Chapter 3
Jack
Shit, how did we get to Friday and Sallie and I never got to “practice” being a believable couple?
Nothing like an emergency call that had me on the next flight out and gone all week; as it is, I’ll be able to get to the mayor’s ball just in time to meet Sallie, which isn’t at all what I’d planned.
We were supposed to arrive together. Damn needy clients and their “emergencies.”
Thankfully, I had planned ahead and ordered my costume after I told the mayor I’d be attending. Hopefully the costume I picked puts a smile on Sallie’s face. It is, after all, a nod to her favorite Halloween movie.
I quickly press Sallie’s name on my dash screen, and she answers on the second ring. “Hey, boss, you finally back in town?” she says, sounding a bit out of breath.
“Yup. I’m headed home to change. I should be able to make it there right at seven. I’ll meet you in the lobby of the mayor’s mansion. Sorry it isn’t working out for us to arrive together.”
“It’s not a problem, Jack, don’t worry about it.
I appreciate you giving me the afternoon off to get ready.
” Sallie’s voice has an excited note to it; I can’t help but smile, wondering what my creative best friend has pulled off for this year’s costume.
She really could be a Hollywood-level costume designer, but she insists she wants to keep her hobby as just that, and who am I to argue?
I am a greedy bastard and want Sallie with me in Harvest Harbor.
“No need to thank me, Sal. Seriously, you need to take time off more often. HR keeps telling me to remind you that you are accumulating too much PTO. Might be time to do another vacation to tour your favorite haunted houses and corn mazes; it’s been a few years since you dragged me all over the country,” I tease, both of us knowing she didn’t have to twist my arm all that hard to take that week-long trip with her.
“Well, let’s see how tonight goes. Who knows; you might end up owing me a trip depending on how thick I have to lay on the ‘devoted girlfriend’ role,” Sallie teases with a laugh before I hear a thump followed by a muttered “shit.”
“Sorry, Jack. I gotta go; I made a bit of a mess with my makeup and need to clean up before I head out the door. I’ll see you at the mayor’s mansion at seven. You should be able to pick me out in the crowd, if you know me at all,” she singsongs as she clicks off.
Pulling into my driveway, I quickly grab my luggage from the trunk and jog up my front stairs.
I’m hoping my housekeeper, Mrs. White, left me something for dinner; I’ve been traveling all day, and I’m starving.
And as fancy as the mayor’s ball will be, a man of my size cannot survive on hors d’oeuvres all night.
After a quick meal and a shower, I start getting into my costume.
I’m very impressed by the fit of the outfit and glad that the mask doesn’t completely conceal my face.
Not that I doubt for a minute that Sallie will recognize me.
I don’t know for sure what her costume theme is, but I do know her favorite movie, so she’ll absolutely recognize me.
When I called in a favor to a friend of a friend at Disney, I knew tonight would be the night I’d lay all my cards out to Sallie, and being in the right costume to show her how much I paid attention meant no expense was spared.
Hoping tonight goes according to plan, I tuck my wallet and my phone in my pockets and head out to the limo I hired for the night.
Striding into the mayor’s mansion, I look around the entryway and immediately spot Sallie.
I couldn’t fail to recognize those tempting curves from a mile away.
A huge grin spreads across my half-masked/half-makeup-covered face; it looks like my Doll and I had the same theme and movie in mind when we picked our costumes.
Before she sees me, I stride around so I come up behind her. “Hey, Doll,” I greet her, wrapping my arm around her waist and pulling her against me.
She startles, letting out a small gasp as she turns to look up at me. “Jack? How did you know I’d be dressing as Sally? And wow, your costume is great, Bone Daddy,” she rushes out in one breath.
“I promise, it was nothing but pure luck, Sal. But also, I gotta say, it feels a bit like fate that we dressed as Jack and Sally from your favorite movie. Let’s go get this schmoozing out of the way, shall we?
” I ask as I guide her into the ballroom to begin the task of networking while trying to not get aroused in public by the stunning doll on my arm.