The parade was an undisputed hit. Gia especially enjoyed the showing of the Higgenworth Communal Alternative Education Day Care. Three- and four-year-olds dressed as farm animals ran amok on the street as their adult chaperones attempted to shoo them back into formation.

Next to her, Carter shuddered when the ringleader, a woman dressed in overalls and a straw hat, waved to him. He gave her a weak smile and Gia swore the hand he raised to return the greeting was shaking.

“Remember your promise to me,” Summer said, through gritted teeth and a pained smile.

“Our children will never behave like that,” Carter recited. “And if they do, we’re going to drop them off at HCAEDC and run for our lives.”

A little girl with pigtails and a rubber chicken beak paused mid-skip and vomited what looked like a dinner of cotton candy onto the asphalt. She wiped her mouth on her little sleeve and cheerily skipped on.

“Katie Bell,” Carter and Summer sighed together.

The parade came to a spectacular end as the Blue Moon High School Marching Band playing “Monster Mash” ushered off the last float.

Gia’s little crew marched across the street to the square where the smell of popcorn and fried pickles wafted. The park was done up in Halloween fashion. Orange lights were strung overhead and wrapped around tree trunks, while giant bushels of mums were clustered around park benches. Carved pumpkins entered in the contest were showcased on bales of hay. As she’d learned from the town meeting, the fake spider webs had been vetoed this year given the impossible cleanup they’d posed last year. The two dozen food and craft stands were decked out with orange and black bunting and nearly everyone had donned festive costumes.

Evan dashed off with his friends, ten dollars, and strict instructions to meet her back at the studio in an hour so she could say good-bye before his sleepover. She valiantly tried not to imagine the number of preservatives and energy drinks he was going to enjoy until morning.

She and Summer were waiting in line for French fries when she felt a tingle zip through the space between her shoulder blades. Beckett.

He was talking to Carter who was on Aurora duty, at least until she twirled over to Beckett and wrapped her arms around his legs. Beckett hoisted her up, mindful of the plastic swords strapped to her back.

Gia felt her throat tighten a degree.

“The Pierce men are meant for fatherhood,” Summer said, noting the direction of Gia’s stare.

“Yeah, well, one of those men is going to find out sooner than the others,” Gia teased.

“Only one?” Summer raised a perfectly groomed brow.

“Just what are you getting at, Cryptic Cindy?”

Summer shrugged daintily. “Oh, I just have a feeling. About you. And about Beckett.”

Gia rolled her eyes. “You and the rest of Blue Moon. I hate to disappoint the hopes of an entire town, but I don’t think I’m going to have time for any relationships real or imagined.”

“Business booming?”

“It’s going well, but I ran into a surprise expense and I’m going to have to take something on part-time — and hopefully very flexible — to get us through until the studio is making a bit more.”

Summer’s fingers gripped her arm. “Oh. My. God. Gia!”

“What? Are you okay?” Gia asked, panicked and expecting a medical emergency.

“I’m better than okay!” Summer released her death grip on Gia. “How are your writing skills?”

“Are you two in line?” An impatient Mrs. Nordeman dressed as Scarlet O’Hara in draperies peeked around them at the growing gap in the line.

“Sorry, Mrs. Nordeman,” Summer offered her a bright smile. They stepped forward.

“My writing skills?” Gia asked.

“So today I landed a very large, very enthusiastic advertiser for Thrive,” Summer began.

“Congratulations, Summer! That’s fantastic.”

She waved away her praise. “What this means is I’m looking for a very flexible, very part-time assistant editor. Preferably someone with a background in health and wellness.” She looked pointedly at Gia.

“Are you offering me a job?” Gia squeaked.

“I’m offering if you’re accepting. Oh my God, your education in plants means we could beef up the gardening content, too!” Summer clapped her hands together. “This is too perfect. I’m thinking between ten and fifteen hours a week would do it and we’ll work around your schedule. What do you say?”

Gia felt shell-shocked. “This is the second time in one night you’ve given me an offer I can’t refuse.”

Summer grabbed her in a tight hug. “Thank you, thank you, thank you,” she chanted.

“I should be thanking you,” Gia gasped as the oxygen was squeezed out of her by Summer’s surprisingly strong grip. You have no idea what this means to me and my family.”

“Hey, you girls want fries?” the man behind the stand barked.

Mrs. Nordeman grumbled past them in her full skirt to order.

“Sorry, Mrs. Nordeman,” Summer and Gia said.

When they finally returned bearing greasy dishes of fries, Carter demanded to know what all the fuss in line had been about. “What’s with all the jumping and hugging?”

“Don’t tell me you’re that big a fan of French fries,” Beckett said, fishing one out of Gia’s vinegar-sodden dish.

“Gentlemen, and Aurora, say hello to my new assistant editor,” Summer announced, waving expansively at Gia.

“Hello, Mama,” Aurora chirped.

“We’re going to need another desk,” Summer winked at Carter.

“I’d better get building,” he said, stroking a hand through his fiancée’s glossy hair. “Hey, how do the twins feel about milkshakes?”

