Candy Canes: A Dirty Box Set

by Angela Blake

  “She’s my kid too, Mark.”

  “I know,” he agreed, “but you have a lot to make up for.”

  “I don’t even know where to begin.”

  “Listen, I know you and Sienna have a lot of history, and things ended on a sour note, but the best thing you can do right now is meet your little girl, be her dad, and the rest will sort itself out.”

  “You always did give great advice, man.”

  “Wise, I am young padawan,” Mark said trying to sound sage and wise.

  “Modest you are, master Yoda,” Blaire teased right back.

  They both laughed together. Before they hung up, they agreed to go out, get some beer and shoot some hoops the next day.

  Blaire hung up feeling the ball in his belly become less tight, but as he stared at his phone, he knew what he had to do.

  He brought the phone up to his ear and let it ring, once, twice, before his mother picked up. “Hello, dear.”

  “Mum, hey.”

  “Well, you don’t usually call often, so what’s wrong?”

  Blaire felt bad that he hadn’t kept in touch, but he honestly had very little in common with his mother although he loved her dearly, and he knew she loved him right back. He just didn’t want to be stuck in that little town forever, only known as Della’s boy.

  “Did you know mum? About Gracie?”

  He heard the sound of a TV being lowered in the background, and he heard the sound of the old wicker chair she loved to sit on rocking back and forth before she finally let out a breath she’d been holding.

  “Yes,” she said finally, in a simple tone.

  “Why didn’t you tell me?” He tried to keep the anger out of his voice.

  “Would you have believed me?”

  “Well, no, probably not, but mum, she grew up without a father. Didn’t anyone think I had the right to know?”

  “You weren’t talking to her, son. You barely spoke to me. Whenever I tried to bring up the subject of babies, you’d crinkle your nose in disgust, and I know the kind of women you associate with, the kind of lifestyle you lead, do you think I want my precious granddaughter around that? No, all of us agreed together that you needed to get your life in order before you were integrated into Gracie’s life.”

  “So you all made that decision for me?” His voice came out sounding hoarse because of the barely restrained anger.

  “I know it seems cruel to you, and I apologize. But we did what we thought was best. Would you have wanted her to grow up in that kind of world? Around those kinds of people?”

  Blaire let her words register before he responded, “No, I would’ve done everything I could to keep her away from that part of my life, but I suppose it might have been hard.”

  “Exactly, perhaps our decision was too hasty, and we should’ve included you, but when it comes to your kids, and your kids’ kids’, it isn’t always rational thought that takes control.”

  Blaire cocked his head to the side as he toyed with a piece of lint on the railing. He chipped it off, and it broke away. He watched it fly off into the wind. “I want to get to know her mum, but I think I screwed up.”

  “What did you tell Sienna?”

  “Hey,” Blaire said defensively. “How do you know it wasn’t Sienna who said something horrible?”

  “Because Sienna hasn’t called me sounding very guilty,”

  “Right, okay well, let’s just say it’s bad.”

  “You need to go to her, apologize and get to know your little girl. She really is a wonderful girl.”

  Sienna

  Sienna squinted as she pursed her lips and put one hand on her hip, the other twirled a loose piece of fabric around.

  “How are those pictures looking, Sienna?”

  “Fine,” she called out as she bit her bottom lip. She didn’t like the lighting on the second one, so she’d have to wait till she could recapture the picture, but she was sure she could do it. It would just take longer than she had expected.

  Her phone began to vibrate in her pocket, and she smiled as she pressed the phone to her ear.

  “Hi, mummy,” her daughter’s sweet voice came wafting in through the speakers.

  “Hey, baby girl, what are you up to?”

  “Guess what mummy? Grandma and I made chocolate chip cookies,” she could practically hear the sugar rush from her end, and she shook her head knowing that she had a long night ahead of her.

  “Really? I used to make those with grandma when I was little too,” she smiled wistfully, remembering how she’d sneak bits of the cookie dough into her mouth and grin unapologetically when her grandma caught her doing it.

  “Grandma has the best recipe ever,” Gracie announced, and Sienna could hear her happily munching on a cookie.

  “I know, sweetie, listen I’m going to be home in an hour, what do you want to do tonight?”

  Gracie said, “Hmmm,” really loudly and Sienna could picture her getting that far off look on her face while she thought of things to do. “Can we watch home alone and make two different types of popcorn and mix them together?”

  “Sure, bud. Like salt and caramel?”

  “Nooo!” She dragged her out O’s when she was trying to make a point.

  “Nope, I want salt and cheese,” she declared.

  Sienna wrinkled her nose then shrugged. “Okay, Gracie bear, I’ll see you soon then.”

  She pressed end and checked her watch, realizing that she had time for a quick bite before she had to hit the road.

  She was walking towards her dressing room and texting someone when she walked right into another person. She looked up at the person, an apology already formed on her lips, “Oh.”

  Blaire looked as handsome as ever, with his black hair flipped to the side, a form fitting sweatshirt and baggy jeans. He had his thumbs hooked on his pockets, and his blue eyes shone apologetically.

