Ten Brides for Ten Hot Guys

by Donna Fasano

  “I’ll give you one, if we ever get the Candy Bar back on its feet.” I sighed. “We’ll have to stay closed until after your hearing. I sure hope the judge allows you to go back to work.”

  “Why wouldn’t he?”

  “I have no idea. But if you’re being charged with selling cocaine out of the bar, he might forbid you from working there, wouldn’t you think?”

  Harrison replied, “Not necessarily. Unless, of course, he has a prior conviction.”

  “You don’t, right?” I shot a look at Jake, and didn’t like the way he hung his head and shrugged.

  “Not really. But kind of.”

  “What the hell does that mean?” Harrison asked.

  “I was seventeen and peddling grass out of the high school. Not big quantities, but I’d sell a bag or so. Because I was a minor, I thought the record had to be expunged.”

  “You’re probably safe, but if not, I recommend you make a plea deal.”

  “Jeez! Can things get anything worse?” I pulled out my phone and called Lydia again. “Call me as soon as you can. It’s an emergency.”

  Jake stepped out of the car, flung my door open and pulled me out. He gave me a long, big hug, and I’d never felt his arms wrapped around me before. I knew he was ashamed and scared and so was I.

  Chapter 16

  “What was that all about?” Harrison asked as I slid into the front seat beside him.

  Did I detect a note of jealousy from Mr. Mayflower? That put my back up, just a little. Jake and I have been friends for a long time. “He’s worried and so am I.”

  “He’s a big boy. If he’s clean, I’m sure the charges will be dismissed.”

  “He’s clean. I have no doubt of that. And Lydia will get him off. I know she will.”

  “Good. Then what are you worried about?”

  “Everything.” Exasperated, but knowing it wasn’t all Harrison’s fault, I softened my tone. “Do you mind driving me back to the bar? I just want to have a look around. Reassure myself that everything’s all right.”

  “Why wouldn’t it be?” His eyes narrowed with concern. “What haven’t you told me?”

  “It’s probably nothing, but we’ve had a couple of thugs demanding protection money. They’ve showed up at the bar twice now. Jake and I each told them to get lost, but I guess they aren’t the kind of guys who take no for an answer.”

  “Have you reported this to the police?”

  “No.” I pushed my hair back from off my face, and blew out a warm breath. I could feel the anger and frustration rolling off me. “It only happened the first time about two weeks ago, and again this past weekend when we were away.” I sucked back tears. “Jake dealt with them. That’s probably why they planted cocaine in the bar. Who knows what they will do next?” My heart raced.

  “It’s probably a good thing for you to stay closed until we get this all sorted out.”

  “Oh, Harrison. I don’t know… I’ve never closed the bar. Not in the ten years I’ve owned it.”

  “Things have changed, you’ve said so yourself. And you’re still trying to sell it, aren’t you?”

  My head shot up as I realized I wasn’t through with the Candy Bar just yet. “I don’t want these people, whoever the hell they are, to intimidate me, and to win.”

  “An emotional reaction for a business decision,” Harrison pointed out.

  “I can’t sell now—with my bartender arrested for selling cocaine. No one would touch it with that kind of bad rep.” Business, schmisness. This was my baby on the line.

  He stopped the car in front of the bar. “I’ll just be a minute,” I said.

  Reaching for my arm, he said, “I’ll grab a parking spot. Wait for me.”

  “Don’t be ridiculous.” I released an uneasy laugh, one leg out the door. “It’s not like they’re going to bomb the place.”

  His jaw ticked, and his gray eyes turned dark with emotion. He didn’t like this situation anymore than I did. And that information created more fear and doubts.

  I pulled my leg back inside. “They wouldn’t, would they?”

  “Not likely,” he admitted. “They’d never get their money that way.”

  That was one way to look at it. “Exactly.”

  I watched him drive away, and I turned to the bar and unlocked the door. Then, chicken-shit that I am, I stood on the threshold and waited for Harrison to come back. Just in case I needed a witness.

