In Bed with Beauty by Katherine Garbera Page A

So he nodded. At least they’d be in public.

Seven

    W itches and bats swung from the ceiling. A kettle filled with dry ice steamed near the register and Burt, dressed like a goblin with an ax in his head and bloodied T-shirt, slumped on the bench near the candy bowl, “waking” up to scare kids when they reached for a treat.
    Isabella, who was in the drama club at school, wore her costume from last year’s production of Romeo and Juliet. All of the wait-staff were in costume, too. Since Sarah was serving as a hostess this evening she’d decided on Elvira Mistress of the Night. With a little help from the WonderBra she thought she looked dang good.
    Taste of Home was crowded, Sarah thought with glee. Finally it seemed her restaurant was making a swing toward being more profitable. She’d hired a band for the evening, a group of kids from the high school. They played popular music and golden oldies, which pleased everyone in the crowd.
    The only thing missing was Harris. She wasn’t sure he was really going to show. Sure he’d said he’d come but she knew this type of party wasn’t in his comfort zone. She’d thought about calling and reminding him he’d promised to come tonight but she didn’t. She wasn’t running after him. If he was interested in her, he had to meet her halfway.
    The door opened and a blast of chilly air swept inside. As always the temperature dipped on All Hallows Eve and tonight it was in the low sixties. Not cold for other parts of the country, but for this Florida girl the weather was definitely chilly.
    She glanced up and saw Harris. No costume. His briefcase in one hand, a bouquet of autumn colored flowers in the other. She felt a rush of pleasure that scared her.
    Seeing him shouldn’t make her this happy. She shouldn’t put so much emotion into this relationship. He’d be gone by Thanksgiving. But she couldn’t stop herself. She hurried to his side.
    “These are for you,” he said.
    No one had ever brought her flowers. It was such a small thing but it touched her deeply. She buried her face in them, inhaling deeply. Hiding until she thought she had her emotions under control.
    “Thanks.”
    “I’ll take over hosting duties, while you put those in water,” Burt said.
    Sarah nodded and made her way back to her office. But she didn’t have a vase.
    “Why don’t you put them in the refrigerator until you go home?” Harris suggested.
    “Good idea. Are you hungry?”
    He gave her the once-over and she flushed as his eyes narrowed in a way she recognized. He whistled softly through his teeth. “For you.”
    He was eyeing her breasts and she fought the urge to cover her cleavage. “I’m not on the menu.”
    “You should be.”
    “Really? You’d share me with others.”
    “Never,” he said, his eyes narrowing.
    She wanted to ask if he really meant it but didn’t. She was trying to ease him into the world of the living not overwhelm him. But she cherished his words and tucked them away to examine later.
    “Did you have dinner?”
    “There wasn’t any time.”
    “I’ll bring you a plate. Have a seat.”
    She put the flowers in the refrigerator and fixed Harris a plate of food. She grabbed a basket of bread and a bottle of Merlot. It took several trips to get everything she wanted but soon they were sitting on her office floor on a picnic blanket. While Harris ate dinner Sarah tried to keep the conversation going but she wasn’t sure what to say. Their relationship was so tenuous.
    “I read that Nick Hornby book. You were right, it was really good.”
    “I usually am right,” she said, winking at him.
    “You are? Other than the book name one time,” he said.
    “I knew you’d enjoy yourself if you came here tonight.”
    “I must bow to your abilities as a seer.”
    “There’s no magic to my gift. You’re easy to read.”
    “No mystery, huh?”
    “Some things about you I’ll never understand but books and dinner, well those are easy to predict.”
    He