The Candy Bar Complete - 4 book box set: Candy Bar Series

by Patrice Wilton

  My mouth went dry and I glugged away at my bottled water, feeling warm and tingly all over. Dropping the binoculars in my lap, I gave myself a mental slap. Why was I getting all hot and bothered over a guy like him? Newly separated, he was probably banging as many women as he could get his hands on, and he might have started with me.

  I was about to get up when I noticed him looking in my direction. Slinking lower in my chair, I used the binoculars to see if he could see me. I didn’t think so. He turned and grabbed a towel, mopping up sweat from his face and neck. The kids grabbed the towel away and playfully threw sand at him.

  The boy jumped on his back, and Jed pretended to topple over. Laying flat on his back, he allowed his kids to bury him up to his neck. Seeing his nose twitch and then watching him sneeze made me laugh aloud. He was awfully damn cute. Kids, too.

  * * *

  Later that night I heard a banging at my door.

  “Hello?” I spoke through the closed door. “Who is it?”

  “It’s me. Jed.”

  Removing the chain I opened the door a crack. “I’m not supposed to be talking to you.”

  “I need your help.”

  “I can’t.” I started to close the door but stopped at the look on his face. Something was wrong. “What is it?”

  “I have to ask a favor of you. Could you please stay with my kids for a half hour while I run down to the store?” Before I could refuse, he blurted, “Nikki was sick from too much sun. She’s feeling better now, but while I was holding her head away from the toilet bowl, I noticed lice in her hair.” Seeing my expression, he added, “I need to get some shampoo from the pharmacy.”

  “Jed, can’t you ask someone else? It’s not like I don’t want to help, but it’s really inappropriate for me to associate with you.”

  “Trust me, if I had anyone else to ask I wouldn’t be here.” His eyes pleaded with me. “I’m not asking you to ‘associate with me’—I’m begging you to help me out with my kids. It’ll only take a half hour.”

  I didn’t want to be anal about it, just because we’d gone to bed together while I was representing his wife, but…if I did go to his apartment now, with full disclosure, my job would be on the line. And as much as I wanted to do the right thing, he was asking the wrong person. I had too much to lose.

  “I’m really sorry.” I started to close the door.

  “Lydia, please? I’m desperate here. What am I going to do?”

  I opened my mouth and closed it again. “Half an hour?”

  “Tops.”

  “And you will never tell another living soul?”

  “I promise.”

  “Okay.”

  I had helped Shannon when her daughter came back from preschool with a head full of lice, but she was family, and my niece. The way I figured it, lice should really be kept between blood relatives. This guy was going to owe me big.

  Turning away, I called over my shoulder, “I’ll just grab my keys.”

  “Don’t you want to put any clothes on?”

  Stopping dead in my tracks, I realized my silk nightie was a little too revealing, and the further away I moved, the better his view. “Good idea. I’ll get dressed, you go back upstairs and I’ll be there in five minutes.”

  “I can wait.”

  “No, you can’t.”

  “Why not? I won’t peek.” His eyes slid over me and he grinned, then the smile turned into a frown. “Got a soft cast, I see.” Finally, he looked at my face. “What’s that around your neck?”

  “What does it look like?”

  “Like a neck brace.”

  “Then it probably is.”

  “Why are you wearing that?” Without asking he stepped inside. Before I had a chance to retreat, he lifted the back of my hair to get a better look. I knocked his hand away.

  “I got whiplash, that’s why. It’s nothing serious.”

  “How the hell did you get whiplash from a fall?”

  “It wasn’t from the fall, but from a rear-end collision.”

  “Jesus!” He studied my face to see if I was putting him on. “When did that happen?”

  I smiled sheepishly. “On the way to the hospital. Some dope ran into my cab and then gave me a bad time about faking an injury. I told him I was a lawyer. That shut him up pretty fast.”

  “Are you alright? How can you manage with a broken ankle and a broken neck? Do you want me to help you dress?”

  “No, to all three. Nothing is broken. My ankle is sprained, and I have a bad neck, but I can sure get myself dressed.”

