He’d told me I could’ve turned the sewing thing into a fashion career. I’d never been interested in fashion, though. Not beyond what it could do to make me fit in with everyone else. Cole had wanted to stand out. We were opposite, but we worked.
“Do you like it?” I asked, smoothing down my own dress. I chewed my lip as I regarded my reflection. I’d wanted to get as close to the original costumes as possible, but I was still unsure about the neckline. It showed a fair amount of my ample chest. The rest of the velvet dress skimmed over my body like a second skin, technically covering me from wrist to ankle but leaving nothing to the imagination.
How I only realized then, five minutes before leaving, that Morticia might not have been the most appropriate Halloween costume for the nanny crushing on her boss was anyone’s guess.
I should’ve realized the moment that Beau agreed to dress up as thehusbandto my costume that it wasn’t appropriate.
But it was too late. I had the wig on, makeup, tits out. I wished for some of the courage I felt the last time I had champagne. I suddenly understood why people drank.
“Likeit?” Clara repeated. “Iloveit!” Her wide grin filled my heart and chased away my uncertainties.
When she wrapped a hug around my legs and upper torso, I leaned down to squeeze her back.
“Thank you, Banana.” All of my doubts melted away. I’d do anything for this little person. Even show too much of my tits to the man I desired, apparently.
“Daddy!” she gasped, letting me go to look in the doorway. “You look so handsome.”
Taking a breath, I whirled to see Beau.
He was cut in a striking swath of expertly tailored black fabric. The suit was molded to his body, making him look menacing, elegant.
The original character was more known for pinstripe or purple suits, but Beau looked every bit as otherworldly and handsome in the onyx collared suit with a purple tie and pocket square. He’d slicked back his hair close to his head, thankfully keeping the beard.
His eyes were on Clara first, twinkling as she did a twirl for him.
“Don’t I look perfect, Daddy?” she asked.
He leaned down, playfully tugging on one of her braids. “Perfect isn’t the right word, but it’ll have to do.”
Clara grinned, lucky enough not to be awed by the reverence her father showed for her because it was an everyday occurrence. “And look at Hannah! Can you believe she made all of this?”
Beau’s eyes lingered on his daughter, as if he didn’t want to look at me. But far be it for him to ignore his daughter’s request. Slowly, his eyes traveled the length of my figure-hugging dress and over my chest before locking on to my made-up eyes.
I was committed to the character, which meant a lot of makeup. More than I’d worn in my life. Clara had “helped” and had actually done a great job.
His expression was carefully blank, but I could see a storm in his eyes. I forced myself to smile, mindful of our audience.
Beau continued to stare at me before clearing his throat loudly, gaze darting away to focus on Clara.
“We need to go,” he stated gruffly. “We’ll be late.”
He turned and walked out of the room, Clara excitedly following. I too followed, steeling myself for what was to come.
Halloween was a night of pretending to be something we weren’t.
Pretending. That’s all I was doing with Beau, and even Clara.
We weren’t a family.
And that was the scariest of realizations.
Nora and Rowan went all out for their Halloween party. Clara was beyond delighted. It was the most children she’d been around … ever. It seemed like half the town was milling around the idyllic farmhouse on the ocean.
There were large decorations in the yard, lights bathing the house in oranges and purples. A freaking fog machine.
Clara marveled and squealed at every new wonder, almost jumping from the truck as we parked. She tugged on mine and Beau’s hands to bring us inside, making sure to first lower her mask over her mouth.
It matched her outfit, of course, while serving as another protective layer to preserve her delicate immune system. Her doctors had cleared her for the party, which was surprising if you wanted to treat her as a normal patient.
