Jack by Stephanie Bedwell-Grime

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SKU 978-0-3695-1552-0
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Cozy Monster Love, 1

Life in Rachel’s new apartment building is a little lonely. Except for the twitching curtains in the main floor unit, she never sees her neighbors. So when a mysterious invitation to a Halloween party arrives in her mailbox, she’s intrigued.

It’s not easy being trapped in the body of a pumpkin, but Jack is at peace with his situation. Except for his lack of a love life. Deep down he knows inviting his new neighbor to the party is probably a mistake, but he’s desperate to get to know her.

At the Halloween party, Rachel runs into a friendly guest dressed as a pumpkin. Together they have a magic romantic encounter in the backyard bower, the only place where Jack can occupy his human form.

The next morning Rachel sets out to track down her mysterious suitor. But when she corners Jack in his pumpkin form, he’s forced to reveal the truth.

The reality of Jack’s existence is hard to take, never mind his well-meaning, but meddling monster friends.

Does Rachel have faith in her blossoming love for Jack, or run away and try to forget monsters exist?


Excerpt:

A small bench that appeared to have been made from twisted vines stood beside the back door. With a heavy sigh, she sank down on it.

“It’s okay,” said a deep voice beside her. “I’m not having much fun either.” A pause. “Yet.”

Rachel spun in her seat so quickly she nearly spilled her drink. She couldn’t find anyone else on the porch. But on the other side of the door she saw a bunch of pumpkins that had been piled in an artful pyramid. A lone jack-o’-lantern with a cheerful face topped the stack. Flame glowed inside its face.

“Sorry,” the jack-o’-lantern said in that same resonant voice. “Didn’t mean to startle you.”

It was that stack of pumpkins who’d suddenly started talking to her.

“Whoa,” she said to cover the tiny squeak that had escaped her lips. “That’s some costume.”

The pumpkin tilted its head, so precariously she worried it might tumble off and regarded the pyramid of pumpkins on which it rested. “Costume, yeah, right. Um, thank you?”

She tried to ignore his odd response. Another five minutes, she promised herself.

“Pleasant evening,” the pumpkin said.

Rachel nodded and tried to think up something to say. “Any idea what’s in this punch?”

The pumpkin raised his own glass and peered inside. Despite how impressive the costume was, he still had very human-looking arms and hands. “Oh, nothing bad, just alcohol and more alcohol. It takes a lot to have an effect on our kind.”

She didn’t know what to say to that.

He put his drink down on a small table beside him and held out his hand. “Name’s Jack.”

She took his hand and shook. “Rachel.”

The pumpkin’s smile broadened. “Nice to meet you, Rachel.”

Introductions over, Rachel found she didn’t have much to add to the conversation. She peered into the darkness, checking out the back yard. A large arch made of the same twisted vines as the bench reared out of the shadows. It appeared to lead to some kind of path, also covered in vines.

“What’s that?” she asked her pumpkin companion.

“Oh, that? That’s the bower and the magic path.”

Rachel studied the odd arch again. There didn’t seem to be anything magic about it. But she had to wonder why someone would have built that in their back yard. Maybe it was a frame for a grapevine or something. “What’s magic about it?”

The pumpkin’s expression grew wistful. “Oh, wonderful things happen there.”

Okay this she had to see. Before she could reconsider that she was in a strange back yard with a guy dressed as a stack of pumpkins, she was already down the steps and standing beneath the arch.

On her approach she noticed a warm glow begin to emanate from the inside of the arch. She glanced up at the sky, but there was no moon. Must be light reflected from the house, she thought. Though she hadn’t heard him move, she found Jack standing suddenly beside her. The lights in his pumpkin eyes flared brightly. He held out his hand.

“Shall we?”

Why not? She’d recently moved to a new neighborhood and finding herself surrounded by strangers was hard. Her new building had its own quirks. The large gargoyle perched on the roof took a bit of getting used to. She hadn’t yet met any of her new neighbors. She needed to get out more, try new things, and meet new people.

She reached out and took his hand.

Colors swirled around her in a giant kaleidoscope. She glanced up to find Jack standing beside her. He must have taken off his pumpkin head because the figure holding her hand was magnificently human. He certainly didn’t have a pumpkin’s physique.

Dark curls tumbled down over his forehead. He had a neat, close cropped beard. Sparkling blue eyes gazed back at her. His expression broadened into a smile.

She put her hand against his chest and felt only muscle under her touch. “Why were you hiding all this under a pumpkin costume?” She heard herself ask the question as if from a distance. She felt one step removed from reality. Must be the disorienting affect of the lights, she thought hazily. It couldn’t be the drink, she hadn’t had more than a sip.

“Hiding?” He covered her hand with his. “Not hiding at all.”

His lips brushed hers, a brief tantalizing touch. She rose onto her tiptoes seeking more of that caress. And he obliged her.

His mouth slanted over hers. She parted her lips, tasting spice before his tongue tangled with hers. His arms came around her, pulling her tighter against him. Every muscle in his body pressed against her.

She’d never been so forward with a complete stranger. One-night-stands weren’t her style. And yet she desired Jack with a passion she’d never felt before.

“This isn’t a magic path, it’s a hook up spot,” she said when they’d surfaced to breathe.

“Oh, I assure you it is magic.” Jack covered her mouth with his again.

Red and blue light swirled around them. She wondered where he’d left his pumpkin costume because he sure wasn’t wearing it now. She felt every inch of his body crushed against hers. Feathers drifted down from her dress to scatter over the ground as he gripped her shoulders. For an instant she thought she saw pumpkins hanging from the bower above them, then she was lost in his kiss.

Series:
/series-cozy-monster-love/