Page 10 of Sweet Treat for the Mountain Man

“Yeah, not everything has to be scary, right? Though, over on the side, I have my Michael Myers animatronic. He’s a keeper.” I showed her the display and she laughed.

“I love it.”

“Thanks. I save up and buy a new piece or two each year.”

“It’s amazing, Coast. Thanks for showing me.”

“You’re welcome.”

When I finished showing her my yard, I invited her inside for a cup of hot apple cider. We talked for hours. She grew up in town as well, but somehow, we’d never crossed paths before. Considering I was an only child, and my parents no longer lived her, it made sense. How would we cross paths?

But now we did and I wouldn’t change it. Because something told me she was special. And I planned to figure it out. Broken heart and all.

“What are you doing tomorrow for Halloween?” I asked her as I drove her home. It was after two in the morning, but I hadn’t wanted the night to end.

“Besides sleeping in and cleaning, not much. I usually give out candy and watch a scary movie. My street is pretty empty, but I’m partied out. What about you?”

“Usually, I stop by a friend’s house. Have a beer, some candy. But nothing exciting.”

She didn’t ask to hang out and as I dropped her off, I left it at that, walking her to her door and giving her a hug. As much as I wanted her, I needed to take it slow.

Right?

Right.

But the next morning, I pulled into city hall, ready to help Amora clean.

I wanted to spend my Halloween with her. Plain and simple.

CHAPTER FIVE

Amora

I climbed the ladder carefully and removed the string lights from the clips, before climbing down and repeating the process. I’d been cleaning for a couple of hours now, too wired to sleep after last night.

Coast, Coast, Coast.

My heart thumped his name.

Fuck.

When he didn’t ask to see me again, I almost asked him. Because I didn’t care if he was broken or hurt. I wanted him. In every way. But I couldn’t stand being rejected again. So here I was. Alone in city hall. Tearing down decorations in the silence.

The quiet was nice for my aching, tired head, but at the same time, it almost felt too loud.

The door opened behind me and I jumped.

I blinked to make sure I wasn’t seeing things.

Coast.

“Hey, there.” He smiled as he walked over, bringing me Deja vu. He had coffees and a box in his hand just like the morning before. “Hungry?”

I scooted off the ladder. “How’d you know?”

“I saw how much you liked them yesterday. And it’s Halloween. Everyone deserves a treat.”

“I’m going to gain five pounds by the end of the weekend.”