Ari had stopped fighting the depth of her feelings days ago, weeks even, but she knew that Matt needed more time, especially given how things had gone with his ex. Who wouldn't need extra time to heal after that train wreck?
But letting herself fall headlong in love didn't mean she'd completely lost control. There was no way she could look at Daniel, talk to Susan and Bob Spencer, mingle with Matt's friends, or pick up Noah in her arms, if they were all thinking she was some dumb hick who'd tumbled foolishly into bed with the rich guy she worked for. Or worse, that she was a schemer who was only after his money.
A powerful instinct told her that the only way what they'd shared could work outside of these few private days on the road was if they were both equal partners in love--not if she was the only one with hearts in her eyes. Which was why she didn't want to claim Matt publicly until he was ready to claim her too.
That was the last thing they'd talked about before they'd gotten out of the car in Will and Harper's driveway. Matt had looked slightly uncomfortable as he'd said, "While we're here, I don't know if we--" He'd broken off with a low curse.
"I agree." She'd been trying to figure out how to say the same thing and was glad he'd brought it up first. "What happened...it would be best to keep it just between us for now." Though he'd started the discussion, he didn't look relieved about keeping them a secret. She'd tucked the evidence away inside her heart as yet more proof that he truly cared about her even if he hadn't said the words she so wanted to hear. "I'm not ashamed of what we're doing, but it's just all so new." And you need more time. "For now, it seems like enough for the two of us to keep figuring things out without everyone else weighing in."
He'd been silent for several beats before finally nodding. "You're right. My friends and family are great, but they can be a hell of a peanut gallery." He reached for her hand and held on tight. "This road trip was great, Ari. I loved being with you."
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.
They were joined a moment later by Daniel, who held champagne for her and punch for Noah. He wore his usual khakis and sports jacket.
"Thank you," she said, taking the champagne after a quick hug. "I can't believe you're such a party pooper that you didn't dress up. You could have been Uncle Fester from The Addams Family."
"Do you hear that, Mom? She called me Uncle Fester."
Susan rolled her eyes teenage-style. "You'd make a better Thing."
"Isn't Thing the weird hairy creature?"
Susan laughed and ruffled her son's hair. "No, dear, but that's apt since you need a haircut. Thing is the severed hand."
Daniel held up his arm, pulling back the sleeve of his jacket. "See, I came in costume. I'm Thing. I just haven't been severed yet."
They all laughed, and it was so good to feel like one of them even if she wasn't. Not yet. Not until Matt was ready to let himself love her the way she was sure he wanted to. But she understood how past experiences made you scared to trust or to risk. So she'd be patient, no matter how badly she wanted to hear him say I love you.
"Where's Sebastian, dear?" Susan asked, her hand on Will's arm.
"He and Charlie are up at the haunted house putting on the last-minute touches."
Harper looped her arm through Will's. "Charlie was wonderful in lending her artistic talents for the haunted house. Did you see it up on the hill?" She waved in the general direction. "Jeremy wanted to do something fun, and they've gone all out for him with scary creatures. She made a lot of them, in papier-mache instead o
f metal. And there's--"
Jeremy pulled on her arm. "Har-purr," he said with huge exaggeration. "Don't spoil the surprise."
Harper put her hand over her mouth. "Oops."
"Oh my." Susan gasped. "Will you look at that dashing figure?"
Everyone in their group looked up the stairs. Matt descended dressed in an immaculate tux that fit him so closely it defined every one of his magnificent muscles. He'd slicked his hair back, and he sauntered down the steps like he owned the world. Which he undoubtedly did.
Ari's mouth went dry just watching him. He held out his hand to her when he reached the bottom, saying, "Bond. James Bond. At your service."
She shook his hand in a daze, feeling heat all the way to her toes. He was so polished and perfect. She wished she'd dressed as a Bond girl to match him.
Then, realizing too late that everyone's eyes were on them, she withdrew her hand, sliding it behind her back to hide how his touch affected her.
"Daddy, guess who I am?" Noah was bouncing, his T-Rex tail hitting the floor.
"Oh no, it's T-Rex!" Matt cowered, throwing his arms out in fear. Noah roared, a loud, perfect rumble that shut down all conversation for three seconds while everyone in the hall stared.