  As soon as I saw Harrison round the corner I stepped inside, leaving the door ajar so he could follow me. The place was, of course, empty and eerily quiet. It was now the middle of the afternoon and the bar should have been open, a few regular customers stopping in for a drink and a quick bite to eat. Since I didn’t have a kitchen, we used a decent Italian bistro down the street and catered from them for our small pub menu.

  The system had worked well for years. We’d have lasagna or pizza, a variety of flatbreads and a quiche every day, and mix it up with eggplant marinara, stuffed cabbage rolls, fried zucchini and calamari.

  In business manager mode, I made a note to call them and let them know we’d be closed for a few days. Hopefully the matter with Jake would be settled soon, but the on-going issue with neighborhood crime was a more serious problem that could escalate before it got resolved.

  I stood inside my bar, drowning in sorrow, when I felt Harrison’s arms go around me from behind.

  “You okay?” he whispered, putting his chin on my shoulder.

  I breathed in his familiar scent and leaned against him. Unable to speak, I nodded and wrapped his arms tighter around my middle.

  “Candy?” He put his hands on my hips and turned me around. Then he lifted my chin and looked into my eyes. “I’m so sorry. I know this is tearing you to pieces. I wish I could do something to help.”

  “Just keep holding me. Please?”

  He pulled me in close and I felt the entire length of him, every wonderful warm inch of that magnificent body. I melted into him, needing his strength, his comfort, and everything he offered.

  I stood on tiptoe and lifted my face. “Kiss me,” I said, and felt my mouth tremble. I would not cry. Not now. I needed to be strong to fight the bad guys, the horrible corruption that was spreading from some seedy spots in South Beach and infringing on my neighborhood. That’s right. My neighborhood.

  His mouth came down on mine. Hard. He knew what I needed, perhaps more than I did myself. His hands roamed over me, then cupped my backside and drew me close.

  His kisses were not gentle, not soft or kind. They were hungry, demanding, taking and giving, then taking some more. Our tongues mingled and dueled, eager to taste each other, wanting to unite the way our bodies hungered for the same.

  He broke away, and I stood there, bereft, alone, aching for him, wondering why I was so cold. I heard the door slam shut, and the sound of the lock, and then Harrison was back. His hands wrapped around me and his thighs pressed between mine. I widened my legs to accommodate him, and felt a rush of heat as his groin rubbed against mine.

  “Here?” I squeaked.

  “And now,” he answered, then growled. His teeth grazed my shoulder, his mouth slid along my neck.

  I twisted my head, so his lips could have better access. Liquid fire shot through me, and I shivered and shook. His mouth electrified me, and my nerve ends tingled. Needs, wants, and desires that had lain dormant for most of my life, rose up in a full force gale.

  I was a live energy that sizzled and snapped and couldn’t be stopped.

  “Harrison…do me. Dear heavens, do me.”

  “Shit.” He stopped at the button on his shorts. “I don’t have a condom.”

  I laughed, the sound husky. Sexy, even to my own ears. “I’m sure we have plenty in the men’s room.”

  “Change?” He patted his empty pockets.

  “There’s petty cash in the drawer.”

  I watched him rush off and then without even considering what I was doing, I kicked off my sandals, removed my shorts
and top and hoisted myself on the bar. I only had a pink bra and matching panties on. Even that was too much.

  He came back a second later, and his eyes opened wide. “Holy cow, Candy. You are a sight for sore eyes. My God, how did you stay single so long?”

  “Get over here.” I smiled seductively, and dangled my feet over the bar. I slid my knees open slightly, an invitation he couldn’t ignore.

  He ripped his own shirt off, undid his belt buckle and let his shorts fall to his knees. Then he wobbled over to me.

  I slid my hand into his jockey shorts, and caught my breath. Oh, dear, God. Was this heaven?

  I felt him shudder, and watched him close his eyes as my fingers slid up and down his shaft.

  “You like that?” I asked, my words a hot whisper in his ear.

  “Don’t ever stop.”

  “I want you, Harrison Wolfe. As much as I did the first time I saw you. No. That’s wrong. It’s not want…it’s need and so much more.”

