Wyne and Chocolate (Citizen Soldier Series Book 2) (16 page)

T
he rest of January flew by in a flurry of activity for Jill.
Between paperwork for insurance claims, the police and the new shop, she was
all papered out. Which worked for her since, once her molds arrived, she also
had to throw herself into making candy and shipping out orders.

True to
his word, Mason had set up one of the banquet rooms for her to use along with
the kitchen in one of the restaurants at the resort. The owner was a sweetheart
of an older man who was more than happy to lease his space at night to her, on
her insistence, as long as he got to enjoy some of the candy.

Chocolate,
the universal friendship maker.

“That
should do it,” Teresa said, closing the last package, and they both stood back
to survey the room.

Every
order was boxed and ready to ship for the day.

In the
beginning, she had three extra workers from the hotel helping her out, but as
of this week, she and Teresa had a handle on things and were up to speed. The
only order she had left to fill was Ben’s, and Jill hadn’t planned on working
on that until next week, so technically, she was all caught up.

It felt
good. She could start focusing her energy on the future, and leave the past in
the past.

With the
exception of Donny.

He still
hadn’t been caught and brought in for questioning. Jeremy said there had been a
few key pieces of evidence brought into the lab and they were awaiting results.
She hoped it clearly pointed to a suspect, and that he or she was found before
someone got hurt.

Even
though she knew in her gut it had been Donny, a tiny part of her hoped she was
wrong.

But, she
was not going to dwell on it. She was moving forward and was resolved to make
sure he was prosecuted if it did turn out to be him. No more coddling.

Jill
turned to her worker and smiled. “Thanks, Teresa. I am so grateful for your
help. I appreciate you sticking with me until the shop is rebuilt.”

With her
original plans filed with the zoning commission, Ryder would be able to
replicate Confection Connection as soon as her check arrived. Right now, he had
a crew working on the new site. After his meeting with the zoning board
yesterday, and gaining the approval for her factory, everything was moving
forward. Fast.

God, she
still couldn’t believe her dream was a few weeks away from reality. Her heart
raced every time she thought about it.

“No,
thank
you
.” The woman pulled her in for a hug. “Thanks for keeping me
on, giving me a paycheck, even though we’re working out of a banquet room.” 

Jill’s
savings had dwindled to dust, but she was grateful she’d had the foresight to
squirrel some money away for just-in-case moments like now.

Her
employee drew back, and she watched as emotions filled the petite worker’s
eyes. “And it means the world to me that you’re going to put me, a high school
dropout, in charge of the shop when it’s rebuilt.”

Teresa
had a child at the age of sixteen and didn’t finish school. Jill saw no reason
to hold that against the young mother when she’d interviewed her a year ago.
And she was so glad she had. The woman was bright, dependable and had a great
personality, which was a must for customer relations.

Smiling,
she cupped Teresa’s shoulder. “It was a no brainer. You’ve been working for me,
learning the business for a year now. I’m glad I have you to count on so I can
concentrate on the new one.”

The
factory was much more involved and was going to take all of Jill’s
concentration and energy once it was up and running, which, she welcomed.

“I’m
excited,” her employee said.

“Me,
too.” She released her and sighed. “I’d say we’re done for the day. So go on
home to your little boy.”

“Okay,
I’ll see you Monday.”

Teresa
slipped into her coat and disappearing from the room, greeting Mason, standing
in the doorway with a thermos, on her way out. He smiled and nodded at her
worker, then walked straight to the table at her side and set the thermos down.

“I
brought some hot chocolate for the patron saint of lost causes.” He leaned
close and whispered in her ear. “I like that you don’t judge.”

She
shrugged and met his gaze. “I can’t help it. I try to find the good in people.”

Nodding,
he leaned in and kissed her softly on the lips, then worked his way back to her
ear. “It’s sexy as hell.”

No,
he
was sexy as hell, him and his wicked lips and…
oh, God
, his tongue.
Breath hitched in her throat and she grabbed his shoulders to keep her wobbly
knees from giving out.

“Just…me
being me.”

He
nipped her ear, making her quiver.

