Halloween Is the Time to Say I Love You

By Elizabeth Myles

This Halloween, lose your heart in Hillingham Hollow...

Welcome to Hillingham Hollow, a wholesome Texas suburb where romance abounds and real magic is rumored to be in the air.

Book 3: Halloween Is the Time to Say I Love You

When Jessye first met Reese, her fierce attraction to him set her mind and heart spinning.

At the time, she was a wealthy high school senior who, on the surface, had everything she could want: a happy family life, a rich and handsome boyfriend, and a solid plan for her future. Reese was a community college student and the drummer in a local rock band. Their chance meeting stoked a desire in Jessye unlike anything she had ever felt before, and it churned her mind with questions. Should she stay on the path already chosen for her? Fulfill everyone’s expectations but her own? Or leap in a different direction and risk everything to be with Reese?

But while Jessye hesitated, the time for decision making slipped away. Soon, life tore her and Reese in different directions, and she never saw him again.

Now, seven years have passed. Jessye’s life hasn’t worked out the way she’d anticipated. She’s at a low point and has all but given up on her dreams for the future. She’s never forgotten Reese, but has never held out much hope for reconnecting with him, either. So, she’s shocked to run into him one day and learn he’s back in town to play one of the biggest shows of his career. Reese has transformed his passion for music into a successful living, and he’s performing as part of the celebrity wedding celebration currently taking Hillingham Hollow by storm.

Even more surprising, Reese is single and still interested in Jessye.

But Jessye’s grim circumstances have changed her. She’s anxious and wary, reluctant to believe in anything or anyone anymore, including Reese. Reese says he doesn’t mind. He likes a challenge. Jessye has serious doubts, but Reese’s determination is difficult to ignore. Seeing her again seems to have rekindled Reese’s longing to make her his—forever.

But can he convince Jessye to trust again? To reopen her heart and give him another chance?

If ever there were a perfect opportunity to reshape fate, this special weekend might be it. Because in Hillingham Hollow, Halloween Is the Time to Say I Love You.

Content advisory for Book 3: Halloween Is the Time to Say I Love You: This story contains sexual references and sensual kissing.

Part of the Halloween Hearts series.

Book 1: A Kiss at Halloween (Max and Kaelin) Now available
Book 2: All I Want for Halloween Is You (Clark and Iris) Now available
Book 4: I’ll Be Home for Halloween (London and Clea) Coming August 2022
Book 5: All My Halloweens (Corvin and Joy) Coming September 2022

• Language: English
• Publisher: Elizabeth Myles
• Release date: Jul 29, 2022
• ISBN: 9781005889586

Elizabeth Myles

Elizabeth Myles enjoys reading and writing lighthearted romance. Her favorite stories feature sweet heroines and noble heroes. She is a graduate of Lone Star College-Tomball and the University of Houston. Her prize-winning short fiction appeared several times in Inkling: The Creative Arts Magazine of LSC-Tomball, and her novel, Fear and Laundry, received a notable entry honor in the teen category of Shelf Unbound Magazine's Writing Competition for Best Independently Published Book. Shelf Unbound subsequently included Fear and Laundry in a special contest issue spotlighting the work of “some of today’s best indie authors.”Elizabeth’s other works include the paranormal romantic comedy series The Sharpest Kiss and the contemporary/paranormal series Halloween Hearts.Elizabeth and her handsome husband, Steve, live and run together in Texas. When she is not writing, Elizabeth can be found reading, cooking, or baking, often while listening to Nine Inch Nails and other rock music. She enjoys watching sci-fi and horror movies, and her favorite television shows are Supernatural and The X-Files. Connect with her at elizabethmyles.com, and for alerts about new releases, please sign up for her mailing list here: https://elizabethmyles.com/mailing-list/

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Halloween Is the Time to Say I Love You copyright © 2022 Elizabeth Myles

Cover and other images by Steven Myles using photos from Unsplash and Pixabay. Big Set of Dividers by starline on Freepik.

The cover image of this novel is used strictly for literary and illustrative purposes, and any models depicted in the cover image bear no relationship whatsoever to this work of fiction or to any of the characters or events depicted herein.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are either the product of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to any person or persons, living or dead, events or locales is purely coincidental.

All rights reserved, including the right to reproduce or transmit this book or any part thereof by any means whatsoever, without written permission of the author, except where permitted by law.

