Nothing's Sweeter than Candy (14 page)

• • •

“The place looks good, Candy,” Sarona said from her position on the floor, lounging in silk shorty pajamas and sitting among a mass of comforters, sheets, and pillows. The girls had moved the furniture aside and laid down makeshift pallets on the living room floor. A small table in the center of the room was covered with bottles of wine, champagne, and cocktail mix along with fruit, chocolate, and cheese. They were all set for a fun-filled night of uninhibited eating, drinking, and uncensored girl talk, and all three were lounging around in PJs with glasses in hand. “You can't even tell there's been a break-in.”

“Thanks. I've tried to put it behind me and get my life back to normal. But it just doesn't feel the same anymore. It doesn't feel like home. It feels almost tainted now—violated.
I
feel violated.”

“Oh baby, I'm so sorry.” Sarona leaned over and hugged her hard. “What did the police say?”

“Not much. They don't have any leads. There's just nothing to go on to take the investigation any further.”

“How are you holding up?”

“I'm okay. The hardest part is being here alone after dark. It's awful to feel this uncomfortable in my own home.” She shrugged and let out a small sigh. “But Brice has been a big help with seeing me through it.”

“Brice? Who's Brice?” Sarona sat up in surprise. “I've been out of touch for only a few weeks, and suddenly there's somebody named
Brice
in your life? What did I miss?”

“Sorry, dear. We haven't had time to catch you up,” Joyce responded. “You've been drowning in David for the last month, so we thought we'd wait until you came up for air.”

“Joke all you want, Ms. Jeffers, but it's your fault I'm suddenly rooted in this sordid life of endless sex and scandal—you with your ‘life is about chances' speech, for which I'm eternally grateful.” Sarona giggled into her glass. “So,
tell
me. What happened while I was gone?”

“Oh, nothing much, except that our girl Candace hooked up with a really gorgeous hunk of man-flesh: tall, dark, and oh-so-handsome—kind of like your guy. And he's become her self-appointed guardian.”

“Details, ladies, I need details. Starting with the how, when, and what's next?”

There was a brief moment of silence, and then all three women burst into gales of laughter.

“Slow your roll, girlfriend, let's not get ahead of ourselves. Let's just stick with the ‘how and when' and the here and now, okay?” Candace and Joyce filled Sarona in on the story of her and Brice. They explained how he'd plotted their meeting, his gallant rescue the night of the break-in, followed by his chivalrous invitation and her weekend stay at his place.

“Wait. Did you say Brice Coleman
?
”

“Yeah? Why?” Candace asked with one eyebrow raised.

“OMG! That's David's partner. You've been going out with David's partner.”

“What are you talking about?”

“David's security consulting service! He and his friend Brice are old college buds who decided to go into business together. Holy crap! Talk about a small world.” Sarona practically fell over from laughing so hard.

Candace was floored. This was not good news. As if she didn't already have enough problems with Sarona hounding her at every turn. With David's connection to Brice, now there'd be no end to her meddling attempts to push her into a relationship.

“This is just so romantic, and it has all the perfect ingredients to turn into something wonderful,” Sarona gushed.

“Wait. Hold on now. I can see how you might think that, but it's not like that,” Candace hurriedly interrupted. “Brice and I were sort of pushed into this thing because of what happened, but we have a strictly friends-with-benefits arrangement. It's not exclusive, and we prefer it that way. Neither of us is interested in a commitment. So, you can stop right now with any plans forming in that head of yours to stir up trouble.”

“Oh, Candy, how can you say that? I can't believe you don't want something that gives you that forever-after feeling. Don't you want someone in your life you can count on? Brice sounds like he's that kind of guy. He could be the perfect candidate for your Mr. Right.”

Candace rolled her eyes at Sarona's unfailing and ridiculous
belief in fantasies. “Don't talk to me about Mr. Right. Mr. Right is nothing more than a fairy tale, orchestrated and perpetuated by the media and commercial enterprises, packaged in a fancy container, and shoved down our throats as the gospel truth. I have a news flash for you, Sarona: I'm not interested in finding Mr. Right. Misters ‘Right Now' and ‘Maybe Later' will do me just fine.”

