What happened last time?She stares at me now, waiting for me to say something.Speak woman.
“Oh, yes. Thank you all for coming and volunteering. Major placements tonight are going to be security or guard at the haunted house at both entrance and exits, someone at the face paint, a few passing out candy, and a couple at various tables with the community partners. Other than that this is a community event for our shelter and our community. It’s a safe place and I would like to keep it that way. So take your pick. ”
“Oh, Memphis and I will do the face paint,” a beautiful caramel skinned, blue-haired woman raises her hands with cat ears. She pulls on a long blonde haired man, and from where I stand could be mistaken for a golden retriever, even with the piercings.
“Um, sure, the table is over there near the street lamps and work lamps.” She tugs him along with a smile on both their faces.
“I’ll take a few men to do the candy,” pipes up Alexander, rounding up a couple more men.
“And the rest with me to work with the partners. Joaquin and Brennan will be at the haunted house” inserts a grizzly man, feathered with salt and pepper. If it wasn’t for the patch that reads president, I would have guessed that he was the leader of the group by his demeanor and his body language.
“Um, perfect. The candy buckets are inside the donation storage and yeah, take your pick of the volunteers.” I instruct them, dismissing them, “Oh, and if you need anything else, you come find me.” I call back, and the man with the warm dark brown eyes stares back, dark tanned skin, grabbing my attention. My mouth goes dry, my heart racing a bit. The slight smirk on his face, lies temptation in wake. I hear a snort coming from behind me, Brayden and Tessa catching the last eye contact.
“Whatcha staring at Lottie?” Brayden folding his arms across his chest.
“What? Nothing. Just thankful we have volunteers.” I chew on the inside of my cheek.
“She’s thankful alright,” He continued.
“See something I’m not?”
“You reaching for a feather duster to clean the cobwebs down there.” He snaps back, leaving Tessa cackling like a hyena. Red goes to my cheeks with anger and embarrassment.
“Pot meets kettle.” I make my comeback.
“Just remember to pick up your jaw and wipe away the drool.” Tessa says, I look at Tessa still smiling away.
“Just be careful of that one.” She says.
“Don’t know what you’re talking about,” Curiosity sparks.
“Let’s just say you bring more sunshine to his dark cloud.”
“Challenge accepted.” Who doesn’t like a bit of trouble and tease. Perhaps I’ll spread more than just sunshine.
What the hell did I just say?
Halloween is about the tricks. Or perhaps I have a bad track recording of trying and never succeeding.
I make my way to the education hallway, not before I catch one more solid look at mystery man. The temptation oozed from him, settling down through me. As I pass his station with the candy, I make an impulsive decision, pulling an older move from my club days. I grab one of the lollipops and unwrap it. “Trick or treat,” plopping the sucker into my mouth, sending a wink and a smile in his direction, as I go to get Finn ready for the event. Oh, I feel like that is going to haunt me. I am never that smooth. I talk with every person and speak my mind, but flirting, I am awkward and easily flustered.
“Little angel, if you want something, come get it.” He yells from behind me.
I glanced back, “Oh, sweetheart, if I wanted something you’d be on your knees already.”
What the fuck did I just say?
Now, I just want to fly off to the stars and never return. Or crawl into a hole and never come out.
I leave him to let his mind wonder and myself question why I opened my mouth. I have half a mind to get him out of my system.If you actually have game or could talk with attractive men.I don’t take my eyes off of him, until I run into the door.
Face crashing into the door, as pain radiates in my face. I jerk back, praying that no one saw this.
I find Finn, hands deep into making the pigs in a blanket, wrapping the dough around the hotdogs. He’s in tune with Chef as they continue to make food. I helped raise an amazing nephew. “Hey kiddo, you ready? It’s just about time.” I call him in the kitchen. He perks up and asks me to wait until he finishes this batch.
I patiently wait, snapping a couple of pictures to send to Aunt Lilly. Finn finishes placing the pigs in blankets on the tray before waving bye to Chef. He grabs my hand to lead me back outside to the festival. The sun setting provides a mystical, illuminating glow in the sky, creating the atmosphere for a fall full moon night.
“Where to first kiddo?” I ask giving him the chance to plan our course of action.