“I like
you being you. Not afraid to give someone a chance, or take a chance yourself.”

“Yeah,
I’m a big ‘ol softie.” And it had gotten her in trouble more than once.

“I like
your soft curves,” he said, running his hands down her sides, giving her knees
more reasons to shake. “And that you help people.”

She drew
back and stared up at him. “Ditto.”

His lips
twitched into a grin as he quirked a brow. “You like my soft curves?”

“No.”
She hit his shoulder. “I like that you help people. You helped me.”

“That’s
different,” he said, stepping in close, hands settling around her waist. “I
love reaping the rewards.”

She knew
what he was doing. Hiding his feelings behind a joke. She’d done it herself
plenty of times. He had feelings for her he wasn’t ready to deal with, and she
needed to tread carefully or he’d pull back. The strong feelings she had for
him scared the crap out of her, too, so she was okay to leave that subject off
the table for now.

Sliding
her hands up his neck into his hair, she held his darkening gaze. “I love how
you reap.”

“Yeah?”
He brought his mouth down on her and kissed her like he meant business,
brushing his tongue against hers as he explored without mercy.

Her
heart skipped a beat and more quivering commenced, until his cell phone
vibrated between them.

Exhaling
a curse, he released her and answered his phone. “Nope. Didn’t forget. I’ll be
right there.” He shoved the phone back into his pocket and stared longingly at
her mouth. “I have to go take a group out on the Cats.” He brushed his thumb
over her lower lip. “Hold that thought.”

She
smiled against his touch. “Okay, but don’t be too long or I’ll have to finish
what you started.”

He
stilled, then with a sinful grin on his face and heat in his eyes he stepped
close. Real close. “Yeah? Tell me more.”

She
laughed and pushed him away. “Oh no, you sly dog…I mean
wolf
. Forget my
needs, and go take care of your guests. I have to get these packages shipped,
anyway.”

“All
right.” He blew out a breath and adjusted the cargo in his cargos. “But we’re
going to finish this discussion later. And in great detail.”

Then he
turned and strode from the room, leaving her there with a thermos full of hot
chocolate and a body full of need.

V
alentine’s Day arrived bright and sunny, but cold. Mason was in
Ethan’s kitchen alone, finishing his second mug of coffee as he contemplated
his next move with Jill. They’d been taking it ‘slow’ the past five weeks now;
in that short time they’d become lovers and business partners. Two of the three
things he’d had with Renee. That one hadn’t turned out so well. Was he
traveling down the same road with Jill?

He
already knew whatever was going on between them was bigger than a
thing
.
Hell, he brought her to his place, more than once, and had insisted she stay. Just
the thought of her asshole ex still out there somewhere made him nuts. If the
guy knew how to find her shop, then he most likely knew where she lived, and
Mason hated that she was alone. But after a few nights, she went home, saying
she refused to allow her ex to rule her actions anymore.

Admirable,
but he worried, despite an effort not to feel. She’d gotten under his skin,
located his heart and was chipping away at his armor.

“I was
going to ask how you were doing, but by that look, I’d say you were in
trouble,” Ben said, striding into the room and heading straight for the coffee
pot. “What’s wrong? Forgot to get Jill something for Valentine’s Day?”

In fact,
he hadn’t purchased anything for her yet. Each idea he came up with either
seemed too personal or not personal enough. “It’s not like I could buy her
chocolate like you did for Lea.”

Ben
nodded as he kicked out a chair and sat down, setting a fancy square box by his
mug. “True, but then again, you aren’t about to wear your heart out on your
sleeve and ask her to marry you.”

“Been
there, done that, not ready to do that again,” he said, sipping his coffee.
Even though he really liked Jill, he’d have to open up a hell of a lot more to
get to that point in his life again. Swallowing back a grunt, he set his mug
down. Not happening anytime soon. “Better you than me, bro.”

He’d
done the traditional, one-knee proposal complete with roses for Renee. Seemed
right, and so did they, until she blindsided him at the church. He lost his
bride and his business, and both his business partners that day.

His
brother smiled. “I am better than you.”

“And
humble, too.” A grin tugged his lips and he grasped at the amusement his
brother offered. “Lea’s a saint to put up with you.”

