All I Want for Halloween

by Marie Harte

  Gear smiled. “Like Sadie told you, she and Elliot run Sofa’s.”

  “Don’t forget Rose.”

  Gear nodded. “Sorry. Her sister Rose too.”

  “Wait. Sofa’s?” his father said. His brows rose. “As in, Sofa’s Spookville?”

  “I told you people know us for that,” she said to Gear. “Yeah. This year Gear helped us decorate.”

  “Oh, we’ll have to swing by. I love that haunted house. I used to have a dollhouse like that as a girl.” Orchid smiled. “Well, it wasn’t haunted. But it was fun to play with.”

  “It’s actually Rose’s old house. But the monster dolls are mine,” Sadie said. “Anytime you guys plan to swing by, let me know and I’ll set aside some cookies for you.”

  “How about cinnamon buns? Those are my favorite,” Otis said.

  “Yep. Can do.”

  “So you and Harrison,” Orchid said. “You’re dating?”

  “She’s pregnant, honey. You heard her,” Otis corrected. Then he turned a serious gaze Gear’s way. “You be good to her. I like this one. And she looks sturdy enough to carry a new generation of Blackstones.”

  “Otis, seriously.”

  “Um, you know we were kidding about babies, right?” Sadie didn’t like the look the pair shared. “We’ve known each other all of a week.”

  “Eight days, really,” Gear said. At her look, he held up his hands. “What? It’s true. We met last Saturday at the party. Today is Sunday. That’s eight days.”

  “Counting them, are we?”

  “I, ah…” Gear blushed.

  She stared, fascinated.

  So did his parents.

  He cleared his throat. “Well, Otis, Orchid. We have to be going. Sadie has to get back to work later.” He gripped her by the hand to stop her from correcting him. “And I need to get back too. Got a few things to do before I figure out where to go from here.”

  Otis frowned. “You’re not going to work for Sanders, are you?”

  “I don’t think so.”

  “Sanders?” Sadie asked.

  “A competitor and old friend of mine,” Gear explained. “He has a custom shop in Tacoma. Big name in the motorcycle world.”

  She shook her head. “You can’t work for anyone else.”

  “Why not?” He frowned at her.

  She snorted. “Duh. Because you’re too controlling. You have your own way of doing things. So do your own thing, this time with no partners. That way if it screws up, you only have yourself to blame.”

  Otis nodded. “What she said.”

  Gear clenched his jaw. “I’m considering all my options.”

  Sadie shrugged, thinking him an idiot if he discounted his personality quirks in the face of a new job. “Whatever. But you’re an idiot if you try making Motorcycle Madnezz, Part Two.”

  “Thanks so much.”

  “If I wasn’t already taken, I’d marry you,” Otis said to her. He surprised her by latching on to her bicep and squeezing. “Check it out, Orchid. The girl is stacked. She’s got muscle.”

  “I work for a living,” Sadie joked, trying to tug her arm free.

  Gear wrenched her from his father. “Okay, now that you’re manhandling my girlfriend, we really need to go.”

  Otis and Orchid looked giddy. “Fine, fine.” Otis coughed. “But make sure we see you both at the Halloween party. It’s at the house this year, in Ballard.” He leaned closer to Sadie and whispered, “And I’ll tell you what that M in his name stands for.”

  “Oh, it’s a date.” Sadie beamed.

  “Sure. Okay.” Gear dragged her toward the exit. “See you then.”

  “Bye, Sadie,” Orchid called out, waving. “Nice to meet you.”

  “Later, girl,” Otis added.

  “Bye,” she said as the door closed behind her. “Geez, Harrison. Quit dragging me around. Something else you and your dad have in common. Manhandling women,” she teased. Then she noted the tension in his frame. “What’s wrong?”

  He stopped, in full view of the house. “You’re coming with me to the party, right?”

  “Sure. Why wouldn’t I?”

  He relaxed. “I don’t know. They didn’t scare you away?”

  She stared at him for a moment, then laughed. “Seriously? Your dad is awesome. And your mom is so pretty and handy in the kitchen. She’s like Rose, only earthier. I liked them.” A lot.

