All I Want for Halloween

by Marie Harte

  “I don’t know. Maybe blue.” Gear hadn’t stopped thinking about Sadie, wondering if she’d liked his gifts. He also wondered if her dad had been talking her out of giving him a chance, and it killed him not to storm over there and demand they speak. He had one more day before he’d decided to stop giving her time apart. “Before I commit, I need to think on it. Can you email me a copy of that?” When she nodded, he realized he had a new reason to see Sadie. He wanted her opinion on Iris’s ideas.

  Iris narrowed her eyes at him. “You’re going to ask Sadie what she thinks, aren’t you?”

  He flushed, wishing he wasn’t so easy to read. “Maybe.”

  Smoke asked, “Who’s Sadie?”

  “A good friend of mine.”

  Iris smiled. “Gear’s in lurrvvve.”

  “I’m not afraid to put you in a headlock,” he warned her.

  “Yeah, right.” She looked up at Smoke. “Don’t mind him. He’s turned all caveman on us lately.”

  “Lately?” Smoke snorted. “Dude has been straight up Neanderthal since I met him.”

  Gear just stared.

  “What?”

  “You’re awfully chatty today. Like, we’re having conversations that don’t involve engines. You feeling okay?”

  Smoke shrugged. “I didn’t like the vibe at the old place once the network jumped on. Negative atmosphere. I didn’t want to add to it.”

  Iris nodded, approving. “Yes. You really can feel the difference, can’t you? Gear is now positive. With Sahara, he was nothing but bad energy.”

  “Totally bad,” Smoke said, somehow with a straight face.

  “Yeah, well, if I don’t get back with Sadie soon, I’m gonna be full of bad energy.” Gear sighed. “Now let’s see if Joaquin’s ready to place an order. He called this morning. Iris, let me know how long it’ll take you to put together a new brand package like the first one you did for me. Oh, and I need two costumes for tomorrow night. One for me and one for Sadie.”

  “You’re just telling me this now?” She fumed. “I do have a life, you know.”

  “Sorry. I meant to tell you last week, but then a lot of stuff went down.”

  She patted his arm, her sympathy more than welcome. “A week is still not much time to get things ready, but I figured you’d need my help so I set some things aside. I know you’re having a hard time, sweetie. Sure, I’ll help.” She turned to Smoke. “You should come too. My parents throw a big Halloween party each year. Friends and family. And if you’re going to continue to be a part of all this, then that makes you family.”

  “Yep.” Gear slapped Smoke on the back. “It’s a costume party. Mandatory dress-up.”

  “Hell.”

  “I could try to find you something to wear,” Iris offered. “Maybe. You’re pretty big, aren’t you?”

  Gear shot Smoke a look, and the big guy choked down the inappropriate response Gear could see on his face.

  “Yep. Like, six-five.”

  “Wow.” Iris put her things back into her bag, then tugged Smoke with her. “Bye, Gear. See you tomorrow night at the party. Come on, Smoke. You come with me.”

  “Yes, ma’am.” He grinned at Gear. “Later, boss.”

  “Touch her and die,” he warned.

  To which Iris said, “Ignore him.”

  “I normally do,” Smoke quipped.

  The shop emptied, leaving Gear to his thoughts. As usual, they dwelled on Sadie. He locked up, still not sure what to do about her. He had nothing but time, yet he hated waiting when he could be proactive. He’d send her another gift tomorrow. He had no idea if she’d liked his gifts, because she hadn’t texted or called, and he’d been trying to give her the “space” she wanted.

  Man, he hated that fucking word.

  He pulled into his driveway and entered the house, then froze at the low sound of music coming from the back.

  He dropped his notepad and keys and tossed his jacket on the couch, then followed the chill alt rock music upstairs. His pulse raced, and he prayed Sadie had used her key.

  “Hello?” He got no response. “Sadie?”

  When she didn’t answer, his imagination went into overdrive. What if it wasn’t Sadie? What if Brian or Sahara had managed to get in, and the music was to cover their eventual murder scheme? Something similar had happened just the previous night on true crime TV.

