by Shirley Jump
“You're really sure about this? You don't want to take a few minutes and think about it?”
She shook her head.
“Then I guess that's it. I wouldn't want to be married to someone who wasn't a hundred percent sure.” He grinned— albeit a small grin—but when he did, Candace knew why she'd spent two years with him. He was a nice guy. A safe guy. One she'd never, ever regret meeting and dating. “I'm an accountant. I like it when all the numbers in the column add up to a hundred.”
She returned the smile. “There's a girl out there who will be the right balance for your credits and debits.”
“Yeah.” He dusted invisible dirt off the knees of his tuxedo, then got to his feet. “Do you need a ride or anything?”
“No. I'll be okay.”
“All right.” Barry took a step, then pivoted back. “If you ever need a coffee that's exactly the right temperature, you know where I am.”
She smiled. “Thanks.”
He gestured toward the church. “I'll go in and tell them all. I think I should be the one to break the news to Mother.”
“Somehow, I think she's going to take it just fine.”
Just as Barry was heading in, Marcy, the photographer, was coming out of the church, camera in one hand, open planner balanced in the other. “Did you want me to get a shot of you two out here? It wasn't on the list. And we're running six and three-quarter minutes behind schedule. The caterers—”
“There's not going to be a wedding,” Barry interrupted.
The brunette paled. “No wedding? But I have this schedule and—” She bit her lip, clutched the leather book to her chest. “I've never had this kind of glitch happen before. Wh-what do you want me to do?”
“Come on back inside with me,” Barry said, waving the slim photographer ahead of him as he pulled open the door of the church. “I have a feeling there'll be a few photo ops inside in a few minutes.”
Marcy scooted inside, her open-toed sandals making little clacking sounds against the marble threshold.
“Nice shoes,” Barry said.
“Oh, thanks. I'm a shoe addict, I swear.” She let out a laugh.
“Oh, really?” Barry said. The door began to swing shut behind them, but not before Candace heard him asking, “By the way, where did you get that planner?”
A few seconds later, Candace snuck back inside to retrieve Michael's box and her tote bag from the bride's room. She ducked around the corner, avoiding the doors to the sanctuary, and the murmuring, gossiping crowd inside. She could hear Bernadine crying about her “poor Barry” and moaning she'd never be a grandmother before she died.
Grandma Woodrow came running up to Candace the instant she entered the tiny bride's room. “What happened out there?”
“The signs became a billboard.” Candace sagged onto the love seat. “I decided not to marry Barry.”
“Good for you. You deserve a man with a backbone bigger than yours.”
“Grandma!”
“Did he take it okay? Do you need a getaway car? I can get up to a hundred and ten in the Chevy, you know.”
Candace laughed “I'm fine, Barry's fine. It's all going to work out okay.”
“Good.” Grandma sat down beside her and gave her shoulders a squeeze. “All's well that begins well. And you're getting a new beginning today, angel pie.”
There was a knock at the door and then Maria and Rebecca poked their heads in. “Hey, there you are,” Rebecca said. “You okay?”
“Yeah.” Candace nodded. “Definitely.”
“If we come in and tell you something, do you promise not to kill us?” Maria asked. “I have a date on Saturday and I don't think James is interested in kissing a corpse.”
Candace laughed. “Your life is safe with me. You guys are my best friends.”
“Best meddling friends, actually.” Rebecca swished into the room and sat in one of the armchairs. “Michael called the store yesterday.”
“He did?”
“He begged us to tell him where the wedding was. He was clearly desperate and hurting, so we had to put him out of his misery,” Maria said. “We figured he had something up his sleeve, but we didn't know what it was. When he didn't show up this morning—”
“Oh, he showed up. In a way.” Candace held up the box. “He sent me a wedding dress. And a marriage proposal.” She took off the lid and showed them the exquisite gown from Reverie Bridal.
“That's the biggest damn billboard I ever saw,” Grandma said. “That kind of sign hits you like a Mack truck.”
