All I Want for Halloween

by Marie Harte

  “Flatterer.” She sauntered into her living room, then wrapped herself in a blanket before flopping onto…

  “That is one fugly couch.”

  “Thanks. It reminds me of my mother, whom I lost at a young age. It’s one of the only things I have left of her.”

  He felt like shit. “Hell. I’m sorry.”

  “You should be. For all you know, that was a true story.”

  He narrowed his eyes at her. “Is it?”

  “Hell no. My mother had better taste than this.” She snorted. “But you should never judge a girl’s furniture.”

  He just stared at her.

  “What?”

  “Move over.”

  “Shouldn’t you be leaving? You know, a fast hump and dump?”

  He grabbed the TV remote from her hand, lifted her up, and settled her on his lap while he flicked through channels.

  “Hey. That’s mine.”

  “I’m a guest.” He batted her grabby hands away.

  “Well, you can’t stay late. I have to be up early tomorrow to set up for the festival.” She told him about Sofa’s stand, where they’d be selling hot cider and goodies.

  “Are you there all day? I’d call and ask you about it tomorrow, but we both know you never answer your phone.”

  “Shut up about that already.” He’d swear she sounded embarrassed. “I said I’d talk to you the next time you called.”

  “Gosh, Sadie. I’m the luckiest man on earth,” he said in his best Lassie’s-the-best-dog-in-the-world voice.

  She shook with laughter, then yawned.

  “Ah, I win. I outlasted the mean chick.”

  “We’re playing a game?” she asked.

  One where I win the girl if I’m careful. Oh shit. Do I want to win the girl? Then Sadie kissed the underside of his chin and snuggled close. Sugar and cherries hit him hard.

  “No games, Sadie. I’m not good at playing them.”

  “Me neither. I’m a lightweight. It’s sad.”

  He smiled and rested his chin on top of her head. “I wouldn’t call you a lightweight. More like welterweight. Maybe light middleweight.”

  She chuckled. “You’re a funny guy.”

  “Don’t sound so surprised.” He kissed the top of her head.

  “Mmm. I like that. You’re warm.” After a pause, she rubbed his pecs, and his heart gave a strangled leap. “If you’re free tomorrow, you should stop by. I’ll give you free cider.”

  “Well, for free cider, I might have to.”

  She nodded, her breath warm against his chest. A few moments passed, her breathing growing deeper, more even. “Gear?”

  “Yeah, honey?”

  “Am I boring?”

  He frowned. “You? Boring? You’re the least boring person I know. Scary, cantankerous—and yes, I know what that means. I do read, you know. Oh, and obnoxious. But boring? Hell no.”

  He felt her smile against his chest. “Good. You aren’t either. And I’m glad Sahara cheated on you.”

  The hurt he felt surprised him, mostly because he hadn’t expected Sadie to be cruel.

  “Because you deserve so much better than her.”

  He relaxed, stunned to go from feeling high to low and back to high again. “Boring, Sadie? You? Never.” He stroked her hair, loving that she left it long, out of a ponytail.

  She fell asleep in his arms, and he wondered how he could feel such bone-deep contentment with a woman he’d met only a week ago. A woman he didn’t want to leave, even though he knew it would be best for both of them in the long run.

  But Gear had never been all that smart. So he carried her into her bedroom and tucked her in. The soft-blue room needed further exploring, but not now. He kissed her goodbye, fit her into a compartment in his brain, and his heart, and left, locking up as he walked out.

  Once at home and in bed, he set his alarm for ten. He had things to do in the morning. And people to see. One dark-haired siren in particular.

  Chapter 8

  Sadie woke up refreshed, sexually replete, and looking forward to the festival. Not just because she loved Halloween, but because she’d invited Gear to swing by, and she had a feeling he’d show.

  She sighed as she and Theo set up their stand under an overhead tent. The weather, fortunately, shone bright and crisp. Even if it had rained, she knew she’d have been smiling.

