Page 16 of Promises & Pumpkins (Haunted in Hazy Cove #1)

Harper

“Harper! Harper!” Maddie yelled, sprinting in through the front door while Miles strolled casually behind her. He shrugged when we made eye contact like he had tried and failed to calm her down before walking in. Other moms and dancers watched while Maddie skipped right up to me. “Guess what!”

“What?” I asked. Her excitement for her own news radiated from her, and it was infectious.

She curled her lip outward like she was debating whether she would make me guess or just tell me. I hoped for the latter. Then she grinned. “I’m going to dress up as a princess doctor for Halloween!”

“A princess doctor, huh?” I put my hands on my hips, mirroring Maddie’s enthusiasm.

“Uh-huh.” She nodded vigorously. “Like a doctor who is also a princess. Daddy is going to be a surgeon.”

I laughed, trying to picture Miles dressed up in a costume.

“Wow, that sounds like a pretty great costume." Miles smirked at my comment, and the butterflies in my stomach woke up, reminding me that I should be more professional. I cleared the next giggle from my throat with a cough, but it didn’t clear the look from Miles’ face.

“Hey, I’m going to make a great surgeon, thank you.

I take my role very seriously.” I couldn’t even take his comment seriously, nor could I look away from his stare.

When I looked up, Kelly was watching from across the room.

Judging by the look on her face, I wasn’t being subtle about the infatuation starting to build against my will.

“Daddy, are you going to ask her?” Maddie asked, interrupting my thought.

I looked down at her, then back to Miles. “Ask me what?”

He smiled, taking a slow breath while Maddie impatiently bounced from one foot to the next. Then she sighed, giving Miles a look of urgency. Miles rested his hand on top of her head to calm her down. “We were wondering if you would like to join us on Friday for trick-or-treating.”

“Pretty please?” Maddie folded her hands together and batted her lashes.

How did anyone say no to that face or the look in Miles’ eyes?

An excuse that I had plans that didn’t exist clung to the edge of my tongue, but I couldn’t come up with one that sounded better than having some free candy.

I hadn’t been trick-or-treating since I was a little girl.

“Okay.” I nodded. “Sure. I’ll go.”

When Maddie and Miles smiled, they had matching expressions. “Good,” he said, letting go of the top of Maddie’s head so she could bounce around. “Don’t forget a costume.” Then he walked away, and Maddie skipped over to the huddle of young ballerinas.

I watched him move toward the door, not hearing Kelly come up behind me. “What was that?” she asked, crossing her arms.

“What do you mean?” I pulled my stare away from the door, meeting the look of not quite judgment but not quite excitement on her face. What was she thinking?

“You’re going trick or treating with him?” A small smile cracked and stretched onto her cheeks.

I shrugged. I knew exactly how that sounded.

I knew how it felt too—like maybe I was starting to like Miles more than I thought.

“Yeah, I suppose I am.” My voice sounded distant.

“Maybe it will be fun.” Picturing Miles’ arm around me while Maddie danced around with a fistful of candy sounded like a good time.

Kelly chuckled, bumping into me with her shoulder. “So maybe you don’t hate the idea of the single dad so much after all?” Maybe I don’t.