Chapter 2
CHAPTER TWO
Luca
I hated holidays. Small ones, big ones, and anything in between.
Okay, maybe not as a child.
But I certainly did now.
I saw them as nothing more than a nuisance.
Especially Halloween.
What was the point of dressing in a costume, with itchy fabric, and thick streaky makeup, or masks you couldn’t breathe in, only to go door to door to a stranger’s house and accept their candy?
Weird.
Lately, it seemed like the holiday got bigger. From worshipping scary creatures to front lawn decorations that outdo Christmas ones, soon Halloween and Christmas will take over and there’ll be no more Thanksgiving.
I mean, a shop that only opens for Halloween? C’mon. How did this woman expect to make any money?
Did she make any money?
Why do you even care, man?
I threw my phone down on the desk and rested my head in my hands.
How the hell did my father run this shit without getting stressed?
Because fuck, I took over last month and I felt like I was screwing it all up.
I stood up from my desk and dragged my feet towards the kitchen. I need a beer and a change of scenery.
When my dad asked me to come home and take over, I hesitated. I had a good job across the country, kept my head low, and made a decent living for myself. Even got me a girlfriend.
But then my mother died, my father needed help, and I reluctantly left my life in the small coastal town I’d grown accustomed to. My girlfriend didn’t stick around. She dumped me the day I told her I was leaving.
After learning the ropes of the business, my father set off to travel, visit his brothers, and check off some items on his bucket list.
I loved the quiet of the cabin, but I missed my mom, especially being here, surrounded by her memories. It was bittersweet.
But maybe I’d make some of my own memories one day.
Ha, who the fuck was I kidding?
Forty was right around the corner, and I wasn’t getting any younger. Soon I’d be too old, and I’d probably spend my life alone, with no children to raise like I wanted.
Imagine a couple of little Eloras and Walkers running around.
My heart skidded to a stop.
Little Eloras? Little Walkers? What the hell was I thinking?
And why wouldn’t this god damn woman leave my head?
Every thought led back to her.
Her sexy, plump curves.
Her height, her head only coming up to my chest.
Her stunning green eyes and brown hair with a tinge of purple to it.
A tattoo of a black cat rested on one hand while a spiderweb stretched across her shoulder, her bare skin exposed on one side from her low-cut shirt. A small diamond stud pierced one nostril, so small you might not even catch it, but I did.
Hell, I saw every fucking inch of her. And imagined the parts covered by clothing.
After walking into her store this morning and meeting her in person, I couldn’t think straight.
I sounded like a jerk. Damn it, I was a jerk, and I needed to grow the fuck up and go back and apologize.
Approach the situation differently. Offer her a meeting to discuss the changes I need to implement.
Maybe she’d find somewhere else to rent. That would make my life a hell of a lot of easier.
Yet my gut confirmed what my heart already knew. I didn’t want her going anywhere.
I parked my truck in front of Elora’s shop for the second time and killed the engine.
Sitting there not moving, I stared at the windows, taking in her decorations.
The decorations were silly, but the way she arranged the lights caused them to cast a spooky glow onto the sidewalk in front of the store. I liked it.
Don’t buy into it.
My eyes drifted over to a list of what you’ll find inside, from Halloween decorations to party supplies and last, tarot card readings.
Elora did tarot card readings?
Interesting.
As I placed my hand on the door handle, the front door to the store opened and a woman I recognized from earlier stepped outside. I couldn’t recall her name, but I remembered her saying something about muffins and orgasms in her mouth.
“Hey.” I said as I climbed out of my truck and passed by her.
She smiled and waved back. “Hi. Walker, is it?”
“Yep.”
“Go easy on her, okay?”
I blinked and played dumb. “Go easy on her?”
“Elora is one of my best friends. She’s trying so hard to keep everything going and she’s a good person. Your father—”
“I know what my father did.” I cut her off. “But sometimes change is good.”
“Okay. Whatever you say. In the end, just be nice to her. She doesn’t deserve your wrath. No one does.” The young woman said before shooting me daggers and storming off into the parking lot.
Was I really that grumpy?
I stared after her as my stomach sunk to the ground.
“Walker? What are you doing here?”
I turned around to find Elora standing there. Her cheeks glowed under the outdoor light of her shop as the sun set behind us.
Mesmerized by her green eyes, I stood there, silent, my words having disappeared. They melted from the heat between us and suddenly, everything I wanted to say disappeared.
I couldn’t kick her out.
I couldn’t force her to find another place.
No. I couldn’t do any of that.
Because instead I wanted her. And I planned on making her mine.
It just might take a bit of swooning first.
“I came by to apologize.”
“Apologize for what?”
“I’m pretty sure you know why. I was a bit of a jerk.”
“You can say that again.”
“I’m sorry. Even though I don’t get all the excitement around Halloween, that doesn’t mean you can’t rent from me for one month a year.”
“Wait a second.” Elora said, popping her hip out and placing her hand on her waist. “You didn’t want to rent to me because you don’t like Halloween?”
“Well, not entirely. I really am worried about the numbers. But my dad made it work, so I figured why can’t I?”
Her eyes twinkled. “I like that way of thinking. But we still have a problem. A big one.”
“What’s that?”
“You don’t like Halloween. We can’t be friends.”
I chuckled, though it sounded more like a growl. “Friends can disagree.”
“Sorry. I’m a diehard passionate lover of Halloween. But you know what!” A huge grin stretched across her pretty face. “I bet I can make you love it.”
“Impossible.”
“Can I at least try?” Elora stepped closer to me and the same scent I smelled last time when I got close to her, a vanilla lavender one, tickled my nose. My dick jolted to life.
I searched her eyes. If it meant getting to spend the rest of my days staring into her green eyes, then why the hell not?
“Sure. As long as I can do one thing.”
Elora said nothing as she sucked in air like she was about to run out. Finally, in a soft, almost unable to hear kind of whisper, she asked, “What?”
“Kiss you.”