  How could she be so wrapped up in a man clearly wrong for her? Not like she had a right guy in mind, but Gear had so many issues. One of which was a lack of reciprocity when it came to emotional connection. That was the phrase her shrink of a cousin liked to use on her when nagging about Sadie’s exes. It wasn’t as if Sadie sought men she couldn’t bond with. She’d tried not to. But the majority of them had been perfect on the outside and empty within.

  Unlike Gear. The ex-TV star seemed as far from the glamorous life as could be. He didn’t put on airs. Didn’t act better than her or her family. And he had been so sweet last night. After that earth-shattering climax, she’d expected him to leave. It was just about sex, after all.

  Except it wasn’t.

  He’d stayed, kissing the top of her head, holding her close, making her feel protected. She should hate him for that. Adrian had been protective, a real presence in her life. And he’d hurt her. Badly. Yet unlike Adrian, Gear hadn’t done anything to advance his cause. He’d already had her. She was already impressed. And she had a feeling he’d assumed she’d been asleep when she’d played possum in his arms, listening to his calming heartbeat.

  He’d been so tender tucking her in, kissing her again, sighing before he left.

  What did that mean? Did he like-like her? Or was he stymied, trying to find the words to break it off because he sensed how much she was trying not to like him? For all that he acted like an asshole in public, she sensed in him a genuinely nice guy.

  Oh God. If he was trying to find a nice way to break it off with her, that would be terrible. She’d rather he just dumped her ass.

  “You’re too quiet. What’s up?” Theo asked.

  “Nice. Good morning to you too.”

  “Look, I had to deal with Hope moping around this morning while her boy toy is in Portland at some conference. And that after being bitched out by my mother for upsetting my father about something I did. I’m supposed to think about my actions. But I don’t know what the hell she’s talking about.”

  “So ask her.”

  “What? And admit I’m insensitive as well as clueless? No thanks.”

  “Ah, to be twenty-one again.”

  “Can you remember that far back?” He grinned, and she could already see this one breaking hearts. Like his older brothers, the Donnigans who’d given those amazing self-defense classes at Jameson’s Gym, Theo had looks and a killer smile. His oldest brother, Landon, had managed to snag her cousin, a feat in itself. Ava analyzed everything to death, but Landon had turned her brain off enough to get her to say yes to an upcoming I Do.

  Gavin, the other Donnigan heartthrob, had a body Sadie truly envied. Had she not met Gear, and had Gavin not already hooked up with someone on a more permanent basis, she’d have tried him on for size. Man, could that guy run like a gazelle. She coveted his workouts.

  “And then there is Theo, the youngest of the bunch,” she said out loud.

  “Is this where you do that weird dialoging—”

  “A gem in the rough. A young man about to embark on a life-changing journey in the United States Marine Corps. A man with a hankering for an older woman, a seductress to show him the ways of love.”

  Theo blushed. “Sadie.”

  “But alas, Sadie is already taken by a man, the envy of all men.”

  “Here we go.”

  “A devil in disguise, who worships the ground she walks on. And poor, poor Theo can only watch from afar.”


  He stared at her. “Did you work on that all night or what?”

  “No.” She grinned. “Totally spontaneous. Did you like it?”

  “Are you on drugs?”

  She laughed, in a terrific mood despite her confusion about Gear. “Dude, the sun is shining. It’s getting close to Halloween, and I got some action. More than once, even. Life is good.”

  Theo grinned with her. “Lucky you.”

  “Don’t worry. Someday puberty will catch up with you, and you’ll figure out how all your equipment works.”

  “This is why Elliot refused to work with you in here.”

  “Exactly. He’s scared. Not you, Theo. You’re much braver than he is. Braver than Landon was, too. You should have seen how my cousin terrified him when they were dating.”

  Theo leaned in. “Tell me more.”

  She filled him in on a few instances she’d witnessed when Ava and Landon had started dating, and he laughed, filing away the information as only a younger brother could.

  They began serving cider not two minutes after the festival started. The day progressed from there. Sadie dealt with chattering children, adults annoyed at the long lines, and other people just happy to be alive. She felt it her duty to add to the festive air and got her face painted at the booth next door in exchange for free cookies and drinks.

