Sharing this wonderful Halloween chapter from my book, "Love on Laird Avenue." I hope you enjoy!
Tatum pulled up the black fishnet stocking and clipped it to the belt. Her costume was perfect. A nineteen-forties gangster costume complete with a black tie and black hat with a white hat band. She had to admit the skirt was a bit short and the double-breasted jacket was cut a little low, but she didn’t have time to worry about that now. She wondered why there was no shirt to wear under the jacket with the tie. It was cute, she had to admit, but more daring than she had ever worn. The point was to get to the party and find out if Archibald Simmons was the man trying to break into her house.What was taking Ryan so long? She hoped he would come. The thought of going alone was too frightening. Besides, she was looking forward to seeing him. His irritating brother hadn’t left her alone with Ryan once, so she hadn’t been able to talk to him about Attention Deficit Disorder.Ding-dong-ding.Bugsy beat her to the door. She threw it open with a swarm of excitement twirling inside her. Despite the gloomy mask of gray drizzle, Ryan warmed her heart. He stepped on her rug making sure not to drip on her oak floor. His outfit looked more like the real thing than a costume. He looked debonair in the gunmetal gray, pinstriped, double-breasted suit with a midnight black satin collar. His white tie stood out against his matching black shirt, and a black fedora topped his sexy, slicked-back hair.Her mouth gaped open, and she couldn’t hold herself back from staring. She fiddled with the strap on her purse and forced herself to look away.“Wow. Would I be over-stepping my bounds if I said you look…?” Ryan started to say as he took off his hat.Me? You’re drop-dead gorgeous. “Looked what?”He continued to stare. She self-consciously smoothed her hair.“I know. It’s the hair. I haven’t been able to afford a decent haircut, and then—”“No. You look—”Her stomach hit the floor. The prolonged anticipation was unbearable.His eyes roved over her entire body slowly as if he were photographing her. She could see a heart-rending tenderness in his gaze. The moment seemed to stoke an ever-growing fire within her.“You look…absolutely beautiful.”She ached for him to pull her into his arms. Instead they continued to assess each other. At that moment he was so potent to her, all she could do was stare at the fire in his eyes, take in his manly scent and feel her heart fluttering wildly.He started to reach toward her. Her pulse quickened at the speculation. Caught in a euphoric state brought on by his nearness, she froze. She waited. Her mind whirled. The party could wait. Had she left her bedroom tidy? No.Bugsy jumped up on his chest.“Hello, boy.” Ryan slipped his hat back on and gave the dog a big rub behind the ears. “Wish you were coming along?”Bugsy broke the connection. Ryan gently pushed him off and then bent down to give him a pat.Tatum gave a big, big sigh. Bad dog. Next time I’ll lock you upstairs.“Are you ready to go?” Ryan asked.“What?”“Are you ready to go?”“Uh, sure,” she said, grabbing her keys off the end table.She took an umbrella from the stand, pulled the door closed and headed for her car parked on the drive. Ryan headed for his car parked on the street. She hurried and rushed to catch up with him. She wasn’t going to insult him about his driving when he was willing to go with her in the first place. If he was having trouble driving, it might be a good time to point out the ADD.He opened the car door and took her umbrella while she slid into the seat. She watched him go around and slide into the driver’s seat. How would he do driving on a foggy night in the rain clear to Bountiful?“What a night! It’s really coming down out there.” He started the car and pulled away from the curb.She braced herself for the drive. “I got the sandwich shop account all cleaned up. For the life of me, I can’t figure out how a virus got in there and did so much damage. I had several other programmers look at it, and they said the same thing.”“Well, it’s good you got it taken care of.”“He fired me anyway.”“What? That’s not right.”“Well, he did. I officially have no clients. My father will be furious when he gets back. I don’t know what more I could have done, though.” She frowned.“I see you haven’t stopped worrying about what your father thinks.”“Well, he did co-sign on both my loans, and Austin Hawkins was his friend. He’s going to have an opinion. I’m not sure what I’m going to do. I’ll probably have a pretty bad reputation after this gets out. Who knows if I’ll be able to get another job?”