Are you coming back to bed, lover? Her voice echoed in his head along with images of her wearing only his blue plaid work shirt. Then he thought of the naked lust he’d seen in Andrew’s eyes this evening. Could he blame the guy? That tumbling hair curling around her shoulders, those guileless green eyes and sweet lips had been keeping him awake for several nights now. Only a wall separated them. How long could he be expected to ignore her when she cooked his meals, slept on his couch and filled his home with feminine energy that left him aching to touch her? Home. The word reverberated in his brain. He hadn’t been home in twelve years. He hadn’t felt at home anywhere in longer than that. His father’s disappointment in him had driven him away, and his own restless wanderlust had kept him adrift for too long. Now, in the space of a week, he’d begun to think of Bayerville as his town. He thought of these four small rooms as home, rather than just a place to store his stuff. Had Callie done that? Or was it just thirty creeping up on him, zapping his youthful exuberance and replacing it with a desire to belong somewhere? Today he’d actually caught himself calculating how many months of salary would make up a decent down payment on a starter house, a place with a deck out back for watching the sunset and a wood burning stove for those cold winter nights. He threw off his blankets and sat up. A battle raged within him for a moment, culminating in the decision to get up and open the bedroom door. He padded out into the living room where silver moonlight illuminated the stack of fliers Callie had made for Farley’s singles’ dance. Across the room, she lay bundled up on the couch, her breathing steady and deep, her lips parted. When his gaze fell on her, she stirred and opened her eyes.
`Nick?´ `Sorry I woke you. I couldn’t sleep.´ `What’s wrong?´ `I’m restless. I thought I’d watch TV for a while.Śhe smiled and stretched. `No big screen.´ He laughed. `Not even for a little while?´ `Nope.´ `Then I’ll have to watch the one I’ve got. Why don’t you go sleep in the bed? It’s all right. It’s yours tonight. I’ll stay out here.Śhe bit her lower lip as she sat up, obviously gauging his sincerity. Finally she rose, shedding the blanket. Tonight she wore white, a flowing satin top that left her legs bare. He wondered, if he reached for her, would she disappear? `All right. Just for tonight.Śhe yawned and slipped into the bedroom. He listened to the creak of the old bedsprings as she lay down, and his heart thudded. He’d gotten her into his bed. Now all he had to do was figure out a way to get her to invite him to join her there.
Chapter Sixteen
`Hey, Garrett! Your girlfriend is here.´ When John called his name, Nick looked up from the delicate task of reloading a nail gun. He glanced across the bustling construction site to where Callie, in her blinding pink coat, stood on the steps of the office trailer with an armful of fliers. Teresa had joined her, and it looked as though the two women were sharing a private joke. `She’s not my ´ Nick’s protest died. Not his girlfriend. She lived with him. Cooked for him and slept in his bed. He’d made excuses each night for almost a week now so she’d trade him for the couch, and his back had begun to protest. He still hadn’t brought himself to suggest they share the bed, and he’d begun to wonder where all this gentlemanly patience had come from. `I’ll be right back,´ he told John and strode across the busy site. Callie and Teresa waved when he approached. `What are you doing here?´ `I came to see if anyone needed help with their personal ads during lunch.Ćallie juggled the stack of papers in her hand and pulled out a sheet. `Here’s mine. SWF seeks broad-shouldered man of mystery for lazy Sunday drives and breakfast in bed.´ Teresa laughed. `Broad-shouldered man of mystery? Where can I get one of those?´ `I’m sure we can find you one also.Ćallie handed the secretary a blank sheet. `Today’s not really a good day. Most of us are skipping lunch to get caught up on things.´ Nick hated to send Callie away, but the atmosphere around the site was tense. More accidents and setbacks had left John in a bearish mood. Teresa sighed. `Nick’s right. It’s been lousy around here this week. All John does is glare at everyone and shout into his cell phone. Why don’t you leave some of the fliers? I’ll make sure the guys who want to go to the party get their copies filled out.Ćallie covered her disappointment with a smile. `Okay. How about if I call you later, Teresa? Maybe you could let me know how many of the guys plan to come. Andrew needs to know how much food to make.