  He smiled, an expression of joy that made his face shine with true beauty. “Yeah? They’re usually an acquired taste.” He paused. “Sahara couldn’t stand them.”

  Sadie shrugged and did her best not to gape at the wonder that was Gear. “When you meet my dad, you’ll see yours is a treat by comparison.” Wait. Meet her father? Sadie didn’t take guys home to meet the family. Yet she wanted to see her father and Gear together.

  Gear hugged her, then grabbed her by the hand and started walking with her back across the field.

  Then what he’d said earlier came back to her. She stopped, pulling him to a halt. “Your girlfriend?”

  * * *

  Gear had wondered when she’d reference his slip of the tongue. It hadn’t been intentional to call her that. But the moment the word had come out, he’d realized the truth of it. Sadie wasn’t casual to him. She was someone he wanted in his life. As what, he wasn’t yet sure. But he knew for a fact she meant something. He wanted to be around her when not with her. He cared about her feelings and opinions. And it had mattered—more than he wanted to believe—that his parents like her.

  “Sorry. I meant to say friend, but it came out girlfriend. But you’re a girl who’s a friend, so I wasn’t wrong, was I?”

  The panic on her face would have been laughable if he hadn’t felt the same, worried he’d screwed up a good thing by going too fast.

  “Um, no. I guess not.” She cleared her throat. “No biggie.”

  But it was. He held her hand as they walked back to the car. “I was lying about having something to do today. But are you busy?”

  “For once, no.” She blew out a breath.

  They entered the car and sat there for a minute. Then she turned to him, her expression serious. He was going to have to apologize for the girlfriend slip. For arguing with her, maybe even for having sex with her before his parents had arrived, putting her on the spot, unintentional though it had been.

  “Sadie, I—”

  Before he could apologize, she held out her hand. “Keys.”

  He stared at her. “Huh?”

  “I want my keys. Letting you drive on the way made sense, because I was hungry and didn’t know where we were going. But it’s my car. I drive.”

  Relieved she didn’t want to roast him over hot coals for making more of their relationship than she wanted, he handed over the keys and switched seats with her. “Cool. Your car, you drive. So what’s next?”

  * * *

  “Next?” She drove them away from the field toward home. “Next we go back to town. I need to hit the gym. Sex with you was great, but I need a run.” She paused. “You want to come with me?” Why invite him to something personal to you, dummy? You already had sex with the guy. Time to cut bait and move on.

  “The gym?” He studied her. She could feel his gaze on her like a brand. “Sure. I could go for a workout that doesn’t involve your pussy. Not that I’d prefer it though.”

  “Gear.”

  He laughed. “Blushing, Sadie? Ha. But I’m serious. I’d rather work out with you, but I’ll take the gym. Besides, I need a new place to go.” He paused. “So do I pretend I don’t know you there or what? You know, to keep any possible press away.”

  She didn’t like the idea of faking anything, but she hated the thought of more microphones shoved in her face. Of possibly seeing herself on TV, all sweaty and tired next to a picture of Sahara in a fake tan a
nd bikini. “We are acquaintances at Jameson’s Gym. Nothing more. And it’s not because of you, it’s—”

  “I get it.” In a quieter voice, he added, “I really don’t want you affected by the shit going on around me. If I can shield you from that, I will.”

  She bit her lip. The notion of him wanting to protect her was her Achilles’ heel when it came to Gear. “I can protect myself.”

  “I know.” He reached for her hand and squeezed it, and didn’t let go. “But you shouldn’t have to.” He tugged her hand to his lap and kept their hands joined. “Besides, if my father finds out I didn’t watch out for his new favorite chick, he’ll pound me into tomorrow.”

  She glanced at him. “Would he really hit you?”

  “Would and did. When I told him I was doing the TV show, we had a knockout fight.”

  She gaped. “Seriously? Like, you really hit each other?”

