A Date for the Masquerade
Page 7
His hands snake around my waist. “So, you’re not mad at me?”
I shake my head. “Not in the least. I can’t believe you did what you did just to get close to me.”
Owen pulls me in closer to his body. “I didn’t know how else to approach you. I’m glad you figured out it was me.”
I stare in his eyes, knowing they aren’t really green. “It would’ve been much easier if you weren’t wearing contacts. You know I love your gray and golden eyes.”
Chuckling, he slides a hand away from my waist and takes out the contacts, his true color staring back at me. “Better?”
“Much.”
He glances down at my lips. “What happens now?”
I slide my hands up to his face. “Well, for starters you can kiss me.” He grips my waist and quickly turns me to where my back is against the elevator wall. His lips close over mine with an urgency that makes everything inside of me tighten. I want more…so much more.
“How was that?” he asks, murmuring the words against my lips.
My breath comes out in rapid pants. “Oh, that was just the beginning.” I reach over and press the button to start the elevator back up.
A few seconds later, the doors open and Owen smiles. “So, what’s next? This is my floor. I could give you a tour of my place.”
Taking his hand, I pull him out of the elevator. “Maybe tomorrow. Right now, I only want to see your bedroom.”
He unlocks his door and closes it behind us, pushing his arousal into my body. “Are you sure this is what you want?”
His words make me smile. He asked me the same question on both the nights we slept together. “Yes,” I murmur whole-heartedly. “I want this and so much more.” Picking me up in his arms, he carries me to his bedroom and lays me down on his bed, his body covering mine. I run a hand down his cheek and brush my thumb over his lips. “It’ll be nice seeing your face when we make love.”
He nips my thumb and smiles. “I’m glad you’re not disappointed it’s me.”
I shake my head. “You’re everything I could ever want, Owen. I’m happy it’s you.”
“Things aren’t going to be same after this. Are you ready for that?” He kisses me and slides a hand underneath my dress and up my thigh.
Goosebumps fan out over my skin and I tremble with anticipation. “As long as I have you, I’m ready for anything.”
~ Halloween Night – 1 Year Later ~
Trick or treaters have come and gone, and I’ve eaten so much chocolate I feel a sugar high coming on. The night is just getting started though.
“Want a glass of wine?” Owen calls out from the kitchen.
I get the TV ready and wave a hand in the air. “Yes. Just bring the whole bottle.”
Owen chuckles. “I can do that.”
He sets the bottle of wine on the coffee table beside my many empty wrappers of Kit Kat bars. There’s a whole bucket of candy on the table with various chocolate bars and I handpicked all the Kit Kats out. Owen sits down and hands me the glass of wine, his eyes focused on the candy.
“Please tell me you didn’t eat all of the Kit Kats?”
I knew it was his favorite candy bar so I ate some of them and hid the rest just to mess with him. “Did you want some?” I ask, feigning innocence.
Owen sits back on the couch, looking bummed. “Well, damn. Guess I’ll just eat the Twix.” He’s talked about eating Kit Kats all day long. It takes all I have not to burst out laughing.
Reaching behind the couch pillow, I pull out a handful of his favorite treat. “Here you go.”
I set them in his lap, and he smirks. “I knew you wouldn’t eat them all. You love me too much.”
“That I do. And I also learned from last year. I had no clue you loved Kit Kats so much.”
Owen kisses the side of my head. “It made you happy to eat them all, so I was fine not having any.” I had eaten them all and felt bad, even though he says he didn’t care. He just liked giving me a hard time. That’s why I remembered to buy extra ones for this year. They happen to be my favorite too and I wanted to make sure we had plenty.
Picking up the remote, I press play to get our DVD started. Last year, we spent Halloween night eating candy and watching Ghostbusters and The Monster Squad. We decided to do it again this year. Halloween will always hold a special place in our hearts; it’s turned into our favorite time of the year.
The theme song for the Ghostbusters comes on, but Owen grabs the remote and presses pause. I look at him and over at the TV. “Why’d you stop it?”
Owen sets the remote on the table and kneels in front of me, taking both of my hands in his. “Because there’s something I want to ask you.”
My heart starts to race. “What is it?”
There have been many times I thought he’d pop the big question, but it never happened. Not that I’m in a hurry, but we’ve been together for a year now. Maybe it’s because my business has grown exponentially and we’ve both been super busy. Not only do Jordan and I plan parties in North Carolina, but I’ve had clients fly us both out all over the country to plan them as well. Owen comes with me every time. We turn the trips into mini vacations. It’s been a whirlwind year and I’ve loved every minute of it.
Owen looks up at me with those gray eyes of his I can never seem to get enough of. He squeezes my hands and smiles. “I wanted to ask you if you’d mind planning another event for me. This one is going to be huge and might take a little extra work, but I’m hoping you’ll agree to do it.”