´ `Okay. I’ll definitely be there, and my girlfriend from Philadelphia is coming with me. She thought it sounded like a blast.´ `It will be! Be sure to tell everyone if they can’t come up with costumes, they can wear their hard hats and tool belts. The ladies love a man who knows how to handle his tools.Ćallie winked, and Teresa giggled. Nick just rolled his eyes. Costumes, too? This party was already more trouble than it was worth. `Bye, Nick.Ćallie waved as Teresa took the stack of fliers and went back into her office. He waited until Teresa had shut the trailer door against the escalating construction noise and reached for Callie’s hand. `I’ll see you at home,´ he said, squeezing her fingers. `I wish you could stay a while, but it’s just not a good day.´ `That’s all right. I’ve got to go help Hayden and Andrew make the decorations.´ Nick bristled at the mention of Farley’s brother. Andrew had even offered to drive Callie home the other night. It bothered Nick that Andrew was so obviously trying to move in on Callie when everyone knew she lived with Nick. The reality of their relationship aside, he felt the need to make sure the younger Farley understood Callie was off limits. `Be careful walking across the lot. We had a sinkhole open up this morning by the curb.Ćallie nodded. `I will. Bye.´ He watched her leave, knowing she’d pop safely back to Farley’s as soon as she was out of sight of the construction crew. That knowledge did nothing to lessen his concern, though, and he wondered why. As a three hundred-thirty year old, wasn’t she capable of watching out for herself? `He hasn’t filled out an ad yet,´ Hayden whispered to Callie mid-shift. `He says he might not write one.Ćallie glanced up at the subject of Hayden’s unrest. Andrew stood behind the bar, a line of shot glasses arrayed before him. Half a dozen women clustered around him, smiling and vying for his attention. Hayden looked pale. `It’s not like he needs to or anything,śhe said. `But how can I pick him if he’s not one of the pickings?´ `Don’t worry. I’ll see if I can talk him into it. Ted’s written at least six for himself and he can’t decide which one to use.´ Hayden slid a sidelong glance toward the elder Farley. `I helped Diane write hers already. What if he doesn’t bite?´ `We’ll make sure he does. Hey, are you feeling all right?´ Hayden swiped a hand across her waxen features and forced a brittle smile. `I’m just really tired.´ `Why don’t you go home? The night’s almost over. I can handle the rest of the shift.´ `No! I want Andrew to walk me out again like he did last night. He was so sweet. He even opened my car door for me.´ Hayden’s eyes once again took on a dreamy glaze, and Callie sighed. One-sided love made her wings ache, but she could do nothing about it. This match just wasn’t meant to be. `Well, if you won’t go home, then take a break and rest, all right? You don’t want to get sick and miss the party.´ Hayden nodded and left Callie contemplating Andrew. The more she observed him, the more she realized Nick had a point. Her Fae instincts told her he was looking for true love but wasn’t above sampling the smorgasbord constantly offered to him. He’d already tucked half a dozen cocktail napkins into the front pocket of his jeans, each bearing the phone number of an interested female. Maybe Andrew had taken lessons from Nick. `I need a Sloe Gin Fizz and a Red Baron,śhe said, happy to interrupt Andrew’s harem shots. `What’s in a Red Baron?´ he whispered with an innocent shrug. `Rumple Minze and Cinnamon Schnapps,´ Farley piped up. `I’ll get it. You take care of the gin.´ While Callie waited for the drinks and Andrew’s gaggle of admirers dissipated, she trained her intuitive gaze on him. `I hear you don’t want to play our personals game tomorrow night.´ `Ah, I’ll be too busy with the food.´ `I’m sure there are plenty of ladies who won’t mind waiting for you.Ás he poured club soda and gin in a glass, Andrew leaned on the bar and smiled. `Does that include you?Ćallie ignored the innuendo in his tone. `It might just include the girl of