  He frowned, thinking he should have kept his baseball bat in the house for protection instead of shoving it in a sports locker in the garage. He walked cautiously, peering into the bedroom but seeing it dark.

  “Huh.”

  He still heard music. Wary, he followed it to the media room and saw Sadie kicked back on the couch engrossed in a horror movie while also listening to music. Strange and perfect. And so very Sadie.

  She looked good. Her hair was down over a long-sleeved Seahawks tee. She wore jeans and some fuzzy socks, and he thought about yanking her to him and never letting go.

  “Hey.” Brilliant beginning. He wanted to smack himself.

  She started and sat up, her hair sliding like silk over her face. She pushed it back and blew out a breath. “Oh my God. I thought you were the devil.” On-screen, Satan was devouring someone’s guts.

  “Well, I was at one time, if you remember.”

  She grinned. “That’s true.” She looked him over as intently as he studied her. “You look tired.”

  “Thanks. You look great.”

  “I know.”

  He chuckled, trying to figure out how to play it. Cool, easy. No point in scaring her away again. “Nice of you to finally fucking stop by.” Great job, Gear. The anger was supposed to keep.

  She raised a brow. “I’d think you’d be happy to see me.”

  “I am.” He shoved his hands in his pockets, trying to get it together. “So, ah, what brought you by?”

  She frowned. “Are you in love with me?”

  He blinked. “What?”

  “I asked if you’re in love with me. Do. You. Love. Me?”

  He shrugged, his heart hammering so hard it threatened to pound through his chest. “So what if I am?” Did she expect him to just lay his heart on the line while she watched in judgment and debated trampling it? Could he keep it to himself any longer? Shit, no. “Fuck, you know I am.”

  She flushed. “How do I know?”

  “I told you. At Jameson’s Gym. Then you ran away.”

  “I was going to the treadmill to work out.”

  “Bullshit. We don’t lie to each other, so let’s not start now. I scared you. Admit it.” He took his hands out of his pockets and ran his fingers through his hair. His nerves were jumping all over the place, because he knew, deep down, that this would be a defining moment in his relationship with Sadie. Where he either got the girl or fucked everything up.

  Sadie blew out a breath. “Fine. You scared me.”

  “I knew it. I said it too soon. I didn’t mean to, but—”

  “BecauseIwasfeelingthesamething” came out in a rush.

  He stared, not sure he’d heard right. “Huh?”

  She glared at him. “You heard me. I was freaking out because you said what I’d been feeling. I mean, my track record with guys isn’t great. I wasn’t looking for a relationship, you know. Just a quick bang at the party. Then you snuck your way into my heart.” To his shock, her eyes were bright with unshed tears.

  “Sadie?”

  “Shut up. I need to say this.”

  He waited, wanting to hug her and kiss her and tell her it would all work out.

  “I really loved Adrian. I know it was a while ago, but he broke my heart. Ever since, I’ve dated losers or guys that just didn’t do it for me. Then there’s you.

  “You’re coarse, obnoxious, have baggage out the ass, and gave me your friggin’ key.” She sniffed and seemed obliviou
s to the tear tracking down one cheek. “I fell hard for you from the beginning. And I didn’t want to. But damn it. Everything we do is, like, the same. You’re as boring as I am.”

  He grinned. “And I hate people.”

  “Yeah. I love that about you.” She smiled and wiped her cheeks. “When we were together in the car, just us without protection, I…” She turned bright red.

  “Sadie, tell me. Remember, it’s us. We don’t play games.”

  She nodded. “And we don’t lie to each other. So the truth is, when we didn’t use a condom, I wanted a baby. And before you tell me I sound psycho, I know I sound psycho. It’s not like I want to get pregnant right now or anything.”

  “Man, are you red.” He didn’t know how to feel about her wanting his kid. Alarmed was the correct word, what he should have felt, but ecstatic came to mind instead.

  She glared. “I feel like an idiot. I’m not a Madnezz groupie wanting to carry the mighty Gear Blackstone’s love child. I’m a normal woman who wants a husband and family, but not while the world looks on. I’m not a fan of the TV show, Gear.”