“Of course. What kind of party is it?”
He lets one of my hands go and reaches into his back pocket, pulling out an exquisite diamond ring. “Well, it’s more like a wedding.” Eyes wide, I gasp. He holds the ring up and takes a deep breath. “I wanted to do this months ago, but I wanted the timing to be right. Halloween was a special time for us last year and I thought this would make it even more memorable.”
Tears stream down my cheeks. “Oh my God. This is perfect.”
Owen nods. “That’s what I thought too. We started a tradition last year with the Ghostbusters and The Monster Squad. I want to do this exact thing every year from here on out. I want it to be our tradition. But I what I want most is to remember all these times with you being my wife. I can’t imagine it any other way.” He slides the ring onto my finger. “Please say yes.”
All of the emotions hit me at once. I want to cry, laugh, and dance all at the same time. I fling my arms around his neck and we both fall to the floor with me on top of him. “Yes,” I laugh. “You are completely and utterly stuck with me now.”
He winks. “I’m fine with that. Even if you are a Kit Kat thief.” He lifts a hand to my face and guides me down to his lips, kissing me gently. “Whenever you want to get married, I’m ready. Just name the date.”
“Tomorrow then,” I tease.
His eyes light up. “Let’s do it.”
I roll my eyes. As much as I’d love to get married quickly, it’s not what I’ve envisioned for myself. “Soon,” I reply. “I’m a party planner. My wedding is something I’ve dreamt of my entire life.”
“And I want it to be perfect,” he murmurs, caressing my cheek. “Then afterwards, we can start our family. I mean, come on, our Halloween tradition is amazing. What kid wouldn’t like binging classic movies all night?”
This makes me laugh. “Maybe until they get older and we’re not cool anymore. They’re not going to want to hang out with their parents on Halloween.”
Owen cups both my cheeks. “True, but at least, we’ll have each other. That’s all that matters.”
I press my lips to his. “Exactly.”
THE END
You’ve tasted some Food, ate some watermelon at the Fair, sailed the sea in Regatta, and been to a party or two in Masquerade. Get ready for some Turkey!
More Books from Heidi & L.P.
SOCIETY X
Dark Room
Viewing Room
Play Room
Also by
Heidi McLaughlin
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Forever My Girl – Beaumont Series #1
My Everything – Beaumont Series #1.5
My Unexpected Forever – Beaumont Series #2
Finding My Forever – Beaumont Series #3
Finding My Way – Beaumont Series #4
12 Days of Forever – Beaumont Series #4.5
My Kind of Forever – Beaumont Series #5
Forever Our Boys - Beaumont Series #5.5
The Beaumont Boxed Set - #1
THE BEAUMONT SERIES: NEXT GENERATION
Holding Onto Forever
My Unexpected Love
Chasing My Forever
Peyton & Noah
Fighting For Our Forever
CAPE HARBOR SERIES
After All
Until Then
THE ARCHER BROTHERS
Here with Me
Choose Me
Save Me
LOST IN YOU SERIES
Lost in You
Lost in Us
THE BOYS OF SUMMER
Third Base
Home Run
Grand Slam
Hawk
THE REALITY DUET
Blind Reality
Twisted Reality
SOCIETY X
Dark Room
Viewing Room
Play Room
THE CLUTCH SERIES
Roman
STANDALONE NOVELS
Stripped Bare
Blow
Sexcation
HOLIDAY NOVELS
Santa’s Secret
It’s a Wonderful Holiday
Also by L.P. Dover
SECOND CHANCES SERIES
Love’s Second Chance
Trusting You
What He Wants
(Trusting You Prequel)
Meant for Me
Fighting for Love
Intercepting Love
Catching Summer
Defending Hayden
Last Chance
Intended for Bristol
ARMED & DANGEROUS SERIES
No Limit
Roped In
High-Sided
CIRCLE OF JUSTICE SERIES
Trigger
Target
Aim
In the Crossfire
ARMED & DANGEROUS/CIRCLE OF JUSTICE CROSSOVER SERIES
Dangerous Game
Dangerous Betrayals
Book 3 - TBD
Book 4 – TBD
GLOVES OFF SERIES
A Fighter’s Desire
Part One
A Fighter’s Desire
Part Two
Tyler’s Undoing
Ryley’s Revenge
Winter Kiss: Ryley and Ash
Paxton’s Promise
Camden’s Redemption
Kyle’s Return
SOCIETY X SERIES W/HEIDI MCLAUGHLIN
Dark Room
Viewing Room
Play Room
FOREVER FAE SERIES
Forever Fae
Betrayals of Spring
Summer of Frost
Reign of Ice
ROYAL SHIFTERS SERIES
Turn of the Moon
Resisting the Moon
Rise of the Moon – Coming Soon
BREAKAWAY SERIES
Hard Stick
Blocked
Playmaker
Off the Ice
STANDALONE NOVELS
Easy Revenge
Love, Lies & Deception
Going for the Hole
Anonymous
Love, Again
Fairytale Confessions
THE DATING SERIES W/HEIDI MCLAUGHLIN
A Date forMidnight
A Date with an Admirer
A Date for Good Luck
A Date for the Hunt
A Date for the Derby
A Date to Play Fore
A Date with a Foodie
A Date for the Fair
A Date for the Regatta
A Date for the Masquerade
A Date with a Turkey
A Date with an Elf
CHRISTMAS NOVELS
It Must’ve Been the Mistletoe
Snowflake Lane Inn
Wrapped Up with You – December 2020
MOONLIGHT AND ALEENA SERIES
W/ANNA-GRACE DOVER
Moonlight and Aleena: A Tale of Two Friends
About Heidi McLaughlin
Heidi McLaughlin is a New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and USA Today Bestselling author of The Beaumont Series, The Boys of Summer, and The Archers.
