by Ronna Gage
Rafe gave Jack another look of death. He turned to Candi. “After you,” he prompted her to proceed.
Candi complied. She passed him, Rafe inhaled sharply. Does he feel what I feel? Tingles?
Excitement?
Desire?
Minerva came outside with a tray of assorted meats. “Hi, guys!” she greeted. “How are ya’ll doing?”
“Good,” Rafe answered. “But, Minerva, I believe you are in your element.”
“Why thank you. I believe that is an excellent way to get an invitation for dinner. If you’d like to stay.”
“Sure.” Jack accepted without a second thought or the time to think it over.
“What do we need to bring?” Rafe asked.
“Nothing.” Minerva walked to the grill. “Just whatever you want to drink. Candi and I are drinking wine coolers. We weren’t expecting company.”
“Will there be enough food?” Jack asked.
“Plenty.” Minerva set two steaks, some cut-up sausage links, and two hamburger patties on the grill. “Help yourself to whatever you want.”
Rafe shared a glance with Candi and they smiled.
“Can I help with anything, Minerva?” Candi asked, getting up from her seat and joining her at the grill.
“No, I got it.”
Candi caught another glimpse of Rafe and held her breath. His sunglasses shaded his eyes, but she knew he watched her. The attraction was evident. The building anticipation consumed her, holding her to him, and him to her. She moaned.
Minerva came closer to her ear. “There’s no denying it, kiddo. You two are fighting a losing battle. It’s a matter of time before the passions are ignited to a point of no return.”
* * * *
“Jack, why don’t you get a few beers for us?” Rafe suggested as his gaze lingered on Candi across the steps.
“Yeah, I can do that.” Jack shook his head and stifled another laugh. “I’ll be right back.” Bending low to Rafe’s ear, he whispered, “I hope she’s worth it. That former Marine isn’t letting her go too easily—no matter what he says.”
Rafe watched as Candi held the platter for Minerva. She laughed at something Minerva shared with her. He could feel his stomach twitch and his cock throb. “Too damn bad.”
Jack turned his head as a laugh escaped his throat. “Just thought I’d warn you.”
Rafe settled back listening to the music coming from the radio that was set to a pop station. Not one of his favorites, but it would do. He liked classic rock music, hair bands, metal bands, and early alternative bands. The song blaring from the radio caught Candi’s attention, a familiar song to her obviously, and she began singing. She was relaxed. He listened as she sang the lyrics. Hearing her sing made him happy. As long as he kept Candi in sight, and out of Jesse’s grasp, he would be ecstatic.
Chapter Fifteen
“What a day from hell, and it’s only Tuesday.” Candi rubbed her temples.
“How so?” Minerva asked, pulling onto the private road to the house.
“I have a new lesson to study, and I can’t grasp it.”
Candi and Minerva returned home within a half hour of Jesse’s scheduled shift.
“Looks like it isn’t getting much better.”
Jesse met them at the front gate, enraged. “Why did you keep the car so long?”
“It’s my damn car, and I’ll do as I please.” Minerva shot back.
“Well, I have to go to work, and Dad has his car. Now, I’m going to be late,” he complained.
“Not if you stop bitching and hurry up.”
Candi rolled her eyes. Her mind mentally ran down the list of tasks due within the next twenty-four hours. Human anatomy test. I have a test tomorrow and still don’t have a hold on this shit.
“Candi?”
Distressed, she looked up to see Rafe standing by his car, wiping grease off his hand with a wet rag.
“Hi!” His soft greeting, followed by a smile sent a calming wave over her.
“Hello.” She sighed her greeting. The airy whisper didn’t sound like her at all. “How was your day?”
“Fuck this,” Jesse griped at her when he stormed back into the house.
Great, an ambush when I go inside. If I can stay outside for just a minute or so longer, he’ll be gone.
“I think it went well, but there’s always room for improvement,” She heard Rafe saying to her. “How about yours?”
“Tiring. I have so much homework tonight.” She leaned back against his cleaned car. She suddenly felt no energy left to carry on. The weariness seeped into her body and bore down on her. She didn’t want to be on her own tonight. Jesse would be going to work soon. Minerva had plans with Roy. And she would be alone. I need a buffer. She looked at Rafe. “Jesse will be leaving in a few minutes. Would you mind if I stay here with you until then?”
“No, I don’t mind you staying out here with me.”
Okay, now to fix one for the night. “Hey! Would you like to come over and help me study for my test?”
“What are you studying?” Rafe asked.
“I had to take a health class this semester, so I chose basic human anatomy.” She sent him what she prayed would be a teasing smile.
He leaned closer to her. “I’m pretty good with the human anatomy,” he whispered.
His comment sent a shock of bone-melting desire through her. Candi inhaled a steadying breath and took in the scent of sweat that glistened on his chest. That is all him. It aroused her deeply. Her nipples reacted to become budding pebbles in her bra, and she could feel her panties moisten suddenly. Her cheeks flamed hot.
Jesse took that instant to come out of the house. He raced out to the car and stopped to glare at them. Upset that I’m against someone else’s car, are you? She smiled, but he refused to talk to either of them. He got into Minerva’s car and peeled out of the driveway.