  My entire body felt like putty, waiting to be molded by his hands, by the firm press of his body. I shivered in expectation, needing to feel him on top of me, inside of me, and have his cock buried so deep it could never find a way out.

  He kicked off his shoes and shorts, and ripped open the condom packet with his teeth. He rolled the condom over the biggest hard-on I’ve ever seen, and I felt a wet explosion inside my legs.

  I was like a firecracker that could go off anytime.

  “Quick. I’m not going to last long.”

  “This first time, neither will I.”

  He rolled my undies over my hips and down my legs, then tossed them to the floor. He unsnapped my bra and tossed it too. Then he slid me down on top of him. I was half perched on his strong thighs as he thrust inside of me. I clung to his shoulders and rode the waves of pleasure out, as he pounded me against the side of the bar.

  The tempo increased and both Harrison and I were panting, our kisses frantic, our bodies demanding release. The pressure built inside of me and I bucked once or twice and felt myself clench right before the world exploded in a brilliance of stars.

  A second later, I heard a bellow and felt Harrison shudder as his release came too. I held onto him, still moving my hips, eager to take as much as he had to give.

  His legs gave out, and then we were both lying on the floor.

  I rolled over on my side, and tucked one leg between his thighs. He fondled my breast and I kissed his chest. I thought about moving, but where would I go?

  I was right where I wanted to be…and nothing had ever felt sweeter.

  Chapter 17

  “Candy?”

  I lifted my head. “Yes?”

  “Can we do that again?”

  I laughed. “What? You mean right now?”

  “Maybe in a few minutes. Don’t go anywhere, please? Just lie here with me and when I’m ready I’ll get up and get another condom.” He kissed my forehead. “Once was not even close to enough. I still feel as randy as a sixteen-year-old kid.”

  “It’s probably just the Candy Bar magic.” I said it lightly, but secretly hoped I was wrong. I wanted him to desire me, have super-deep feelings--not because of any old magic, but because I was worthy of his love.

  So far I was batting zero in the forever department. But one day I hoped to hit a home run.

  I ran my fingers down his chest, teasing him with little circles that got lower and lower. “Who knew the Candy Bar could be this much fun?”

  “You’ve never done this before?”

  “Are you crazy? Of course not! What do you take me for?”

  “The sexiest, most beautiful and intelligent woman I’ve met in the past thirty years.”

  “Ah…you say the sweetest things.”

  “I mean them.” He bent his head and kissed me deeply. “I don’t know how I’ll return to Boston and leave you here.”

  I stilled, my hand over his heart. “You have no choice. Once you get home and back to work, you’ll forget all about me.” I was determined to make his leaving easy–less painful.

  “That’s not going to happen.”

  “Sure it is. You know we can’t let this go any further. Today is the only day we have.” I peppered his shoulders with kisses.

  “You still thinking of the kids?”

  “Of course.” Now that the first heat of desire had past, my conscience returned. “They’d be so disappointed in us.”

  He didn’t answer because he knew I was right. Finally, he muttered something about not giving a shit, then he shifted his weight so that his big, beautiful body covered mine. His mouth claimed my lips, his tongue dived in and he kissed me like he couldn’t get enough. As though he wanted to remember the taste and flavor of me.

  “Oh, Har, you move me so,” I whispered, and rubbed up against him. I wanted him again, desperately. “Are you ready yet?”

  He chuckled. “Check and see.”

  I slipped my hand down and found him rock hard. “Oh, goodie.” I gave him a naughty grin. “Is this for me?”

  “Sure is.”

  “My favorite kind of present.” I lowered my body and took him in my mouth.

  He moaned with pleasure. “God…that feels…so good.”

  “Relax and enjoy the ride.” I pleasured him for several minutes, but he grew restless and pushed my head away.

  “Don’t move. I’ll be right back.”

  I lay on my back and closed my eyes. When I opened them, he stood over me and I’ve never seen a more powerful, strong, sexy hunk of a man fumbling with a condom, looking unsure of himself. There were tears in his eyes and I wondered what put them there.