  “What do you want?” Sienna crossed her arms over her chest and starred at him in mild annoyance as she tapped one foot impatiently.

  “Okay, I deserve that, but just hear me out, I called Mark, and I apologized, and I called my mum, and she told me about the decision you all made to keep me out of Gracie’s life until she was older, a decision by the way, that you should have consulted me about.”

  Sienna opened her mouth to protest, but Blaire cut her off by bringing his finger to her lips, “Let me finish, please.”

  Sienna nodded and he removed his finger. “But I understand why you did it. I’m not crazy about the idea, but I know why.”

  Sienna stared at him for a beat. “So you want to get to know Gracie?” She let the question hang in the air between them, knowing that his answer could make or break a lot of things.

  “Very much so,” he said quietly.

  Sienna smiled at him gratefully. “This means a lot to her, really.”

  “I hope it does, but Sienna there’s one more thing,” Blaire shoved his hands in his pockets and fidgeted for a minute before his blue eyes met her hazel ones. They were shining with hope and fear.

  “I want a second chance with you. My desire to have a relationship with Gracie has nothing to do with it, I’ll be her father no matter what, but I really want to try again with you, you’re the only woman I’ve ever loved.”

  Sienna studied him carefully, “We’ll see,” she said finally.

  She uncrossed her arms and took out her keys, “I’m going to go pick up some things to make some dinner at home, would you like to join us?”

  Blaire looked surprised but delighted, “I’d love to.”

  They made their way to the grocery store and picked up a few things, then drove home. Sienna almost laughed at how nervous he looked. She knew Gracie would love him the second she saw him, bless her.

  They stood outside the door for a moment while Sienna fished out her keys.

  “Are you ready to meet our little girl?”

  “More than ever.”

 
; Sienna swung the door open, and a little voice immediately yelled out ‘mummy’ before a tiny little body came barreling into her from the living room.

  “Mummy you’re back, you’re back!”

  “Yes, my darling!” She hoisted her up and gave her a big sloppy kiss.

  “I missed you,” she threw her arms around her mum, and they both stood there, mother and daughter locked in a beautiful embrace.

  “Mummy,” she pulled back, her bright blue eyes gazed at Blaire with curiosity. “Who’s that?”

  “Well, Santa told me all about your wish, and look who I found outside the door.”

  Gracie looked confused for a second before her face broke out into a huge grin. “Daddy?”

  “Hi, Gracie,” Blaire said almost shyly. Gracie had no such qualms; she squealed and reached out for him. She held onto both her parents and gazed from one to the next adoringly.

  “Look, we’re standing under a mistletoe,” Gracie gestured upwards. “Merry Christmas,” she yelled as she hugged them both tighter and gave them each a big wet kiss on their cheeks. Out of the corner of her eye Sienna could see the look of pure adoration written all over Blaire’s face, and she was glad she had decided to seek him out. After all, there was something magical about Christmas, and it was a time for miracles.

  The sound of their laughter echoed inside the house as they went in to make the first of many family dinners together.

  THE END

  A Billionaire Romance

  Chapter One

  Nicole looked at her friend, Melanie. The latter was across the table, sitting on a guy’s lap, holding a bottle of beer. The man’s hand was crawling all over her, groping Melanie’s breasts and thigh. Melanie didn’t seem to mind. She loved the extra attention he was giving her.

  “Hey, feeling a little lonely?” a voice asked from behind.

  Nicole turned and saw a man standing by her side, offering her a bottle. Smiling, Nicole took the offer and scooted over to the side. He quickly sat down beside her.

  “New guy, meet Melanie and Danny,” Nicole introduced as she pointed to her friend and the man she was flirting with. “Melanie, Danny, the new guy.”

  “I’m Michael,” the new guy introduced himself. He gave a simple nod off to Danny and Melanie before he turned his attention to Nicole. “Thanks, by the way. I was hoping we could sit down, drink and talk for a little while.”

  Nicole smiled back at him and then said, “Well, I was starting to feel out of place here. She’s got his hands all over her. I got nothing.”

  “Makes me wonder,” Michael told her. “You’re one hot little chick so I’m kind of surprised no one else approached.”

  “You think I’m hot?”

  He raised a finger and toyed with her orange-red hair, “Of course you are. I mean, look at you. You got gorgeous green eyes, fiery hair, your skin is like milk and you got the body of a bombshell. You’re like a walking sex goddess.”

  “Woah, slow down,” Nicole said with a chuckle. “I get it, I make you horny. Petite girls do that. Don’t worry, I ain’t offended. At least someone thinks I’m gorgeous.”

  Michael laughed and took a big gulp from his own drink before he said, “Does that justify the boner I have in my pants right now?”

  “A big guy like you? Aren’t you hard like all the time, even when looking at a wall?”

  Michael laughed again, “That’s a tough thing to say to a guy. I’m not a pervert or anything like that.”

  “But you still go to bars hoping to find a drunk, easy woman to fuck?” Nicole followed up with another question. She wasn’t going to let him into her pants that easily, even when she felt warm and in need of a man’s touch.

  “Maybe,” Michael answered, “or maybe I was just hoping to find someone just as lonely as I am.”

