Page 132 of Bonfire and Bliss Bookstore

It’s my first Halloween with a man willing to do a couple’s costume. Having someone who doesn’t grumble about the ridiculousness of it all and is as excited as me to see what our neighbors come up with next makes this year even more special.

“You almost ready?” Monty calls from the kitchen.

At the sound of his voice I stop messing with my braid in the bedroom and grab my sweater.

“It’s almost like you can’t wait to get there,” I tease.

Monty’s facing the counter, but at my approach, he spins around and I have to pinch myself to believe he’s really mine. His own eyes darken as he drinks me in, as if he’s thinking the exact same thing.

Monty is wearing one of his band T-shirts. This one is 311 and immediately the melody to “Amber” plays in my head. It’ll probably be stuck there for the next few hours. His lips twitch with amusement as he studies me from behind his black frames.

“You’re trying to remember all the words to ‘Amber,’ aren’t you?”

My mouth falls open. “How—” I shake my head. It’s no use. He’ll just tell me that he pays attention, that a good boyfriend always does. And while I’m not sure about other boyfriends, I can tell you that this one is very attentive.

I nod to the metal mugs in his hands. “Whatchya got there?”

“I wasn’t sure if tonight was a definitely coffee event or if pumpkin spice lattes would suffice.”

He tips each cup forward to show me that one is filled with sparkly gold liquid while the other houses warm frothy goodness.

“Oh, you are going in prepared for this town meeting!”

“Well, we know they can get lively.”

“We’ll start with the hot stuff.” I grin as I snag the Baileys bottle from the counter and then reach for the coffee in his hand. “But bring the other cup. We can share.”

Monty pulls back the mug before I can grasp it. “How about a kiss for all my hard work?”

“I like where your head is at tonight.” I tap my finger against my lips. “First treats. Now kisses. A girl could get used to this.”

Monty steps closer so that his mouth is a breath from mine. I can feel his words tickling my lips as he speaks. “Good, because I intend on treating you like this always. And if I don’t, you better call me on it.” Then he presses his mouth to mine and I melt. Yup, I could definitely get used to this.

***

Leaves crunch beneath our feet as Monty and I walk hand in hand down Maple Lane in the brisk evening air. Between the streetlamps that are glowing an eerie yellow with the faux spiderwebs wrapped around them, and the ghosts and skeletons that hang from the trees, Maple Lane has gone from cozy fall to spooky right in time for the last weekend of October.

I do love cozy fall more than most, but for this week, I don’t mind the over-the-top Halloween decorations. When we pass in front of Babs’s salon, smoke filters out from below the door, creating a fog, and the sounds of owls and crickets play over a speaker.

“If she jumps out at me like she did last night, I’m throwing your coffee at her,” Monty warns.

I grab my coffee protectively. “Don’t worry, Babs is definitely at the meeting already. She likes to find out what’s on the agenda before it starts so she can properly interrupt everyone.”

Monty looks at me, amused. “And how does one interrupt properly?”

I grin. “You’ll see.”

“That’s what you’ve been saying all week whenever I ask about this meeting. You wonder why I’m so excited for it! You’ve hyped it up.”

“I can’t help it. I like town meetings.”

Monty slings an arm across my shoulder. “I know. It’s one of the many things I love about you.”

Love. I soak up the word, one he uses freely now. For a man who was so scared of it, Monty tells me he loves me at least every couple of hours. And I am here for it.

I take a moment to look at him now, soaking up how perfect he is. From his chiseled jaw covered in the day-old scruff to those intelligent eyes that I know are cataloguing every single detail surrounding us. The autumn colors, the crisp air, the fresh scent of burning fire, and hope. The warmth that radiates from every window we pass, like a glowing fire, just out of reach.

As we approach the town hall, I spot Tally and Rosie in a heated conversation with Rayna.