“Maybe something else will come up.”She looked at him through the dim-lit car. She saw the crooked smile on his face. “Like what?”“Oh, I don’t know.”Something told her he knew far more than he was divulging. “You’re being very mysterious. Do you know someone who needs some programming done?”“Hardly. I’m just saying you never know what will happen.”She didn’t want to think about it. She wanted to speak to him before they reached the party. How could she broach the subject? How could she not disturb his driving? So far, he was doing pretty well.“I happened to be watching TV in bed the other morning—”“That image does not help my driving, Tatum. Could we talk about something else? I’m trying not to look over at you as it is.”“Sorry. About this program…they were talking about something called Attention Deficit Disorder. Have you heard of it?”“No, I don’t think so,” he answered, gripping and re-gripping the steering wheel. “Maybe I better put on some music.” He turned on the radio, the news blaring.She wasn’t about to let this stop her. “They say Attention Deficit is a chemical problem in the brain that causes a person to have trouble staying focused, managing time, being organized, or remembering the little things we do in life.”With a big sigh, his hand shot over to change the channel. He accidentally touched her fishnet covered knee. The car wildly swerved off the road, but he managed to bring it back into the lane. A horn honked. Ryan began chanting obscure words.“Lacunar, balustrade, boutant, chalcidicum…”“What on earth are you saying? Are you crazy?”“Yes! Yes! The whole population has determined that now. I’m crazy. I’m an idiot. I’m stupid. I’m—”“Stop that. You’re not crazy, or an idiot. I didn’t mean it like that.”He flipped on the interior light and pulled a piece of paper out of his pocket. “Right. That’s why a beautiful woman is sitting here telling me my brain is dysfunctional while I can’t even drive us to this party.” He looked at the address, then at the street sign and then back at the paper.“Ryan, I think there might be a logical explanation for some of your difficulties. There are medications—”“Oh, great. A real loony bin. You’ll have me in an asylum drooling into a cup. You and Adam both.”She smacked the dash. “You’re so talented. How can you even say that? Adam is a…a jerk.”“Then why can’t I even find this address?” He tossed the paper at her as his shoulders slumped.She grabbed it and read it. “We just need to go west three streets and north two. You’re not that far off.”“Then why can’t I figure that out?” He turned the wrong way.“Uh, west is the other way.”“See? See? What did I tell you? I’m an idiot!”“Well, you’re certainly good with building designs, renovations, cars, plumbing, wiring, roofing and all sorts of things. Don’t sell yourself so short. I think we need to look into—”“We?” Ryan found the correct street and turned down it.Tatum’s hand shot up to her mouth. “Well, I mean, well, that was very presumptuous of me. I just want you to know that I care about you and consider you a friend.”Ryan missed the correct driveway and entered the circular drive of the next house. “Well, thanks. I care about you too.” He pulled back onto the road and re-entered the same drive.“I think you need to go one more driveway over,” she said.“Yes, I can see that.” He pulled back out and turned into the drive again.“I think we’re caught in some sort of loop here. The people are looking out their window and getting suspicious.” She gripped her fists and tried not to sound too frustrated. “Do you want me to help somehow?”“Are you sure I’m not an idiot?”“Don’t turn.” She reached over for the steering wheel as he automatically started to turn for the driveway again. She pulled hard on the wheel, forcing the car to go straight. “There, we did it. See, that wasn’t so bad. Turn here. Here!” she said, trying to get him to turn into the correct driveway.He stopped, shut off the ignition, and they both let out a huge sigh.“Let’s face it, I’m an idiot. A-a-a stupid, id—”“So you think you’ve cornered the market on stupid? When I was in college I was showing off for all my friends, imitating this guy who had one of those backpacks on rollers. When I got to the stairs, I picked up my imaginary backpack and, clowning around, started hefting it down the steps. I tripped and rolled.”“Ouch.”