Incipient A Dark Paranormal Romance - Bianca Scardoni Page 0,108

done, I knew she was right. At this point, my presence would probably do more harm than good. And the last thing I wanted to do was cause Gabriel any harm.

Nodding, I opened the passenger door and then paused to look back at my sister before climbing out. “Just tell him…I’m really sorry.”

After skipping my Thursday night shopping date with Carly and Morgan yesterday, I’d been forced to make a pit stop in town to pick up a Halloween costume on my way back to Trace’s. Caleb and Carly’s party was later that night and they’d made it clear, several times over, that costumes were mandatory. Unfortunately, there wasn’t much of anything left on the shelves aside from a few slasher masks, a cheerleader costume and a life-sized ketchup bottle.

There was no way in fresh hell that I was going to go anywhere dressed as a condiment, so I grabbed the cheerleader outfit and then took my walk of shame to the checkout counter.

The rain had mostly subsided by the time I made it back to Trace’s house. We’d decided earlier that we would meet at his place later since he had to make a stop at All Saints to finish up payroll. It still felt strange to think of him in that roll, but after what happened to his father, all the business responsibilities fell on him.

He was handling it well, all things considered.

Hitting the shuffle button on Trace’s iPod, I went ahead and got ready in the upstairs guest bathroom, making sure to take my sweet time applying eye liner and mascara until it was just right. After blowing out my hair and then slipping into the white and yellow cheerleader shirt with matching yellow skirt, I made my way to the downstairs living room and waited.

I was just about to turn on the television when I heard the front door slam shut, following by approaching footsteps.

“You’re late,” I said as I set the remote down on the coffee table and then stood up to greet him, except he’d come to a complete stop at the entryway. “But I forgive you.” I smiled.

Heat flared in his eyes as his gaze slowly roved over me. “That’s what you’re wearing?”

I glanced down at myself and then shrugged. “It was this or a ketchup bottle. Apparently, Main Street isn’t the Halloween costumes emporium that the brochure claimed. Who would’ve guessed it?”

“You look good.” The heat in his eyes sparked into fire.

Feeling my confidence burgeon, I strutted toward him, lapping up the attention he was giving me.

“Did you do something different with your eyes?” he asked, looking down at me.

“Yeah, I put a little eyeliner on,” I said, like it was no big deal. Of course, I left out the actual number of times I had to apply and reapply the liner just to get the damn wing right. “You like it?” I asked as I lifted on my toes and plucked a kiss from his lips.

Cursing under his breath, he grabbed my wrist and then stalked into the hallway, dragging me behind. When I realized he was leading us to the staircase and not the front door, I pulled back against his hold.

“What are you doing?” I asked, examining him like he’d lost his mind.

“What does it look like? I’m taking you upstairs,” he answered huskily and then proceeded to turn for the stairs.

I pulled back again and shook my head at him. “Do you have any idea how long it took me to get my hair and makeup just right?”

His brows knitted. “Is that a trick question?”

“More time than I spent on my hair and face all week combined, that’s how long,” I said, answering my own question while ignoring his. “Plus we’re already late and you’re not even dressed.”

“I’m dressed.” He lifted his arms as he peered down at himself.

“I meant dressed in a costume. You did buy a costume for the party, right?”

“Not exactly. But I have it covered,” he quickly added upon seeing my disappointment.

Without saying anything, he sauntered back to the foyer and opened the entrance closet. After riffling around in there for a few seconds, he emerged with a Jason Vorhees hockey mask from circa god knows when.

Stretching back the elastic band, he slid the mask over his face and then cocked his head to the side.

“That’s pretty good,” I said, impressed by his impersonation.

He cocked his head to the other side and took a predatory step toward me. Even though I knew it was