All I Want for Halloween Read online

  “Oh fine. All right. Yes. Ever since you threw water on that woman, customers have been coming by in droves to see you in action. And even when you’re not out front, we’re selling like hotcakes. Hell, maybe we should add those to the menu.” He grinned at her laughter. “We also had a call from two local stations to do an interview on the store and you.”

  “No interviews.”

  “Which is what I thought you’d say. But they’re settling for doing a piece on Spookville and asking the locals what they think of it instead. Great PR, you know.”

  “Yes, I do.”

  He huffed. “Yeah, well, your attention got The Stranger involved too. They’re putting us in their piece about the best-kept foodie secrets in Seattle. I didn’t think we were that much of a secret, but one of their people knows someone at the Food Network, and now the Food Network wants to include us in their Best Places to Eat for Halloween segment.” He watched her. “It’s not reality TV, like Gear’s show. But it’s an amazing opportunity.”

  “Hell yeah. The Food Network?” She saw how much he wanted her to agree to it. “So long as you or Rose handle the TV part, I’m in. Now what you’re really thinking is, ‘Thanks for getting us so much publicity, Sadie. You’re amazing and awesome. And I’m a jerky loser for doubting you.’”

  “Yes,” he said wryly. “That’s exactly what I’m not thinking.”

  She grinned. “Hey, whatever happened with Gear’s brother? That catering gig? Did he call you?”

  Elliot’s shark-like grin alerted her to trouble.

  “What happened?”

  “Nothing.”

  “Give. What are you hiding?”

  “Not a thing. Thor booked us for November 4th. A gathering of maybe fifty people. Sandwiches and hors d’oeuvres. Some easy desserts. If all goes well, we might have an in with the university for some other gigs.”

  “Wow. And all because I threw water on a skank. I rock.”

  “Yes, because it’s all about you, Sadie.”

  As they continued to work, Elliot filled her in on some gossip about members at the gym who’d been getting into trouble. “What’s going on with your boy toy working out at Jameson’s? Someone said they spotted Gear Blackstone at the gym Sunday night. And again yesterday.”

  “He switched gyms, I guess.” She’d arrived just before him and watched him interact with fans. He was gracious, not too flirty or friendly, and most of the folks at Jameson’s left him alone. Apparently they were just biding their time.

  “Well, a lot of women, and a few men, are ecstatic to think they have a shot with him. You know Megan and Michelle.”

  “No.”

  “That’s because you go to work out.” He sounded disgusted. “How can you pass up the opportunity for good gossip? That place is a gold mine.”

  “Uh-huh.”

  “Anyway, from what I heard, Gear was alone.” When she said nothing, he continued, “He didn’t give any do-me vibes. When Frank hit on him, he was polite but not interested.” When she still said nothing, he crossed to her and gave her his pleading eyes. “Please, please, tell me what’s going on.”

  “Nothing. He’s working out at Jameson’s now, and we’re acting like distant acquaintances. I don’t want reporters hounding me over him.” She glared at Elliot. “So keep those flapping lips shut.”

  “Really? Flapping lips?”

  “Really.” She tried not to laugh at his pique. “Oh, you know what I mean. Gear’s our friend. You can talk to him. I just don’t want any more attention from those television piranhas.”

  Elliot moved back to the lemon tarts he’d been making. “Fair enough.” She didn’t trust his tone. “So Dad called.”

  “And?”

  “He’s back from his trip to Florence.”

  “And? Still waiting for the other shoe to drop.”

  “And he wants you to bring Gear by for dinner Saturday night.” Elliot’s wide smile didn’t help. “Rose and Joe will be there. I will too, solo, of course, since I’m single. But he said to make sure you and your new boyfriend came.”

  “Oh man.”

  “Oh yeah. Dad wants to meet the man who’s charmed our dear sister.”

  “How would he know I’ve been charmed?”

  “I told him.”

  “You ass.”

  “You’re welcome.” Elliot shrugged. “Come on. You know you might as well get it over with. He vets all our significant others. Probably why Jason and I didn’t work out. Dad hated him.”

  “Dad hates all your boyfriends because none of them stand up to you.”