  “It’s out of love. And he didn’t beat me too badly.” Gear shrugged. “It’s honestly more like wrestling, with a few body blows thrown in for good measure. Love taps, according to Otis.” He chuckled. “My family is a little different than yours. And my relationship with Otis is…challenging. I love my dad, but he’s a brawler, and proud of it. Me, he tosses around, because he knows I can take it and he’s careful not to do too much damage. Plus I hit back. I could give a shit he’s twenty-plus years older. But he doesn’t do it all that much anymore. Well, not usually. He used to try the same with Thor a long time ago, but Thor’s more like Mom.”

  “What about your sister?”

  “No way. My dad has never and will never hurt a woman. Or a kid. A guy? Sure. His son? Only out of love.” Gear rubbed his chin. “Bastard knocked me sideways the last time he thought I was ruining my life.” Gear sighed. “Turned out he was right.”

  “Bullshit.”

  Gear turned in his seat to face her, keeping his hand locked around hers. “What?”

  “You didn’t ruin anything. We are who we are by the choices we make. So you got screwed over by your friends. You learned. Now you’ll be more cautious in the future. And if you’re not, you’re a moron.”

  “Thanks. That means a lot coming from you,” he said drily.

  “What does that mean?”

  He kissed the back of her hand, startling her. Heat built from that tiny caress. “It means you let some bozo from many years ago make you cautious. But hey, his loss, my gain.”

  “Huh?”

  “Adrian. You remember. Huge douche? Cheated on you?”

  “I know who he is, Harrison.”

  He sighed. “I hate that name.”

  She wanted to be angrier about him judging her, but his disgust made her laugh instead. “Anyone ever call you Harry?”

  “Once. Then they died.”

  “Uh-huh. So, your point?”

  “Adrian of the tiny dick hurt you, so you hide yourself behind your tough-chick persona. Though it’s not really a persona; it’s you. You’re tough, but you’re sweet. It takes a man like me to see that.”

  “Like you? What kind of man are you?” Damn him for seeing through her.

  He stroked her hand with his thumb, and she had thoughts about pulling over and riding him until they both came. So wrong to be so infatuated and obsessed with the man’s body. Hell. With Gear, the man.

  “I’m a regular guy who loves motorcycles, my family, and having a good time. I want a life without drama. Friends I can rely on, and a steady diet of orgasms, beer, and pizza in my life.”

  “Hmm. That’s a pretty good list.”

  “I know.” He smiled and kissed her hand again.

  “Screw it.” She pulled off the road and parked behind a bunch of trees, shielded from the road.

  “Sadie?”

  Before she thought too hard about what she planned to do, she unbuckled her seat belt. “Get in the back. I have something to say to you, and I need to look at you, face-to-face, when I do.”

  He met her in the backseat, wary. “I—”

  God, he was hot. His frown, that dark stubble on his face, those blazing eyes… She leaned close and kissed him.

  In the seconds it took him to unfreeze, she’d unfastened his jeans, pulled down his zipper, and taken him out.

  “What the fuck—” He groaned as she leaned down and took him in her mouth. While sucking him off, she awkwardly shimmied out of her shoes, jeans, and panties.

  Once free of restriction, she straddled him, taking him inside her in one swift, downward plunge.

  “Christ, car sex.” He stared into her eyes as he guided her faster, up and down over his long, fat cock. “You’re gorgeous. So fuckin’ hot.”

  He yanked her close by her hair and kissed her, nipping her lip.

  The shock of pain triggered the wildness inside her that needed an outlet. She came hard, squeezing him, as he filled her the way no one ever had.

  “Gonna come,” he warned and started to push her up off him.

  But she tightened her grip and eased back down. “No. Inside me.”

  “But—”

  “In me,” she said breathlessly and kissed him again.

  He moaned, dragged her over him, grinding inside her, and then pumped once more and climaxed.

  His tortured expression eased as she drained him of his seed.

  She felt so much satisfaction in taking his control. Like she mattered on a level far deeper than the physical.

  “Sadie.” He sighed, then kissed her, now stroking her hips as he started to soften inside her. “So…”

  “So,” she repeated, and ran her hands through his hair.

