” I said, and waved at my brother who was a few steps behind his wife. Bran wore a nice black suit and a multi-colored mask. One side of the mask was black, the other gold, and the center was white with music notes on it. To my surprise I saw that his tie had little decorative masks in metallic gold over the black background. I heroically swallowed back a laugh. “Nice tie, Bran.”
“Lexie picked it out.” He tugged on it.
Duncan greeted the couple. “Lexie. Hi Bran.”
Lexie carried a mask on a stick and placed that on the table next to her glass. “Have to say, as a cop I don’t like all these masks.”
Bran ran a hand down his wife’s back and froze. “You wore your shoulder holster?” His eyebrows went way up.