His eyes light with mischief. “Is that right?”
“Yes. It is.”
“Show me,” he dares.
I’ve never been bold sexually. Or at least, I’ve never explored myself sexually, but then there is Kace, and now I’m a different me. I step back from him and pull my T-shirt over my head, tossing it away. I immediately reach for my leggings. Kace steps into me, his hands sliding under the cotton to cup my backside. “I like how you show me.”
The next thing I know, I’m on top of the island and he’s inside me.
By the time we’re in the shower together, I’ve decided Halloween is my favorite holiday ever.
***
Kace and I spend the afternoon in my new office. He settles in a cozy chair by the bookshelves to write music, while I claim the desk to get some work done. It’s a unique experience for me to share every moment with Kace, but I like it. I like it probably too much. If we fizzle out, I will hurt. I hurt just thinking about it, which is why I remind myself to live in the moment.
I focus on my work. I pay Nancy and the bills, and while I survived this month, that six thousand I have coming from Riptide will be welcomed. I also text and email with a couple of customers about a few Riptide items. It’s later afternoon, and close to the time to head out to help Jerry and Jenny, I’ve lined up a viewing of a painting at Riptide Monday morning. If the sales happen, I’ll be set for the month of November.
About three-thirty, we change into our shirts and I can’t stop smiling at him in his. And how does he make ghosts and goblins hot? I don’t know but he does.
On our way out of the apartment, Kace pulls on his coat and helps me with mine. “You need a casual coat.”
“This coat is warm. I love it.” I turn to face him. “Don’t go flexing your wallet. I am closing a big sale on Monday.”
He catches the lapels of my coat and pulls me to him. He smells good, all spice and maybe cinnamon? “You eventually have to get used to my money,” he says.
“How about I just focus on you, Kace?”
“It’s a part of me, Aria. You have to know that.”
“There are many things to love about you that are not your money, Kace.” It’s out before I can stop it.
His eyes narrow and soften. “Is that right?”
I don’t back down. I’m all in with this man. “Yes. Starting with you wearing that shirt and handing out cookies. Take me to the cookies. We didn’t eat lunch.”
“Because you wanted to wait on cookies,” he reminds me.
“I can’t be rude.”
A deep rumble of delicious laughter escapes his perfect chest. A chest made this night for ghosts, goblins, and my hands and mouth. “That’s a good excuse,” he says. “I’ll let you use it.”
We’re still smiling and laughing about random things as we make our short walk. In the back of my mind, Gio is always there, or rather not here, but the laughter is the medicine I need; sanity in fact. We arrive at the cookie shop to find a crazy long line of ghosts and goblins, oh my! Kace catches my hand and we zigzag through the crowd for him to knock on the door.
Soon we are inside and Jenny, who is wearing a good witch costume, is hugging me. “You made it. How is your hand?”
There is a pinch in my chest with her mothering that is bittersweet, considering the loss of my own mother. “Much better. I forgot about it most of the day. And you look amazing. We’re underdressed.”
“Nonsense. You rock that shirt.”
I swear, she’s funny and hip and younger than her years.
“’Bout damn time you make it for a holiday,” a bellowing male voice blasts, and I turn to find a tall man with thick gray hair, fit, too, in a way that screams willpower considering the sweet smell of cookies teasing my nostrils right now. He’s also rocking his ghosts and goblins T-shirt.
Kace points to his shirt. “If I would have known there was a T-shirt in it for me I would have come sooner.”
“You do look pretty, boy,” Jerry says his attention turning to me. “And who might this be?”
“Hi Jerry,” I say. “I love your cookies.”
“Hello, Aria,” he replies, glancing at Kace. “She’s a pretty one, Kace. Prettier than your ugly ass deserves.”
I laugh, which gains me Jerry’s attention again. “Thank you for getting him here.”
I hold up my hands. “He invited me,” I say. “I take no credit.”
“You don’t get enough credit, but we do. You give him a reason to stay home, a feat no one else has achieved.” The alarm on his watch goes off. “Doors open! Let’s do this.”