HOLLOW HAPPENINGS

From Hollow Happenings, the community newsletter of Hillingham Hollow, Texas

A ‘Joy’-ous Occasion in Hillingham Hollow: Former Hillingham High homecoming queen to wed celebrated doom-and-gloom rock musician in what many are dubbing a ‘marriage of light and darkness.’

By Lenore Shelley (@lshelleyhh, [e-mail])

Local entrepreneur, multi-industrialist, and noted philanthropist, Alistair Banes Alejandro III, held a press conference with his family in attendance on Monday to announce the engagement of his daughter, Autumn Joy Alejandro, age 20, to Corvin Covarrubias, age 28.

Ms. Alejandro, known as Joy, graduated from Hillingham High School in 20-- and will be familiar to Hollow residents not only as that school’s homecoming queen, but also as Hillingham Hollow’s own Harvest Festival Pumpkin Princess, and Miss Kettle Corn Celebration (a.k.a. Kettle Corn Queen) two years running.

Six months ago, Ms. Alejandro made global headlines when her relationship with internationally renowned model/actor/singer, Covarrubias (stage name, Vlad Harker) became public. The couple reportedly met while Ms. Alejandro, a film student at UT Austin, and Mr. Covarrubias, lately the lead singer of gothic rock band, Cold Glass Coffin, filmed a short segment together in the upcoming major motion picture Re-Vamp! The film, directed by up-and-comer Scout Remington, is a musical mash-up of the classic novella, Carmilla, by Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu, and the long-running horror comic book series, Ace Van Helsing vs. The Fiends of Professor Nosferus.

Alejandro III confirmed Monday that his daughter will marry Covarrubias in Hillingham Hollow, and that a three-day festival, featuring a volunteer-run charity carnival and a trio of rock concerts, will mark the occasion of the wedding, taking place in Hillingham Park on Sunday, October 27th, 20--. All events, with the exception of the final concert by multi-award-winning rock group (and personal friends of Covarrubias, the band’s former lead guitarist), How to Make a Wolf Howl, will be free and open to the public.

How to Make a Wolf Howl, who have been on an indefinite hiatus since the release of their Greatest Hits collection in 20--, will play live for the first time in nearly four years on Sunday, October 27th, 20-- at the Vintage Meadow Civic Center. More than five thousand tickets to the show, made available online directly following Alejandro’s press conference, sold out in a reported nine minutes and twenty-two seconds. However, wristband passes, hand-delivered exclusively via horse-drawn carriage alongside Ms. Alejandro and Mr. Covarrubias’ wedding invitations this week, will allow an additional ~600 personal guests (every member of Ms. Alejandro’s high school graduating class, plus one guest each) entry to the event.

**Carnival organizers seek dozens of volunteers to build and run booths for a variety of local charities; please see sidebar for information on where and how to apply. See next page for concert schedule.**

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CHAPTER ONE

Muy Guapo

Hillingham Hollow, a suburb of Houston, Texas

Friday, October 25th

THE WEEKEND OF Autumn Joy Alejandro’s wedding, I experienced one of the most embarrassing moments of my life. At the time, I blamed her a little. Autumn Joy, I mean. After all, it was the latest news report about her nuptials that had distracted me so much, I had allowed disaster to ensue.

I had to admit, later, though, that at least some of the trouble had been my fault. Had I left the house when I was supposed to that day—as soon as my duties were done for the morning—it’s unlikely anything funny would’ve happened. Instead, there I’d been, hanging out in my client, Mrs. Rankin’s, living room, watching television, completely oblivious to what my dawdling was about to cost me. I’d had the TV on in the background while I worked, and, now, before I left for home, I was taking a minute to watch the tail end of the local news report.

As they’d been all week, the anchors were chattering excitedly about the upcoming wedding festival. A slide show flashed across the screen, showing pictures of volunteers happily constructing carnival booths on Main Street, of the giant purple Christmas—sorry, I mean Halloween—tree dominating Town Square, and of the elegant, freshly-painted white gazebo in the park, where the wedding would take place on Sunday night. I had my head tilted and was twirling a lock of my hair around my finger as I gawked with wistfulness at this flurry of preparations. Even though I didn’t know Autumn Joy personally (we’d gone to the same high school, but she’d graduated six years after I did), I couldn’t help but be swept up in the romance of her situation. Once upon a time, I had filled sketchbooks with designs for elaborate weddings such as hers. I’d thought I was going to be a big-time event coordinator. Like so much else in my life, though, that plan hadn’t really worked out. Like, at all.