  “Yeah, I get that.” He was dying to hold her. “Can I hug you now?”

  “No.” She fought a smile. “Idiot. I’m trying to tell you I was baby-crazy for you, and you want to hug me? A normal guy would be running for the door. I barely know you and I love you. That’s insane.”

  He said, “Screw it,” and dragged her close for a big hug. “Sadie, I love you too. So much. It’s crazy. Makes no sense. Shouldn’t be. But there it is.”

  She hugged him back as tightly. Then they kissed, and everything was right with the world.

  Sadie caressed his nape, and he shivered. “I don’t know how, but you get me. I just worry that I won’t be enough for you. Gear, I want to get married and have kids. I don’t want a billion dollars, a hit TV show, or a cookbook deal. I just want to do what I’m doing with the man I love.”

  “And what’s wrong with that?” he asked. “The TV show was a fluke. All I ever wanted to do was build bikes. So, to kind of quote you, ‘I just want to do what I’m doing with the woman I love.’ You’re that woman. I can’t understand it. You didn’t want a relationship? I sure the hell didn’t. My best friend and my fiancée royally fucked me over. I spent two months before you wanting to kick both their asses and had to settle for kicking Brian’s. Women. Nothing but trouble, I thought.”

  He kissed her again. “And I was right. You are nothing but trouble. I can see I’m going to have to up my workouts or get fat. And I’ll have to keep an eye on you to keep you out of fights.” He brought her closer, so that she couldn’t possibly miss his erection. “Do you have any idea how hard you make me? All the time, baby. When you’re smiling, laughing, being tough. I want to be with you, because you bring me joy.” He wiped her cheeks. “And no offense, but you’re an ugly crier. And I’m still hard and can’t stop staring at you.”

  “Oh. Stop.” She chuckled. “Yeah, well, you’re no prince. I’m constantly measured against perfect Sahara. And we both know I’m not nearly as pretty as she is.”

  “Nope. She was gorgeous.”

  She glared. “Not helping.”

  “But you’re beautiful. With my eyes open or closed, you’re the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen. She’s nothing but a memory, and a bad one at that.” He brought her hand between them and kissed it. “It won’t always be easy, you and me. But I like when we argue. And I know I can trust you. That might not mean much to most people, but to me it’s everything.”

  She nodded. “Me too.”

  “No games.”

  She shook her head.

  “I want it all with you. Marriage, kids, us living together. But maybe not in that order, because you look ready to pass out.”

  She laughed, tucked her head into his chest, and groaned. “Man, I think you’re it for me. Like, if this get screwed up, I’m done. Forever.”

  “Yep. Me too.”

  “It’s all too soon.”

  “I agree.”

  “And I never gave you my key.”

  “You can keep it. You know, for storing your stuff that won’t fit in here.”

  She raised her head so fast they nearly collided. “You want me to live here? With you?”

  “No, I want you to live in my garage, chained to the floor where you’ll spend all day every day cleaning my tools.” He leered at her. She didn’t smile. “Of course I want you to live here, moron. I love you.”

  “But, uh…”

  “But, uh, what?”

  She expelled a heavy breath. “I like your kitchen. I’ll want to take over.”

  “Go for it.”

  “I might want to repaint your bedroom. I’m partial to blue.”

  “Go ahead.”

  She frowned. “What if I want to change other stuff?”

  He shrugged. “I don’t care. I just want you.”

  She sighed. “Man, you make it difficult to argue.” She sounded put out. “And I hate that I love your house. Because I’d want to live here even if you weren’t here. And I just know I probably like some of the parts Sahara designed.” She looked horrified by that idea.

  “So we’ll change them. The house is great.”

  “But the location sucks,” she pointed out.

  Wanting to cheer her up, he nodded. “It does if you work in Green Lake. Man, think of all the bitching you could do to and from work every day.”

  She smiled. “Yeah. You’d really owe me if I moved in with you.”