  Now she wore a skull on half of her face, and it was majorly creepy with her hair pulled back into a chaotic ponytail, with fake spiders and cobwebs hanging off her hair.

  “That is so unhygienic. I get one spider in my cider, and I’m suing.”

  She recognized the deep grumble and felt herself blossoming into a smiling fool. She took a moment to compose herself, forcing a sneer. When she glanced up at her latest customer, she saw Gear wearing a cowboy hat and a bandana tied around his neck, a pair of dark glasses covering his gorgeous hazel eyes.

  “Sue me, and I’ll strike back. I’m known to have a lethal one-two combination.” She fake punched him.

  He laughed and yanked the man behind him so that they stood abreast. “Sadie, this is my baby brother, Thorvald. Thorvald, this is Sadie.”

  His brother sighed. He looked enough like Gear around the eyes to proclaim them related. “It’s Thor. Hi, Sadie, nice to meet you.” He held out a hand, larger than hers but more refined than Gear’s. She shook it, noticing that he didn’t have Gear’s rough knuckles or calluses either.

  “Hi. This is Theo, my partner today.” She glanced at Theo, who nodded at them and took care of the next customer in line. “So, you two slumming?”

  Gear chuckled. “Why do you think we came here first? Love the face, by the way. It’s so you. So very…deathlike.”

  “Well, the cowboy getup ain’t you.” Before he could ask, she fetched cider for him and his brother and handed him a festive prewrapped bag of cookies she’d put together that morning. “Come talk to me while I work.” She nodded for them to join her in the tent.

  The costume parade started, and the crowd in front of her cleared out fast, giving her some breathing room.

  “I’m going to get more supplies while I can,” Theo said.

  “Good idea.”

  He grabbed the store tricycle, which had a large basket in the back, and rode off to Sofa’s, a short distance away.

  “So,” she said to the men guzzling their hot drinks, “how’s it going?”

  Thor answered, “We got here half an hour ago. It took that long to find you. There are a lot of people here.”

  Gear chuckled. “My brother’s a scientist. He’s right now, no doubt, doing the math and trying to figure out how many people can actually fit in the square footage of the festival’s area. For fun.”

  Thor grinned. “I’d tell you, but then I’d have to kill you. It’s a lot, that’s all I can say.”

  Sadie liked him on sight. Thor looked to be a few years younger than Gear. He had the same dark hair, but a rangy build, and stood a few inches shorter than his brother. Like Gear, he had hazel eyes, but his seemed softer, not as intense. She recognized in him a calm gentleness missing in Gear.

  “You eyeing my brother for some reason?” Gear asked, his voice deep.

  “Just wondering how you two can be related. He seems so smart, relaxed, and, well, nice.”

  Thor grinned. “Oh, I like her.”

  Gear broke open the bag of cookies and shoved one in Thor’s mouth. “Shut up and eat.” He turned to Sadie. “So I was thinking if you’re not busy later, maybe we could hang out.”

  “Hmm.”

  “What? It’s easy. Yes or no?”

  “I’m thinking.”

  “Don’t hurt yourself.”

  Thor choked on laughter.

  Gear pounded him on the back.

  “Jesus, Gear. Try not to kill your brother. Here, Thor. Have some water.” She handed him a water bottle.

  “Thanks,” he rasped. “Ah. That cookie was awesome. Snickerdoodle, right? Orchid sometimes makes those.”

  “Who’s Orchid?”

  “Our mom,” Thor and Gear said together.

  “You call your mom by her first name?”

  Gear nodded. “Yeah, Otis too. Our dad. Our parents are… How should I put this?”

  “Crazy. And not just crazy in love,” Thor added. “But, like, full-on wacko. But hey, it works for them, and we didn’t turn out too badly.” He eyed his brother. “Well, Iris and I are stable.”

  Gear pinched the bridge of his nose, pushing up his glasses. “Look, just ask her.”

  “Ask me what?” Sadie looked from Gear to Thor, waiting.

