by Brynn Myers
This was going to be a night to remember, and the last thing I needed to do was forget a part of my costume. Tonight was the annual Keenan’s Halloween Bash, and everyone in a five-mile radius of the bar would be in attendance. It was the second most popular night of the year; both levels of the bar would be packed. In fact, I was fairly certain we had overbooked the VIP section, and that alone could be interesting, but I knew Adaira would handle any issues. She had a way with people; they never seemed to get upset when she told them they had to leave or move to another area. I guess that’s why Dillon called her the second best decision he ever made.
The knock at the door startled me, but I walked quickly to answer it, assuming it was Olivia wanting to kick my ass for not returning any of her fifteen texts. I swung the door open wide. "I am so sorry, I didn’t..."
"Kylah? My name is Syd. Dillon sent me to watch over you today."
"Um…okay. You are not Olivia." I stood there in the doorway with a puzzled look on my face.
"Dillon didn’t tell you I was coming, did he?"
"No, he neglected to mention you in his post-it note, but feel free to come in."
"He said you’d know I was cool if I brought these." He gave a warm smile as he held up a coffee in one hand and a brown bag in the other. "H&H bagels and your favorite coffee. Dillon told me exactly what to get."
I returned the smile and gestured for him to come in. "Thank you, that was very kind."
"Don't thank me, thank your brother." He winked as he headed for the kitchen to set down the coffee and bagels.
"Have you been here before?" I watched as he grabbed one of the plates out of the cabinet and a knife from the drawer and set it next to the bagel. "You seem awfully comfortable here."
"Oh, sorry. Yes, I have been here a few times, but you must have been at work." He scooted the plate and the bag closer to me, flashing a playful grin.
"Did you have anything you wanted to do today?" He bowed then looked up and winked, "I’m at your service."
I took a sip of the pumpkin spice latte and sat down on the barstool. "Are you always this much of a charmer?"
"Usually, but I am laying it on a little thick for you." His smile was warm enough to melt even the most hardened cynics.
I shook my head and returned his grin as I smeared the cream cheese on both sides of the cinnamon raisin bagel. "If you are to be my personal bodyguard for the day, I guess I'll just have to suffer through it. I do have to head across town to pick up the last accessory for my costume. You up for that?"
Syd nodded. "I’m up for whatever you need to do today, Kylah."
"Okay then, but no comments from the peanut gallery about where we are headed." I gave him a huge Cheshire grin. "It shouldn't take me long to get ready. Can you give me about five?" I looked down at my jammies, robe, and footie slippers. "Umm, better make that ten."
"I can give you as long as you need. I’m here for you all day. In fact, Dillon was hoping you would allow me to escort you tonight to the Halloween Bash." He chuckled as he leaned back against the cabinets. "He said you were going to roll your eyes at me, but I'm serious. Will you be my date tonight?"
"I don’t need a personal bodyguard to go to a party at our family bar. What is his issue?"
"Well, you know how All Hallow’s Eve tends to bring out the crazies. He wants to make sure he doesn’t have to worry about you, in addition to everything else. And hey, look at it like this. You'd be doing me a favor. I would prefer a beautiful woman on my arm instead of going stag."
"I’m not sure I am buying your line here. A handsome man such as yourself should have no issues finding a woman to go as your date."
He shrugged and flashed a devilish grin.
"Does that smile of yours always get you your way?"
"Nine times out of ten. So, what’s your answer?"
I shook my head and mentally surrendered. This couldn’t be all bad. At least Dillon sent a gorgeous, sexy man instead of a Neanderthal like last time. I wasn't even aware bodyguards were allowed to look like him. Syd looked like he was a model, not a hired thug. Jet black hair, piercing blue-green eyes, and those lips…sheesh. I seemed to be on a roll–hot sexy guy from my dreams, and now Syd–this was so gonna be a good day.
"I would be happy to be your date, Syd, because my brother will expect it and because I find you intriguing." I took the last bite of my bagel and hopped off the kitchen barstool.