  “Oh,” he said with obvious disappointment.

  “Jed,” I warned, “turn around, go back upstairs, and I’ll be up in a minute.

  Like a good boy he did as he was told.

  * * *

  I knocked softly on his door and a little boy opened up. “Hi, are you gonna baby-sit us?” At my nod he stepped away from the door. “My sister’s got bugs in her hair,” he said matter-of-factly. “I don’t.”

  I smiled at him. “Well, that’s good. Bugs are gross. Did your dad check you out to be sure?”

  “Yup.” He grinned and I saw he was missing his front tooth. “Still, I was hoping he’d catch one. That’d be cool!”

  Jed limped in from one of the bedrooms, because his little girl was clinging to his legs. He pretended to shake her off. “Hi. This is Nicole and that talkative little lice-lover is Nick.”

  I reached out to take Nicole’s hand, feeling a bit foolish but safe in my pink latex gloves.

  His lips twitched when he saw them, but he restrained from laughing aloud, and thanked me for coming to the rescue.

  “It’s okay.” I turned to the girl. “Why don’t you wrap yourself in a blanket, then come and sit down beside me while your dad goes to the store?”

  “I don’t want him to go.” Her face puckered and she began to cry. “It’s so itchy and the bugs are running all over my back. I feel them everywhere.”

  Jed shook his head at me. I was doing my best not to look horrified. “She’s had a bath and she doesn’t have any lice on her.”

  “I do, too!” she cried.

  “No, sweetheart. You just feel like you do. It’s a creepy-crawly feeling, and as soon as I get back, we’ll wash your hair again and get rid of it.” He kissed her forehead. “I’ll be back by the time your show’s over.”

  I glanced at the TV screen and saw they were watching Finding Nemo. “Hey, I haven’t seen this one.” I sat in the middle seat and patted the empty cushions on either side of me. “Come sit down, kids, and fill me in. Which one is Nemo?”

  “This one.” Nicole pointed to the little blue fish. “He got caught and his daddy’s trying to find him.”

  While the children’s attention was diverted Jed slipped out. And by the time he returned, the show was over and the kids were curled up next to me, fast asleep.

  I didn’t see him at first. I was tucking the blanket around their feet, and singing to them softly. I’m a terrible singer, but the sleepy children didn’t seem to mind.

  “Honey, I’m home,” Jed joked from the doorway.

  I wondered how long he’d been standing there. I scowled, “Good. Then I can leave.”

  He lifted Nicole out of my arms and smiled down at her. “I still might need your help. I’m not sure if I’m a very good hair shampooer.”

  “Well, you don’t expect me to do it, do you?”

  He lifted an eyebrow. “For fifty bucks?”

  I laughed. “Not for a hundred. But you can borrow my gloves while I stay and watch. I want to be sure you get all the bugs out.”

  Nick howled, “Who let the dogs out? Woof, woof!”

  His dad threw a pillow at him. “I thought you were sound asleep.”

  “Nope. Lydia was singing, and it was nice.”

  I blew him a kiss. “You’re a bit of a charmer, aren’t you, Nick?”

  He grinned his toothless grin. “I’m going to marry you when I grow up.”

  “I’ll wait
until you’re twenty-one, but not one day more.”

  After both their heads were washed and inspected and the children were put to bed, Jed offered me a glass of wine. I looked at my watch, and said the time was up.

  “This is ridiculous. We aren’t doing anything wrong by having a drink together. I’d just like some adult conversation for a few minutes. Nothing more.”

  I pursed my lips and studied him, trying to decide if I should cut and run. But the kids were here and it was highly unlikely that he would try to get me into his bed. Just because we’d done it once, and it had been unbelievably great, didn’t mean he’d even want to do it again.

  “Since I’m already here, I guess I could stay for one glass.”

  “Red or white?” he asked.

  “Whatever you’re having. I like both.”

  I heard him rummaging around the drawers looking for a corkscrew. “Still don’t know where anything is,” he said, uncorking the bottle of red.

  I accepted the glass and clinked with him. “Cheers,” we said at the same time. My cheeks colored, and I quickly looked away.