"It's going to get me," Matt cried and ran in small steps so Noah could catch him.
"Really," Daniel drawled. "James Bond should have more dignity."
"At least I dressed up," Matt said, pulling on Noah's tail.
"You're just wearing your tux."
Matt suddenly crouched in a Bond shooting stance, reaching quick as lightning behind his back to draw out a gun, and shooting Daniel with a stream of water. "Bull's-eye."
Just like that, Ari fell in love with him all over again.
It was his laughter, the water pistol, the way he'd played the terrified victim with Noah. And how beautiful he was in that tux. You could love a friend. You could lust after a man. But with both lust and love coming together, it was enough to make a girl swoon.
Noah grabbed Matt's hand. "Daddy, take a picture and send it to Mommy. I want her to see T-Rex."
Matt shot a quick glance at Ari, and the look said so much. Irene was the ghost in Noah's funhouse--and if he didn't hear back from his mother, he'd be hurt all over again.
Quickly hiding his reaction, Matt said, "Sure, buddy." He caught a shot of Noah roaring, then texted it. "It'll scare her to death."
Thankfully, two seconds later, his phone pinged. Irene had sent back a terrified smiley face followed by lots of heart emoticons, which made Noah laugh.
For one long moment, Ari felt as if she were alone in the hall with Matt, everyone watching Noah, only Matt's gaze on her, communicating silently. He could have refused to take the picture. But he'd done the right thing, giving Noah the contact with his mother that made him so happy.
She wanted to reach out to touch Matt even if the time wasn't right. And she might have if Jeremy hadn't started to chant, "Haunted house. Haunted house." Noah joined in, then Susan and Bob, and finally the downstairs filled with the cry.
Will climbed two stairs and clinked his glass. "Silence!" he called out. "Let me see if the ghosts are haunting." Reaching into his Bride of Frankenstein pocket for his phone, he pushed his wig slightly out of the way so he could put the cell to his ear. A few seconds later, he held up the phone and yelled, "The haunt is on!"
The cheers were deafening.
"You've all got your tickets." Cinderella had handed them out along with the drinks. "Rob the bartender will call the numbers every fifteen minutes. We've got a shuttle bus in front to take you to the haunted house when your number is up."
A shuttle bus. A real haunted house. So this was how billionaires did Halloween.
"I didn't get a ticket," Noah pouted.
Will leaned down, almost toppling his wig. "That's because you get to go on the first bus. You're special."
"Wow," Noah said with a huge smile. "I'm special."
Will said to the adults, "Privileges of being a Maverick--we all get to go first."
"But Evan and Whitney and Paige aren't here yet," Susan said.
"We can't keep this crowd waiting," Will replied. "They might attack with pitchforks."
The Bride of Frankenstein gathered up his monster and his doctor and led the way to the first shuttle bus. Ari slid into a seat and Matt followed, pulling Noah onto his lap, the dinosaur tail sticking into the aisle.
Like a brand, she felt Matt's heat through the thin material of her gypsy skirt. And she wished she hadn't made that promise--to them both--not to touch him while they were here.
*
Ari was beyond gorgeous as a gypsy girl, her midriff bared, her calves laced with gladiator-style sandals. The cleavage in the deep vee of her tight, sparkly top made all of Matt's pistons fire.
He'd stood at the top of the stairs watching her for long moments before coming down. She was so natural, so easy and real as she'd laughed and joked with the Mavericks, with Noah, with Susan and Bob. She fit so well with everyone he cared about, the way Harper and Jeremy did, the way Charlie and her mother, Francine, did.
He'd wanted to claim Ari in front of everyone. But how could he when he was still unable to shake the feeling that, ultimately, he wouldn't be able to be there for her when she needed him most?
Can't stick up for nothing and nobody.
His father's voice still plagued him. And it was true that he hadn't yet found her brother. Hell, he hadn't even been able to tell her how he felt.
But God help him, he still couldn't stop touching her.
Noah grabbed the seat in front to shout with glee at Susan, and Matt leaned close to whisper against Ari's ear. "I don't know how I'm supposed to keep my hands off you when you're dressed like that."
"As a matter of fact, you aren't," she whispered back as she shook his wandering hand off her thigh.
"Oh. Yeah. Sorry. It just happened."