"I'm assuming you ate already since you didn't join me for bagels and coffee, but if you do need anything, feel free to help yourself. Oh, and the remote is over on the coffee table if you want to watch TV."
As I headed towards my bedroom, Syd’s cell phone rang. It was probably Dillon checking up on me again. There was no end to Dillon's protectiveness. He was so different from Tynan. Ty worried about me too, but he didn’t feel the need to go all alpha-male about everything. I would venture to say that he learned a long time ago that was never gonna fly with Vivi–she’s fiercely independent and very outspoken. Ty towered over Vivi by at least six inches, but if she told him to do something he would gladly oblige. The love between them was evident in everything they did. A love almost too impossible to imagine, because their connection was the stuff romance novels were made of. Ty was so enthralled with Vivi he would have moved heaven and earth for her. I could only hope that someday I would find that, but with Dillon as my keeper, I doubt it would ever happen.
I dabbed the last bit of mascara on my eyelashes and slicked my hair into a high ponytail. I knew Syd had saw me all disheveled, but there was no need to not put forth my best effort now. I flipped through the clothes in my closet, trying to find the best I’m-hot-and-sexy-but-not-desperate outfit. I settled on skinny jeans, black riding boots, and a black shirt. I grabbed my messenger bag as I headed back towards the living room. Syd was just putting his phone back in his pocket as I entered.
"Hey, you look nice. That was Dillon, and he wanted me to tell you Ty and Vivi just arrived at the bar, and that they should be back here by the time we return from our errands."
I nodded, knowing that Syd had reported to Dillon about our errand run, typical bodyguard move–checking in with the boss. "So how long have you worked for my brother anyway? I've never seen you around the bar." I grabbed the keys off the kitchen counter as I walked towards the door.
"Off and on for years. I usually handle off-site stuff for your family. I actually met Dillon through your grandmother Morgan."
"Really?" I stopped just before the door and turned to look at him. I grinned when he stumbled, trying to avoid bumping into me.
"Not that I mind being this close to you, Kylah, but warn a guy before you stop dead in your tracks."
I turned back towards the door to hide the blush in my cheeks. As I flipped the lock, I heard footsteps and Olivia’s voice down the hall. Our penthouses were the only two on this floor, so I knew she and Joe were just coming off the elevator. I gave a sideways glance to Syd. "Brace yourself, you are about to meet my best friend Olivia."
"Kylah Keenan, where the hell have you been? I have been texting your ass nonstop." Olivia had not even laid eyes on me, but she knew I was in the hallway. When she rounded the corner, a sly grin swept across her face when she noticed Syd. "Is he the reason you haven't texted me back? Because if so, I guess he’s worth forgiving you."
"No, Olivia, Syd is just a friend." I put my hand up to stop any commentary, but she was silent as she turned all her attention to him.
"Well then, it’s a pleasure to meet you, Syd. I’m Olivia." She extended her hand for him to shake, but he just looked at her. I nudged his arm to give him the clue to accept her gesture, but it took him a moment before he moved.
"Oh my…you have very strong hands, Syd." Her Brooklyn accent was dripping with flirtatious undertones. "Are you going to be at the Bash tonight?"
He looked back and forth between Olivia and me before he finally spoke. "Yes, with Kylah. She agreed to be my date tonight." Olivia dropped her hand as she
turned to look at me.
"Ohhhhh…lucky girl."
A pink polka-dotted elephant was taking up the empty space in the hall and this conversation. Time for a subject change. "Liv, did you finally decide what you were going to wear tonight?"
Olivia batted her eyelashes and grinned. "I am gonna be a naughty Snow White, and Joe here is gonna be Grumpy." She chuckled as she looked over her shoulder at her bodyguard. "Who knows, if I play my cards right, I may finally find my prince. By the way, how is my Dillon?"
I tossed my head back and laughed. Olivia had a wicked crush on Dillon, but he had yet to take notice of her, which rarely happened to my voluptuous bombshell friend. In all the time I had known her, I had only met one man–well, now two–who hadn’t fallen all over themselves to be with her. I glanced at my watch and then leaned over to kiss Olivia on the cheek. "Hey girl, I hate to cut this short, but we have to get going. Ton of errands to run. We’ll see you tonight."