“You're one smart grandma,” Candace said, giving her grandmother a one-armed hug. She recovered the box, then slid it onto her lap. “Why didn't you guys tell me he called?”
“Because you had to make up your own mind. If anyone else made it up for you, you'd always have doubts.” Rebecca gave her shoulder a squeeze.
“You're right.”
“Hey, that's why we're women,” Maria said. “Because we're always right.”
“So what are you going to do now?” Rebecca asked.
“I don't know.” She picked up the box, slung her tote bag over her shoulder and headed toward the door. “And for once, that thought doesn't terrify me.”
On her way out the door, she spied Father Pete's bowl of Hershey's Kisses on the table.
Candace kept on walking, right past the chocolate.
3 cups all-purpose flour
3 tablespoons sugar
1 package (1/4 ounce) active dry yeast
1 teaspoon salt
1 cup milk
3 tablespoons butter, softened
l egg
8 ounces milk chocolate
Sometimes, you gotta peek inside to find the real gift. These cookies will help you keep that little bit of wisdom in mind. Combine the milk and butter in a saucepan and heat until the mixture reaches 130 degrees. Add the egg, then stir in the flour, sugar, yeast and salt. Ooh, it's magic. You've made dough, and pretty damn easily, too.
Knead on a floured surface, making sure you get a good workout in to prevent those chicken wing arms. Shape the dough into a ball, put it in a greased bowl, then smear a little grease on the dough ball, cover it and let it rise until it's twice as big as it was before. Yeast is baker's Viagra, don't you know?
Punch it down, then knead again for a minute and break off into eight pieces. Put an ounce of chocolate in the center of each hunk, being sure to close it up good and tight. Put the chocolate-stuffed delights on a greased cookie sheet, then set it aside to rise again for a few minutes. When they're good and puffy, brush them with a bit of milk, then bake at 400 degrees for about fifteen minutes.
These may look like ordinary dinner rolls, but inside is a treasure to be enjoyed. Remember that bit of advice—sometimes the best things are right there under your nose.
Take a big bite out of life and you'll find the sweetness under the surface.
CHAPTER 26
Michael screeched to a halt in front of the church. He didn't bother parking, just slid the Lexus haphazardly into the first space he found. He tossed off a quick apology to his passengers for the whiplash, then hopped out and ran up the walkway toward the double doors of the church.
Candy hadn't responded to his note. He thought she'd call. Tell him the wedding with Barry was off. Or at least tell him to go to hell. Either way, his misery would be over and he'd have an answer.
But he didn't have squat. After an hour of pacing a hole in his apartment floor and barking at Sam, he'd finally jumped into the car and headed over to the church.
Out of the corner of his eye, he spied a marshmallow, striding down the sidewalk with determination. No, not a marshmallow. Another kind of candy.
His Candy. Carrying the box he'd sent and looking like the most delicious thing he'd ever seen, even though the puffy dress was all wrong for her.
So was Barry. And if Michael couldn't make her see that, he was going to make a damn good fool out of himself trying.
“Don't do it,” he
shouted, running to catch up with her.
She spun around like an angel on a Christmas tree. The sun bounced off the curls in her hair with glints of gold. God, he'd missed her smile. Her eyes. Her touch. It was all he could do to hold himself back from pulling her into his arms and kissing her until she promised to be his.
Forever. And the day after that, in case forever wasn't long enough.
“You already missed the part where you put in your objections.”
His heart plummeted into his gut. “You aren't... ? You didn't…”
She smiled. “I didn't marry Barry.”
The relief that flooded through him could have swamped California. And now he did move forward, taking her into his arms. Well, taking her as best he could, with an enormous dress box between them. “I see you got my gift.”
“Every girl needs two wedding dresses. And a backup plan.” She winked at him.
“I am not a backup plan.” He studied her hazel eyes, hoping for a clue, finding only a tease. “Did you read the note?”