"Smoochie! Smoochie, stop it already! For goodness’ sake…"

The plea, yelled in a somewhat familiar masculine voice, tore my focus from the television. I heard frantic barking ringing from the front yard. Frowning, I clicked off the TV set, crossed to the front door, and swung it open. I stepped onto the porch and…I saw him.

Reese Mathis. He was standing on the sidewalk in front of the house, dressed in well-fitting jeans and a Deep Ellum Brewing t-shirt. Tall, dark-haired, and green-eyed, he was a thoroughly handsome specimen of manhood and a completely unexpected blast from my past, not to mention someone I was not at all prepared to deal with today. Or ever. I opened my eyes wide and took a step backward, intending to slink back inside Mrs. Rankin’s house and shut the door until he went away, but it was too late. He had seen me.

Jessye? Surprise dawned on his face first, and then unmistakable gladness. His mouth split open in a grin, and dimples appeared in each of his cheeks. Jessye, oh my goodness. Hi! He waved. His other hand was occupied holding a leash, at the end of which, leaping up and down, wagging his tail madly, was a Jack Russell Terrier I recognized. I had seen other people leading that dog around the neighborhood before, but never Reese. Certainly never Reese. If I had seen him around here, I would’ve known not to come back to this house again, no matter how well the owners tipped.

Reese ripped his gaze away from me to frown at the dog. "Smoochie, for the love of…Would you calm down?"

The dog would not calm down. Especially not now that the next-door neighbor, Mr. Pedersen’s, Calico, Betsy, had emerged from the rose bushes. The cat got one look at Smoochie, flattened her fluffy ears, and took off like a streak. I felt the breeze sweep past my legs as the feline dashed between the artificial jack-o-lanterns arranged on the porch and zoomed in the door I’d left standing open. Plastic jack-o-lanterns tumbled like bowling pins in her wake. Smoochie went wild, bouncing and yapping as if the sky were coming down on him.

Betsy, no! I spun and darted in after her.

At the same time, Reese called out, Smoochie! Smoochie, STOP! Then, with an extra dose of panic, Jessye, look out!! I turned over my shoulder to see the dog had escaped him. Here the terrier came, barreling at me at top speed, his tongue flapping in the wind and his leash dragging behind him, whipping a furrow across the carefully cultivated lawn. I screeched and ducked aside. The remainder of the jack-o-lanterns toppled, and the dog went hurtling past.

A quarter second later, Reese pelted in the door. He stopped and looked around, wide-eyed. Which way did he go?

I pointed into the dining room. And then we both heard it: the terrific crash announcing that something glass had just shattered into a bazillion pieces.

Betsy! I screamed, but the cat was already racing back toward me, all four paws leaving the carpet as she bounded for her life. She bolted past us, escaping out the front door. Smoochie was right behind, and would’ve happily given chase, but Reese crouched down and caught the frantic animal around the middle with both large hands. The impact bowled Reese onto his haunches and then spilled him onto his back, where he lay with the wriggling dog locked against his chest. He was cursing, making faces, while Smoochie lived up to his name, lapping his wet tongue all over Reese’s neck and chin.

I stood and watched the unlikely scene unfold for another moment, stupefied and confused. And then I couldn’t help it any more—I doubled over and laughed. Hard.

"It’s not that funny." The dark scowl clouding Reese’s brow did nothing to diminish his attractiveness. Or my laughter.

I’m s-sorry. I covered my mouth and batted my eyelashes, trying to blink away the tears. You look…You look like a pig wrestler!

Yeah? Well, I feel like one, too. He cast Smoochie a thunderous look, and then, with a bit of muttering and wriggling, managed to regain his feet. He set Smoochie down, careful to wrap the pup’s leash tightly around his knuckles. When the terrier’s paws touched the carpet, it was as if a switch had flipped inside him. He ducked his head and acted subdued. That fretful expression on his snout worried me.

Hey, is he okay? I asked.

Reese bent and examined the dog. Yes, he’s fine. Just feeling guilty, I’d expect, which only serves him right…And, by the way, I’m also fine, ma’am. Thank you for asking.

I flapped a hand at him. Please cool your heels, sir, I hadn’t gotten around to asking about you yet.

