by Avery Gale, Jess Buffett, Willow Brooke, Lynn Ray Lewis, Gracie Meadows
Candy couldn’t take it anymore, and did the first real girly thing in her life, she ran out the bar. Thankful she brought her purse with her to the bathroom, she spotted a cab waiting for the bar's drunken customers. She jumped in yelling her address as she spotted Brett running out of the bar. Looking behind her, it didn't help when she watched Brett yelling as he jumped into his truck to follow her. Making a quick decision, she told the cab to take her to her uncle’s house, knowing she would be safe there and Brett couldn’t find her. She settled back against the cab's seat and allowed the tears to flow for the first man she loved.
Brett watched in horror as Candy ran away from him and jumped in the cab. He knew she would be heading home and would meet her there to explain. He had known Karen when he was on the circuit, but hadn’t seen her in over a year. Now she picked this one night of all nights to show up and make a scene, and in front of Candy. Punching the steering wheel, he couldn’t forget the look she gave him. He just knew he never wanted to see the look of pain that crossed her face again. He replayed the whole thing over and over in his head.
Karen had come over and was only talking to him. He was being polite, he was raised to treat a lady with respect, even though he wondered if that meant women like her. She started to kiss him and he pushed her away. The guys egged her on, laughing at him. He glared at the guys for making it worse, when someone cleared their throat, he looked, following the direction of their eyes. That's when, looking straight ahead, he saw Candy standing there. Her eyes big as saucers looking at him. The hurt and confusion evident on her face. He tried to explain, but fucking Karen, damn that woman, had to grab his junk, sending Candy out the door. He had never yelled at a woman, but he lost it with her. He told Karen to leave him alone and to go prey on another victim as he ran after the one woman he loved.
As this all replayed in his head he arrived at Candy’s house. Jumping out of the truck, he went to the door and it was locked. Knocking, he called out to her, "Candy, baby, open the door. I wanna talk. Please talk to me, let me explain. Candy?” She never came, only the sound of Doug's bark could be heard inside the house. Figuring he may have beat her to the house, he sat in his truck waiting for her. Looking at the clock it only read eleven. Turning on the radio, he waited, praying she would give him another chance. He was stupid to not push Karen away to begin with and send her packing. Damn it! He sat in his damn truck until the clock read two-thirty in the morning. Fuck, she wasn’t coming home. Needing to come up with a plan, he drove home, he had to win Candy back.
Brett woke up in a daze and wanted nothing more than to have the previous night be a really bad dream, but the fact was it wasn’t. He thought of her uncle and called his house. After the man yelled at him for a good ten minutes, threatening to cut off body parts then feed them to Doug, which was after grinding them through a meat grinder, told her she was there and safe. Brett went on to tell him that he loved her and wanted nothing more than to make her happy. He would need his help to make it right. It was a long shot, but he needed to tell her the truth and clear the air, she was the only woman he wanted.
Getting dressed, he grabbed a couple things before he made his way to her shop. Her truck wasn’t there yet, so he parked across at the diner and got some coffee, watching and waiting. She showed a half hour later with Doug in tow. The dog barked and jumped around as she walked into the building. She looked like herself, well from a distance, but she seemed slightly off. Looking at her more closely, he could see her eyes were puffy and red. His gut tightened knowing he did that to her. Paying his bill, he started to head over to the shop. The first two bay doors where open, allowing him access to her office without anyone bothering him. Opening her door, he saw her with her head in her hands, face down on the desk.
“Whoever it is just go away. Prices are listed, use the computer in the other room for parts.”
“But what if what I want is in here?” he said as he shut the door behind him. Her head snapped up and looked at him. Noticing fresh tears as she held his stare.
“What do you want?” she barked at him. Going over to her, he dropped down to his knees spinning her chair so she faced him directly.
“I am so sorry, Candy. She means nothing to me, I tried to push her away, but she is a sexual predator. Yes, we had a thing, forever ago, but I don’t care for her the way I care for you. I am so sorry, I don’t know how to say it enough. I hurt you and I broke your trust.” He watched as she looked at him. Not sure what to say, it was now or never. “I love you, Candy. Only you. I have never said that to anyone, because love is such a strong word and should only be said when they are meant. And I mean them, baby. I love you with every fiber in my soul. You fill this void I didn’t know I had. When I’m with you, I feel whole—I feel like I am home.” Still she said nothing. “Please, baby, say something.”
Chapter Seven
Candy sat stunned by Brett’s confession of love. Could she forgive him? She heard the women in the restroom say the other woman was throwing herself at him. But the fact is she left and so did he. She watched him leave the bar to come after her, he didn’t go back to the woman. Now here he was on his knees, telling her he loved her.
“Say it again?” She wanted to make sure she heard him right. He blinked looking at her.
“I love you, Candy. I love you so much it hurts.”
Reaching over, she ran her hand on his cheek in a tender caress and he grabbed it holding it to his face as he looked at her with such love. The more time that passed in silence, the more the hurt from her not answering showed in his eyes. Her, the small woman no one ever paid much attention, had the power to break the large man's heart with one answer. Unreal. Could she tell him she loved him back. She knew she did that’s why it hurt so much. She was torn, and now realized that being a chick sucked.
Taking a shaky breath, she tried to force the words out and couldn’t. There was too much fear in giving her true feelings over so easily. The what if’s swarmed her brain, tangling together in a web she couldn’t get out of. The more time that ticked by, the lower his face fell. She was devastating him, and couldn’t break through and stop it. The love she so craved was slipping from her fingertips.