“Agreed.”
Ben nodded. “I just hope she’ll agree to make it official.”

Normally,
Mason would smart remark that comment, but something in his brother’s tone, a
genuine anxiety, wiped the snark out of him. Self-assured Benjamin Wyne rarely
lacked confidence. “You have nothing to worry about, Ben. Lea loves you and is
going to flip a gasket, not only over you proposing, but over the chocolate you
commissioned.”

“Your
woman outdid herself, Mase. Here, check it out. I just picked it up.” His
brother pushed the box at him “It looks so real.”

He
lifted the lid to reveal what appeared to be an antique jeweler’s box. “Damn.
That’s all made out of chocolate?”

“Yep,
every bit. Even the filigree. And look, it opens.” Ben carefully demonstrated
and Mason’s admiration for
his
woman increased.

She was
gifted. And had an incredible eye and attention to detail, too, in order to
replicate the box to a T.

He
turned to his brother and slapped him on the shoulder. “You have nothing to
worry about, Ben. Let me be the first to congratulate you.”

“It’s a
little premature, but thanks,” the grinning man said, placed the box back in
the fancy bag. “I’ll feel better once I get the words out. You know I suck at
them.”

“You’ll
do fine,” he reassured again, lifting his mug. “You bringing her to the
resort?”

Ben
nodded. “Yeah, rented one of the honeymoon suites.”

“Nice.”
Mason cocked his head. “The one with the heart-shaped swimming pool?”

Their
sister had insisted they do a few special romantic themed rooms. Thank God.
Those rooms were their best sellers.

“No. The
one with the heart-shaped tub.”

A
snicker left his lips at the image of his big, burly brother taking a bubble
bath in a heart. “You know the instant you step foot in that thing you forfeit
your mancard.”

Ben sat
back and smiled. Big. And knowing, like he had the best damn secret in the
world. “You obviously have never taken a bath with a woman.”

“True.”
He laughed. “Because I have a set of balls, not ovaries.”

His
brother chuckled. “Oh, man. Trust me when I say, trade them in.”

“Wow.”
He sat up and stared at the guy who had clearly flipped his lid. “The anxiety
must really be getting to you.”

“No, but
stupidity has certain gotten its claws into you,” Ben countered, then leaned
back in his seat, hands behind his head, studying him with that damn all-seeing
gaze he’d inherited from their father. “So, tell me, o’ wise one, what was it
you said you are doing with Jill for Valentine’s Day?”

His
amusement fizzled away. “Good question.”

“We
already know chocolate and heart-shaped tubs are out.”

“Correct.”

Ben
rubbed his jaw. “Jill doesn’t seem the type to want anything ornate or big.”

“She
isn’t.” Definitely not her style. She wasn’t flashy, or a full-out girly-girl.
She was casual chic. Comfortable. Not into bling. The only jewelry he noticed
her wearing was a simple necklace with a tiny charm, and her grandmother’s pin.
“She likes things with sentiment. Meaning.”

“Then
I’d say you know her pretty well,” his brother remarked as he stood to take his
mug to the sink. “I’ve no doubt you’ll come up with a winner.” He returned to
grab the box. “And I need to get to that suite to set things up before I meet
up with Lea. She’s helping Jill assemble a display shelf.”

He
muttered a curse. “The woman needs to take a break. All she does is work.”

“Maybe
you should do something about that, bro.”

“I
intend to.”

“Good,
because it takes one to know one.

Rising
to his feet, he frowned. “What’s that supposed to mean?

“You
haven’t taken time off in over two-years, Mason.”

He
shrugged. “We were just starting out. Things needed to be done.”

“True,
but there are four of us. It’s okay to take a break once in a while and let
others pick up the slack.”

“I’ll
keep it in mind.”

“Good.
You do that.” Ben cupped his shoulder and studied him, no doubt deciding if he
was telling the truth.

He was,
and apparently his brother concurred, because he nodded then left the room
whistling. Mason smiled. He had no idea his older brother was capable of
blowing more than hot air from his mouth. But right now, his mind was occupied
by something much more important.