  I took the condom out of his hands. “Here. Let me do it.”

  With sure fingers I rolled it over the length of him, and then cradled his head to my breast. “You’re shaking.”

  “You bring me to my knees.” His teeth grazed my nipple. “Candy. I want to lick you all over and then eat you up.”

  “What are you waiting for?” I dropped down on the floor and raised my hands over my head. “Do with me what you want.”

  His mouth came down on mine hard, and I thought I felt tears on his cheeks. He kissed me for a long, long time, then his mouth drifted down to my neck, while his hands kneaded my breasts. He took a pert nipple into his mouth and sucked on it gently, then gave equal attention to the other.

  His hand roamed over my tummy, then he bent and kissed me there. His lips trailed lower and lower still. I held my breath in anticipation, and waited.

  His hands slipped between my thighs, moving them slightly apart, and then his finger dipped it, finding me hot and moist. With an experienced man’s knowledge he knew exactly where my sweet spot was, and with ruthless determination he brought me to the brink. At precisely the right moment, he withdrew his fingers and used his tongue.

  I cried out as his tongue dove in, flickering back and forth over that delicate nub, and I arched my back and tried to push him away, but he wasn’t about to let me go.

  Delirious, I felt my body go into spasms and just when I thought I couldn’t take any more, he entered me, and my pleasure rose again.

  Our mating was quick, but so strong that it seemed as if we climaxed forever. Ripples of pleasure rolled from both of us for several long moments, and he continued to hold me and kiss me softly.

  “Harrison…” I whispered. “It’s never been like this before.”

  “I know. The Candy Bar magic.” And then he kissed me again.

  When we could, we stood up and dressed. “Harrison, would you mind driving me home? I need to take care of a few things, and get in touch with Lydia.”

  “Of course. I’ll go back to the hotel and change and shower, then pick you up later this afternoon. What time do you think you might be free? Three or four?”

  “I have no idea. How about I call you when I’m done?”

  “Sounds good to me.” He slid a hand around my back and gave me a warm hug. “What would you say to a sunset cruise? I’ll make arrange
ments for a boat. How about a picnic dinner, a relaxing evening, some fine wine?”

  “That sounds wonderful.” Anything to spend time with him before we were through.

  “Great. Consider it done.”

  We walked back to the car, and my mind was flying in so many directions, I didn’t know where it would land. I used the interlude with Harrison for strength, knowing I had to make a decision.

  ~*~

  I spoke to Lydia and explained the problem with Jake, the cocaine planted at the bar, and the squeeze for “protection money” that was most likely behind it all.

  “I’ll call Jake now, and arrange to see him. Get his story,” Lydia said right away. Then she hastened to reassure me that the Candy Bar would remain safe.

  “I don’t have your confidence, Lydia. I honestly think the police are turning a blind eye. I mean, really! I’ve seen things on the street. Not just the hookers and the pimps, but money and packages being exchanged. If I see this with my own eyes, why aren’t they doing anything about it?”

  “Good question,” Lydia answered. “Look, I have a few ears in the Justice Department and I’ll nosey around. Don’t worry. I’ll get to the bottom of this. Trust me. Whoever, or whatever, is threatening you and your bar won’t go unpunished. And that’s a promise.”

  “What would I ever do without you, Lyd? You’ve saved me and Billy, more than once.”

  “That’s what friends are for.”

  “Speaking of friends, I need to call Fran and Susie back. I spoke to them this morning before we got poor Jake bailed out.”

  “Tell them I’m on it! I’ll keep in touch and let you all know what I find out.” Lydia released a hefty sigh. “I know you’re worried, Candy, but try not to be. Call the girls and go out and have a few drinks. That’s the best thing you can do right now. Leave the worrying to me. I’m a professional.”

  “Sounds like a great plan.” I paused then confessed, “Harrison is renting a boat and he wants to take me on a sunset cruise. Perhaps the girls would like to come...”

  Lydia laughed. “I don’t think they’re invited. And you, young lady, need to do something about this man.”