your dreams. Why not give it a shot?Ándrew laughed. `Hayden says you’re good at writing those ads. Why don’t you fill one in for me?´ `Hmm, how about«µif you can stand the heat, come into my kitchen and we’ll cook up something hot’?´ Andrew broke into a wide grin. `You are good. All right. I’m in.´ `I knew I could convince you.Ćallie took the drinks that Andrew and Farley set on her tray and walked away, well aware of Andrew’s gaze following her through the crowd. She felt sneaky, and for the first time in her long life, she didn’t like it. She forced herself to remember that if her plans worked, in just over forty-eight hours, she and Nick might have matched their three couples and be done with Freya’s punishment well before the night of the Oak Moon in December. Then she could return home and go back to enjoying her sneakiness. `You’re not wearing that .Ćallie’s pronouncement came with the prompt disappearance of Nick’s jeans, work shirt, tool belt and freshly polished hard hat. He looked down at his underwear, which was all that remained of his `costume´, and gaped. `Hey!´ `I told everyone you’d be wearing something sexy and mysterious.Ćallie paced around his half-naked form, hands on her hips. `You’re not wearing your work clothes.´ `But you told the guys on the crew they could dress like that. Why can’t I?´ `I told them that because it’s been my experience that a horn dog without access to a decent costume shop will do one of two things when invited to a masquerade. He will dress as a caveman or Cupid. Hayden and I do not want to spend the evening serving drinks to Neanderthals and hairy men in diapers.´ `You prefer boxer shorts?´ Nick silently thanked the heavens he hadn’t opted for bikini briefs today. Callie gave him a wicked grin. `On you? No.´ He was about to suggest she strip down to her own skivvies and they go to the party as underwear models when she yelled, `Aha!Á split second later, he stood before his bedroom mirror in a razor sharp black tuxedo and a high collared cape. A form-fitting white mask covered half his face and a blood-red rose decorated his lapel. `Phantom of the Opera.Ćallie glowed with satisfaction, and Nick had to admit he looked pretty good. He hadn’t worn a tux since his senior prom, and while he didn’t miss the tight cummerbund and dorky bow tie, this outfit made him look exactly like the man in Callie’s personal ad, and he liked that. `Not bad, Tink.´ `Not bad? You’re hot! You’ll have to beat the women off with a stick.´ Nick straightened his collar. `I can deal with that. Now what about you?´ `Voila!Ín the blink of an eye, she stood before him in the very outfit she’d just forbade him to wear.
Her curls spilled from under a yellow hard hat, and a heavy tool belt slanted across her jean-clad hips. `Hey! That’s not fair.´ `Just kidding.´ Before Nick could tell her she looked adorable, she changed again, into a faerie. A diaphanous dress of green gauze floated around her, the jagged hem swirling around her knees. A garland of ivy and small pink flowers wove through her hair, and a set of gossamer green wings sprouted from her back. Nick stopped breathing and stared. `They’re not real,śhe whispered. Nick regained his voice when she showed him the thin elastic straps that held her fake wings in place on her mostly bare back. `Real or not, you look beautiful.Śhe dropped her head, blushing, and gave him a demure grin. `Thank you. So do you.´ Nick offered her his arm, battling the instinct to sweep his cape around her and spirit her away to a secret lair where she would belong only to him forever. The Phantom of legend couldn’t be blamed for wanting his lady love all to himself if she looked half as delicious as Callie did tonight. `I just hope this works,śhe murmured as they headed for the door.
`I don’t see how it can’t,´ Nick said as he led her outside into the chill autumn evening. I’m half in love already. Nick and Callie arrived at Farley’s to find the bar transformed into an autumn wonderland. Callie’s pumpkin sat in the center of the bar surrounded by orange votive candles and sprays of brilliant foliage and fall berries. Every table bore an orange, red or gold tablecloth and a glowing red hurricane lamp. Streamers full of autumn leaves dangled overhead billowing in the air currents caused by a small ceiling-mounted fan behind the bar. Costumed patrons packed the main room. Everyone wore masks, including Andrew, whose caveman outfit made him an instant hit with every female guest. Farley himself wore full Dracula regalia and a black mask. His false fangs gave him a lisp, though, and not long after their arrival Callie saw him stick the plastic teeth into the back of the cash drawer. Hayden glowed in pink taffeta as a fairy tale princess, and Callie recognized Teresa Fiora immediately as a cat girl dressed in an orange striped body suit and mask, complete with tiger’s ears and a long tail. John Burns still hadn’t shown up by the time the guests had made their first assault on the overflowing buffet table in the back room.
