Tricks & Treats: A Romance Anthology (19 page)

Also by Charlene Carr

Beneath the Silence: A Novel

Secrets have consequences. If given the power, they will lead you into a life you never dreamed of or wanted.

Brooke Lake is a girl caught in a town and a life she fears she’ll never escape.

Molly Shirley is a woman without a past and no forseeable future.

Only by exploring the parts of them they’d rather keep secret, can they be free from the pain that defines them.

Before I Knew You: A Novella

What would you do to fulfill the greatest desire of your heart?

Joanna was brought up to believe life should follow a certain path. You meet a wonderful man, get married, have children—all in that order. Maybe, if you’re really ambitious, you have a career too. But a career isn’t what Joanna wants. She wants a family.

When her dreams seem to crumble around her, Joanna must make a decision; will she have the strength to risk estranging herself from the family who raised her and, perhaps, the man she loves?

Story Eight

One Night Only by Katherine King

Sale of this book without a front cover may be unauthorized. If this book is coverless, it may have been reported to the publisher as “unsold or destroyed” and neither the author nor the publisher may have received payment for it.

One Night Only is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are the products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, or persons, living or dead, is of the author’s imagination.

Copyright © 2015 Katherine King

All rights reserved.

www.katherineking2001.com

For Rebecca Fowler, my daughter & greatest accomplishment,

always my inspiration to accomplish my dreams
.

Cass

The crowd goes wild in the warm California night as the band finishes, fireworks exploding up from the stage. From my vantage point beside the entrance to the Ferris wheel, I am able to see over the heads of the crowd gathered but unable to pick out anything about the band members facial features.

Sighing, I brace myself for the onslaught of customers now that the concert is over. Given it is Halloween night, the park will be open until midnight to allow extra time for celebrations.

"I am truly going to miss this place,"
I think to myself as I smile at the first person of many yet to come, approaching the entrance, taking their ticket.

For the past five years of college, this place has been my social outlet and has helped pay my tuition. I had tried to keep this job part-time after starting my day job in September but the long days of learning the ropes of an advertising executive assistant is making it impossible to keep up this pace. I had mournfully decided that to excel in my new grown up job, I have to let go of my fun job.

Giving my notice two weeks ago had been hard but I had consoled myself by making my last night Halloween. It was always great at the park on Halloween. Visitors dressed up, happy to pretend to be someone else for this one day a year plus there was always a concert in the evening that was followed by fireworks.

I love the vibe on Halloween.

The next couple of hours pass swiftly and it is on the last ride of the night that I look up for a moment to look down the line. My gaze stops on a masked guy, dressed in a black t-shirt and black skinny jeans about twelve people down the line. His costume is a black mask that covers his eyes and part of his nose, leaving his mouth exposed. With his long, lean, toned body encased in a black t-shirt and black skinny jeans, I flush. This guy has sex appeal that radiates from him. I can see his gaze boring into me, making me flush.

Lifting my chin, I tear my eyes away from him to continue looking down the line but they come back to him.

He grins knowingly.

I quickly move my eyes away from the cocky bastard and focus them on the girl in the front of the line, shouting, "Next!"

The line continues and as I let people through, I am aware that the black masked guy is moving closer and closer. I focus my gaze on collecting tickets, not on looking up to see who is next.

But my body feels, reacting of its own accord, when he is next.

"Hey," he says upon reaching me.

"Ticket please," I say stoically.

His right hand comes out to grasp mine and I jump while noticing a cross tattoo just over his thumb. His action has my eyes coming up to his.

Such beautiful green eyes.

"What time are you done?" he asks quietly.

Clearing my throat, I respond, not knowing why, "After this ride."

Nodding, he says, "I'll be back," then squeezes my hand before handing me his ticket with the other, causing me to notice the multitude of tattoos over each of his arms. When he releases me, I realize my breathing is hitched. His smile is erotically gentle as he turns from me to climb into the seat.

As the wheel continues to move, moving him further and further up into the air as more people climb on, I silently wish I was with him. To look out over the park, the crowd, but then to look skywards, and watch the stars.

Finally, the lineup of people is down to one and I let the last person through. The big wheel begins its tedious process of grinding to allow everyone the vantage point of feeling like they are on top of the world. As my mystery mask guy is lowered, his gaze finds mine until he is taken back up into the air again. But he always holds my gaze each time he is lowered.

As the big wheel grinds to a stop, my heart picks up its beat.

I could leave now but something keeps me here. Waiting...

As the wheel turns, allowing passengers off, my masked guy comes into view again. He holds my gaze until it is his turn to exit the ride. He thanks Billy, the operator, before heading over to where I am standing.

He doesn't hesitate as he takes my hand, threading his fingers through mine. I watch as he brings it up to his mouth for a kiss.

