Candy Crush

by Tami Lund

  Despite his bafflement, he invited her into his house, helped her dress the guest bed with fresh sheets, and didn’t push her into doing something that last night she was most definitely not ready to do. Was he truly a gentleman, or had he just assumed she would be so smitten by his charm and demeanor that she would slip willingly into his bed without him even having to ask?

  She was still mulling over this question when the Main Street merchants descended.

  Within the space of an hour, Gabriella was introduced to, and forgot the name of, nearly every business owner on Main Street and the two side streets that comprised the three block downtown area. There were a plethora of antiques dealers, as well as a florist, several apparel shops, a handful of restaurants and various other businesses that she couldn’t remember.

  After the fourth beautiful woman strolled up and cooed in Brandon’s ear, Gabriella wanted to throw her drink at him. Because she knew she had no right to be jealous over whether or not Brandon had any sort of relationship – past or present – with any of those women, she focused on the fact that most of the businesses in the area seemed to be owned by someone who was related to Brandon.

  “Does your family own this town?” Gabriella asked when he finally steered her to a partially secluded corner, so that she could take a break from the introductions.

  “No, not literally. We do own a large portion of the businesses though. It’s only because there are so many of us, and no one seems to leave.”

  “Did you ever consider leaving?” Gabriella asked curiously.

  “I did. I went to Purdue for college and then I was the city manager for a small town in Indiana for a few years.”

  “Why did you come back?”

  He shrugged. “Aunt Constance called one day and said the DDA president position was open and I’d be perfect for it. I applied, got it and here I am.”

  “Did you want to come back?”

  He shrugged. “I was ambivalent at the time. My great-grandmother was ill, my sister was graduating from high school, my brother was getting married. It seemed like a good time to come home.”

  “Are you happy?”

  “What’s with the Spanish inquisition? Trying to turn the tables?” He smiled and Gabriella felt butterflies in her stomach. It was no wonder he seemed baffled that she hadn’t climbed into his bed last night. The man had a smile that could almost literally melt panties. Gabriella was tempted to smooth her hand over her hip, to make sure her panties were still intact.

  “Curiosity, that’s all. Reassuring myself that I wasn’t crazy to take up your offer to stay at your house, after I’d only known you for a few hours.”

  His smile turned wolfish. Gabriella smoothed her hand over her skirt and nearly blew out a sigh of relief. Her panties were still there. They hadn’t melted. Yet.

  “You weren’t crazy. I’m dangerous, but it’s the kind of dangerous women love.”

  Gabriella gulped her wine and turned to survey the room, until she could get her composure under control. He had just put voice to the very first thoughts she had when she met him. It was a little frightening. She needed to shift the conversation to some other subject. Any other subject.

  “So tell me about these people. Who do I need to know? Who should I avoid? And most important, who has kids and is the head of the PTA, so I can invite them to my grand opening?”

  Brandon laughed. “You have a mind for business. I take it this isn’t your first venture into business ownership?”

  “It is, actually. I’ve had… similar experiences though.”

  ***

  He could tell he would not get any additional information on the subject. Suddenly, he felt an overwhelming need to ask a different question.

  “Are you married?”

  He watched as she visibly flinched. He wondered what that meant. Was she married? If so, what the hell was she doing opening a candy store in small town Holly, Michigan, when she told his aunt she was from Dallas?

  “No,” she said, finally. “Although I am also not available for any other type of relationship.” She gave him a coy look at she said it. Almost like she was issuing a challenge. Well, Brandon was most definitely up to the challenge.

  He hoped.

  “Why not? Are you a lesbian?”

  “No. I can’t believe you asked me that.”

  “Are you a nun?”

  “No.”

  “Then why aren’t you available for any other type of relationship?”

  Gabriella sighed. “I’m just not, okay?”

