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Looking at Alley, she gave me a knowing look and I wondered if she knew something I didn’t. We hadn’t talked about anything like that. Was he being serious? Maybe it was the accident talking and he was just scared, but once things settled down and they found the man responsible he would forget all about that.
“You guys are hopeless,” Embry said.
I thought she was talking about the marriage bit until she carried on.
“Maybe I should make the D word exempt from the money jar fund. You all like it way too much and are bound to be broke real soon.”
“She’s right about that,” Alley said.
“Or maybe I should double the fine for that word,” she said, giggling.
The girl was smart.
There was no time to keep pondering the marriage thing between Embry’s antics and Zander running up with Dexter to ask if it was time to go trick-or-treating yet.
Everyone else descended on us. Jurnee in her Black Widow costume, Summer dressed as Elektra, Gemma looking amazing as Batgirl, and there was no way to forget Teal as Scarlet Witch.
I shook my head as I took us all in, truly impressed. “Us ladies, look da—darn good,” I said, correcting myself in the middle of my sentence.
Embry giggled. “Almost had you,” she said. “I know there will be more to be made tonight.”
“Trick-or-treat,” Hudson’s sweet little voice rang out. He held out his candy bag letting us know he was ready.
The kids looked so adorable too. I was so glad we got a ton of pictures. Everyone laughed and worked their way toward the door.
“Did I already tell you how hot you look, Buttercup?”
“You did, but no funny business. We need to get to trick-or-treating. We need to find some Buttercups.”
I gave him a cheeky smile and he laughed.
Rowan leaned in and gave me a quick peck on the lips.
“I already have mine so I’m good.”
Butterflies fluttered in my belly. Rowan was still himself, but also so different in the way he expressed his feelings. It didn't feel like he was holding back at all. I didn’t want to either, but part of me was still worried it would all vanish one day. Not wanting to think about that right then, I tried lightening the mood. It was a party after all.
“If you want to keep it that way you need to find me some candy, Army man.”
I sensed that he knew what I had done but he went with it. Putting out his hand toward the open door, gesturing for me to proceed ahead of him he said, “Your wish is my command, sweetheart.”
* * *
We walked miles.
Or at least it felt that way. My feet were killing me.
I moaned as Rowan rubbed my feet propped in his lap. He’d just put Zander to sleep in my bed, which shocked me. My little man was so tired that he didn’t care that nobody was in there. He’d still wanted to sleep in there and not his room, but it was the first time he went in alone.
“Those noises are killing me.”
I lifted my head from the pillow on the other end of the couch and smirked at the gorgeous man with the masterful hands. He and Zander had both showered, having to work hard to get all that face paint off. Smelling fresh, looking sexy in a pair of sweats that hung low on his hips, and shirtless, I was struggling just as much as him.
“Then do something about it,” I challenged.
“Baby,” he took a deep breath. “You’re still hurt and need to be careful. It kills me to know I wasn’t right there to make sure you two were safe. And now you have to heal.”
The strain on his face and the guilt in his tone broke my heart. It wasn’t his fault and I’d told him that a million times. I wanted to forget it all right then.