  He kissed her, this time giving her something more to think about with his lips and tongue. When they broke apart, they were both panting. “I’m gonna want more, Sadie. Like, sex all the time. The right to show you off to my friends. Well, to Smoke. He’s a friend and going to be working at the garage. And you’ll have to deal with Iris wanting to be around you all the time. And Thor too. Orchid will do tarot readings for you, and Otis will probably ask you to spar, to see what you’re made of.”

  “I love your family.” She kissed him back, and he wanted nothing more than to get rid of her clothes. “My family loves you too.” She nibbled down his throat, and one of her hands found its way under his jeans.

  He sucked in a breath, then moaned. “Liar.”

  “Nah. My dad’s seen the light. He thinks you’ll be good for me.”

  “Can we not talk about him when—God. Stop or I’ll come. I missed you so much.”

  She kissed him. “Not more than I missed you.”

  “Is this a contest?” He walked them behind the couch, doing his best not to come as she pumped him with nimble fingers. Then he slid his jeans and underwear down and turned her around, her back to him.

  He wrapped his arms around her and kissed her neck until she turned her head, then he took her mouth. All the while, his busy hands made short work of her jeans and panties. Once he had them pushed down her legs, he bent her over.

  “I have wanted to do you like this forever. Right here, over this couch.”

  “Really?”

  He slid his fingers between her legs, then shoved a finger inside her.

  “Oh yeah. You’re ready.”

  She moaned in time with the horror movie on television. “So romantic…you devil.”

  On screen, a demon smiled at the woman in his clutches.

  Just as Gear looked down at his warrior princess. “Well, Xena, think you can handle me?”

  “You going to talk me to death or—Oh, damn.”

  He’d shoved home and loved her with thorough, brutal strokes. She came in seconds and took him with her. The sexiest, most pathetic sex they’d had to date.

  “Man, you’re like a two-second wonder,” she panted.

  “Back at ya, Ms. Easy.” He couldn’t see past the sparks going off in front of his eyes. “And I hate to tell you, but if you we
ren’t on birth control, that right there would have been a baby.”

  “We need more practice.”

  He withdrew and turned her around.

  “Hurry. I’m messy.”

  He chuckled. “I love you, Xena.”

  “I love you, Satan.”

  A round of evil laughter and screams came from the sound system before a burst of techno chill eased the vibe.

  They stared at each other and burst into laughter. “I’m so telling our kids about this one day,” Sadie said. “Well, minus the sex parts.”

  His heart too full, Gear could only nod and kiss her again. Our kids. The future had never looked so bright.

  Chapter 20

  “Now this is how you do Halloween,” Elliot announced as he stared around him at Gear’s parents’ place.

  Sadie nodded, her hand entwined with Gear’s. “Oh yeah. Gear, your parents are awesome.” She plucked at his lace sleeve and grinned. “And so is Iris.”

  He laughed. “If you say so. I don’t know what I think about my sister pairing us up as Lord and Queen of the Underworld. She’s got a fixation on me as the devil for some reason.”

  Elliot snorted. “Maybe because you’re leading my sister into sin?”

  “You should talk, Gabriel. What the hell?” Sadie flicked the angelic wings at Elliot’s back. “You are for sure no angel.”

  “Ah, my children.” Her father approached, with Rose and Joe by his side. He raised a brow at Gear. Sadie knew they’d had a talk late last night, and Gear seemed much more at ease about dealing with her dad now. “Ah, are you Hades or Pluto?”

  “Hades, I think. Iris prefers Greek over Roman.” Gear shrugged. “Not my call.”

  “Because the Greek gods are easier to recognize,” Sadie murmured, staring at her father. “Really, Dad? This is your costume?”

  He shrugged and held his plastic tommy gun by his shoulder. “You inspired me.”

  Elliot whispered in a loud voice, “He’s a genius. Pretending to be gangsta.”

  Rose gaped. “I knew it. I told you guys he wasn’t just an accountant.”

  “Rose, don’t get too excited.” Joe patted her belly.

  Sadie cringed. “I love that you guys are in a couples costume, but Raggedy Ann and Raggedy Andy having a baby kind of creeps me out.”