Right. And then, with a wary note, I’m so sorry about this Jessye. Did he break something in here? It sounded like he broke something.

I stopped in the middle of wiping my eyes. Oh, no! In my fit of laughter, I had already forgotten about the ominous crash, but now I scurried into the dining room to inspect the damage. It’s one of the French doors, I discovered, spreading my hands in dismay.

The set of double doors leading onto the back deck were shut, and evidently one of the animals, probably Smoochie, since he was bigger, had hit them so hard, one of the bottom panels had busted out. Glass shards glittered on the deck, and quite a few were also inside the house, sparkling on the floorboards. Floorboards I had only recently finished waxing and polishing. No wonder Smoochie had found them so slippery. I took a moment to be thankful neither of the animals had seemed hurt, and then I felt my hands bunching into fists, galled to know that my own hard work had contributed to this fiasco.

Reese came up beside me, letting out a mild curse when he saw the mess. I’m so sorry, he said again.

You ought to be. New tears stung my eyes, but these weren’t from laughter. I was so screwed! I shoved Reese hard in the arm and then pressed my hand against my stomach, as if I could force down the storm of nausea welling inside me.

Reese looked at me in surprise. "Well, geez, I did apologize. And I will fix it for you, you know."

Not for me! I cried.

What?

"You won’t fix it for me because this isn’t my house! The Rankins live here."

Who?

Mr. and Mrs. Rankin. My clients. Who are probably going to fire me the minute they see this mess. Oh, you have to get out of here! I shoved him again.

Now, hang on just a second. He planted his feet. This is my fault. I’ll take care of it.

"No, you won’t. You’ll only make things worse. If Mrs. Rankin comes home and finds you here, who knows what she’ll think? Then I’ll have to explain you, too. Ugh…Look, just go, please. She only stepped out to run an errand, and she’ll be back any second. I have to clean up that glass. Oh, man…" I was pacing up and down with the palm of one hand pressed against my forehead, struggling to decide the best way to handle this disaster.

Meanwhile, Reese wasn’t going anywhere. He was set in place, his chin raised at an interested angle and his gaze traveling up and down the length of my body. I had the feeling he wasn’t listening to a word I was saying anymore, only examining what I was wearing and what I looked like these days. When I noticed, I snapped my mouth closed and quit pacing. Embarrassment curdled my insides as I realized how I must appear to him. Scrawnier than I had looked seven-plus years ago, surely, with a skinny, worried face and dark circles shadowing my brown eyes. My light chestnut hair, which had once been almost annoyingly massive, had thinned considerably and lost its luster. Chronic stress will do that to a person. I was grateful the kerchief tied over my head hid most of the evidence, even if the scrap of checkered fabric also made me look like a drudge.

No more so than your clothes do, I thought, touching my collar.

I was in my uniform, a light purple polo shirt and gray slacks, with a lighter purple smock layered over it. My rubber-soled shoes were black and sensible, providing safety and comfort but no style. I caught Reese eyeballing my left hand. What was he doing? Checking for a ring? Or just staring at how red and raw my work-worn fingers were these days? I shoved my hands into the pockets of my smock, concealing a truth I had no desire to admit to him.

What’s going on? Reese’s eyes found mine again. His eyebrows pinched together, and he asked me the dreaded question. If this isn’t your house, then what’re you doing—

A car pulled into the driveway then, rolling over his words. I closed my eyes momentarily, not believing my bad luck, and when I opened them again, Reese was still standing there, looking gorgeous and perplexed—unwittingly about to ruin everything for me. There’s Mrs. Rankin, I said, casting him an imploring gaze. I don’t imagine I can persuade you to leave out the back door?

He drew back his shoulders and frowned. Not a chance.

No, of course not. Why make things easy for me?

Don’t worry, he added, holding out a conciliatory hand. Just leave the talking to me. I’ll take care of everything.

That was what I was afraid of.

Outside, the car door creaked open and then slammed shut, and I heard feet shuffling. I stepped into the doorway between the living room and dining room to await my fate, my pulse thudding in my throat. The next moment, Mrs. Rankin whirled in the front door and tossed an armload of shopping bags on the sofa. She cocked her head, giving me a surprised look.

Jessye?

Hi, Mrs. Rankin.