“Well! He’s going to have a bad night,” Candi predicted.
“When do you want me over?” Rafe asked suddenly.
Dropping the subject, no retort, okay. “In an hour,” she said with a small, teasing tilt of her head.
“I’ll be there.”
When Rafe saw Jesse pull out of the driveway, he wasn’t sure if Candi still wanted him to come over or not. Good, the coast is clearer with him gone. He didn’t like to think of Candi in the trailer with him, having him do God-knows-what to wear her down. One day soon I have to take care of Jesse.
Rafe stood and carelessly weeded the rag between his fingers as he watched her climb the three steps into the trailer. “Oh shit, only an hour?” He quickly gathered the detailing items and rushed to the house.
Chapter Sixteen
Rafe’s smiling face looked upon her when Candi answered the door an hour later. In her rush to accept company, most of the hour was spent cleaning up after Jesse. “Hello,” he greeted with a smile. He walked through the opened front door and gave her a simple kiss on the cheek. “Are you going to bed?”
“Huh?” She looked down. Dressed in a pair of black shorts, an oversized gray T-shirt, and white bootie socks she did look ready for bed. “Oh, no. I was cleaning up the house.
“Makes since. I brought some goodies. This will help studying go easier.” He lifted a small cooler. “Beer for me.” Next, he raised a bag from KFC. “Dinner.” He walked into the small kitchen and set the plastic bag on the table. Rummaging through the bag, he lifted out the boxes, “Rolls, a bucket of chicken, coleslaw, and mashed potatoes.”
“This is great, I haven’t even thought about dinner.” Candi admitted. A small attack of guilt teased her. “I’m sorry.”
“I thought you might have forgotten food. Too busy concentrating on studies and school.”
“Let me get us some plates,” she said with an appreciative smile.
“Okay, and let me look over your textbook. I need to get familiar with the subject matter.” They sat and ate while he looked over the textbook.
Rafe eyed her closely. “You seem d
istracted. Is there anything I can do?” He took a drink of his beer.
Candi shrugged her shoulders and took a swallow of her wine cooler. She loved being with Rafe, but he wasn’t anything more than a friend. “It’s such a wonderful night. I don’t want to spoil it with my problems with Jesse.”
“Okay.” Rafe looked over the book.
“Have you ever been married?” she asked absently, wanting to know more about her new friend.
“Yes.”
The answer really didn’t shock her, but the fact that he answered it so quickly did. “What happened?”
“I’m divorced.”
“My parents are divorced.” She sounded sad even to herself. “Did you have kids?”
A softening in Rafe’s expression didn’t escape Candi’s attention. “No,” came his soft reply.
“But you wanted kids?”
“Yes.”
Candi sat with her feet in the chair and her chin on her knees. That’s good.” She hugged her legs closer to her body embracing them as if to provide a protection from an unseen source of pain. “It’s really hard when kids are involved.” She knew from experience that staying together for the kids wasn’t always the best advice but neither was using them for pawns.
Rafe’s eyes connected with hers. “What’s this all about?” he asked in a low encouraging voice.
She shrugged her shoulders again. “I thought it would be nice to get to know you better.”
His gaze lessened. “Something is bothering you.”
“What makes you say that?”
“It’s in your pretty emerald eyes. They don’t sparkle the way they did two days ago. Now, come on, we are friends, are we not?”
She sighed. “Jesse is becoming more and more outrageous,” she announced, rubbing her fingers through her hair. “He won’t leave me alone, he badgers me all the time about stupid stuff, and I think he’s trying to get me to come back.”
“What makes you say that?”
“He told me.”
Rafe choked on the swallow of beer in his mouth. “That wasn’t the answer I had expected.”
Candi smacked him between the shoulders, trying her best to fight back the laughter.
“What did you expect?”
“Theories mostly, but not a confession.” Rafe quietly studied her face. “Do you want him back?”
Candi shook her head.
“What keeps you here then?”
“I don’t think he’s sincere,” she whispered out loud. “I think he’s still in contact with that Stephanie girl.”
“Why do you say that?”
“She told me when I talked to her today.”
“You know, I had a feeling not to take a swallow of beer when I asked that question. Now I’m glad I listened to that inner feeling. If I had taken that drink, I would be tasting beer through my nose.”
Candi laughed. “You are so funny.”
“I guess it would be one hundred feet away, on the fence post, by now.” When she quit laughing, she noticed he gazed into her eyes. “You talked to her?”
“She called this evening and left a message for Jesse to call her. She thought I was Minerva. When I introduced myself, she thought I was Minerva’s daughter.” Candi slammed back the two swallows of wine cooler in her glass. “I think I want to get drunk.”
“Candi, do you want Jesse back?”
The awkward tone of his voice hit a soft spot in her mind.
“Rafe, I just want to be able to live here in peace until I get through this semester of school. I need to get my MA certification so I can apply to the university.”
“So, you stay for some kind of living arrangement?”
“Yes. What else?”
“Just clarifying.” Rafe took her hands into his and softly kissed her knuckles.
