In the dark, strong, muscular arms grabbed me. I shrieked and started flailing ineffectively.
"Stop it!"
"Garrett?" I looked up to see his irritated face.
"I saw you go into the art trail through the window," he said, releasing me. "It's closed after dark. Harrogate has improved but not that much. It's dangerous at night. You could have been killed." His face had an intensity that was a little unnerving.
"I didn't know you cared that much—"
"We would have been sued."
"There it is." I said, shrugging him off and hurrying back toward the warmth of the building.
With his long legs, Garrett quickly outpaced me. He slowed down to match his pace to mine and looked at me critically. Then he took off his jacket and wrapped it around me. "I don't want you getting sick," he said to my incredulous look. "Do you have any idea how difficult it is to have a house full of people? The kids are constantly bringing germs back. One person gets sick, then it spreads like a refugee camp."
"Sounds gross. I guess I won't be hosting a Halloween party at your house after all."
He was taken aback. "Why would you want to do that?"
"Sebastian is very excited about Halloween," I told him with a smirk. "I found out all about it in my dossier research. He's very much looking forward to the holiday. You all should tell him you're hosting a Halloween party. That will help convince him to sell you his company. I bet the Holbrooks aren't going to do that. I am pretty good with Halloween games, like pin the tail on the pumpkin—"
"Pumpkins don't have tails."
"I can make graveyard dip! It's marshmallow fluff, gummi worms, and crushed Oreos."
"That sounds disgusting."
"You need some Halloween spirit. Shoot, we should decorate the office."
"We will never have an office Halloween party or decoration," he said in a clipped tone.
"You'll see that I'm right," I told him. "Sebastian and I are kindred spirits. Maybe I'll even dress up in a sexy Halloween costume for him when he comes."
Garrett's eyes widened slightly, and he practically sprinted away from me while I doubled over laughing.
12
Garrett
It was silent in the car as Penny drove me back to the Svensson estate. Her comment about wearing a sexy Halloween costume had thrown me. What would she even wear?
"We're here!" she chirped as the car pulled up in front of the house. I turned to look at Penny in the dark. "Unless you want to go for a late-night romp in the graveyard."
"Why would I want to do that?"
"The Romani queen is buried near here," she said, turning to face me. "We could go make an offering. Maybe it would help you win that company."
"No, thank you," I said, climbing out of the car.
My little brothers were lined up nicely in the dining room when I walked in. Josie was serving portions of grilled fish.
"There's the future Macbeth!" Remy called out.
"Excuse me?"
"Ida said you're playing Macbeth in the fall festival production," Archer said. "I'm proud of you, Garrett, venturing out of your comfort zone like a baby bird leaving the nest."
"I'm not playing Macbeth."
