He roared, and though she had to admit it sounded more like a squawk, she pretended to be terrified, making him giggle.
“All right, let’s go.” She took his hand to lead him out.
The house was starting to rumble with all the guests arriving. Will had invited his employees in the local area and their families. A bartender manned the open bar near the fire pit, while at the front door, Cinderella greeted the guests. The special hooped metal skirt over her fancy ball gown held champagne flutes and rolled on wheels, allowing her to move. The glasses on one side were filled with bubbly and the other half contained punch for the kids. Everyone was fascinated as they plucked drinks right out of metal holders on her skirt.
Left of the entry hall, the dining room table was stacked with trays of food that attracted as many people as Cinderella did.
Near the bottom of the stairs, Susan Spencer turned to them. “It’s so good to see you again, Ariana.” She’d been very sweet to Ari when they’d volunteered at the youth home in San Jose. “Oh my goodness, look at my big boy.” Susan bent down, holding out both Noah’s arms encased in the green satiny suit. When Bob Spencer, Will, Harper, and Jeremy had gathered round, he roared for his audience.
“Noah’s Godzilla,” Jeremy crowed, dressed in a Frankenstein monster costume.
Ari gasped with laughter at Will beside him, dressed as Jeremy’s Bride of Frankenstein, complete with the freaky wig. These men might all be billionaires, but there was certainly nothing stereotypical about any of them. Especially Matt. Her heart beat faster just thinking of how close they’d become this week.
Noah shook his head at Jeremy. “I’m T-Rex from Jurassic World.”
Ari had come up with the idea that, since he was afraid of the movie dinosaur, becoming one might help him get over his fear. It appeared to be working when he roared again, sounding much better than the squawk he’d produced upstairs.
Susan shuddered dramatically. “I’m very scared.”
“You should be, Grandma.” Noah flexed his hands in his green clawlike gloves. His tail swayed, its spine stiffened so that it curled at the end. Then he threw himself at his grandpa Bob.
Together, Bob and Susan were dressed like The Addams Family, Morticia and…Ari couldn’t remember the husband’s name. Susan looked fabulous in the slim-fitting black skirt. And Bob was regal in his tailored suit.
He hauled Noah up and swung him around, the dinosaur tail narrowly missing Jeremy. “Grandpa, put me down. I’m supposed to bite your legs.”
“Oh yeah, sorry.”
They all laughed as Noah growled and roared again while wrapping his arms around Bob’s legs.
“You look so lovely,” Harper Newman said, her hand on Ari’s arm. She was radiant even in Dr. Frankenstein’s white doctor’s coat, white face paint and black lipstick. “I love your Esmerelda gypsy girl costume.”
Ari twirled and the little fake coins on the skirt tinkled. Then she waved her hand at Will. “I’m surprised at who chose to be what character in the Frankenstein story.”
Jeremy thumped his hand to his chest and smiled wide. “I chose. I wanted to be the monster. And if I’m the monster and Harper’s my sister, then she couldn’t be the bride.” He pointed at Will. “So we made Will the bride.”
Will gathered Dr. Frankenstein close and whispered something in her ear that made her laugh.
Ari loved the team they made, Will, Harper, and Jeremy, in the hall greeting guests, laughing and talking with everyone. It was great that they’d costumed themselves as a unit, with a very alpha Will dressing in drag just to make Harper’s brother happy.
They were joined a moment later by Daniel, who held champagne for her and punch for Noah. He wore his usual khakis and sports jacket.
“Thank you,” she said, taking the champagne after a quick hug. “I can’t believe you’re such a party pooper that you didn’t dress up. You could have been Uncle Fester from The Addams Family.”
“Do you hear that, Mom? She called me Uncle Fester.”
Susan rolled her eyes teenage-style. “You’d make a better Thing.”
“Isn’t Thing the weird hairy creature?”
Susan laughed and ruffled her son’s hair. “No, dear, but that’s apt since you need a haircut. Thing is the severed hand.”
Daniel held up his arm, pulling back the sleeve of his jacket. “See, I came in costume. I’m Thing. I just haven’t been severed yet.”
They all laughed, and it was so good to feel like one of them even if she wasn’t. Not yet. Not until Matt was ready to let himself love her the way she was sure he wanted to. But she understood how past experiences made you scared to trust or to risk. So she’d be patient, no matter how badly she wanted to hear him say I love you.
“Where’s Sebastian, dear?” Susan asked, her hand on Will’s arm.
“He and Charlie are up at the haunted house putting on the last-minute touches.”
Harper looped her arm through Will’s. “Charlie was wonderful in lending her artistic talents for the haunted house. Did you see it up on the hill?” She waved in the general direction. “Jeremy wanted to do something fun, and they’ve gone all out for him with scary creatures. She made a lot of them, in papier-mâché instead of metal. And there’s—”
Jeremy pulled on her arm. “Har-purr,” he said with huge exaggeration. “Don’t spoil the surprise.”
Harper put her hand over her mouth. “Oops.”
“Oh my.” Susan gasped. “Will you look at that dashing figure?”
Everyone in their group looked up the stairs. Matt descended dressed in an immaculate tux that fit him so closely it defined every one of his magnificent muscles. He’d slicked his hair back, and he sauntered down the steps like he owned the world. Which he undoubtedly did.
Ari’s mouth went dry just watching him. He held out his hand to her when he reached the bottom, saying, “Bond. James Bond. At your service.”
She shook his hand in a daze, feeling heat all the way to her toes. He was so polished and perfect. She wished she’d dressed as a Bond girl to match him.
Then, realizing too late that everyone’s eyes were on them, she withdrew her hand, sliding it behind her back to hide how his touch affected her.
“Daddy, guess who I am?” Noah was bouncing, his T-Rex tail hitting the floor.