That one simple act wasn’t much of a kiss, but it did give her a show of support Candi hadn’t received in awhile from a man. He gave her the attention she desperately needed and made her feel like she was the only one in the world at this very moment. “Thanks, I needed that.”
He smiled. “Anytime. Now, let’s do some homework.”
“Yes, I’ve got to get this out of the way.” Candi smiled awkwardly.
“I’m sorry you are having problems with Jesse, but I want you to know that I’m a phone call away.” Rafe cupped her cheek, and his thumb gently grazed her jawbone. “I’m always here if you need me…anytime.” The gentleness in his voice ignited a spark of flames inside her heart. She looked into his eyes and desire filled her. Slowly, his head came to hers, their lips mere inches apart. The ringing phone sitting next to her caused her to jump. Regretfully, she answered the phone, breaking the sensual gaze.
“Sorry, there’s no one here by that name.” She hung up. “Wrong number.”
A wrong number killed the moment that was so close at hand.
Chapter Seventeen
“Stephanie, I miss you so much. I can’t wait until we are together again….yeah, I know, honey.” Jesse walked around the small living room with the phone up to his ear. “It’s only what, four more months?” Up the long drive he saw headlight beams. He looked at the clock. Midnight. Can this be Candi and Minerva? He racked his brain trying to remember if they had to close tonight or if the other bartender was scheduled. Minerva’s car drove into view. “Steph, honey, I have to go. I need to hit the rack for some shut-eye. Yes, I will talk to you tomorrow night. I love you, too. Bye.” Jesse hung up the phone in time to hear Minerva’s car pull into the drive and then the engine shut off. “Time for my back up plan.”
Minerva and Candi entered the house. He took one look at her and the glee in her eyes faded.
“Candi, we need to talk.”
Minerva looked from one to the other. “I’ll leave you two to it.”
Candi dropped her tote bag on the sofa by the bedroom door. “What do you want Jesse?”
“I want you back. To start over.”
Candi gave a silent harrumph of a chuckle. “What about Stephanie?”
“She was a passing thing. It was more a reunion of old flames. It’s not her that I want, but you.”
“Well, I have to be honest with you,” Candi said in a low, seductive whisper.
Jesse’s breath caught in his lungs. “What’s that?” Did he dare to come closer? No, stay your ground and she will come to you. On cue, Candi approached.
“You were my passing thing.” She turned and went to the bedroom and slammed the door in her wake.
Jesse stared at doorway and the realization of his loss hit him.
Minerva fucked this up but good. Telling Candi my business. Where the fuck does she get off?
“No, I will not give up. I have to try harder.”
Chapter Eighteen
I’m making headway with Candi. Jesse spent most of the morning of his day off sitting in the back yard, drinking coffee, and plotting his next move to win Candi’s affections. The early morning sun was perfect. It wasn’t too bright just yet, and the heat was bearable.
“What’s up, kiddo?” Roy asked, stepping out onto the deck.
“Nothing much, I was looking a little pale lately, so I thought I would get some sun.”
“What are you doing besides lying in the sun?” Roy extended a bottle of brandy in his son’s direction.
Jesse took the bottle and poured a liberal amount in his cup of coffee.
“I’m planning ways to get into Candi’s good graces in order to get her back.”
“What?”
Jesse laughed. “You seemed shocked.”
“I couldn’t have been more surprised if you told me you’d just shit a gold brick. I thought you liked Stephanie. What happened to her?”
“Oh we’re still good. I just won’t be seeing her for a while yet, four months in fact. So, why not fuck Candi until that time comes?” Jesse let that bit of information sink into his dad’s head. If anyone could help Jesse get into Candi’s good graces with manipulation, it was his dad.
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“That’s my boy! That’s a really good plan. I have to tell you, I’m hoping in the next few months you will fall in love with Candi and stay.”
“I don’t know about that, but I refuse to let her go to waste.”
“What about that Rafe kid?”
Jesse snickered. “She’s in my bed, not his, right now.”
Roy smiled. “Like I said, that’s my boy.”
The two sat on the deck drinking coffee royals, plotting the next move to win Candi’s affections.
Chapter Nineteen
Jesse walked into the bedroom. Candi applied the final touches of her makeup. Damn, she looks hot. He liked her black miniskirt, black hose, and white off-the-shoulder top. A shimmering train of glitter crossed from one shoulder to the other. She was the picture of sexiness.
“Candi, why don’t you and I go out Saturday night?” he asked. “Minerva has scheduled both of us to have off that evening. Let’s take advantage of it.” He wrapped his arms around her. “I want to take you out and show you how important you really are to me.” He held her close. His hands stroked her back and rounded her buttocks.
“Let go of me, Jesse.” She shoved him away from her and then walked past him into the bedroom. “I’m tired of playing these silly games with you.”
“No, no games. I can see you need to get out for awhile. You have been working and going to school. I bet you are exhausted.”
“What’s the use?”
“It’ll be just as friends.”
Candi looked at him, mistrust in her expression. She frowned at his gesture of crossing his heart. “All right, if it’s just as friends. I can use a night out to blow off steam.”
“I promise nothing more.” He held her close. Game, set, and match. Jesse was sure he would get her back when he showed her how much she really meant to him.
* * * *