  “You have very sweet kids.”

  “Thanks.” His blue eyes swept over my face and lingered longer than necessary. “What was that you were singing to the kids? It was nice.”

  “A song from Pocahontas called The Color Of The Wind. I don’t know all the lyrics, so I kept repeating them.”

  “I’ve got the video if you want to watch it. I’ve got all the Disney collection.”

  “You’re a good father.”

  “Tell that to the judge.”

  “Not me. I’m no longer involved.”

  “Yeah, I’m kind of glad you’re not getting mixed up in this. It could get pretty ugly.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “I mean Alex wants to move to California with the kids, and I’m going to fight her tooth and nail. If she wants to go, fine, but she’s not taking my babies away from me.”

  “This is the first I’ve heard of her wanting to move. She never said anything to me.”

  “She didn’t tell me either. I found out by accident. I called to say I was coming around to pick up the kids and Brooke, our nanny, answered. Told me Alex was in California looking at schools. Well, I went ballistic.”

  “Jed, I’m sure Clive told you the court determines custody, and the policy in this state is to make sure children have continuing contact with both parents after the marriage ends.”

  “So, what do you rate my chances?”

  I didn’t want to get involved in this kind of conversation, and if he had invited me to stay so he could plug me with questions, he could think again. “I don’t know, Jed. Ask your man, Clive.”

  “He told me the father is given the same consideration as the mother, irrespective of the age or the sex of the child. Called it, ‘the tender year doctrine’ and says it still applies in theory, but that young school-aged children are usually awarded to their mother.” His eyes searched mine. “Men usually get screwed. Don’t you agree?”

  “Can we change the subject?”

  He took a swallow of wine. “Sure, what would you like to talk about?”

  “I dunno.” I sipped on my drink. “Why were you at the Candy Bar?”

  “To try to talk some sense into Alexei. She was supposed to be there, but she never showed up.”

  I wasn’t really all that surprised their marriage had soured, from my experience I had come to expect it, but there was something so boyishly appealing about Jed, I couldn’t imagine not loving him. But that was a silly thought. I didn’t need to be in love to be complete, and perhaps Alexei didn’t either. Maybe her dancing made her happy, maybe her children fulfilled her life. Maybe she found Jed boring. Who knows why love dies? It just does.

  “Well, Jed, I don’t know what to say.”

  He added, “I think she’s seeing someone.” Leaning forward I felt his arm brush my knee. “I’m pretty sure that’s why she wants to go to California.”

  “That’s the problem with marriages. Usually one or the other strays.”

  “That’s a warped view on marriage. Not once did I consider having an affair.”

  “You were still legally married when you chose to sleep with me.” Truthfully, I wasn’t sure who instigated it. Did I jump him or was it the other way around? We were going at it pretty strong, and I think I slid my hand inside his shirt, and he was trying to get my back zipper down, then his hand was on my rump…

  “The marriage was already over at that point.” He glanced at me. “Are you regretting it? Should I apologize?”

  Our eyes met, and I felt a wave of heat wash over me. I felt almost dizzy, and I had to dig my fingers into the cushion that was next to me to stop myself from doing something crazy. I had the most uncontrollable urge to shove him backwards on the couch and throw myself on top, and have my way with him. I wanted to feel him inside me so bad, I could hardly stand it. It was so wild, so unexpected, and so heated, that I was getting wet.

  What was it, with this guy? Hell, if the kids weren’t in the bedroom next door, I just might…

  I jumped off the couch to get away from him. “No, I’m a grown woman and I knew what I was doing.” I had a memory flash of trying to get his shirt out of his pants so I could have liberal access to all that good stuff that lay beneath. I remember how urgently I’d wanted to feel him naked against me. Kind of like I wanted him now.

  “Good, because I wasn’t going to apologize. It was much too nice.”

  My cheeks grew hot. It was way more than nice. It was fucking unbelievable. I don’t remember ever making love and feeling such passion, as if being united with that person was as essential as breathing. My brain tried to make sense of it. It had to be the fact that I hadn’t been to bed with a guy in a year. Abstinence is possibly the best aphrodisiac in the world to awaken the libido, and so it probably felt a whole lot better than it really was. Right?