  “No, it isn’t okay.” He leaned closer and felt it like a lightening bolt to his groin when she shivered. He wanted to press her against the wall and kiss her like they’d kissed in the mudroom earlier today. No he didn’t. He wanted to bundle her out the door and down the street to his house, lock the door and spend the next few days getting to know her on a far more intimate level. Clothing was strictly forbidden. He glanced at her shoes.

  She could leave the shoes on.

  He took a chance. He couldn’t help it. He whispered, “I can tell you want it. Maybe not as badly as I do, but bad enough.”

  Gabriella took a step away. He didn’t stop her. If he pressed too hard, she would bolt, like the skittish colt he likened her to. He wondered what happened in her past to make her so jumpy. She was a beautiful woman, she could not possibly not realize it. She should be confident, overly so. She could probably wrap any warm-blooded man around her pinkie finger, if she were so inclined. Including him, he had a feeling.

  There was a story there, he just knew it.

  “Whether I want it or not is irrelevant. It isn’t going to happen.”

  He forced himself to focus on her words, instead of the ideas in his head. “Why not?” he pressed.

  “Because I’m not going to let it.”

  “That sounds like a challenge.”

  “It isn’t. It’s a fact.”

  Brandon considered her through heavy lidded eyes, as he sipped his drink. He wanted to know what she was running from, and he wanted her in his bed. He was pretty sure the need to have her in his bed outweighed his need to know what happened that she’d left Dallas and driven across the country to theoretically set down roots in a small town in Michigan, but he suspected he’d have to find out the answer to the latter question before he could talk her the former. He continued to watch her, enjoying the fact that she was becoming fidgety under his scrutiny, until his cousin, Jared walked up to them.

  Jared was tall and lean, dark haired, olive skinned and blue eyed, just like Brandon. He was two years older than Brandon and for years they had been engaged in an unspoken contest. Whenever one was interested in a woman, the other spent all of his energies trying to win her over first. Brandon figured they were about tied. He groaned at the interest he saw spark in Jared’s eyes. He shifted his stance so that he was half a step in front of Gabriella. He could tell she noticed.

  “Hey cuz,” Jared said in his lazy drawl. He looked past Brandon’s shoulder and smiled at Gabriella. “Who are you hiding over here in the corner?”

  Reluctantly, Brandon said, “Gabriella, this is my cousin, Jared Sarantos. He’s the general manager here at the Holly Hotel. Jared, this is Gabriella Hadley. She just bought the candy store.”

  Jared sidestepped Brandon and shook hands with Gabriella.

  “It’s so nice to meet you in person, Gabriella. I’ve heard all sorts of rumors today. I have to admit, I’m not disappointed.”

  Gabriella rewarded him with a small giggle and Brandon wanted to put him through a wall. Or a window, on the third floor.

  “Do you have plans for Friday evening? I’d be honored to accompany you to the football game. It’s the best we have in the way of entertainment in our fair village.” He gave her his trademark lopsided smile. How many women had been charmed out of their pants by that smile?

  Just as many as Brandon had charmed with his smile. The thought made him grimace. Then he gritted his teeth, because he planned to ask h
er to go to the game, he just hadn’t gotten around to it yet.

  Gabriella’s smile had a wicked edge when she responded to Jared. “I would love to.”

  Brandon and Jared both stared at her. Jared recovered first.

  “That’s fantastic. The game starts at seven. Want to grab dinner here at the Hotel first?”

  “Sure, that sounds nice.”

  “Great. Why don’t you meet me here at five-thirty?”

  “Okay.”

  Jared bid them both good bye and as soon as he ambled away, Brandon rounded on Gabriella.

  “What the hell was that?” he demanded.

  “I have no idea what you are talking about.”

  “You – acting all – all” – he waved his hand in an agitated manner. “Sex kitten-ish,” he finally blurted.

  “I wasn’t acting… sex kitten-ish,” she said as she blinked slowly, the epitome of innocence.

  “Liar. You need to cancel that date. He’ll eat you alive.”

  “I can handle men like him.”