I want to swoon. What guy born in this century thanks an amusement park operator and then strides confidently over to you to kiss the back of your hand?

"Shall we go someplace?" he asks quietly.

With my body on high alert, so highly attuned to him, I try to focus my brain. To think.

"You're a stranger. I was always told never to go anywhere with a stranger," is my mumbled, stupid reply.

He grins as he teases, "I never said I was whisking you away to some place where we would be alone. I asked if you wanted to go somewhere, of your choosing."

My cheeks flush further. I feel like an idiot.

With him still holding my hand, he gently gives me a tug, prompting me to move, for me to guide us to anywhere I want to go.

"There's another way out, away from the crowds," I confide.

"You lead, I'll follow," he says gently.

I guide him around the Ferris wheel onto a path that encircles the entire park. It allows employees to move around the park quickly instead of through the hordes of crowds. It is relatively quiet, except for an occasional fellow employee who stops to wish me well, telling me they will see me tomorrow evening for my going away party.

"You are finishing up here tonight?" the masked guy, walking next to me, holding my hand asks.

I nod.

"What's your name?" he asks.

I flush again, scolding myself that I am walking and holding hands with a guy I just met and I didn't even think to ask his name.

"Cass," I reply.

"Borden," he replies in turn.

I nod, flustered.

"You have another job, Cass?" he asks. Hearing my name on his lips sends a flush of desire through me.

Clearing my throat, I answer, "Yes. I started as an advertising executive assistant in September."

Forcing my mind to think, to stop looking down at our joined hands, to stop wondering how his hands would feel on me.

"You have a job?" I ask. I lick my lips as I look up at him walking next to me. His long dark hair curled down around his strong neck is enticing. I envision pulling his head down so that I could trace his jawline with my tongue.

My nipples pucker.

"I do," he admits but pauses before continuing, "I'm a musician."

"Are you any good?" I blurt out.

He chuckles as he responds, "Some people think I'm good."

As we near the exit for the park, I suddenly have no idea what to suggest.

Bringing him back to my place is out of the question, it's too forward. But it's what I want.

"Do you have a car?" I ask.

"Not with me," he replies.

"Okay..." I stop in the parking lot, torn. I really shouldn't be in my car with a stranger I just met. He stops beside me.

Flustered, awkward, I say, "I shouldn't offer to take you in my car."

"No, you shouldn't," he replies. He stands quietly, waiting for my next decision.

He does nothing to persuade me in any direction, only stands there, looking hotter than any guy I have even met, waiting for me to decide.

"Come on. This way," I say after a few moments, tugging him to my car.

I hear him chuckle.

I reach into my back pocket to pull out my car keys and press the unlock. As the locks whir open, Borden reaches down to pull open the driver side door. I let go of his hand and settle myself behind the driver's seat, flushed once again at his gentlemanly ways.

I watch as he crosses the front of my car to walk to the passenger side. I continue to watch as he slides in next to me, his jeans pulling even tighter. I notice the large bulge between his legs.

Shocked, I whip my head up to stare straight forward. Fumbling, I start my engine.

We don't say much as I drive and I realize he is letting me make all the decisions, giving me complete control.

I feel myself relax a little. I glance over at him, to find him staring at me intensely. He reaches out and places his hand on my jean clad thigh. Liquid seeps through my core.

I want him. Very badly.

Whether it's my mind or my body that makes the decision, I head to my apartment building.

"We will just go for a late night swim,"
I convince myself silently.

The drive doesn't take long and I see his eyes move to my face appreciatively as I pull into my parking space.

His hand squeezes my leg as he says quietly, "Thank you for trusting me."

I nod but admit, "We are only going as far as the pool."

He nods before letting my knee go. I watch as he opens his car door, his fingers long, the cross tattoo flashing in the street light. He crosses to my side and opens my door for me. Taking my hand, he swings the car door shut behind me before walking with me to the pool area.

Taking a seat on a lounger, he pulls me down next to him. He brushes my hair back over my shoulder, exposing my neck. His hand wraps around the back of my neck, his thumb grazing the pulse that I am sure is throbbing there.

"So beautiful, " he whispers.

I swallow thickly.

"Are you going to take off your mask?" I ask quietly. I love the secrecy but I want to see his face more.

I feel him stiffen before he says, "If you want me to."

Wondering why he stiffened, I nod.

I watch as he reaches behind him, untying the mask. As it drops from his face, I have my first full look at him.

He is stunning.

His gaze penetrates me, as if searching for something, as I reach up to touch his facial features.

"You're the one that is beautiful," I admit quietly as I trace the slope of his cheek, down to his lips.

I can't help myself as I lean forward, pressing my lips to his. It's electric.