Rick put a surveillance team on Nash and reported his whereabouts to Brice at least once a week. Nash had made two trips to Atlanta in the last month, but he hadn't tried to contact Candace at all. Brice didn't know what his game was, but he knew enough not to trust him. With the information from Brice, Rick had linked Candace's address with data from cell towers located in the area. He'd pinpointed two outgoing calls from Nash's phone on the night of the break-in. Both calls placed him practically on her doorstep. If Brice had ever had a shred of doubt that Nash was responsible for the destruction of her property and sense of security, this latest report eliminated it completely. But no matter how sure he was of Nash's guilt, this new information only left him feeling more frustrated and helpless.

Because, unfortunately, it wasn't evidence that he'd committed a crime. It wasn't against the law to park on a public street in front of her home. Brice continued poring over the reports searching for something, anything he could use to flush Nash out, when finally something caught his attention. He recognized the name of the company Nash worked for. Here was something that might possibly work to his advantage.

Brice picked up his saxophone and began absently stroking the keys while he considered his next move. Nash took great pleasure in harassing people and making their lives miserable.
Maybe he should have a taste of what it feels like when the tables are turned.
Brice knew people—people who could ask questions, make insinuations, and stir up all manner of trouble for somebody with a questionable or unsavory background. He reached for the phone.

“Hi, Blaine. It's Brice. Got a minute?”

“Yeah, sure, man. What's up?”

“I've got a problem, and I think maybe you can help me solve it.”

“Well, let's hear what you got.”

“It's kind of complicated. I don't want to go into it over the phone.”

“Okay then, come by the office.”

“This isn't an office kind of visit. It's personal. Let me buy you lunch, and we can discuss it.”

“Sounds serious.”

“It is.”

“How about Casio's? Tomorrow, say, around noon?”

“That'll be great. I'll see you there.”

• • •

Brice arrived early and was waiting when Blaine showed up fifteen minutes later. They ordered drinks and their meal before getting down to the reason for the meeting.

“So tell me, my man, what can I do for you? You sounded pretty grim over the phone.”

“I'll get right to the point,” Brice said after taking a long swig from his drink. “Remember the last time we saw each other, just after you'd gotten back into town?”

“Oh yeah. How could I forget? You were having dinner with that fine sister, and I was jealous as hell,” he joked. “I remember some guy tried to make a move on her while you were hanging with me. I watched you two have a faceoff, and then he left.”

“That's why I called you. The situation is still ongoing. Her name is Candace, and the guy is a former lover who's turned into a big problem for her—and me.”

“Wait. It's been what, nearly two months since that night. Are you telling me you're still with the same woman ... for two months?” Blaine sat back in his seat, apparently in shock.

Brice winced inwardly at his friend's surprise. “Yes, it's been about that,” he responded evenly. He had no intention of discussing the details of their relationship, but he would have to give up something if he was going to ask for help. “We've been seeing each other off and on for a while. I like her company, and she likes mine. And the sex is great. The problem is that a while back her house was broken into and vandalized, and I have every reason to believe it was the guy from the restaurant.”

“How did you come to that conclusion?” Blaine asked.

“The guy is an asshole. I knew it the moment I met him. She already ended the relationship, and he's been harassing her ever since.”

Brice explained how his suspicions had prompted him to call his private investigator, and then he quietly filled Blaine in on the specifics of Rick's report. He conveniently left out his invitation to stay for the weekend. He wasn't about to admit to the overwhelming feelings he was developing for her—or the fast and furious emotional ride he'd been on since that fateful first meeting.

“The incriminating information Rick's gathered on this guy doesn't bode well for Candace. I don't think she's heard the last of him. According to Rick, the break-in is a warning that things could escalate. He needs to be stopped. Considering his mental state of mind and hidden criminal past, I'm concerned he might not stop at just trying to scare her.”