“I like milkshakes,” Aurora said, tugging on his hand. “Ninjas love milkshakes, right, Bucket?”

Beckett grinned at her. “They sure do, shortcake. And I bet if you give Carter that sad face of yours he’d invite you along to the milkshake stand.”

Aurora spun around to face Carter, her sweet face morphing into wide-eyed, lip-trembling devastation.

“What the hell is that?” Carter asked in horror, picking her up.

“Mama, Carter said ‘hell.’” Aurora said in a loud whisper, her faux sadness forgotten in the thrill of a tale to tell.

“Jesus,” Carter said, rubbing his free hand over his heart.

“See what you have to look forward to?” Gia said sweetly.

Beckett grinned.

Summer covered her belly with her hand. “Please don’t be two girls,” she whispered.

“What do you say, Rora? Want to come with Summer and me and get a milkshake?” Carter asked.

Aurora nodded earnestly and stroked her little hands through Carter’s beard. “Yes, please.”

“Mama, is it okay with you?” Summer winked at Gia.

“Sure, just please don’t let her order a large. I’ll catch up with you after the fried cauliflower stand.”

Gia sighed as she watched her little girl dance off between Summer and Carter holding their hands.

“What are they going to do with two of them?” Beckett asked.

“Never sleep again?” She turned to face him. “You know, we probably shouldn’t be seen alone together in front of the entire town,” she reminded him.

“I’m just a mayor having a friendly conversation with a witchy constituent.” His gray gaze was warm on her face. “I like your costume. Very fitting.”

Gia glanced down.

“Thank you. This is my standard Friday night outfit. I’m curious about your costume. What are you, exactly?”

“I’m a man trying to hide his attraction to a very sexy witch.” He reached out and fingered the tassled tie of her cloak. “I don’t understand it,” he murmured.

“Don’t understand what?”

“Why I find you so irresistible.”

“Beckett!” His name crossed her lips on a hiss. “Your logic is the only thing saving us from a mistake right now. I need you to resist.”

“What about your logic? Your resistance?” His voice was low, skirting toward dangerous.

“They both disappeared when you brought me a fairy garden.”

He took a step closer. “Don’t say things like that.”

Gia’s gaze darted around. Was it her imagination or did everyone in line for cotton candy have their cellphones pointed in their direction?

She grabbed his arm and dragged him off the sidewalk and behind one of the giant oaks that stretched toward the twilight heavens.

Out of the lights, away from the prying eyes, she decided to put it all out there. “Beckett, I need to be clear. I’m very, very attracted to you.” Her gaze skimmed down his body and back up again. “Very,” she said again.

“The feeling is mutual,” he said, bringing his warm hands to her hips.

“But I have two kids. I can’t just have a fling any more than I can jump into a relationship.”

“I know that, Gianna. They’re great kids. I don’t want to jeopardize anything for them, or for you. But I can’t get you out of my head.”

“So what are you suggesting?” She let him pull her a little closer, let her hands slide under his jacket.

“I don’t know.” She could hear the frustration in his tone. His fingers dug into her flesh with it. “I guess, curtains for one.”

“Curtains?”

“You need some curtains for your bedroom. I spend way too much time staring out of my windows into yours. It’s creepy. I feel like a stalker. And you don’t have curtains and I can’t look away.”

Gia knew she should be mortified. But the heat that swept through her wasn’t embarrassment.

“You’re so unbelievably beautiful. You just pull me in and I’m powerless to fight it. I don’t want to fight it. I want to know what it’s like to be with you, in you.”

His lips were a breath away and her legs went boneless.

“Tonight.” She whispered it, unsure if he heard it over the pounding of the blood through her veins.

“Tonight what?” His grip tightened on her.

“Be with me tonight,” she breathed. “And then we’ll see ... Maybe once it’s out of our systems, a set of curtains will be the answer.”

“And if curtains aren’t the answer?” He asked the question she was most afraid of, the one she already knew the answer to.

“If they aren’t, then we’ll find the answer. Together.”

His hands moved to her arms, gripped until her skin stung. “What about Evan and Aurora? We can’t just have a sleepover. They’ll be scarred for life if they had to listen to all the things I want to do with you.”

She could see the fire in his gaze. Desire warred with trepidation. He cared about her kids and that was the most important thing. That was the only thing. She smiled and brought a hand to his face.

“They’re the ones having sleepovers. Your mom and my dad are taking Aurora for the night and Evan is staying over at a friend’s house.”

“Tonight?” He said the word with hope and fear.

“Tonight.”

“Are you sure?”

Gia nodded. “No.”

“Your head is saying yes, but your mouth is saying no.”

“Maybe you can change my mouth’s mind?” she whispered, brushing against his lower lip.

Beckett groaned and pulled back an inch. “Gianna, I want this so badly. But only if you’re sure. There’s a lot at stake.”

“I really like you, Beckett. If you’re a mistake, I have a feeling you’re going to be my favorite one.” She ran her hands through his hair, tugging him down until her lips met his.