A Moment To Remember #2
Even as he said the words, he worried. How would Esme feel once night fell on the farm? Would the memories of the previous night be too difficult for her?
Esme bent down to pet Flupps. “You and Charlie are going to have a blast. We’re all looking forward to it.”
The boy bounced on his feet. “Charlie said we’re going to run around the orchard and make sure the little kids have fun. We’ll be spooky, but not scary.”
They’d all had enough scary for now.
On the ride back to the farm, Wyatt turned to Esme. “How do you feel about tonight? We can have our own kind of fun inside if you prefer.”
She smiled at him. “Thanks, but I’d like to stick to the original plan. I don’t want last night to ruin the orchard or Halloween for me. How about you?”
“Whatever you want to do is fine by me.”
She rolled her lips together. “Lia said you’d be as traumatized by last night as I am.”
He sighed. “I’ll have nightmares about it for a long time. I don’t know if I’ve ever felt so helpless.”
Esme reached over and squeezed his hand on the steering wheel. “Me too, but I knew you’d come after me. I knew you’d do everything you could to stop them hurting me. Even more importantly, I knew that even if they hurt me, you’d still love me. That a scar wouldn’t scare you away.”
Full of emotion, Wyatt pulled over to the side of the road and turned on his flashers so he could angle to her. “You’re right. Scars are proof you’re strong enough to survive.”
He lightly traced his finger over her scar and the butterfly bandages. “You’re so strong, so beautiful. Sometimes it’s hard to believe you love me back.”
Her smile lit up the vehicle. “We’ll be okay, Wyatt. This hasn’t changed us. Tonight, we’ll hang onto each other while we make sure Halloween isn’t ruined for anyone.”
He leaned over the console to kiss her. “You’re an amazing woman, Esme. So brave and good. It’s not the time or place, but know in my mind, I’m stripping you naked and dragging you into my lap right here and driving you over the edge until you’re screaming with pleasure.”
Her cheeks flushed, her eyes darkened, and she grinned. “That sounds like fun in another time and place. I love you so much, Wyatt.”
The next kiss wasn’t so light, but he wasn’t taking it further on the side of the road in the middle of the day. He’d never expose her in that way.
With a grin, he put the car into gear, planning how he’d seduce her the next chance they got.
That chance didn’t come when they returned to the farm, as it was all hands on deck for the final Halloween prep.
Each of their friends stopped to talk to Esme to ensure the conversation with Marcus had gone well.
Farid, Haniya, and their boys also came by to check on her.
The twins wanted to know if Wyatt was wearing a superhero costume for the evening’s activities.
He raised his eyebrows at Esme, but she shook her head.
She still hadn’t told him what costumes she’d prepared.
Apparently, there were two options, and he got the final choice of which ones they’d wear for the activities.
Proving she was putting the previous evening behind her, Esme grinned at the boys. “We’ve got a few options, but haven’t made our final decision yet. You’ll have to wait and see.”
The boys nodded, then looked at him. “It doesn’t matter what you wear; we know you’re a superhero underneath.”
Wyatt felt his skin flush at the comment. The twins ran off with a wave, and Esme hugged Wyatt. “They’re right. You really are.”
He rolled his eyes and changed the subject. “Will you tell me what we’re wearing yet? Do we really have two options?”
She laughed. “We do. I ordered a few things for one idea earlier, but then something else came to mind, so I’ve got both.”
Jolie rang the bell that hung on the side of the porch. “We’re all set. Amber said her team is ready at the inn. The fun starts in thirty minutes. Time to get dressed, everyone.”
With a few whoops, everyone headed to their rooms to change.
Once inside their space, Esme took two garment bags out of the closet and set them on the bed. “There are accessories for both sets of outfits. Can you drag that box out, too?”
Wyatt chuckled as he put the large box on the bed. “I’m suddenly very nervous.”
She laughed. “Don’t like giving up control?”
He grinned. “Depends on the situation. I do like it when you take control.” When he pulled her into his arms, the kiss was hot, sexy, and far too short. Wyatt leaned his forehead against hers. “I know we have to get dressed and go help, but I have plans for us once the night is ours.”
Her eyes heated and sparkled. “I like the sound of that.”
Reluctantly, they pulled apart. Wyatt gestured at the garment bags. “Show me what we’ve got.”
Grinning, she unzipped the first one. “I thought of this to go with your call sign.”
“Slinger?”
She nodded. “The first moment I saw you in Phail Central, I thought you exuded a whole sexy cowboy vibe. I know companies that would pay a lot of money to photograph you leaning against a fence, watching a sunset. Or riding a horse.”
“Hell no.”
She laughed and pulled out the cowboy shirts, complete with fringes. “Hats and boots with spurs are in the box.”
He hummed, and his imagination filled with images of Esme wearing only the hat and boots. “We’ll need the hats for later. What’s the other choice?”
Laughing, she unzipped the other garment bag. She pulled out a dress first. Sleek, black, and cut low.
“That one. I don’t know what the rest is, but I want to see you wearing that.”
Grinning, she pulled out a pin-striped suit for him. He frowned for a moment. “Sorry, I don’t get it, but I definitely want to see you in that dress.”
Esme pulled out her phone and showed him an image she’d saved. “Does this help?”
He laughed and kissed her. “Now I recognize it. Definitely that one.”
She grinned and pointed to the box. “Shoes and a moustache are in there.”
He shook his head. “You’re taking our Halloween fun very seriously.”
Esme nodded. “I am. We’re going to have a blast helping those kids out there have the best Halloween ever.”
Which made him think of their own kids one day having just as much fun. He was glad he’d accepted the Malssum invite to grow cinnamon on the farm. Not that he’d done that yet, but it was a small part of the best future he could imagine.