A Haunted Heart

by Kristi Pelton

  “What the hell?” Miranda shouted angrily knowing she’d be in as deep of trouble as I would. “How’d his gun get in your face?”

  I grinned. “It was all a part of the plan, wasn’t it Hamilton? We knew you wouldn’t agree to it so we didn’t tell you.”

  Irritated, Miranda flipped the suspects’ body over…bleeding leg and all and cuffed his hands behind his back. I kicked the empty gun further away from him.

  “I’m telling. Because you can’t have a different plan of attack than what I know about.”

  “Ok, tattletale,” I said helping her lift him off the ground and giving her a wink.

  “That wife of yours may get all caught up in your looks and that sexy little wink may work with her but I’m pissed, Stroud. Who do you think might be the one breaking that news to her?” Miranda was pouting.

  After placing the guy in the backseat of the car, I pounded on the roof of the car—signaling they could pull away.

  “Miranda. Hamilton had unloaded the gun prior to you getting in there. There was no secret plan. I promise. And I, more than anyone, pray you never have to make that trip to my wife.”

  She slugged me in the arm as a group of kids decked out in their costumes walked down the street unknown that there was a sexual perp in their neighborhood that we’d been watching for four months.

  “You’re a dick and you’re a bigger dick,” Miranda spat out pointing at both of us.

  Hamilton and I high-fived each other even though there was no inside joke but to make Miranda think for a second that there was…brilliant.

  “You all coming by tonight?” I laughed.

  Miranda shook her head as if she was saying no. “I’m only coming for Anna. Period. In fact, don’t even speak to me tonight!”

  “I’m in too. But it’ll be a little later. Start eating without us.”

  “I’m gonna write up my report then I’m out of here,” I said waving as I walked to my car.

  Three hours later, I walked into our overly decorated house and the smell of a heavenly meal hit me immediately. Anna had returned to work but only part-time. She liked being home when I came home and I liked that.

  When I rounded the corner of our bedroom she was sprawled out on the bed in a black skeleton leotard looking hot as hell. The bones semi glowed in the dark.

  “Happy Halloween, Dear.”

  I leaped—air bound and landed next to her.

  “Happy Halloween to you,” I growled pulling her into me and attacking her mouth.

  “I missed you today,” she purred and my cock instantly stood at attention.

  “Well then, we are dumping them quickly. Don’t make idle chitchat. Feed them and kick them out.”

  She giggled and the buzzer from the kitchen sounded.

  “Something I can help with?” I asked rolling off the bed.

  She rolled off in the opposite direction. “I just need the pan pulled out, please.”

  I walked over, kissed her sexy ass and ran to the kitchen.

  The table was decorated beautifully with dinner already on it—the smell even more intense in here. I grabbed two hot pads and opened the oven door. It was cold inside and a single roll sat on the rack inside. I picked it up and closed the door.

  What the hell? Why would she have a hamburger bun in the oven?

  My heart started pumping faster; my brain became a tangled mess of a barrage of thoughts. Holy shit!

  “ANNA!” I yelled sprinting through the house, my skin prickling with excitement.

  When I rounded the corner, the browns I loved were wide. Pinned onto her skeleton costume was now a baby skeleton down at the bottom of her tummy.

  A slow smile spread over her face.

  “A bun in the oven, huh?” I whispered as I strolled toward her. God, I loved this woman. More than life and I suddenly felt tears lurking and it pissed me off. I’d only cried one other time in front of her.

  She pointed to the baby skeleton and nodded.

  When I reached her, I tenderly laid my hand over her stomach then leaned down and kissed the house of my little guy.

  Anna gently wiped the freed tear from my cheek.

  “Now you have to come home to us every single day,” she whispered.

  “Anna,” I whispered roughly as I wrapped my arms around her waist from my knees. “Sweetheart. I love you. You…are in my bones. You…are the air I breathe. Everything I do is for us. Just never stop loving me.”

  I looked up at her and a lone tear broke free from her eyes. “I love you too.”

  The doorbell rang disrupting one of the most important moments of my life. She kissed the top of my head.

  “Put on your costume,” she said walking toward the door.

  “Costume?”

  She pointed to the closet where a black leotard hung with skeleton bones on the front.

  “I am not wearing that!”

  “Please!” she shouted back. “We are going to announce to Miranda!”

  “Not just no but hell no! I’ll be construction worker Adam again.”

  She darted back to the bedroom. “Mmmmm. I reeaaallly like construction worker Adam. That guy might just get laid by this skeleton tonight.” She winked and left again.

  “Don’t answer the door. Tell Miranda to go away!” I pled adjusting my hard on.

  “Come on, Adam,” she sang.

  I grumbled beneath my breath and grabbed my tool belt.