“Uh-huh.”
“And ... ?” He held his breath. “What was your answer?”
She cocked her head to the right. “Isn't this the time when you get scared?”
“Oh, I'm terrified. Feel my heart.” He took the box, laid it on the ground beside them, then placed her hand against the left side of his chest.
Beneath her fingers, Candace could feel the steady rhythm of his heart, thudding quick and strong and causing an answering call in her own veins. “Do you still mean what you said in the note?”
“Every word. I'm not so afraid of commitment anymore, not since I met you.” He lowered his mouth within kissing distance. Heat curled between them, tensing the thread of want. “What I am afraid of is you running off on me.”
“I'm not going anywhere.” She grinned. “Especially not in this dress.”
“Good. But just in case, I brought along some insurance.”
She quirked a brow. “Insurance?”
“Yeah.” He grinned, then grabbed the box and led her down the sidewalk toward the Lexus. When he opened the door, two heads leaned out to greet her.
“Shalom, Candace!”
“Jerry? Lucy? What are you two doing here?” Jerry was wearing his new suit, his hair slicked back and his beard neatly trimmed. Lucy had on, of all things, a blue calico-print dress and sensible navy pumps. Candace hadn't even known the tomboyish Lucy owned a dress, never mind knew how to wear one.
“We're here to convince you to follow your destiny,” Jerry said, giving her a stern but friendly look. He got out of the car, then cupped a hand around his mouth and tilted his head toward Candace's ear. “And we figured if you weren't using that priest, we'd get your dollar's worth for you.”
“But you're Jewish.”
“My Lucy's not. A minor detail.” He shrugged. “I figure we might as well cover all the bases. We might run over and pay a visit to the Trappist monks later, too, just in case.”
Candace laughed. “I don't think they perform marriages.”
Lucy had gotten out of the car and come around to Jerry's side, clasping his hand in hers and looking like a woman in love, even though she towered a good foot and sixty pounds over her intended. “He's just anxious for a wedding night,” she said. “He'd get married by the swan boat operator in Boston Common if he thought it would be legal and binding. My Jerry is a gentleman. Wants to do it up right.”
Jerry laughed. “For love, I'll make any sacrifice.” He raised a skinny arm and flexed. “Climb any mountain.”
“The only mountain you'll be climbing tonight is me, mister,” Lucy said. Then her face reddened and she stepped away. “Well, we better get going. Uh, good luck, Candace.” And with that, the two of them were gone, holding hands and giggling like two seventh graders dashing off to their first dance together.
“I like Jerry's philosophy,” Michael said. “Spontaneity and creativity.”
“Gets the girl every time.”
“And did it?”
She opened the back door of the Lexus, laid the dress box carefully on the back seat, then shut the door again. “Well...”
He spun her around to face him. “You're not having second thoughts on me, are you?”
Oh, she was going to love teasing him over the next fifty years. Who knew it could be this much fun? That a few words and a smile could make her heart sing like the ending of a Disney movie?
For now, though, she decided to go easy on him. Later, there'd be more teasing. And much, much more fun.
“Nope, no second thoughts at all. Not anymore.” She took a breath, then met his gaze. “When I was younger, I made one really stupid mistake because I got more wrapped up in feelings than common sense. I thought if I planned everything out, I'd never make a mistake again. But it was a pretty stupid plan because I almost married the wrong guy.”
“Damn good thing you came to your senses.”
She smiled. “I had a little help. From my friends. My family. And you.” She stepped forward and kissed him. There were no doubts, no hesitations, no regrets in her kiss. Just everything she was feeling in her heart.
And a few things she was feeling elsewhere, too.
“Whew,” he said after a few moments. “I'd say that's a nice way to begin.”
She captured his cobalt gaze with her own. “I suddenly don't crave chocolate anymore at all. I want something else much more.”
His smirk sent a little thrill through her. “Something you can't get enough of?”