"Liar," she whispered. But she couldn't hide her smile--or the glimmer in her eyes that said she loved the fact that he was driven to touch her. And while guilt simmered low in his gut and knowing he hadn't yet declared his feelings for her, he simply couldn't put any distance between them. Not when they'd been so close over the past three days. He craved that closeness now.
The bus zigged and zagged up the winding drive to Will's workshop, where he and Jeremy had built the Cobra. Next to it, workmen had toiled for the last month constructing a haunted house right out of Psycho, complete with a long set of stairs leading to it. For safety, Will had installed lighting on the steps and in the spooky graveyard alongside it. But inside it would be dark and scary. And intimate.
Dark enough, he hoped, to get his hands on Ari for a moment or two.
Clambering out of the shuttle, Noah pulled at his hand, surging ahead as scary calliope music played like at the Haunted Mansion at Disneyland. "Daddy, Daddy, we gotta be first."
Matt would have preferred to be last, so no one would see him grab Ari. But Noah couldn't be held back.
Hands pushed Matt forward. "Come on. Little kids gotta see." That was Bob, maybe Daniel too.
Noah grabbed Ari's hand as the doors opened automatically into near pitch darkness. Red laser lights flashed on, splashing the front hall as if it were covered in blood. A man laughed from an overhead chandelier, and the red lights caught his dangling feet.
The laser lights led them along a hallway, where a door opened suddenly and a mummy grabbed for Noah. He squealed and jumped and wrapped an arm around Ari's leg. "It's the mummy from the museum," he whispered with awe.
The mummy retreated, and the door slammed. It had been so lifelike that Matt thought a real person might be under all those bandages.
The house was filled with eerie sounds, doors slamming, and things that went bump in the night. The laser lights herded everyone along the designated path of mummies, ghosts, vampires, shapeshifters, fire-breathing dragons, headless bodies, or sometimes just dozens of eyes staring out, blinking, coming closer, close
r. The long zigzag hall ended, and they were forced up a set of steps. Hands reached out to grab, and Noah was constantly shrieking with delight and terror.
Upstairs, they were handed blindfolds by a woman dripping blood, and they entered an old-fashioned gag room with bowls of fake eyeballs and beating hearts and entrails that you stuck your hands into. Noah laughed and screamed and ewwed. Ari shrieked right along with him, especially when Matt put his cold, wet hand on the sliver of bare back between her skirt and top.
She slapped at him and pulled her blindfold down far enough to playfully glare at him. Of course, he wasn't wearing his blindfold. How else was he supposed to find her?
They toured bedrooms that turned cold and beds that rose off the floor while ghostly sounds surrounded them. The old attic rattled with chains, and bones rolled across the floor. And everywhere, gory, scary creatures jumped out unexpectedly.
Noah was thrilled, shouting and giggling all the while. Clawed hands grabbed his dinosaur tail, pretending to drag him away, until Ari rescued him from the beast.
At last, they exited out a side door that led them through the graveyard filled with eerie sounds and ghostly clankings, finally making it down to the drive just as another busload of partygoers was climbing up the front steps.
"That was so fun." Jeremy bounced as excitedly as Noah.
"Daddy." Noah tugged hard on Matt's hand. "I wanna go again."
"Me too," Jeremy cried with equal enthusiasm.
"Aren't you hungry, buddy?" Matt asked. "I'm starving so bad it hurts."
Will elbowed him. "You always are."
"We'll take him back through." Susan leaned down to Noah. "I was so scared I want to do it all over again."
They were about to part, half of them heading to the bus to go down, the other half following the group who'd just entered, when Charlie appeared out of nowhere. Sebastian was right behind her, his hands on her.
Sebastian always had his hands on Charlie, and for the first time, Matt understood why. He felt the same way about Ari, and with a light tug on her skirt, he signaled her to come with him rather than following the others back into the house.
"That was brilliant, Charlie." Daniel grabbed her up in one of his bear hugs.
"I've never had so much fun building anything," she said, laughing. Wearing overalls after obviously putting the final touches on her magnificent creation, she hadn't dressed in her costume yet. Neither had Sebastian. "Will had all the workmen out here, and I just figured out the stunts. He hired a troupe of actors from the high school to play the monsters grabbing people."