Finding Love: Incident at the Candy Apple (At the Candy Apple Series Book 2) (7 page)

Chapter Thirteen

Ellie woke up with a start. In the dark, the shapes that loomed weren’t familiar. She rolled and contacted a man’s body and then she smiled.
Jake.
She slid her arm across his waist and kissed his shoulder.
He’s so gorgeous, sexy, and kind. I almost can’t believe he wants me after what I did in the Candy Apple, but it’s great. He’s just what I need. I wonder what time it is? I have to go to work.
She sighed happily remembering the sex they’d shared most of the night.
Holy hell that was hot.

She moved gently away from Jake and slipped out of bed. Her cell phone was in her bag that she’d dropped in the living room along with her jacket when they’d arrived back from the restaurant hours ago. She walked, naked, through the bedroom door that hung open, and as her eyes became accustomed to darkness, she went quietly to the living room.

Once there she switched on a lamp placed on a desk in a corner of the room, and checked the floor for where her clothes were strewn. She picked up her things. Her tank top was over by the desk, and she bent to pick it up. As she straightened she saw a piece of paper on the desk, and written on it, unmistakably, her old address and cell phone number, along with what she thought was the phone number of the last temp agency she’d worked for. The most worrying thing for her was her car license plate number jotted on the bottom of the paper.
What the hell? Where did Jake get this? Obviously, that’s how he was able to call me, and I’m glad he did, but who’s giving out my information?
She stared at the paper and picked it up. It was the bottom half of a small sheet of embossed notepaper. Ellie turned it over to check the tiny raised letters that danced diagonally across one corner.
Candy Apple. Huh, that’s great. They just hand out peoples’ personal details do they?
Then Ellie sighed.
Maybe Jake asked for it and because he’s a long-term member, they gave it to him. All the same, I might check with them, just in case they do it without thinking.
She dropped the paper back onto the desk and pulled on her clothes. Her skin smelled vaguely of Jake’s light after-shave and she sure knew they’d fucked each other hard. Jake had taken care of her, but she ached a little between her legs. She grinned as just thinking about Jake made her pussy clench.

She finally checked the time on her cell phone.
After five, crap. I should go. I need to shower, make sure I have something ironed to wear for work, get ready, get petrol in my car, and scoot to the Monday eight a.m. staff meeting.

She tiptoed into the bedroom and around the bed to the side where Jake seemed to be still asleep, half on and half off the bed. She could see the contours of his handsome face now as a pale dawn light filtered under the blind. His hair was standing up from his forehead. Tenderness filled her heart.
I so want this to work out. I really like him. I think I love him.
She bent and kissed his cheek gently.

He grabbed her head, and using handfuls of her hair, he moved her face to kiss her mouth. “What’s happening? You’re dressed. It’s not Monday already?” He murmured between kisses.

Ellie smiled against his lips. “It is and I have to go. Thank you for the best Sunday ever.”

Jake didn’t let her go. “I’ll call you tonight. Hell, I miss you already and you’re not even gone.”

Ellie pulled away from him, gently untangling her hair from his fingers. “I have to go.” She kissed him quickly and stepped back.

She’d reached the front door when Jake caught up with her and picked her up in a hug.

He set her down. “Sorry, I just had to have one more hug.” He smiled and his eyes were full of love. “Hey, how’re you getting home? I should drive you. I’ll drive you. Let me get my jeans.”

Smiles wreathed Ellie’s face. “I live very close. I told you that. Don’t worry, the air will wake me out of the spell of lust you’ve just cast over me.”

A frown crept onto Jake’s face. “Will you be safe? It’s still not quite light.”

“Yes, I will. I sometimes walk before work at about this time. Go back to bed.” She took off before he grabbed her again.
Since he’s naked, he can’t follow me.
She grinned as she hurried away.

* * * *

Ellie’s day was hectic and the only time she truly missed Jake was when she’d grabbed a coffee midafternoon and stared out of the office window at the city skyline. She wondered where he was right then and what he was doing. Then she went back to work.

She didn’t get home until seven having called into the store to stock up on groceries and stuff she needed. She bought a pre-made, chicken salad sandwich, and ate it as she read her email. Then checked out the social media sites she visited. At nine, Ellie ironed a top to wear with her suit for work the next day. She took a shower and sat on her bed to flip through the TV channels and catch a movie or something that would send her to sleep. She looked at her cell phone lying silently on the bedside table. It was ten o’clock and Jake hadn’t called. For a few moments, she considered calling him and then, just as she decided not to, her phone rang.

“Ellie, I’m sorry to call so late. I only got home from a work meeting half an hour ago. How are you?”

Jake’s voice immediately made her long to be with him. “I’m good, had a busy day—sounds as if you did, too.” She squashed down the need to tell him she wished he were there beside her.

She heard him sigh softly.

“I wish I was with you.”

Ellie clutched her cell phone. “Me, too.”

“I have to go out of town tomorrow for three days. There’s an environmental agency I’ve been working with and we’re going to take soil and vegetation samples. I’ll call you every night, if that’s okay…”

Ellie slumped a little, she’d hoped to see Jake mid-week if she was honest, and now it would probably be the weekend before they saw each other. “It’s okay. I’ll look forward to it. I guess we won’t see each other until the weekend. There’s a staff get together Friday night at my new firm and I need to be there. Here’s an idea, Jake. Let’s celebrate where we met by going to the Candy Apple on Saturday. I’d love that. We could get a room…” She laughed happily at her attempt at wit.

Jake didn’t answer right away and when he did, Ellie detected some hesitation in his voice.

“Okay, if you’d like that. Yeah, it’ll be fun. I’ll say good night now, sweetheart. I have to pack a couple of things.” His tone was tender again.

Ellie sighed. “Sure, of course. Have a good trip.”