“Oh no, you haven’t heard anything. I rolled down that flight, rounded the corner and continued to roll down the next flight, all the while being careful not to drop my imaginary backpack in front of my friends. I got up victoriously holding the bag in the air, then let out the handle and slid it behind me. Everyone was staring. I felt incredibly foolish, and I sprained my ankle. I went to the rest of my classes trying not to limp. I finally went to a clinic later and got it wrapped.”Ryan chuckled. “That was pretty crazy.”“See? I told you we all do embarrassing things.”His smile quickly turned into a frown. “Your one time in college doesn’t equal my whole lifetime of daily humiliations.”He opened the door handle and started to get out.She grabbed him by the back of the shirt, pulled him to her and kissed him hard. His hands slowly came around her. The kiss softened. The touch of his hand on her back sent tingles through her. His lips were gentle yet demanding. The headlights from an approaching car spotlighted them through the rear window. The car pulled in the massive driveway behind them and stopped. Ryan quickly pulled away. Tatum moaned.“Are you ready to go inside?” he asked.“I need a minute.” Tatum drank in the cool, damp evening air. She listened to the patter of rain on the car while she tried to refocus.He slipped on his hat. “Do we have a plan?”“Most definitely. Don’t get caught.”“Besides that?”“I think our best target would probably be his office or den if we can get in there,” she said. “Wherever the photo was taken.”“Thanks, Tatum.”“For what?”“For trying to help.” He stepped out of the car.She grimaced. Great. He thought her kiss was a sympathy kiss. If he only knew how much more she was feeling. If she could just explain.He went around, opened her door and held the umbrella for her. “Your hair is…hmmm.”She reached up to smooth it. “It’s fine. I have a hat.” She slammed the fedora down on her head.Other people trickled into the house with them. It was easy to go undetected with the number of people already gathered and the size of the home. It was a massive, multi-million dollar house decorated in mostly 1800s European-style antique décor. Mr. Simmons liked spending his money lavishly, she decided as she headed for an English, tufted-back chaise lounge.“Where do you think the office is?” Ryan asked.“Not a clue,” she said, trying to get off her stiletto heels.“We don’t have time to sit. Come on.” He grabbed her arm and pulled her to her feet.“Oh, fine.”They headed down the west marble-tiled hall, checking each room.“Here it is.” He slipped inside, pulling her behind him.“See the hammers in the display case?” she pointed.“They are like yours.”An antique Persian rug lay in the center of the floor and a beautiful English Queen Anne burl walnut desk took command of the room. It was worn but well cared-for with a leather writing surface and three frieze drawers above the knee hole as well as two other drawers. It rested on wonderful cabriole legs. It was an exquisite piece. Tatum estimated it to have been built around the 1880s.“Are you going to admire it all day, or are you going to search it?” Ryan asked, standing with his hands on his hips.“Do you think it would fit in your car?”He smiled back and started to open an antique oak cabinet. “We had better hurry.”She shuffled through the papers and files in the drawers, but nothing caught her eye. She was about to move to another cabinet when she heard a loud boisterous laugh.“Holey moley.” Ryan grabbed her wrist and pulled her into his arms, burying her face into his chest.She reached for her smashed hat.“What in the world are you doing here?” growled a voice, a voice she was certain she’d heard before.“We were just admiring Mr. Simmons’ exquisite antiques, Adam. You have a beautiful home here, sir. This is a marvelous party. We have really enjoyed ourselves. Haven’t we, Tatum?”She took the opportunity to quickly unbury herself and straighten her hat. She nodded politely. She kept her teeth clenched, hoping she wouldn’t yell out and ask him if he’d been digging in her basement lately.“Well, thank you. Is this a friend of yours, Adam?” Mr. Simmons asked, fussing with the sleeve of his Dracula costume.“My little brother, in fact.” Adam glowered at Ryan.“Oh, the one you said works for you?” Mr. Simmons questioned.Tatum bit her lip, trying not to speak. She had a strong aversion for Adam, the conceited oaf. She held back the urge to deck him. He was dressed in a Frankenstein costume. He had obtained an additional black medical boot for his other leg, which matched his costume perfectly. She only wished she could have used a real wrench to screw the bolts into his neck.