Diane slipped in mid-evening, dressed as a gypsy, her blond hair hidden under a long black wig and her face concealed by an elaborate jeweled mask. Hayden helped her find a table far from the bar where Farley would be less likely to notice her. Callie left Nick at a table near the jukebox and helped Hayden set up for reading the personal ads. Her real wings fluttered restlessly as each guest handed in their form and received a number. With nearly sixty people in attendance, she hoped at least three of the thirty couples they’d pair up tonight would be able to find true love. Hayden shuffled all the papers, then handed the first ad to Callie, who read it to the anxious crowd. `If you like breakfast in bed and cozy winter nights by the lake, I’m the man for you. Just call out my number, forty-two.Áfter a buzz of conversation, a woman in a vixen red devil outfit raised her hand. `I’ll take forty-two!´ `Here I am, sweetheart!Á man dressed as a monk waved to his new partner, and they paired off, laughing at the irony of their mismatched costumes. Callie read the next ad, which united Raggedy Ann and a chimney sweep. The next brought Catfish, dressed as a sailor, together with a petite red head in a scarecrow outfit. Callie beamed when she recognized the woman as the lonely heart in the white sweater she’d seen on her very first visit to Farley’s. She and Catfish looked like a perfect pair. By the time Callie had read half the ads, the room was filled with happy couples. `I’m on the prowl for the perfect mate. I’m a night owl in search of a date. If you’re interested, call number thirty-eight.´ `I didn’t know we had so many aspiring poets out there!Ćallie laughed, glad that so many people had gotten into the spirit of the evening and were having fun. `I’ll take thirty-eight!Ándrew said, and several of the remaining single women moaned. Hayden’s bright smile faded when Teresa jumped up from her table near the center of the room. Callie’s jaw dropped when the secretary, transformed by her revealing cat suit and mask, sashayed toward the bar under Andrew’s appreciative gaze. `What happened?´ Hayden whimpered in Callie’s ear. `I don’t know. That wasn’t supposed to be,Ćallie replied, wishing she could use the magick of her real wings to ease the pain of Hayden’s bruised feelings. She didn’t see John anywhere, and apparently Teresa didn’t miss him all that much. She seemed thrilled to have snagged Andrew in his faux fur tunic complete with plastic dinosaur femur club and a tooth necklace. With a sigh, Callie picked up the next ad, which she recognized as Diane’s. She concentrated all her thoughts on Farley, wishing she had the power to force him to choose the perfect woman. `If you’ve looked for love in all the wrong places, and you’re tired of a sea of unfamiliar faces, call lucky number seven for a one-way trip to heaven.´ `Lucky seven? That’s my number!´ Farley grabbed the paper from her hand and Callie sighed with relief. Whatever powers Freya had let her command had worked. The sultry gypsy walked up to the bar, and Farley winked at his prize. With their masks still in place, though, he had no idea he’d chosen his runaway waitress for his date. Later, Hayden managed a sulky smile when a masked fireman chose her number. The rest of the matching went smoothly, and once everyone had paired off, Catfish and his new lady friend took to the dance floor and began organizing a reel. Before Andrew dialed up the music on the jukebox, Farley tapped on a glass to get everyone’s attention. `I know it’s early, but now that you’re all paired up, you can take off your masks if you want to. Don’t forget to stop by the buffet table for dessert.´ The music started and couples coalesced on
the dance floor. Callie slipped away from the festivities and found Hayden in the back room where Andrew had set up the evening’s second feast. The heartbroken princess held a chocolate truffle in each hand. `Your date is waiting by the bar,Ćallie said with a hopeful smile. `Why don’t you go say hello?´ `I don’t want to go out there.´ Misery clouded Hayden’s dark eyes. `It’s only for one night. You’ll see Andrew at work next week, and he’ll probably have forgotten all about Cat Girl.´ Hayden stuffed a truffle into her mouth and handed the other to Callie. `It’s easy for you to talk. You have Nick.´ `I don’t have Nick.Á dark cape swept over her shoulders, and Callie’s protest ended in a surprised squeal. Nick pulled her against him, settling his hands on her hips. `Why are you hiding back here? Let’s dance.´ His breath warmed her ear, and her heart skipped a beat. `We have a minor crisis. I’ll be right out.Ćallie turned in Nick’s arms and gave him a pointed look. He glanced over her shoulder at Hayden and nodded. `Go with Nick, Callie. I don’t want to be a wet blanket.Ćallie steered Nick out of the back room, then turned back to Hayden. `Then don’t be. Go out there and have a good time. Show Andrew what you’re all about. And give me another truffle.Ćallie stuffed another ball of rich chocolate into her mouth and offered a third to Hayden. `Have some chocolate for courage first. These are wonderful!´ `Everything Andrew makes is wonderful. He’s wonderful. He’s perfect for me,´ Hayden said, licking her fingers. Callie gave Hayden a stern look. `Stop wallowing. You look stunning tonight. Fireman man might be even more perfect for you than Andrew, but you’ll never know until you go out there and meet him.´ `Ugh. All right. I’m going.´ Fortified with one more truffle, Hayden left the room. Callie stole two more of the decadent sweets from the table and reveled in the flavor. She hadn’t enjoyed anything so much in decades.
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