  She looked at him as he said this and for the first time in the few minutes he had been there she finally got a better look at him. Michael was tall, almost six-feet-four, and had a beautiful light tan to his skin. He had dark brown hair and blue eyes and a neatly kept five o’clock beard trimming his chin. He was honestly quite handsome.

  “Melanie already looks quite busy,” Nicole whispered into Michael’s ear. “How ‘bout you and I sneak off and give them some space?”

  He put his bottle down, took Nicole’s hand and then led her away from the table. Nicole turned back one time to check on her friend. She saw Melanie waving good-bye while kissing Danny.

  He led her to his car, parked right outside the club. Inside, the loud music and stench of alcohol and cigarettes died away. They stepped into the passenger seats and quickly she leaned in close to him, resting her head on his chest as he wrapped her with his arms.

  Oddly enough, it felt comfortable.

  “Thank you,” Nicole told him. “To be honest, this is my last night free.”

  “What do you mean?” he asked.

  “Work,” she replied. “I’m down to my last credit card. I need to start job hunting again in the morning. I figured me and Melanie could waste our last extra cash on a dance and some drinks.”

  Michael began to caress her head and hair with his hand, “I guess I’m lucky then. I got into the right place at the right time.”

  “You definitely gave me the drink,” Nicole whispered. “Let’s get onto the dance part.”

  Michael watched as Nicole sat up and moved up to sit on his lap. In the dark he could barely see her but he did see the outline of her body as she began to remove her clothes. The mere sight of her skin made his heart beat a little faster and when he laid sight on her breasts, even in the dark, he felt his blood rushing in anticipation.

  Hungrily, he grabbed her in an embrace and pulled her close. Without thinking he began to nibble and kiss her neck, going up to her ear and to her lips, as she grinded her body against his. He didn’t even notice she had slid her mini-skirt off and was rubbing her bare pussy against his crotch.

  She wanted his warmth. She loved every moment she felt his hands on her body. When he undid his zipper and she caught hold of his manhood she felt nothing but ecstasy and excitement flooding her senses.

  The warm of his lips and his tongue on her flesh made her squirm and moan. Perhaps someone saw them outside. Perhaps no one did. She didn’t care at this point. In the morning, he’d leave her and life would be the same as if nothing happened. All she cared about at this point was the pleasure of his body against hers.

  Nicole took his throbbing rod into her hands and guided it into her flesh. She descended down onto his lap, easing his manhood deep into her as it tore through her aching and wet pussy, and lost her mind.

  Chapter Two

  Nicole woke to the smell of coffee and eggs. She opened her eyes and found herself lying on a strange bed. It was covered in an exquisite comforter and a thick duvet underneath. When she looked around, she discovered that the bedroom was larger than her whole apartment. It even had its own fireplace and a dark, beautiful carpet. To one side she saw a door to a bathroom and a separate powder room. To another side she saw a slightly closed door. It was from this direction she could smell the aroma of breakfast.

  She slowly crept out of bed and discovered she had nothing to wear. All of her clothes from the night before were nowhere to be found. She looked into one of the closets, in which she saw a plethora of male clothing, but fortunately managed to find a dark blue bathing robe that was long enough to cover her private parts. She quickly tied it around her waist and walked out the door.

  Outside the bedroom she found a long hallway. She passed by a couple of doors but they were all shut and she didn’t want to discover who might be inside the rooms. Instead, she simply followed the aroma and eventually walked into a gorgeous kitchen.

  The kitchen had black and white marble tiles and a large island table close to a long counter filled with numerous cooking utensils and appliances. She spotted a bar with tall barstools. At one end was a pair of ovens and a stove.

>   Cooking at this end was Michael, clad only in a pair of boxers and a white tank top.

  “Hey, you’re awake,” he told her the moment he saw her walk in. “I thought you’d be in bed a while longer. I was going to serve you breakfast in bed.”

  “Whose house did we break into last night?” Nicole asked as she took a barstool and sat close to Michael as he cooked. “Where the heck are we?”

  Michael smiled and then waved a finger mindlessly to their surroundings, “Didn’t we have this conversation last night?”

  “I was wasted,” she explained. “I’m sorry if I seem a little ditzy right now.”

  Michael nodded and looked at her as he explained, “Welcome to my humble abode.”

  Nicole’s jaw dropped in surprise.

  “Yeah, you did that too last night,” Michael exclaimed as he focused his attention back to his cooking. “Come on, do I really not look like the kind of guy that would own this sort of house?”

  Nicole looked at him, took a glance at the kitchen around her and then back at him. “No, you definitely do not strike me as that kind of guy.”

  “Well, what kind of guy do I strike you as?”

  “The sort that drives trucks all night for weeks?” Nicole answered. “I also thought military man or someone who worked on boats like a crab fisher or something. You got this really big body so I immediately thought of physical labor of some sort.”

  Michael laughed and shook his head, “Well, I just like to keep in shape. If I didn’t I’d look like a really tall, lanky pencil. To be honest I own a consolidation corporation. You know White Eagle Corp. right?”