“I’ll call tomorrow night.”

A smile crept onto her face. He had to be sincere about his feelings because she’d never had a guy want to call like this, unless she counted obsessive Tyler, who called to intimidate her.

“Good night, Jake.”

* * * *

The week flew by. Despite not seeing Jake in person, it was lovely to have him call each night, and although they didn’t spend much time talking, Ellie felt loved.

She dressed for him on Saturday night—stockings, garter belt, lacy bra and panties, her dress as usual a wisp of fabric, and her shoe heels as high as possible. She brushed out her long straight hair and left it falling down her back. As she drove to the Candy Apple a little earlier than usual, she thought about Jake and his sexy body. She ran her tongue along her top lip as she remembered his kisses and the way he touched her. Her thighs clenched.
It will be so good to be with him again.

Ellie parked her car in the lot and walked carefully to the club entrance. Her heels clopped on the sidewalk. It felt to her as if her heart was about to leap from her chest it raced so much. Butterflies fluttered in her stomach. She’d never been quite so nervous going to the club, not even when she’d seen Jake and hoped he’d approach her week after week. She showed her membership card to the guys on the door and slipped it back into her little purse as she entered the low-lit foyer, the wide hall, and then the main area. Her heels sank into the lush carpet as she made her way to the bar where she’d arranged to meet Jake when they spoke on the phone Thursday night.

She was fifteen minutes early and ordered
Perrier
when the bartender asked her what she’d have. Ellie found a stool and balanced on the cross bar to slide onto the high leather seat. She spun slowly around to watch the people and wait for Jake.

A few minutes later, a woman she vaguely recognized wandered up and stood close.

“Hi, you’re Ellie aren’t you?” The woman asked in a hushed voice.

Ellie frowned as she answered and turned to face her. She studied the woman’s face hoping to recall who she was. “Yes, but I’m sorry I don’t remember meeting you.” She smiled then, hoping she hadn’t offended the woman.

“I work in the office. Paula—you would have met me when you joined.”

“Oh, yes, of course. Hi.” Ellie didn’t know what else to say.

Paula gazed at her for a few seconds before she spoke. “Did Jake find you?”

Ellie didn’t know why, but she felt hesitant to tell Paula that he had. Some alarm bell went off in her. Instead of answering, she gave Paula a quizzical look.

“He was desperate to get your contact details,” Paula supplied.

Ellie remembered the torn off notepaper and her information written on there.

“Did you give them to him? I thought that was against club policy. He could be anybody—a stalker–a rapist.” She saw Paula’s expression change to anger.

“He most certainly isn’t anything of the kind. Jake’s a sweetheart. He likes you. I can vouch for it.”

Ellie watched Paula’s eyes fill with emotion and knew that this woman liked Jake a lot.

“But did you give them to him?” She smiled to soften the repeated question.

Paula had clearly lost her anger. She gave Ellie a strangely, sexual look. “For a price and I know I shouldn’t have, but I couldn’t resist helping him.”

Ellie saw it in Paula’s eyes but she asked anyway. “What was the price?” She tried to match Paula’s semi-salacious expression as if they were two women discussing a sexy guy neither had real feelings for, other than fucking them.

Paula didn’t hesitate. “A good fuck. He’s so sexy.”

Ellie hoped her face didn’t give away the spear of jealousy that cut into her heart. She tried to maintain a friendly air and yet when she heard her own voice it sounded cool.

“Paula, I hope you don’t make a habit of selling peoples’ information for sex. I had an abusive boyfriend, who beat me up, kept me prisoner until I thought he’d kill me. He’s gone now, but it was terrible and what if you or someone had helped
him
find me?”

Paula’s face registered horror. “Hell, I’m so sorry that happened to you. I’ve never done anything like that before, nor will again. Look, please understand. I did it because I’ve always wanted Jake. I know he’s a darling and he
so
wanted to contact you. I think he’s in love with you. I wish it was otherwise, but there you are, and hell, he’s here.”

She gave a slight nod toward a direction behind Ellie.

“Please understand.” Paula had tears in her eyes.

A frown of sympathy creased between Ellie’s eyes. “Actually, I do.”
It doesn’t matter. Technically, he did it before we were really together.

“Please don’t tell.” Paula was edging away.

Ellie gave a nod. “I won’t.”

It seemed to help Paula. She gave a watery smile, turned, and strode off.

Ellie waited for Jake to be by her side.

He stood before her, his face a picture of worry and sadness.

She soaked up the sight of him—his gorgeous hard body in a black suit and his blue shirt making his blue eyes even more blue, his sexy dark hair, his oh so kissable mouth, the shade of stubble on his handsome face that made her want to run her fingertips over it.
No wonder Paula sold my number to him for sex. Holy hell, he is fine. I might have done it myself, maybe.

“Hi, Ellie, I saw Paula talking with you.” There was a questioning tone in Jake’s low voiced words.

Ellie held out her arms to be hugged. “We were just talking girl things.” She smiled at him. He wasn’t Tyler. He was adorable and she wanted him badly. He loved her—she knew it even without him saying so.

The relief that entered Jake’s eyes told her he’d feared Paula had told her about the sex and the note.

He crushed her to his chest lifting her completely off the stool. He slid her slowly down his body to stand and then transferred his hands to her face. When he kissed her, his tenderness overwhelmed Ellie.

She clung to him as he lingered, kissing her softly but so passionately wet heat rushed to her pussy. She melted against him, her hands creeping around to grasp his hard ass.

Jake drew away to breathe. “It’s great to see you.”

Ellie held his waist reluctant to let go of him. Her legs like jello and her heart racing, she whispered. “Yes.”

The bartender, who appeared to know Jake, made some laughing comment to him. “Bet you
don’t dare
get a room…”