My client was an olive-skinned beauty who’d turned forty-one only a few months ago but who was also in excellent shape and looked about thirty. Her first husband had passed away tragically when she was young, I wasn’t sure how, and her second one, who was only thirty-four now, had met her on a business trip to Guadalajara some five years ago. I’d worked for them for three years—first at their previous home, and now at this new one—and had been around the two of them enough times to confidently say that they were happily married. Mr. Rankin was a handsome young man, quiet and pleasant, and Mrs. Rankin treated him like a king. She was exceedingly kind to me as well, although sometimes excitable.

What’s happening? she demanded as she marched toward me. "Why front door is standing wide open and mis calabazas—my pumpkins—thrown everywhere? I thought you would be finished for today already, but— She stopped, sucking in a breath when she reached me, looked past my shoulder, and saw the broken window pane. Oh, no!! What happen?"

I’m so sorry, Mrs. Rankin. I clasped my hands in front of my chest.

She gasped again. "This is bad. Very bad. Muy malo! She pressed her hands to her pretty face, widening her large eyes. I have big watch party here for the wedding in two days. This is why I have you come and do extra clean this morning!"

"Yes, I know. Like I said, I’m sorry. It’s my fault. I left the door open for only a second and Mr. Pedersen’s cat…Well, the cat…And then the dog—" I gestured at Smoochie.

Now wait just a second. Reese took a step forward and held out his hand. "This is my fault. Ma’am— He fixed his jewel-toned eyes on Mrs. Rankin’s, effectively stealing her attention away from me. I was taking Smoochie here for his walk, and I let him get away from me. He chased a cat in here and broke your window. I’m truly sorry about all that, but it was an accident. I’ll beg you to please remember that."

Smoochie? Mrs. Rankin tore her eyes from Reese and blinked at the little dog, who now sat quietly on the rug, next to Reese’s leg. Smoochie’s snout was raised in a lofty manner, and there was a dignified, almost affronted look in his liquid eyes. Who, me? he seemed to be asking. As if there was no way in the world he could have caused the trouble Reese and I were mentioning, and he had no idea why we would think to blame him. "That’s Neighbor Allison’s perrito." Mrs. Rankin pointed an authoritative red fingernail at him.

Surprise lit Reese’s face. Yes. Allison. That’s right. Allison’s my mother. She lives a few houses down from here. You know her?

"Claro que sí. Nice lady. I meet her when Peter and I move in a few months ago. She bring us a strawberry pie. Delicioso. Since then, we talk now and then… Mrs. Rankin brought her gaze up to meet Reese’s again. Her eyes grew, and a happy light flickered across her expression. Ohhh…You are el hijo, Reese! I hear much about you from your parents. Including how handsome you are. But your photos do not do you justice, it seems. She glanced at me. Don’t you think, Miss Jessye? He is very handsome! Muy guapo, eh?"

Uh… I glanced at Reese, and he snuck a wink at me. I snapped my mouth closed again and dropped my gaze.

I couldn’t keep my eyes off him for long, though. As he and Mrs. Rankin continued their chat, I kept stealing glances at him from under my lashes. He looked the same as he had almost eight years ago, only…bigger. He wasn’t much taller—he’d already topped six feet when I knew him—but his chest had broadened and his muscles had swelled. His dark hair was cut shorter than before, and the last bit of youthful softness had melted from his face. He looks all grown up, I thought, with a warm thrill spreading through my chest. Healthy, too, and strong, not only in body but in spirit.

And yes, as Mrs. Rankin had pointed out, he was still handsome. Muy guapo.

Lord almighty.

I swiped my hand across my forehead, collecting beads of sweat.

You live in Dallas, no? You come to visit your parents? Mrs. Rankin seemed to have forgotten about the demolished window. Now, all she was interested in was Reese and his family.

Yes, ma’am, that’s one of the reasons I’m in town. Reese shifted his weight, settling one hand on his hip. I tried to ignore the way the move tugged at his t-shirt, tightening the fabric across his powerful chest. I tried not to stare at his fingers, either, but I couldn’t help noticing they were bare. No wedding ring for him, either, then. Hmm.

As if THAT could matter anymore, I chided myself in the next instant. Not to you, Jessye Anne.

Reese and Mrs. Rankin exchanged more small talk, and then Reese tried to wrap things up by repeating, Anyway, I was just out walking the dog for Mom when he caught sight of that cat, and… He waved at the mess on the floor. "Well, this happened. Again, I apologize.