“What did the police say?”

“Unfortunately, the lack of incriminating evidence ruled out any help from the police. I'm left to employ my own methods of protecting Candace.” Brice spoke with cold, calculating calmness. “Andrew Nash needs to be taught a couple of lessons. One, that he's not the only person capable of screwing with someone's life, and two, that he won't keep getting away with it. I want him to know what it feels like to have his life turned upside down for no reason.” The look in Brice's eyes hardened. “I want him to know what it feels like to be fucked with.”

“Okay, so let's say you're right. What do you need me for?”

“He has a high-profile job in the medical industry with a pristine reputation to look out for, which means he can't afford rumors or accusations to come to light. The way I see it, this is right up your alley, seeing as how your law firm happens to represent the same company.” Brice dropped that little bombshell and picked up his drink to take another swallow. “You'd be duty-bound to uphold company policy and inform them of indiscrete behavior within the ranks. You know, to prevent potential lawsuits, complaints, things of that nature.”

Blaine's eyes narrowed with interest at Brice's revelation.

“Are you saying this nutcase works for us?”

“Yeah, well, he works for your client. And I'm guessing this is the type of information they'd want to be made aware of. Am I right?”

Blaine gave Brice a probing look. “I'll need a copy of that report. I can't make allegations without something to back them up.”

“I'll have Rick send it to your office.”

“I'll also need copies of the police report and any photos taken of the damage. The more information I have, the better the case I can build against him.”

“I told you, there's no proof he's responsible.”

“It doesn't matter. If I can plant a seed of suspicion in the minds of the board members, that's all I need to set the ball rolling. Hey, I'm a lawyer. He doesn't have to be tried in a court of law. The court of public opinion is way more effective when it comes to handing out judgment.”

“Thanks, man. I'm glad you're willing to check this out. But I want you to hold off on taking any action just yet. You're my ace in the hole, and I'm not ready to show my hand.”

“No problem, I can do that. But I still want that information as soon as possible to conduct my own investigation. What about Candace?”

“What about her?” Brice was suddenly defensive.

“I want to know her role in all of this. How do you know she didn't do something to set this guy off? Maybe she pushed him and didn't realize he had a short fuse. Or maybe she's using you to get an old lover off her back. Are you sure she's worth all the time and trouble you're putting into this?”

“She didn't do anything to set this fucker off. He's a mental case, plain and simple. It was just her bad luck she ended up with the wrong guy. She's not ‘using me' because she doesn't even know that I had him investigated. And yes. She's worth every second of my time and trouble.”

It had been two weeks since they'd made love, and Brice was practically going out of his mind with wanting her. He'd never, ever before in his life
needed
sex. Sex was a pastime, a means to satisfy an urge and take the edge off, and there was no shortage of willing partners just waiting for his call.
Need
was never a part of the equation. This new inability to control his desire and fantasies was shocking—and unsettling.

He'd lain awake too many nights imagining her supple body lying beneath him, supine, submissive, and open to his touch, his invasion. He visualized her beautiful face twisted in pleasure as he surged in deep and steadily pushed her to the brink of her endurance and beyond. And when she fell over the edge, out of control and writhing in his arms, he shivered at the sound of her voice as it rang out sweetly and she sang her orgasm in his ears.

Brice brushed a hand over his face and groaned out loud while his cock twitched and throbbed painfully to life. The memory of her moist channel gripping him hard and squeezing tight, pulsating around his thickened member as she milked him dry, nearly drove him insane.

Her essence was a living thing that vibrated in the air around him. Her natural scent of honey and spice lingered in his nose and filled his mouth with the sweetness of her taste. The thought of her made him burn and ache for her tang and touch. She'd slipped under his skin and inside his heart without warning. Candace was like a drug. He'd gotten hooked with his first adventurous taste, and like an addict he was stuck on the edge between what was imagined or real, desperate for his next fix.