  “No, you can’t. He’ll seduce you and take you home and you won’t even realize it’s happening. He’ll have to take you to his house, because he’s sure as hell not bringing you back to mine. And if he can’t figure out a way to kick you out as soon as the deed is done, he’ll certainly do it first thing in the morning. And you’ll never hear from him again, and everyone will know he scored with you.”

  Gabriella stared at him in open-mouthed shock. Finally, she recovered and said, “I’ve been able to resist you thus far.”

  “I know. You’re a fucking anomaly. I’ve never worked so hard to get laid in my life.”

  “We haven’t even known each other for twenty-four hours yet!”

  “I know. We should be in my bedroom right now, working on round three. And by round three I mean today.” He glared at her until she turned away.

  “I can handle myself,” she said defiantly.

  “No you can’t. You aren’t going out with him.”

  “Is this how you normally steal women from him?”

  “No, Sweet Pea. It’s just you. You’re under my skin and it’s driving me fucking nuts.” He glared at her. “You are not going to that game with him.”

  “My mother always said I had a problem with authority figures.”

  “Your mother should have locked you in the damn basement.”

  “We don’t have basements in Dallas.”

  Brandon glared again, and then, without warning, he cupped a hand around her neck and pulled her to him and proceeded to ravage her mouth. After a few moments, he broke the kiss and Gabriella had to grab the front of his shirt because her knees buckled. He smiled smugly and she let go of his shirt and smacked him across the face.

  He stood there in stunned silence for a moment before he grabbed her wrist and literally dragged her from the room. She struggled to keep up with him and when she stumbled down the stairs, he caught her, stood her upright and walked at a more sedate pace, still grasping her wrist like a manacle. When they were outside, he pulled her around to the side of the building and pushed her back against the brick wall.

  “What the hell was that?” he demanded. He put both hands on the wall, on both sides of her face and glared down at her.

  “I slapped you. You deserved it. That kiss was purely a possessive act, letting everyone in that room know that I was off limits. You wanted to kiss me before Jared had the chance.”

  “I don’t know what kind of math they teach you down in Texas, but that was kiss number two.”

  ***

  Gabriella contemplated slapping him again. Unfortunately, she knew this entire predicament was partially – if not entirely – her own fault. Her ridiculous jealousy over the beautiful women fawning over Brandon spurred her to accept Jared’s invitation, because she could tell it would irk Brandon. She just hadn’t expected him to react quite so… thoroughly. Her eyes dropped to stare at his lips. God help her, she wanted kiss number three. But she was right when she told him she had a real problem with authority figures.

  “I might save Jared the work and throw myself at him on Friday.”

  Brandon looked aghast. “If you sleep with him” – He sputtered and couldn’t seem to come up with an appropriate threat.

  “You’ll what?” Gabriella goaded.

  “I’ll be first in line to spread the rumor and by Saturday morning, the whole damn town will know.”

  She gasped, appalled at his response. He continued to glare at her, almost challenging her to defy him.

  “I’m going back to your house and packing my stuff and going to a hotel.” She gave him a shove and he stumbled backwards. She turned and began purposefully striding down the street. Brandon chased after her.

  “You are not going to a hotel,” he said as he easily caught up with her and began matching her stride. She ignored him and continued walking down the street.

  Two blocks later, he said, “Please don’t leave,” so softly that she stopped because she wasn’t sure she heard him correctly. He gave her a disarming, crooked smile and said it again. He sounded sincere. Gabriella stared at him for several heartbeats, and then she began jabbing her finger into his chest as she talked.

  “Rule number one: you do not tell me what to do. Rule number two: we are not going to sleep together. If you cannot abide by either of those rules, I am leaving. Do you understand me?”

  Brandon put his hands up, palms out and said, “I can handle rule number one. But I’m not agreeing to rule number two.”

  “Fine. Goodbye.” She started to turn and he grabbed her arm.

