Fearless In Love(69)

I loved being with you wasn’t I love you, but she’d refused to ruin things because he wasn’t as far along the emotional track as she was. Nor had she kissed him in broad daylight in his friends’ driveway, even if she’d been desperate to feel the strength of their connection one more time before the party began.

Her answer had been simple. “I loved it too. Thank you for taking so much time off to help me.” Then she’d made herself pull her hand from his and get out of the car. As Will and Harper had greeted them and shown them to their separate bedrooms, she’d made herself act like the nanny again, rather than a lover.

Just as in Matt’s home, she was put up in a magnificent guest suite in order to dress for the Halloween party. And now, Noah was there with her as she helped him into his costume.

“You’re adorable,” she told him, squatting down to his level.

“Don’t want to be adorable.” He screwed up his face. “I’m scary.”

She hugged him close, her heart overflowing. “I’m certainly scared. Give me a roar.”

He roared, and though she had to admit it sounded more like a squawk, she pretended to be terrified, making him giggle.

“All right, let’s go.” She took his hand to lead him out.

The house was starting to rumble with all the guests arriving. Will had invited his employees in the local area and their families. A bartender manned the open bar near the fire pit, while at the front door, Cinderella greeted the guests. The special hooped metal skirt over her fancy ball gown held champagne flutes and rolled on wheels, allowing her to move. The glasses on one side were filled with bubbly and the other half contained punch for the kids. Everyone was fascinated as they plucked drinks right out of metal holders on her skirt.

Left of the entry hall, the dining room table was stacked with trays of food that attracted as many people as Cinderella did.

Near the bottom of the stairs, Susan Spencer turned to them. “It’s so good to see you again, Ariana.” She’d been very sweet to Ari when they’d volunteered at the youth home in San Jose. “Oh my goodness, look at my big boy.” Susan bent down, holding out both Noah’s arms encased in the green satiny suit. When Bob Spencer, Will, Harper, and Jeremy had gathered round, he roared for his audience.

“Noah’s Godzilla,” Jeremy crowed, dressed in a Frankenstein monster costume.

Ari gasped with laughter at Will beside him, dressed as Jeremy’s Bride of Frankenstein, complete with the freaky wig. These men might all be billionaires, but there was certainly nothing stereotypical about any of them. Especially Matt. Her heart beat faster just thinking of how close they’d become this week.

Noah shook his head at Jeremy. “I’m T-Rex from Jurassic World.”

Ari had come up with the idea that, since he was afraid of the movie dinosaur, becoming one might help him get over his fear. It appeared to be working when he roared again, sounding much better than the squawk he’d produced upstairs.

Susan shuddered dramatically. “I’m very scared.”

“You should be, Grandma.” Noah flexed his hands in his green clawlike gloves. His tail swayed, its spine stiffened so that it curled at the end. Then he threw himself at his grandpa Bob.

Together, Bob and Susan were dressed like The Addams Family, Morticia and…Ari couldn’t remember the husband’s name. Susan looked fabulous in the slim-fitting black skirt. And Bob was regal in his tailored suit.

He hauled Noah up and swung him around, the dinosaur tail narrowly missing Jeremy. “Grandpa, put me down. I’m supposed to bite your legs.”

“Oh yeah, sorry.”

They all laughed as Noah growled and roared again while wrapping his arms around Bob’s legs.

“You look so lovely,” Harper Newman said, her hand on Ari’s arm. She was radiant even in Dr. Frankenstein’s white doctor’s coat, white face paint and black lipstick. “I love your Esmerelda gypsy girl costume.”

Ari twirled and the little fake coins on the skirt tinkled. Then she waved her hand at Will. “I’m surprised at who chose to be what character in the Frankenstein story.”

Jeremy thumped his hand to his chest and smiled wide. “I chose. I wanted to be the monster. And if I’m the monster and Harper’s my sister, then she couldn’t be the bride.” He pointed at Will. “So we made Will the bride.”

Will gathered Dr. Frankenstein close and whispered something in her ear that made her laugh.

Ari loved the team they made, Will, Harper, and Jeremy, in the hall greeting guests, laughing and talking with everyone. It was great that they’d costumed themselves as a unit, with a very alpha Will dressing in drag just to make Harper’s brother happy.