Page 54 of Shelter from the Storm

His cousin, like his brothers, hadn’t been a bit surprised by his confession, claiming she’d been quite amused by the way he constantly made moon eyes at Gretchen every time he thought no one was looking. And more than that, she started playing matchmaker, giving him ideas for things to do around Gracemont that would be perfect for romantic dates.

“Ahoy, matey!” Levi cried out, when he spotted Theo in his pirate costume. Levi was carrying a pitcher of beer and a couple of glasses. “We’ve got a big table over there,” his brother said, pointing him in the right direction.

Despite the fact it was a Wednesday and everyone in here probably had work in the morning, the bar was packed, no one willing to pass up the chance to kick up their heels. Social events like this were the exception rather than the norm in Gracemont, so whenever something fun cropped up, most of the locals made their way there.

Theo grinned at Levi’s Han Solo costume, complete with blaster in a gun belt, then snorted when Levi put down the pitcher and glasses, wrapping his arm around Kasi’s waist. She made an adorable Princess Leia.

Then, he took in his family’s costumes one by one, chuckling at some of the more outrageous ones. Maverick made an amusing Alan from The Hangover, complete with a baby doll strapped to his chest. Grayson was currently acting out his “Where’s Waldo” outfit, standing directly behind Superman Everett, and peering over his shoulder as everyone pretended to be looking for him. Sam and Jace had nailed their look, bringing the Blues Brothers to life.

Theo laughed out loud when his gaze finally landed on Gretchen, surrounded by his cousins at the opposite end of the table. Walking toward them, he stopped next to her. “Never really pegged you for a mean girl,” he joked.

Gretchen dramatically tossed her hair over her shoulder. “On Wednesdays, we wear pink,” she announced. Sure enough, she, Nora, Remi, and Mila were rocking it in several different shades of pink.

“When we realized Halloween was on a Wednesday, we couldn’t resist,” Remi explained. In addition to her pink attire, she’d created a neck brace for herself out of dowel rods and a foam wreath that was decorated with flowers. “I’m Regina George, obviously. Nora is Cady, Mila is Karen, and?—”

“I’m playing the role of Gretchen,” Gretchen added, giggling.

“Well, shiver me timbers,” he said in a pirate tone. “You all look great.”

“So do you.” Gretchen reached out to tap his eye patch. “How annoying is the patch?”

He shrugged. “Only just put it on in the parking lot. Suspect it will get old long before the night is over.”

While his family had managed to snag a large table, there weren’t enough stools for everyone, so while half the group was sitting, the rest were standing around it. Theo parked himself behind Gretchen, leaning over her to pour himself a glass of beer from one of the countless pitchers. For the first time in a week, he made no attempt to avoid touching her or keeping his distance as his chest pressed tight to her back, his arm brushing hers.

She glanced over her shoulder at him, looking confused. Undoubtedly, she mistook the space he’d been giving her as him backing off. Tonight, that was over. He was ready to set the wheels in motion, ready to seduce the socks off Miss Gretchen Banks.

Taking a sip of his beer, he rested his free arm on the back of her stool, playing with her hair.

“Theo,” she whispered, her eyes traveling around the table, checking to make sure no one was watching them.

Theo didn’t care if they were. He’d come clean to four of his brothers, and given the wink Grayson shot him and the knowing grin on Everett’s face, it was obvious the other two had been read in.

He was also certain Nora had filled in Mila and Remi, because those girls told each other everything, secrets nonexistent in their house. And the same held true with Levi and Kasi.

So really, the only person at the table who didn’t know he’d made his attraction public was Gretchen.

“Hmmm.” He teased the side of her neck with one finger. When she shivered, her eyes growing dark with desire, he decided he needed to pull back a little bit, or he was about to become a pirate sporting a very large plank.

“I love this song!” Remi yelled when a Billy Idol classic from the eighties, “Dancing with Myself,” started playing. “Let’s hit the floor and get this party started.”

Mila, Kasi, and Nora were already out of their chairs, but Gretchen hesitated.

“Aren’t you going to go with them?” he asked.

Something crossed her face that he couldn’t quite read. For a moment, it looked like anxiety or maybe fear, but she shook off whatever was bothering her quickly. “I think I will go dance.”

He watched as she joined the other women on the floor, all of them jumping around, laughing, singing along. He lifted his glass to Gretchen in a silent toast, when she turned to look back at him. The smile she gave him was bright and so happy it took his breath away. Then she gave him a shy wave, the gesture so adorable he fell even deeper.

“You’ve got it bad, bro,” Sam said, shoulder-bumping him.

Theo chuckled, but before he could respond, he caught sight of someone over Sam’s shoulder and growled. “Scottie is here, doing his slimy politician act.”

Sam didn’t even bother to turn around. “Saw him when we walked in. Nodded my head, acknowledging him. He gave me a dirty look and turned his back. Because he’s an asshole like that.”

“He’s pissed because he knows he can’t beat you.”

Sam shrugged. “I wouldn’t be so sure of that. I entered the mayoral race pretty late, and there are plenty of people in town who think he’s done a decent job. Suspect there are people who prefer the devil they know versus the one they don’t.”

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