"I am dying to see this mystery outfit of yours, Ky. You’ve been so damn secretive."
I winked. "Can’t wait to see your version of Snow White either." I grabbed Syd’s arm and pulled him towards the elevator. As the doors to the elevator closed, I leaned against the back wall.
"Sorry, but I really need to get to Frank’s, and that convo could have gone on all day. I love her, but she can talk forever."
Syd smiled as he hit the elevator button. "You aren’t going to get a complaint from me."
Chapter Ten
As Syd and I made our way through the glass doors, George spotted us coming and went to hail us a cab. He opened the car door and I quickly scooched over, making room for Syd. Syd was as tall, if not taller, than my brothers, which was saying something considering they were both 6’5". I chuckled as he scrunched down in the seat so he didn't bump his head, his broad shoulders filling most of the backseat. He glanced over and raised an eyebrow with an excuse-me look on his face.
"Sorry, I couldn't help myself. The boys have to do the same thing."
On our way to Frank’s, I continued my investigation of how Syd knew my family, but when his answers all seemed to make perfect sense, I changed the subject. "So if you are going to be my date tonight, may I at least know what you are planning on wearing as a costume?"
He grinned wide. "I thought I would wear all black and blend in. Will that work?"
"No, it will not." I pulled out my list and added "costume for Syd" to it. The cab pulled up to an intersection lined with abandoned warehouses. Most of the time, you would be able to see the occasional prostitute trolling the streets, but this early in the morning it was fairly quiet.
"This is where you needed to pick up your stuff? No wonder Dillon wanted me to come with you. This isn't exactly the kind of place a girl like you should be hanging around."
I teasingly punched him in the shoulder. "Would you just get out of the cab and trust me?"
Syd paid the cabbie and we both stepped out onto the trash lined street, the paint smell from the latest graffiti mural still lingering in the air. I nudged Syd in the direction we needed to go, trying to get him to stop staring at me with the I-am-so-telling-your-brother-about-this look.
"A friend of mine lives on the top floor of this building. It's the perfect ruse. It looks like a shithole but just wait until we get inside." We climbed the stairs, passing a bum sleeping on the bottom step. He didn’t seem startled by our presence until he took one look at Syd’s size and said, "Sorry man."
Syd glared at me as we continued to walk up the stairs. "I cannot imagine this place is all that you say."
"I told you to trust me." I knocked on the door and rolled my eyes as Syd checked out the stairwell one last time. It took a few moments before Frank finally answered, which was putting my so called bodyguard on serious edge.
"Kylah,baby! You’re early, doll. I was still getting my face on!" Frank pulled me into a crushing hug and then proceeded to step back when he made eye contact with Syd.
"And who the heck is this deliciousness? Have you been hiding him from me on purpose, baby? Because he is pure heaven."
Syd just watched as Frank ogled him, seemingly unaffected by the overt sexual comments that continued to spill from Frank’s mouth. I was fairly certain he was struck stupid by the interior of his apartment. Frank’s apartment looked like Liberace had decorated it; everything was covered in gold, glitter and feathers. As Syd looked around, Frank dragged me over to the chair in front of the makeup table.
"Sit and spill, young lady."
"One word, Frank. Dillon."
"Well honey, if that’s Dillon’s idea of protection, you should shut up and be thankful." Frank looked over his shoulder at Syd as I pulled out my ponytail and ran my fingers through my hair.
"You better promise a phone call tomorrow with all the scandalous things you are going to do to that man tonight." Frank grabbed the bone straight, raven colored wig and adjusted it to fit my head perfectly. As Frank fiddled with my hair, he went on and on about all the things he would do to Syd if he was me.
"Now listen, doll. You are gonna need to make sure all this gorgeous red hair of yours is pinned underneath here perfectly. The last thing I need is my masterpiece of blue/black tainted with a red flame."