  “And they’re scared of him.”

  She looked at him. “Normal people are scared of him. I’m scared of him.”

  “Oh stop.”

  Their father was a genius accountant, numbers man, and overall business guru. And he had a lot of friends in some not-so-nice places. He also did a lot of work with people overseas. Yet he’d been adamant, years ago when Sadie had asked, that he was not tied in any way, shape, or form to the mob. He’d laughed at the notion, but Sadie still secretly wondered.

  “He’s an accountant who doesn’t take crap from anyone,” Elliot reminded her. “Not a secret mob boss. You watch too much TV. And speaking of which… Motorcycle Madnezz’s new season starts next month. I heard they’re filming now.”

  “Yeah?” Gear hadn’t mentioned it. “Do you know who they got to replace Gear?”

  Elliot frowned. “I don’t know. I’ve been so busy trying to organize events with Rose that I’m kind of on the outs about my favorite show.”

  “Want me to ask him?” Gear hadn’t said much about his work lately. She had a feeling he was still having a tough time trying to decide what to do about his life.

  Since Sadie was far from perfect in regard to her career, she hadn’t tried to tell him what to do after that instance with his parents. Not that he’d asked. Hmm. They should probably talk about that.

  Since spending Sunday together, they’d seen each other Monday and Tuesday. But she wondered if being around him too much had started to annoy him. She hadn’t heard from him since he’d texted her a good morning.

  Maybe they’d be smarter to give each other some space?

  Rose entered the back, stroking her belly. Sadie studied her sister’s small bump. “What’re the little guys up to today?”

  Rose smiled, a little mother already. “Feel.”

  Sadie washed her hands, then came over to feel Rose’s tummy. “Are they sleeping?”

  “One of them is awake.” Rose and Joe refused to find out the sex of the babies, which Sadie thought just stupid.

  “How can you prepare for the bundles of joy without getting stuff first? I mean, do I get you two pink onesies or two blue stuffed bears?”

  “No, no, Sadie. You get orange or yellow or brown. Gender-neutral colors,” Elliot informed her, then rolled his eyes. “I know, a load of crap. Jesus, Rose. Just tell us.”

  “We don’t know, and we won’t find out for another three months,” Rose said primly.

  A tiny foot kicked her hand, and Sadie gasped. “He kicked me. Oh, do it again, Sadie junior.”

  “Sadie for a boy?” Elliot asked, a dopey grin on his face. He, like Sadie, was as excited as Rose about the babies.

  “Sadie is a name to end all names. Girl, boy, dog, cat. It’s perfect.”

  “You keep thinking that.” Elliot laughed. “Personally, I’m thinking we can have an Elliot Joseph, for me and Joe, or a Sadie Marina for you and Mom.”

  Rose smiled, a maternal glow radiating from her. “If it’s a girl, Marina will be somewhere in her name. Joe already agreed.” She patted Sadie’s hand. “The babies like you.”

  “Duh. I’m their favorite aunt.” Sadie smiled and pulled her hand back.

  Elliot murmured, “Only aunt. Lucky for them they
have a stellar uncle.”

  “Oh, I meant to tell you.” Rose made a sad face. “Joe and I can’t come to dinner Saturday. His brother is in town, and we’re supposed to see him.” She frowned. “I don’t like him.”

  “You don’t need the stress. Don’t go,” Sadie ordered.

  “I need to be there for Joe. And I’m bummed I’m going to miss Dad grilling Gear.” Rose sighed. “That was going to be the high point of the night.”

  “I’m sure.” Sadie ignored Elliot’s smirk. “I don’t even know if Gear can go. He might be busy.”

  “He’s not. I already asked him, and he said he’ll be there.” That was Elliot. Mr. Helpful. “Gee, what fun we’ll have. I’ll fill you in, Rose. Don’t worry.”

  She brightened. “Great. Oh, and Ava is here wanting to see you, Sadie. I told her to come on back when she’s done talking to Theo.” Rose left them to help Theo man the counter.

  Sadie held back a groan. She’d been avoiding her cousin, especially around Elliot, because she didn’t want the third degree about Gear and who he was to her, since she wasn’t sure she wanted to know. Everything about the man appealed to her. If anyone could get her to admit out loud what she feared feeling, it would be Dr. Ava Rosenthal. Her nosy cousin.

