Fall Into Temptation (Blue Moon Book #2)(48)

They were quiet for a minute before Gianna spoke again. “Beckett?”

“Hmm?”

“Why am I sitting in your lap telling you why I was crying?”

“Because you like me.”

She nodded. “I do like you.”

He sighed heavily. “And I like you.”

“Things are going to get complicated, aren’t they?” Gianna asked.

“Very.”



Beckett had left her with a kiss on the forehead and a head swirling with thoughts. He’d given her hope. For Evan and herself.

After he headed back to his house, she’d taken out her laptop and opened up the yoga studio financials. She was doing well, better than she’d hoped at this point. But, as she’d thought, it was still too soon to start pulling any extra cash out of the business. She’d find something part-time and flexible. It was important to her to be there for the kids as much as possible. So that left a few hours here and there during the week, at least until summer.

She would make it work.

“Aurora! Wait for me, please,” she called. She’d gone old-school witch in a long sleeve black dress over spider web stockings and knee high boots. It wasn’t creative, but it was comfortable and the cloak and pointed hat pulled the outfit together.

Her five-year-old ninja danced at the corner, swinging her orange pumpkin impatiently.

“Hurry, Mama! The parade.”

“They won’t start without us,” Gia promised, shouldering Evan’s backpack for his sleepover at a friend’s that night and pulling Aurora’s pony suitcase for her overnight with Grampa and Phoebe behind her.

A night without her kids. The prospect both excited and terrified her.

“I think Roar gets more excited about Halloween than Christmas,” Evan commented through his surgical mask. The scrubs Gia had hemmed for him were smeared with fake blood and he carried a plastic scalpel that looked more like a butcher knife than a surgical instrument.

Gia laughed. “It’s the candy. If Christmas presents were made entirely out of sugar she’d be more excited about it.”

“The last thing that kid needs is more sugar,” Evan shook his head sadly.

“Oh, like you aren’t going to fill up on energy drinks and five-pound bags of sugar the minute my back is turned,” Gia teased.

“Yeah, but I can handle my sugar. Roar just goes crazy and then passes out. Remember the wedding cake incident?”

“Who knew four pounds of cake could result in so much damage?” Gia shook her head. “At least the bride and groom will have the memory of a three-year-old spewing projectile vomit under their gift table forever.”

“Just try to keep her away from any cake tonight,” Evan warned. “I won’t be around to help Grampa and Phoebe wrangle her.”

“I’m picking you up at ten tomorrow, right?” Gia asked.

“Yeah. I left Lance’s address, phone number, and his mom’s name on a sticky note on the fridge.”

“You’re like the best twelve-year-old surgeon in the world,” Gia sighed.

“They don’t call me Dr. Awesome for nothing.”

They trooped to the yoga studio where Gia stashed the backpack and suitcase inside. She planted the kids on the curb with bottles of water and enjoyed the show around them as the residents of Blue Moon converged on the street and square claiming their spots for the parade.

Her neighbors at McCafferty Farm Supply on the next street over had set up temporary grandstands for the parade judges. Gia could just make out Beckett in jeans and a gray wool coat helping to set up the judge’s table.

“Mind if we join you?” Carter and Summer strolled up arm in arm, glowing with happiness in the falling dusk.

“Sure,” Gia smiled. “We’ve got room for the four of you.”

“Four?” Summer’s hand flew to her belly. “Oh my God. I was just getting used to being part of a two-some! Are we going to need a minivan, Carter?”

“And get rid of the Jeep? Serves me right for keeping expired condoms in my house,” Carter quipped, shooting a belated glance in Evan and Aurora’s direction.

Summer elbowed Carter in the gut. “Too much information, Pierce,” she teased.

Gia laughed and ushered them to the curb where the kids greeted them enthusiastically. She bit her lip when she saw Evan slide just an inch closer to Summer. She guessed the baby and engagement news hadn’t been much of a deterrent to the twelve-year-old.

“So, Gia,” Carter began, slinging an arm around his fiancée. “Are you a good witch or a bad witch?”

“It depends on the day,” Gia winked.

“Speaking of days, what are you guys doing for Thanksgiving?”

“I have no idea. Presumably eating too much,” Gia said. She hadn’t given the upcoming holidays much thought and realized that for the first time in too many years she would get to spend them with her father.

“We were hoping you’d spend the day with us,” Summer said casually, but her sparkling eyes gave her away.

“Thanksgiving with the vegetarians?” Gia asked.

“Well, Thanksgiving and a wedding.” Summer grinned.

“Are you serious? You’re getting married on Thanksgiving?”