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“Oh. I’m sorry, Torrian. I shouldn’t have asked.”
“You didn’t know. Don’t worry about it.” He spoke the words flippantly but found even after all this time a sense of bitterness rose inside.”
“And your dad?”
“Left when I was five.”
Jaz squeezed his arm. He glanced at her, then focused on the road and the man in the reflective vest directing him where to park. The beautiful woman at his side couldn’t imagine what it was like not to be surrounded by loving family, he realized. Yet, he was used to it. Well, it didn’t matter now. What was important was Jaz at his side, sweet, happy, and practically bouncing in her seat as she pointed out the zombies.
He chuckled. “You’re like a kid, you know that?”
She stuck her tongue out at him and leaped from the car before he could fully remove the key from the ignition. Torrian joined her on the passenger side of the car, and she latched onto his arm. Desire and attraction rose in him as he looked down at her.
“I’ve been here every year forever,” she said. “Along with Hammond Castle and Connors Farm.”
He guided her toward the spot where tickets were being sold for the hayrides. “I thought you said you were just back last year, after attending school in Maryland?”
“I came back to Boston for Halloween.”
“Jaz, you’re addicted to the holiday.”
“If it came every month, I wouldn’t be mad,” she agreed. “Before we go on our ride, let’s get hot chocolate. When we get back, I might have cider and roasted corn.”
He shook his head. “I think I might have to tell you when or you’ll explode with excitement.”
Jaz released his arm and jogged over to watch a juggler as he tossed skulls and jugs marked with an X. Torrian drew up beside her, and she flashed him the most breathtaking of smiles he had ever encountered. For a moment, he forgot what he intended to say, but Jaz threaded her fingers with his, and he let her drag him to the next sight and the next.
“You can’t convince me you don’t feel it,” she told him.
“By it, if you mean anticipation. Yes, it’s rolling off you like fog.”
She burst out laughing. “Does that mean you’re scared of me?”
“No, I’m intrigued.”
Her gaze met his. The sun descended, and the light was turning quickly to night. The temperature dropped, and Torrian drew her nearer. Jaz snuggled to his chest. There wasn’t anywhere he needed to be other than right here.
“I’m glad I met you,” he admitted.
“Me, too.”
Her soft cocoa skin drew his fingers to her face. Memory of the flavor of her lips made him kiss them under cover of darkness. At last she calmed enough for him to lead her to the trucks for the hayride, and he lifted her onto the bed of the truck. He climbed up beside her and wrapped an arm about her shoulders.
“Warm enough?” he asked.
“Yup.” She curled into his hold. The bumpy ride bounced them together, and he flexed his biceps to keep h
er safe. Each time someone rose from the darkness in bloody, torn costume, she screamed and wrapped her arms around his torso. He silently thanked them. Torrian kissed the top of her head.
“Do you hate it, baby?” he asked, and chastised himself for calling her by the endearment. To his relief she didn’t seem to have noticed.
“I love it!”
“Oh, that’s right.” He tugged a lock of her hair. “I forgot your favorite movies are horror ones. You get off on scaring yourself.”
“Hey, I get off other ways, too.”
His shaft twitched. “I’d like to see how.”