“The party is out here, everyone. Let’s dance,” Mr. Simmons said as he turned to leave. “Oh, and be sure to put your name in for the drawing. We’re trying to raise money for the children’s hospital.”Adam lingered behind. “What are you doing here?” he said under his breath.“What are you doing here? You said you were going home to watch TV,” Ryan replied.“I changed my mind. I’m trying to do some major networking for the business.”“And you just happened to have a costume lying around?”“Well…so…what are you doing with her? We’re not supposed to mix business with pleasure.”“And just where did you meet Gina?”Adam started toward Ryan. Ryan held his ground. Tatum stepped between the two of them. “Okay you two, let’s not cause a scene.” She pulled on Ryan’s sleeve.He felt as grounded as Mount Everest. The two men scowled at each other.“I said the party is out here,” Mr. Simmons said, sticking his head back in the doorway. “Care to dance?” he asked.Tatum didn’t like the gleam in his eyes. “Why, of course,” she returned.She felt Ryan’s muscles relax as hers tightened. She wasn’t sure she was going to enjoy this dance, especially in these shoes. Thankfully, Ryan followed and cut in about halfway through the dance. Mr. Simmons may have been collecting money for the children’s hospital, but he still took the opportunity to look down her jacket when they were dancing. Men!Finally the song was over. As they tried to leave the dance floor, Adam marched toward them with a young woman dressed as Cat Woman.“Giving up so soon, brother? You always did have two left feet,” Adam said, trying to goad Ryan into a fight.“And what do you think you’re going to do in those medical boots?” Ryan returned.Monster Mashby Bobby "Boris" Pickett began to play, the party clamorous and the dance floor over-crowded. The lights flashed, and Ryan grabbed Tatum’s arm to dance.“Are you kidding? My feet are totally killing me. You don’t have to compete with him,” she reasoned.“He’s been doing this to me my whole life, making me feel like I’m less of a person.”“But you’re not. Ryan, you can stop competing with him.”Ryan stopped dancing and looked at her. “On a lot of levels he’s right. I proved that tonight.”She forced him to look into her eyes. “Not on the levels that matter.”Adam did a spin. “Whoaaa.” He shoved Ryan in the arm. “Top that.”She could see the uncertainty in Ryan’s expression as he half-attempted to continue to dance.Adam twirled on the heel of his boot and fell flat on his back. There were several gasps from the crowd. Ryan reached down to help him to his feet.Adam shoved his hand away. “I meant to do that.” He rolled around a couple of times on the floor and then awkwardly got to his feet.“Come on, Tatum.” Ryan took her arm and escorted her off the dance floor and out into the hall. “You’re a very kind person, Tatum.” He leaned in close.Her body tingled. The noise level was frantic, people surrounded them, but she wanted him to kiss her. She wanted to tell him how much he meant to her. She wanted him to know that their earlier kiss was no sympathy kiss, and…“The competition too much for you?” Adam quipped, giving Ryan a push.“I’m not competing with you on or off the dance floor.”“Good. It’s never been much of a contest anyway. It’s just since I was in the hospital you started acting all high and mighty.”“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”“Yes, you do, and little Miss Socialite has everything to do with it.” Adam wagged his finger at her.“Watch yourself, Adam.”“Let’s just go,” Tatum whispered to Ryan.“Don’t pretend you haven’t used my brother’s limited mental capabilities, hoping to get a break on your bill.”Tatum wanted to reach down his throat and rip out his heart. But, as she attempted to move toward him, Ryan threw an uppercut to Adam’s jaw. His eyes rolled back, and he dropped to the floor. The crowd continued to enjoy the party and walked around him.Ryan turned to her. “Should we try to do some more checking?”“What about your brother?”“Let someone else take care of him. We came here about the hammers,” he said.She hesitated. “It isn’t Simmons, and my feet are killing me.”“What makes you think it isn’t him?”She led him out the door and into the rain. “He’s trying to raise money for the children’s hospital.”

Cindy A. ChristiansenSweet Romance, Humor, Suspense...and Dogs!Frankenstein Dog Photo: https://fabupaws.com/products/pet-frankenstein-costume?variant=29539367354420&currency=USD&utm_campaign=gs-2019-09-05&utm_source=google&utm_medium=smart_campaign&gclid=Cj0KCQjw6eTtBRDdARIsANZWjYalKt0xZBxKIyvVqwR5c1RxUNymY1Xr3Ovqsb1ZhrwI1W8fLXl8bAoaAmmHEALw_wcB



Cindy A. Christiansen
Sweet (clean) Romance Author