  He closed his eyes and leaned in to her, setting his forehead against hers. After a moment, he pulled back and stared into her eyes.

  “So…?” she prodded gently, feeling at peace with the world as she hadn’t in…well, forever.

  “Twins are a possibility, huh?”

  She froze. Babies? “Um, I, well…” She flushed. “Not in my family.” She sounded hoarse, the gravity of what they’d done shocking her to silence.

  But Gear wouldn’t have it. He kissed her, melting her fears into meaningless nothings.

  He trailed his mouth behind her ear and teased with tiny kisses.

  And reality returned, if just for a moment. “Not the right time of the month,” she said. “Should be…ah, yeah.” His fingers found her clit, and he played with her, rousing her lust once more, this time tempered with deeper affection for the man she didn’t want to be without. “You’re really good at sex.”

  He chuckled, still inside her. “Yeah, I am. But you make it so much better.” He kissed his way to her mouth. “Safe, huh? Enough for a second go?”

  No. She shouldn’t chance it. “Probably not.”

  “You’re right.” He urged her to rock faster over him while continuing to rub her clit. “We shouldn’t do this.”

  “No,” she moaned, clenching his neck as she plastered her mouth to his and sucked his breath away.

  They didn’t stop until they’d both come again. And no matter how much Sadie knew she’d made a mistake—twice—she couldn’t bring herself to regret one second of her time with a man she’d started to fall hard for.

  “I’m an idiot.”

  He groaned and hugged her tight. “That makes two of us.” After some time, he asked, making no move to separate from her, “Do we still need to go to the gym? I mean, we just worked out.”

  She smiled and kissed his chest. “Yeah. No getting out of gym night. Don’t worry. You’ll like it. You’ll see.”

  “Only with you, Xena.” He kissed the top of her head.

  Oh yeah. She was toast.

  Chapter 11

  “I said I’m sorry,” Elliot apologized for the fourth time that afternoon.

  Though it had been a few days since the water incident
at the festival, Elliot hadn’t calmed down enough to talk to Sadie like a real person until that afternoon.

  “Oh? Could you be more specific?” she asked, her voice like ice. Hmm, ice. Maybe they should add some abominable snowman cupcakes to the menu. Frozen continued to be popular costume inspiration, for the kids at least, according to the stores carrying so many Elsa and Anna dresses.

  Elliot groaned. “Look. I had a legitimate reason to be upset. If we get sued, we’re screwed. But you’re right. I shouldn’t have cursed you out like that.”

  “Yeah, like that bothered me.”

  “Okay. I know. It was the not talking to you for two days. Immature, and I apologize. Again.”

  “But then, you are my little brother. I should have anticipated you’d act like a baby about it.”

  Elliot ground his teeth. “I’m. Sorry.”

  “Do you mean it?”

  His sputtering turned to wild laughter. “God, you’re annoying. No wonder you and the motorcycle god get along so well.”

  She smirked. She and Gear spent every day together in some way. Though their relationship was new, if she could even call it a relationship, she loved every second of it. She was never bored with Gear around. Even when he annoyed her, because he had a thing about taking control of her TV remote at her apartment, he amused her.

  “So are you guys an item now or what?”

  She shrugged. She’d gone to the clinic to get on birth control on Monday. And though she should be more nervous about what she’d done with Gear, it felt right. Even now, she had no regrets. Weird, but there it was.

  “We are what we are, Elliot. Why do you need to label it?”

  He sighed. “You are so in denial. But God forbid I say how glad I am you have a boyfriend I like. Fine. We’ll call him your fun buddy. How’s that?”

  “Easier to swallow than fuck buddy, I guess.” She waited for Elliot to jump on swallow.

  He cleared his throat. “Not touching that one at all. Because the thought makes me ill. Seriously, violently sick.”

  “Thanks, Bro.” Sadie grinned. “Now tell me how thankful you are that I’m a crazy woman who attacks reporters.” He looked like he’d swallowed a lemon, and she laughed. “We’ve been packed since Sunday, haven’t we?”