  “Why did you take off like that in the morning?” he asked. “I thought we were enjoying each other.”

  “Are you kidding me?” I folded my arms under my chest, and tried to get all thoughts of sex out of my head. “I found your wedding ring! My immediate response was to leave my panties, and my calling card, under the pillow for your wife to find. I figured she was probably out of town for the night.”

  “Why didn’t you just ask?”

  “I’ve learned from experience that men, generally speaking of course, are surprisingly adept at telling straight-faced lies.” There! That was better. Now I felt more like my old self.

  “Ouch. That’s harsh.”

  “It may be harsh, but it’s the truth. Once upon a time I might have been gullible, but not anymore.”

  He looked at me as if I were a strange species of bug. “Whatever made you become a divorce attorney? I can’t think of anything more unpleasant than hearing couples bitch all day long.”

  “I don’t start the trouble,” I said in a clipped voice. “I just end it.”

  “What the hell kind of satisfaction do you get in that?”

  I glared at him, thinking how to answer.

  In the tense silence, the phone shrilled. Jed let it ring. We heard the answering machine pick up and then Alexei’s voice, loud and tart.

  “Jed? What is going on? When I got home tonight Brooke said Nicole called. Lice? How the hell did my girl get lice? What kind of father are you? And where are you, damn it? Answer the bloody phone. I know you’re there. You wouldn’t leave the kids alone, oh no, not you. Not Mr. Perfect. So pick up, damn it! Oh, by the way, I’m going to get Lydia back as my attorney. All my friends say she’s the best. Jessica told me she got her an absolute fortune in alimony. So, my darling, start saving your pennies. If you even try to stop me from my California move, say goodbye to your business, and everything else you love.”

  Alexei gave a brittle laugh. “I’m calling Lydia tomorrow and upping her fee. I want this over with so I can get on with my life.”

  I cringe
d, and Jed lunged for the phone.

  CHAPTER SEVEN

  “Don’t answer that!” My warning came too late.

  “Hello, Alex.” Jed said coolly. “You don’t have to pay any lawyer’s fee. You can have your divorce, alimony for life, the house, the Mercedes, California, any damn thing you want. You just can’t take the kids.”

  Jed looked like a fighter ready to step into the ring as he listened to Alex.

  “This place is hardly a dump and they didn’t get it from here. Nicole picked it up at school.” His eyes narrowed, “If you want Lydia back as your attorney I can save you a call. She’s right here. I’ll put her on.”

  He held the phone out to me and I wanted to hit him with it. Was the man deliberately sabotaging my career? “Yeah, hi, Alexei. I was just leaving. Uh, Jed needed somebody to look after the kids while he ran to the store to buy lice shampoo. What?” I held the phone away from my ear. “Yes, we live in the same building. Yeah, I know its eleven o’clock.” I yawned. “Don’t worry. I’m bound to the client-lawyer confidentiality. Anything you said to me that is not part of public record will remain between us. I will not, and can not, divulge anything to Jed that could hurt your case. So, no, you don’t have to worry about my being here.” I slugged a drink of the wine. “Yes, good-night, Alexei. If you’re not happy with Hal I can give you a couple of names—real ball busters.”

  Slamming the phone down, I snapped. “You shouldn’t have told her I was here. If anybody ever found out that we slept together it would reflect very badly on me.”

  “Why? You didn’t know who I was when we went to bed together. It wasn’t like you did it on purpose.”

  I looked at him. How could he be so obtuse? “Can we change the subject?”

  “No, I like this one. Why do you think we ended up in bed?”

  Ignoring his question I said, “Have you ever had lice? When my niece had them it took several shampoos, I remember. How can you be sure you got all the eggs?”

  “Nice try. Answer the question, attorney. Why did we go to bed together?”

  “Okay. I’ll answer the damn question. Because we had too much to drink and not enough common sense.”

  “Think so?” He quickly refilled my wine glass. “Let’s test that theory.”