  “Okay, okay, let’s modify it. I will stop making moves on you. If you decide you can’t resist me, then that’s fair game.”

  She rolled her eyes.

  “But only if you cancel your date with Jared.”

  Gabriella crossed her arms and glared at him. He steadily watched her, until she found herself relaxing, softening.

  “Fine. It’s a deal.” She held out her hand and he shook it. She resisted the urge to suggest they seal the pact with a kiss. Hadn’t she just told him she did not want to sleep with him?

  She began walking again and he shrugged out of his jacket and draped it over her shoulders. She accepted it and they walked in silence for a few blocks. When they were almost to his house, Gabriella said, “I didn’t really want to go out with him anyway. He only wants me because you do.”

  “Nothing against you, but you’re probably right. As bad as my reputation is, his is slightly worse, and well deserved.”

  “Are your female relatives trying to marry him off too?”

  “Not so much anymore. I think they believe he truly is a lost cause. We tend to go after the same women. It’s a sick game we’ve been playing for way too long.”

  “Why is he a lost cause?”

  “Because he really is a jerk about women. I may use them, but at least I’m nice about it, and I always let them down easy. Jared uses them, promises them the moon and then walks away without a backwards glance. Rumor has it there are one or two illegitimate Jared’s running around, but no one is willing to admit it.”

  “You do realize these true confessions are not helping your cause, right?”

  “Sweet Pea, you can ask around, anyone I’ve ever been with still loves me. I treat them like queens and they always have a smile on their faces when we part ways.”

  “There’s that conceit I’m so fond of.” Gabriella said, tongue in cheek.

  He leaned in and his breath ruffled her hair, while her breath caught in her throat. “You know you still want it,” he whispered.

  She swallowed convulsively. At least if she did give in to temptation, the expectations were clearly laid out ahead of time. That was only a small comfort, however, because Gabriella was pretty confident that giving in to the temptation that was Brandon Sarantos could easily result in a broken heart, no matter how gently he let her down.

  It was only six-thirty by the time they arrived at Brandon
’s house. He opened the door and Butter bound out, her entire body shaking with her enthusiasm at seeing them again.

  “I take it you don’t leave your dog alone much?” Brandon asked as they sat on the porch and let Butter relieve herself on the front lawn.

  “I used to have a full time job, so she was alone eight or nine hours a day. But she’d act like this whether we were gone five minutes or five hours.”

  “I guess there’s something to be said for an enthusiastic welcome every time you came home.”

  They sat in companionable silence for a few minutes. Gabriella wondered what they would do with the rest of the evening. Yesterday was easy. It was so late when they got home, and she’d been so exhausted from driving all day, that they’d gone straight to bed. Today, they still had the entire evening stretched out before them.

  “Are you hungry?” Brandon asked after a while.

  “I could eat,” Gabriella admitted.

  “I have some chicken and vegetables in the fridge. I could throw together a stir fry.”

  “That sounds great.”

  “Come on, you’re cold.”

  ***

  Gabriella went upstairs to change into more comfortable, warmer clothes. Brandon walked into the kitchen, and stopped to turn on the furnace on the way.

  When she padded into the kitchen wearing pajama bottoms and a sweatshirt, she asked, “Did I just hear the furnace kick on?”

  Brandon glanced at her and was dismayed to see that she looked fabulous even in a baggy sweatshirt and pajama bottoms. He had been half-hoping her version of changing into something more comfortable involved silk and satin and lace, so it was disconcerting to find himself attracted to her when she wasn’t even trying to look good.

  “Yeah. It’ll probably take a minute to warm up. It’s the first time I’ve turned it on since last spring.”

  “You didn’t have to do that for me,” she protested.

  He ignored her protest.

  “I can help,” she said, and so he set her to work cutting vegetables, while he cut up and then sautéed chunks of chicken breast. He tossed rice and water into the steamer and added Gabriella’s freshly chopped vegetables to the chicken. While he did that, Gabriella set the table with plates, forks and napkins.