  Why was hiding from one’s feelings so wrong, anyway?

  Ava strolled in, laughing at something the bruiser beside her said. Good. With Landon, her fiancé, with her, Ava would be less inclined to pry into Sadie’s love life.

  “I see Theo’s still holding up,” Landon said, his deep voice filling the large room.

  Elliot sighed. Sadie understood the sound. Landon was six feet, four inches of pure man. An ex-Marine with a body made for warfare—especially the kind kinky folks might get up to in bed. She wondered how Ava kept up with the guy and had to give props to her mild-mannered cousin. Theo’s older brother had a kind of take-charge aura to him. She could totally envision Landon wearing a Marine Corps uniform.

  So unlike Gear and his laid-back attitude. Yet her fun buddy had that same kind of domineering, masculine presence. Personally, she thought him better looking than Ava’s hunky blond.

  “Theo’s great,” Sadie said, defending her employee. “He works hard and has a real attitude.” She smiled. “My kind of kid.”

  Landon laughed. “Figures. You know he ships out December 1st. I wanted to do something special for him. Thinking about hiring someone to cater a party for us. Know anyone I can ask?”

  Elliot watched him, a smirk on his face. “I’ll do it for free, Landon. I’m sure you and I can come to some kind of…arrangement,” he purred.

  Ava did her best to hide a smile.

  Landon turned pink and frowned. “If I say fuck off, you’ll somehow turn that into innuendo, right?”

  “You betcha.”

  “Asshole.”

  “Now that word I can totally work with. You see, I—”

  “Shut it, Casanova,” Sadie cut in before Elliot grossed everyone out with his sexual experiences. Some things a sister did not need to know about her brother.

  Landon chuckled. “You guys crack me up. Later, slackers.” To Ava, he said, “Bye, baby. See you at home.” He kissed her, and she waved at him when he left, then sagged against the wall.

  Ava fanned herself. “He just keeps getting better.”

  Sadie used to get envious seeing her cousin so in love. But now she didn’t feel that same tug of want, because Gear seemed to fill that void in her. Not love, she thought in a rush, but affection. Acceptance. Belonging—something she’d never really had with any man who wasn’t a relation.

  After chitchatting with Elliot, Ava slowly approached.

  The tricky psychologist might as well have been wearing blinking yellow lights.

  Caution. Caution.

  “I’m not talking to you,” Sadie said, remaining firm. Show no weakness, or she’ll eat you alive.

  Elliot kneaded dough and watched them, making Sadie feel like the star of her own doomed reality show.

  Ava gave her a patient smile—ironically the same one she used for her actual patients. “I hear you have a boyfriend.”

  “He’s a man who’s a friend. So yeah, I guess you could call him that.”

  “Oh?” Ava just stared at her with that clinical expression Sadie despised—because it made her spill her guts in seconds. “That’s not what I heard. You met his parents. You’re sleeping with him. And he’s meeting Uncle Tony on Saturday.”

  “I…well. Maybe. Gear is, ah—”

  Ava’s eyes twinkled. “Gear Blackstone, the famous ex-member of Motorcycle Madnezz, is dating my cousin. I really need to hear all about this. From you this time, not Elliot.”

  “Elliot.” Sadie glared at her brother.

  “What? She asked how you were doing. I told her what I knew.” He smiled, his eyes mean. “All I knew. Now go on, take a break. I got this.”

  “But we’re busy. I—”

  Ava pulled her away. “Wash your hands. Grab us some salads, and I’ll meet you out front. Oh, and I already paid Theo for the food.”

  “What?” Elliot scowled. “You’re family. You don’t pay.”

  “It makes Theo feel good, like he’s doing his job. If I just take the food, it doesn’t count.”

  Elliot blinked. “That makes no sense.”

  “Welcome to my world,” Sadie muttered, dragging her feet. There was no putting off her cousin. Ava would wait to talk to her, maybe even ask Sadie’s dad how Sadie was really doing. She’d done that the last time Sadie had dated a real loser, one who’d lasted more than two dinners and a movie. Her father had then felt the need to meddle in her life, hanging around, wanting to have father-daughter time. To talk about…stuff.