“I don't think my appetite will ever be satisfied.”
“Good.” He cupped her face in his hands, his thumbs tracing the outline of her jaw. “Because I love you, Candy.”
Never had anyone said those words to her the way Michael had. Deep and solid. The kind of love she'd been searching for, even if she hadn't known she'd been looking.
“I love you, too.” The answering smile on his face soared through her heart. She leaned forward, sealing the words with a kiss.
Behind them, the doors of the church opened and the guests began spilling out, talking amongst themselves. The volume of the gossip raised several decibels when people spied the bride kissing a man who wasn't the groom.
“Quit gawking, you bunch of rubberneckers,” Grandma Woodrow said. “There's better stuff to watch on Celebrities Uncensored. Leave my granddaughter to her life.”
“Let's get out of here.” Candace tugged at his hand.
“Good idea.” Michael opened the door for her, then ran around to the other side and slid into the driver's seat, putting the car into gear and pulling out onto the street. Within seconds, they were heading toward the on-ramp for the expressway. “Where to?”
“Anywhere. See where the road takes us.”
He laughed. “That isn't much of a plan.”
She dug into her tote bag and pulled out the black-and-purple wedding planner. Then she lowered the electric window and chucked it onto 1-93. “I'm done with plans. For now.”
He grinned at her. “And how long is that going to last?”
From the side mirror, Candace watched the pages fluttering against the concrete. “Probably just until I get myself to an office supply store.”
He laughed. “I love you, Candy. Planner and all.”
1 lonely bachelor
1 slightly committed bride-to-be
1 meddling grandma
3 well-meaning friends
1 flighty mother
1 brassy sister
large vials of sexual attraction
equal parts honesty and commitment
Take all of the above, mix well and bring to a boil. When the flavors are completely melded, sprinkle in a proposal from the bachelor to the bride. Let sit in a church crowded with loved ones. Bring in extras as needed, including one ex-rabbi and his policewoman wife.
Wait until all the vows are exchanged, then toss cookie crumbs and good wishes at the new Mr. and Mrs. Michael Vogler.
Did you enjoy THE BR
IDE WORE CHOCOLATE? Keep reading for excerpts from the rest of Shirley Jump's Sweet and Savory Romances or add them to your bookshelf now!
PurchaseTHE DEVIL SERVED DESIRE (Book 2)
Purchase THE ANGEL TASTED TEMPTATION (Book 3)
Purchase THE GROOM WANTED SECONDS (Prequel)
Excerpt from The Devil Served Desire
Book 2 in the Sweet and Savory Novel series
"This story is HOT, HOT, HOT... I relate to this girl! It's a girl's dream come true, a hot man and hot food... You won't be able to put this one down." – Drea (5 star, Amazon review)
CHAPTER ONE
Maria Pagliano was serious this time.
No-holds-barred, no-prisoners-taken, no-cheese-allowed serious. She had eight weeks to do what she'd never been able to do before—lose twenty-five pounds.
This time, she vowed, was going to be different. She wasn't going to cheat and fall victim to her own desires. But in order to stick to her plan, she needed a little help, which was why she had come here on a Tuesday night.
To a meeting of the Chubby Chums support group.
In the lime green basement of a tiny church in Boston's North End, a dozen or so people sat on folding chairs in a circle. Above them, a fluorescent light flickered and hummed like a pathetic disco ball. Maria crossed her legs, pantyhose swishing in the quiet, trying very hard not to think about the lone manicotti from Guido's Italian Cafe sitting in her apartment refrigerator.
"Welcome, group!'' A woman in tight jeans who looked like she'd never been tempted by a bowl of raviolis in her life stepped into the room and opened her arms wide, in an all-encompassing group hug. "And how are my Chubby Chums tonight?"
"We're peachy with light syrup!"
Maria looked around at the group, all laughing at their practiced pun. Had she accidentally stumbled into the Lunatics with Heart Support Forum?