"Yes, yes, oh wise wig master. I won’t mess up your perfection." I couldn’t help but stare at myself in the mirror. I looked so different. Tears started to well in my eyes as I continued to take in my new look.
"Kylah, what’s wrong, baby?" Frank snapped tissues from a box on the counter and handed them to me.
"Nothing really, it’s just that I look like my mother. I’ve been reading her journal and using her sketches to create this costume, but…" More tears fell as Syd walked up behind Frank. Frank was blocking his view, but as soon as he moved, it was obvious Syd was shocked by my appearance. He just stood there staring at me.
Frank smacked his shoulder. "Doesn’t she look gorgeous?"
"Uh yeah… I was just taken aback by the black hair." It was apparent that something else was on his mind from his reserved yet rigid look.
"It’s just a wig for crying out loud. It goes with my costume." I moved to take it off my head but had my hand slapped instead.
"Be gentle, baby. We don’t go flinging this one off like the ones in the theatre." Frank took the wig off and put it back on the mannequin as I stared at Syd in the mirror, tears still finding their release.
"May I ask what your costume is gonna be?" Syd stuck his hands in his pockets and shrugged. "I’m only asking because I need to try and figure out what I am gonna be since we are going together…right?"
I wiped the tear that threatened to slide down my cheek. "I’m going as my mom. I found her journal and some of her old sketches, and so on my off time, I sketched them and brought one of her designs to life." I gestured to Frank who was now leaning on the counter with his arms crossed, scowling at Syd. "And Frank here completed the look with the black wig."
"Yeah, bucko, wait till you see her ass in those pants she designed. You won’t be looking so skittish then."
Syd gave both of us a stunned look before he hung his head and tossed his hands in the air. "Okay, so since the two of you know EXACTLY what she is going to look like and I am in the dark, maybe you could pick a costume for me."
Frank began to clap wildly as he walked over to the rack of clothes on the other side of the room. "Yay, I get to dress him up!"
The look Syd had given me was really disconcerting. There was something he wasn’t telling me, and I planned on getting to the bottom of it when we were once again alone. We spent the next thirty minutes going through Frank’s costume collection, but unless Syd planned on dressing in drag, finding something to fit his height and size was gonna take a little more effort. We found a knight’s sword and some chainmail, and had a fantastic laugh about why Frank had them as a part of his collection. Frank excused himself to make a call, leaving Syd and I alone, but I was still too perturbed by his reaction to the wig to talk to h
im.
After a few minutes, Frank returned. "Okay. I called one of my friends who has a medieval knight’s costume, so take the sword and the chainmail and see if you can use it with what he’s sending over. I told him to deliver it to your place, Kylah. It should be there no later than 6pm."
Frank grabbed a couple of bags and packed up our accessories. "Now, Syd, make sure to get that sexy ass of yours over to Kylah’s to get ready. She’s one of the best costume designers on Broadway, so she can make any adjustments you need. Ricco is a little "hippy" so that may need to be adjusted."
Frank winked at me as Syd headed for the door with our bags in tow. As Syd went on down the stairs, Frank stopped me. "I will see you tonight, baby girl, and don’t you dare let anyone make you doubt your costume. It is an exact replica of your momma, and despite Mr. Skeptical down there, you are gonna shock the crowd. Well, I am gonna shock the crowd, you are just gonna wow them."
I kissed him on the cheek and smiled as I headed down the stairs, now worried about how my brothers and Vivi would react to the costume choice. If they responded the same way Syd did…well shit, maybe this was a bad idea. I meant to honor my mom, not freak everyone out, and what the hell? Syd didn’t even know my mom, so what was his issue? I stepped out onto the street just as the cab Syd hailed pulled up to the curb.
"Your chariot."
"Don’t start with your Mr. Charming act now after your moment of shock and awe up there. What the hell was all that anyway?"
He stuttered for a moment before he spoke. "To be honest, Kylah, you took my breath away and I was trying to find the right words to speak, but instead I upset you. It was never my intention. Will you accept my apology?"