Originally, from the Pacific Northwest, she now lives in picturesque Vermont, with her husband, two daughters, and their three dogs.
In 2012, Heidi turned her passion for reading into a full-fledged literary career, writing over twenty novels, including the acclaimed Forever My Girl.
Heidi’s first novel, Forever My Girl, has been adapted into a motion picture with LD Entertainment and Roadside Attractions, starring Alex Roe and Jessica Rothe, and opened in theaters on January 19, 2018.
Don’t miss more books by Heidi McLaughlin! Sign up for her newsletter, or join the fun in her fan group!
Connect with Heidi!
www.heidimclaughlin.com
About L.P. Dover
New York Times and USA Today bestselling author L. P. Dover is a southern belle living in North Carolina with her husband and two beautiful girls. Everything's sweeter in the South has always been her mantra and she lives by it, whether it's with her writing or in her everyday life. Maybe that's why she's seriously addicted to chocolate.
Dover has written countless novels in several different genres, including a children's book with her daughter. Her favorite to write is romantic suspense, but she's also found a passion in romantic comedy. She loves to make people laugh which is why you'll never see her without a smile on her face.
You can find L.P. Dover at www.lpdover.com.
Praise for A Date for Midnight
5 SEXY AND SWEET STARS!! This was a quick sexy and sweet story. Natalie and Brennan story has all the feel for a perfect book. These two authors know how to suck us readers in. I am so excited for this series.
—Rhonda Ziglar, Goodreads
This was a great romantic novella that you can read pretty fast. So sweet and romantic!
—MissPetiteBrunetteBookBlog
McLaughlin and Dover give sex appeal a heart.
—Isha Coleman
This was such a fun, quick read!
—Midnight Reads
The writing draws you in and I could easily see more books for this couple. I love the writing style and I look forward to reading more from this series.
—Krista Ricchi
Praise for A Date with an Admirer
In less than 100 pages, theses 2 authors have made me laugh, blush and fall in love with their characters.
—Yoneidis Martín Martínez
Sophie and Tanner will take you on a whirlwind romance filled with friendship, sweetness, intense chemistry and finding someone you never thought you needed!
—Michelle McMullen
Fantastic! Short, cute, and full of laughs. I love how Tanner and Soph are together.
—Jennifer Millaway
This was such a cute novella!
—Jessica, Goodreads
A Date with an Admirer had me laughing from beginning to end.
—Nadia, Goodreads
Praise for A Date for Good Luck
A Date for Good Luck is the next book in this wonderful dating series by the dynamic duo of Dover & McLaughlin. They have once again hit it out of the RomCom park with Hope and Kellan.
—Michele McMullen
An adorable St. Paddy’s Day romantic novella of overbearing parents, lots of green beer and falling for someone you least suspect.
—MissPetiteBrunetteBookBlog
What started as a sham ends up becoming a beautiful love story. One of the things I like t
he most about these series is that in less than 100 pages, these 2 authors are able to develop a beautiful and fun story.
—Yoneidis Martin Martinez
5 of 5 STARS! McLaughlin and Dover are a match made in romance heaven. Humor and heart collide to make beautiful music together.
—Isha Coleman
Overall, this is a romantic novella told in dual POVs and includes St. Patrick's Day, green beer, a wedding, and a HEA. And how could one resist an endearment like "lassie" said in a whisper in a husky Irish brogue? Shiver…
—Sharon
Praise for A Date for the Hunt
This novella is worth 10 STARS!!!! I absolutely loved this one. It's a fun concept that was spot on and the women did a spectacular job writing this story.
—Jennifer Millaway