I hesitated. Harley’s offer to escort me home seemed sincere, but I was also pretty certain that he’d been flirting with me at the party…which meant there was still a chance for that one-night hookup.

“Sure. I live in Brooklyn, that cool?” That was always the thing with meeting new people in New York—figuring out if you wanted to pursue a hookup, relationship, or even a friendship across boroughs, though I had no idea where Harley was from.

“Of course. Which train?” Harley asked.

“The Q,” I said. “And it’s totally fine if you’re not up for that. Or you could just walk me to the train and then go on your way—”

“No, I’m in it for the long haul,” he said with that smile of his. “Want to take the scenic route to the station, enjoy some of the parade festivities on the way?”

“Sure,” I said. Only a few minutes before, I’d been in a hurry to get to the closest station and get home, but with Harley by my side, I was suddenly open to salvaging the night if I could.

We started walking along the parade route, through Times Square, laughing at some of the more outrageous costumes.

“It’s funny how some people go all out for Halloween, and some do barely anything at all,” he said as a guy on stilts and dressed as the Jolly Green Giant went lurching by.

“I’m one of those people who barely does anything, as you’ve seen,” I said.

“Yeah, but those whiskers are killer.”

Once again, my cheeks were on fire. “Thanks, I drew them myself.”

I felt so at ease in his company. I was glad that he was by my side, just in case that creep showed up again. Guys like that fake cop preferred their victims to be solo, so I was pretty certain that he wouldn’t be bothering me with this huge werewolf by my side.

“Whoa, look at that,” Harley said, pointing to a failed monster costume. “What is he even supposed to be?”

I giggled at his matted, haphazard fur and smeared brown face paint. “Maybe he’s supposed to be Bigfoot?”

“More like Smallfoot,” Harley joked, and we both burst into laughter. “He’s got to be the shortest guy I’ve seen tonight. Why would he try for Bigfoot without really going for it?”

“Exactly,” I said. “You know, he kind of looks like that bear-dog guy who tried to hit on me at the party. You know, the one who said that Alpha werewolves like to chase cats?”

Harley rolled his eyes. “Yes, that guy’s costume was a travesty.”

“What did you say to him that made him run off with his tail between his legs like that?”

Harley grinned. “Nothing much, just told him to behave like a gentleman.”

I gave him a skeptical look. “Really? That’s all? The guy looked terrified.”

Harley laughed and shrugged. “Yeah, well, I’m a werewolf. What’s he gonna do?”

“But he was a werewolf too…more or less.” I giggled.

Harley wasn’t laughing. “Yeah, but you and I both know which one of us really looks the part.”

“You’re right. I have to admit that your costume is super realistic. You must have worked really hard at it. I’ve been admiring you all night.”

“You’ve been admiring me, huh?” He nudged me with his shoulder.

I nudged him back, staving off another full-fledged blush fest. “I was admiring your costume,” I corrected him. “Most people just buy something from a store, but your costume looks way too good for that.”

“Thanks, I’ll take that as a compliment.”

“You should, because it totally was one.”

We looked at each other…or more like gazed into each other’s eyes for a few beats before I cleared my throat and looked away.

“So…I have to admit that I’m wondering what lies beneath the costume. What do you really look like under all the sharp teeth, fur, and claws?”

Harley gestured to the sky. “The next full moon is still a few days away. You’ll have to wait until around then before I can show you.”

We came to a stop as the crowd from the parade swelled in and pushed us together. He was looking down at me with that smile, more a smirk now than anything else.

I smiled back, my eyes drawn to his before falling to his lips.

Whoa. Even his lips are nice. This guy is a total babe.

“Okay, wolf man, I guess I’m willing to wait a few nights to get my eyes on the real you,” I said. I rose to my tiptoes to kiss him just as a harsh voice broke through the noise.

“Harley!”