  Sadie shivered. It had been a nightmare.

  “Fine. But leave my dad out of it.”

  Ava frowned. “I love Uncle Tony.”

  “Love him without me near. I can use less daddy time with that barracuda.”

  “Sadie.”

  “Please. You’ve met him. Am I wrong?”

  “Well, no.” Ava smiled. “I’ll meet you out front.”

  A salad and an apple juice later, Sadie felt pleasantly full. “Okay, ask.”

  “What’s the situation with you and Gear? Elliot and Rose really like him.”

  “He’s a great guy.” Sadie fiddled with her straw. “We might be dating.” He called me his girlfriend but took it back. Yet we have sex almost daily, and he’s constantly giving me orgasms. He kisses the top of my head and cuddles me, and I have to work hard to suppress lovey-dovey feelings. Oh, and I have a total dad crush on his old man.

  “Uh-huh.” Somehow Ava didn’t sound convinced.

  “Great. So that’s that.”

  “What’s wrong?”

  “What?”

  “You seem nervous.”

  Sadie stilled her tapping toes. “I’m not. I just hate getting grilled about the men in my life.”

  “You have no men in your life.” Ava studied her, her green gaze piercing. “But Elliot seems to think you have one now.” She paused. “On a scale of one to ten, what is he?”

  They’d had this discussion before. “A nine.” Lie. More like an eleven.

  Ava raised a brow. “Tell me three things you like about him. Go.”

  “He’s hot. Fun. And a little mean.”

  “A little?”

  “Well, he’s kind of obnoxious.” Sadie grinned, remembering his hissy when he’d found her cheating at sex monopoly. She’d ended up paying rent on her back several times. “And coarse. He’s a guy’s guy.”

  “And you love him.”

  She nodded before she could stop herself, then froze.

  “Sucker.” Ava laughed. “Oh, relax. You know I won’t say anything. Doctor-patient confidentiality.”

 
“You’re not my doctor.”

  “Too bad, because I’d be rolling in money if I were. You need therapy like a fish needs water.”

  “Funny.”

  Ava smiled. “I want to meet this guy.”

  “We’re not that close.”

  “Oh?”

  “It’s all happened so fast.”

  “Sometimes it does. Doesn’t mean what you feel isn’t real.”

  “I can’t love him. Can I?” Sadie nibbled at her fingernail, realized what she’d done, and put her hands flat on the table. Only her father and Ava could get to her like this. “Look, I met his parents. He called me his girlfriend, then retracted it. He and I are just having fun. He broke off with a woman he was engaged to not long ago. One a lot prettier than me.”

  “What does pretty have to do with it?”

  Everything—according to Adrian. She bit her lip. She and her cousin had gone rounds about Sadie’s hang-ups regarding the Douche.

  “Have you seen Motorcycle Madnezz?” she asked Ava.

  “Landon made me watch it once. I liked Gear. And Smoke. He was intriguing.”

  “Well, I never watched the show until right before Gear left. But I can tell you that in real life, Gear’s a regular guy. Says it like it is. No pretense.”

  “Good. You need real. Is he nice to you?”

  “Yeah.” Sadie contained a blush, remembering how nice he’d been the previous night.

  “Do you feel like he respects you?”

  “Yep. Look, Ava. He and I are good. In the words of Landon Donnigan, ‘Don’t shrink me.’”

  Ava cringed. “I really hate that expression.”

  “I know.” Sadie laughed, feeling better. “Now forget I said anything about Gear and tell me about you. How are you and Love Buns doing? Are they having another self-defense class at the gym? I need one. I want to learn how to karate chop a guy in the throat.”

  “I’ll talk to him about it.” Ava’s tone didn’t sound promising. “He’s been busy at work, and his brother has been so into his girlfriend he’s not thinking about much else lately.”

  “Too bad.”

  “What?”

  “For me. I really want to do some butt kicking.” She leaned close. “Did you know I punched Sahara Blankenship, from Motorcycle Madnezz, in the face?”