  Thor cleared his throat. “Well, my brother was telling me how great your food was from that party. And these cookies are divine.”

  Gear snorted. “Divine. Can’t take the professor out in public, can I?”

  Thor ignored him. “Just amazing.”

  “Thanks.” Sadie beamed. “One thing we do right at Sofa’s—and that’s bake.”

  “So I have a faculty party coming up, and some idiot put me in charge of handling the food. Do you think we could talk about you catering for us?”

  She nodded. “Sure. I’ll get you some quotes if you can tell me what you’re looking for. Cookies and cupcakes, or appetizers, or a sit-down lunch, and for how many.”

  “Wait, cupcakes?” Gear took his glasses off, and she liked being able to see his eyes. “I haven’t tried your cupcakes yet.”

  The ringing of a bike bell signaled Theo had returned. But Elliot stepped through the back instead.

  “Elliot, did you bring any cupcakes?”

  “As a matter of fact, I did.” He grinned, looked over her guests, and raised a brow.

  “Elliot, you know Gear. This is his brother, Thorv—”

  “Just Thor. Nice to meet you.” Thor held out a hand.

  Elliot took it, and the pair blinked at each other before quickly pulling away.

  She looked at Gear to see if he’d witnessed the weirdness, but he seemed too fixated on her breasts to notice.

  She cleared her throat.

  He glanced up without an iota of shame and gave her a wide grin. “I was looking for more spiders.”

  “Uh-huh. So Elliot, Thor might want to hire us to cater a party. You want to set him up with the deets?”

  “Sure.” Elliot’s smile looked a little too forced, and she would have asked him what was wrong, but the sound of rushing voices drew her attention.

  “Shit.” Gear sighed. “Why today of all days?”

  * * *

  A dozen photographers and a few people with recorders rushed the tent. “Gear, can you tell us what brought you out here today?”

  “Are you now selling food?”

  “Can you put any truth to the rumor that Sahara is having B-Man’s twins?”

  “When will you come
back to the show?”

  “Do you consider this a major failure on your part, your inability to hold on to the company you started? B-Man told us it’s official. You’re no longer a member of the Motorcycle Madnezz team.”

  “Is this your mistress?” One of the female reporters smirked. As if to say, you can do so much better.

  Gear could see Sadie’s temper growing, her face turning red. He sensed his brother slipping out the back, as Gear had ordered him to do should they get sidelined by press. A good thing. Gear tried to keep his family out of the media as best he could. No sense in Thor getting targeted because he stood too close to Gear. Now if only he could do the same for Sadie and Elliot.

  Before Gear could stop her, Sadie took a step forward. “None of you want to hear it, but the truth is that B-Man was plowing Sahara for months while tossing Gear’s reputation down the toilet.”

  The crowd erupted into more questions and shutter clicks. Gear groaned. “Guys, gimme a break. I’m here talking to friends, trying to enjoy the Halloween Festival. Sofa’s was nice enough to give me some cookies and cider. Try some. They’re better than anything you’ll eat here.”

  “So you’re now part owner of Sofa’s?” someone asked.

  “The hell he is,” Sadie argued. “You people are not only stupid, you’re sad. You’re also standing in the way of my paying customers.” She turned to the woman who’d asked the mistress question. “And lady, who the hell uses the term mistress anymore? How old are you, anyway?”

  A few of the other reporters snickered. The woman didn’t look amused. At all.

  “So you admit you’re sleeping together?”

  “Do you admit you’re about as clever as a clapping toy monkey? I’m selling cookies. And cupcakes. Oh, and spiced cider. Chick, you have no idea who you’re dealing with. Gear, schmere. Today is about Halloween and Sofa’s Spookville.”

  A few locals seemed to recognize the name.

  “We put on a spread every Halloween.”

  Had Gear been worried Sadie wouldn’t be able to hold her own? Man, was he wrong.

  He took a step back, and everyone focused on him again. Hell. “Look, I’m interrupting business. You can bug the shit out of me out there as well as you can in here.” He left the tent.