Chapter 14

Standing there in a ridiculous black pinstripe suit, sporting Gomez Addams's signature coiffed hair, I looked around at the trunk-or-treat.

How the hell did I get roped into these things? I had so much gel in my hair, I wasn't sure I'd ever get it out.

Ivy smiled as Kai, and Blair played with Diesel, aka Cousin It. Right, that was why I was there. I kept getting suckered in by the cute little lady and her million kids.

Every day, my wife seemed to get me more and more wrapped around her finger. And I had no clue how it even happened.

"Mr. Lowery," the principal started as she walked up to our trunk. "I hear congratulations are in order."

I'd only been in town a handful of times in the last few weeks, and each time someone was offering me their congratulations.

"Thanks." I shifted on my feet, trying not to squirm. It was weird to talk about my relationship status, when it was just a mess of confusion. Yes, we were married. But everything else was kind of cloudy.

My eyes locked on Ivy. Just like when she walked out of her room, my stomach tightened—because my wife was hot in that fitted black dress. All the curves I couldn't touch on display, like my personal torture device. Her lips lifted slightly when she caught me staring, but she glanced away, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear.

"That Addams Family theme is perfect." The voice jarred me out of my stupor. Because, shit, I was supposed to be having a conversation with the principal, not checking out my wife. "You and Ivy make the perfect Gomez and Morticia."

I cleared my throat. "Thanks."

"Let me guess." She pointed to Kai and Blair standing off to the side with Diesel. "Pugsley, Grandmama, and Cousin It?"

I chuckled as Diesel tried to shake the mop off his head again.

Kai nodded proudly. "Yup. And Shane is Lurch cause he's so tall."

"Don't forget about Jayden." Blair chuckled and pointed across the way to where he stood talking with another kid. "He has to wear something on his head to cover his hair because Uncle Fester is bald."

"Well, that makes sense. You guys all look great." The principal turned back to us. "Can't wait to see you both at parent-teacher conferences next week."

I raised an eyebrow and opened my mouth to respond because I was sure I would need to attend those. Yes, we were married, but I doubted Ivy would want me there.

Before I could say anything, Kai spoke up first. "I'm so excited. I've never had a mom, and a dad come to my school before." Kai ran over and wrapped his arms around my leg. "This is my first ever dad in my whole life."

Well, shit. That could be why he was so insistent on calling me dad. I patted Kai's head, his soft, black hair tickling my palm.

He beamed. "And I'm lucky, because you're the best Dad."

And a lump formed in my throat. Although I was hanging out with these guys all the time, I wasn't sure I had earned that title. But maybe I could.

"I'll be there," I promised the principal, and sent Kai a wink. "I can't wait to see if Kai's classroom has a ghost, too."

"That's just a home thing," Kai assured me.

The principal's forehead bunched, but she refrained from questioning, moving on to the next car instead. Probably because she knew Kai at this point and probably didn't want an explanation.

"Can we go get candy now? We've been so patient." Blair batted her eyes at me, much like her mother did. But I wasn't falling under her spell.

"Shane is taking you. Finn needs to man his trunk," Ivy reminded her.

It took a minute to get the kids organized, but then they all took off with Shane while Ivy and I stayed next to the open trunks of our vehicles to hand out candy.

The first half hour was endless lines of kids, but the numbers slowly diminished as they all gathered in front of a magician at one end of the line of cars.

I sat down in the trunk of Ivy's SUV and my hand brushed along her waist as I leaned back. She seemed to almost jump out of her skin.

"We're never going to convince people this is real if you seem bothered every time I touch you," I teased.

She glanced at me out of the corner of her eye. "It doesn't bother me."

"Are you sure about that?" I taunted and brushed my hand across her hip.

This time, she locked herself in place. When she turned to look at me, my eyes locked on her mouth as she slowly wet her red lips. I swallowed.

"Need me to prove it?" she whispered.

Before I could fully grasp what she was going to do, she inched over and pressed her lips to mine.

For one heartbeat, I was stunned. The soft lips pressed against mine were perfection, and I wasn't about to let her get away. I shifted, bringing one hand up to cup her cheek, allowing me to deepen the kiss. My tongue slipped between her plush lips to meet hers. The whimper that echoed up her throat went straight to my cock. My body desperate for more.

A throat clearing had us pulling apart. Staring into her deep brown eyes, I was stunned. Whoa, that was… I wasn't sure, but I wanted to lean back in and do it again. We blinked at each other before turning to the three ladies standing awkwardly in front of us.

"Sorry to interrupt the honeymoon," one of the women, dressed as the blonde sister from Hocus Pocus, said. "We just wanted to say congratulations. We've all been waiting for you to settle down, Finn."

"Thank you, Danielle." I knew her and her husband from when I helped them set up their Airbnb rental. The other two looked familiar, but I didn't know them personally. Maybe it was their Sanderson sisters' costumes that were throwing me off. "Have you met Ivy?"

The ladies shook their heads before introducing themselves. Through the small talk, and even after they walked away, I struggled not to think about the kiss we shared.

I also couldn't seem to not stare when she got up to give out candy to a group of older kids. The black dress that seemed to cling to her like it was a second skin was one hell of a distraction. With the bright red lipstick and the long, dark-haired wig covering her normally bright red hair, I had to admit she was the sexiest Morticia I'd ever seen.

Maybe it was time Ivy, and I started making some aspects of this fake marriage very real. Because damn I wanted her. But did that make me an asshole?