Brett’s heart was shattering in his chest. The jagged splinters stabbing him, creating wounds nothing could heal. He stood, still hanging on to the hopes that she would say something—anything. Finally, her silence spoke volumes. He slowly stepped backwards, turning and walking out the door, saying goodbye forever.
Candy reached out with a cry on her lips, but still couldn’t give him what he needed. The moment he walked through the doors she lost it. Her head fell down onto the desk in a hysterical fit. Crying harder than she had ever before, she handed her heart over to the devastation that sucked at her soul like a black vortex. Farther and farther she sank, oblivious to the world around her.
Brett grasped the door handle with one hand, the ever growing pain increasing. His temples throbbed to match the pain in his chest. When he opened the door to his truck, he saw his favorite rope he used on the circuit sitting on the seat. Without thinking, he snatched it up and headed back in, determined to show her his true feelings. When he walked in and saw her torn to pieces he knew she loved him and hope filled him once more. With one clean throw, he lassoed her, the rope landing around her. He began to tug on the rope, watching her hunched over as the rope slid across the desk before she realized he was even there. She raised her head, showing him her true feelings in the flash of her red, tear filled eyes as the rope moved over her body. Slowly he began to reel her in, dragging her in the office chair until she sat in front of him.
“Damn it, woman, I said I love you, and I’ll be damned if I leave here without hearing the words from you.” His brows furrowed together, glaring down at her.
Her face lit up. When he tugged her to a standing position, he used his sleeve to wipe her face and planted the biggest kiss on her she had ever received. He let up, only to mutter, “If I have to kiss you stupid,
you are going to say something.” And he dove back in, working her mouth hot and heady. Minutes, hours, days. She had no comprehension how long he devoured her. Candy eased off, pulling away from him. “Unless you have something to say, I’m not done yet.”
She grinned, finally knowing in her heart that he was meant for her. “Brett, I love you with all of my heart. Will you be my Valentine?”
When all he could do was nod because of the tears of joy she had brought, he kissed her again and tugged her out of the shop, with Doug following. He planned to take her home where he could make her repeat it over and over again.
Books by Avery Gale
Published with JK Publishing, Inc.:
The Wolf Pack Series
Mated – Book One
Fated Magic – Book Two
Masters of the Prairie Winds Club
Out of the Storm
Published with other publishing companies:
The ShadowDance Club
Katarina’s Return – Book One
Jenna’s Submission – Book Two
Rissa’s Recovery – Book Three
Trace Tori – Book Four
Reborn as Bree – Book Five
Red Clouds Dancing – Book Six
Perfect Picture – Book Seven
Club Isola
Capturing Callie – Book One
Healing Holly – Book Two
Claiming Abby – Book Three
I would love to hear from you!
Website: http://www.averygalebooks.com/index.html
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/avery.gale.3?fref=ts
Twitter: @avery_gale
Books by Jess Buffett
Published with JK Publishing, Inc.
New Hope Valley
Claiming Her Mate
The Alpha's Onyx and Fire – Coming Soon
South Point Pack
Nick's Christmas Wish
The Keepers
Cupid's Time
Valentine's Day Anthology
Cowboys Candy
Her Outback Valentine
Published with Siren - Bookstrand
Hunter Clan Series
The Kayan's Mage
Riley's Vampire Prince
Dmitri's Little Spitfire
His Silent Mate
Jordan's Purrfect Mate
Published with Silver Publishing
Always Been You
Cowboy's Chocolate Roses
Published with Beachwalk Press
Sons of the Seven
An Archangel's Promise
Would love to hear from you!
Email: [email protected]
Website: http://jessbuffett.wordpress.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jessbuffett05?fref=ts
Books by Willow Brooke
Twisted Fate Series
Twisted Time
Coming Soon: Book Two
Breaking Protocol
Cadence of Love
Broken Battlefield, Mended Hearts
Standalone Titles
Cabin Fever
I would love to hear from you!
Website: http://willowbrooke.weebly.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/willow.brooke.75?fref=ts
Books by Lynn Ray Lewis
Published with JK Publishing, Inc.:
Tremble Island Lords and Ladies
Rane’s Giant – Book One
Hawk’s Nest – Book Two Coming Soon
The Guardian
I Waited For You – Book One
Book Two – Coming Soon
Single Titles
A Place for Her
Published with other publishing companies:
At the Lake Series
Dizzy’s Story
Jane’s Story
Morgan’s Story
Single Titles:
The Elusive Jillian Wilson
Not Bad for an Amateur
I would love to hear from you!
Email: [email protected]
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lynnray.lewis.75
Website: http://lrlnovels.com
Books by Gracie Meadows
The Hidden Pack
Dreamwalker's Duo
Awakened by a Dream
Millie's story – Coming Soon
Heels for Hire, Inc.
Covered by Bubbles – Coming Soon
Stand Alones
Till My Last Breath
Valentine's Day Anthology
Cowboys Candy
Roping Candy's Heart
Would love to hear from you!
Website: http://graciemeadowsauthor.weebly.com/
Facebook: www.facebook.com/gracie.meadows.5836?fref=ts
Email: [email protected]
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Carlene Laye - Website: http://carlenelayechristianauthor.weebly.com (Christian Romance)
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Kiz Jones - Facebook: www.facebook.com/AtlantisVoyagerSeries?fref=ts (Youth)
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