by Tiece
They stared at each other for a moment. They were both thinking the same thing. If only Monty wasn’t in the picture. Candy’s hair blew lightly in the wind and she rubbed the sides her arms.
“My bad,” he said. “It has gotten cooler out here since earlier. Come inside my spot.” He insisted. She smiled as he opened up the door for her to walk in ahead of him.
“I’d be delighted.” She said and walked inside the building. “I thought you were going into business with Monty.” She said looking around the spacious building. Brendon locked the door behind him and turned to face her.
“I was, but I had other things in mind.” He said walking over by the bar.
“I see,” she commented. “This is a big place. I love the space.” She ran her fingers down the granite countertop of the bar. “What are you gonna call it?”
”You’re the first person that I’m telling this.”
“I should feel special.” She said.
“You should,” he grinned. “Raven’s Hot Spot… That’s the name of my sports bar. Brendon said watching every step Candy made as she moved with grace.
“Raven,” she repeated. “Raven’s Hot Spot… Short and sweet,” she said. Her voice was sweet and pleasant. He liked the way her words rolled off of her tongue. “What’s upstairs?” She asked. Brendon cleared his throat.
“Oh that’ll be the kitchen, but I’m not going to show you that part of the place yet.” He smiled.
“Hell, if it’s anything like down here then I’m sure it’s nice.” She said.
“The building is a lot nicer than what I expected. I really don’t have that much work to do. Rico’s mom is going to help me decorate the place.”
“Well, she’s good,” Candy stated.
“I’ve heard,” he commented. “Le’me help you with that.” He said as Candy began to come out of her coat. Brendon reached out for it and laid it gently across the bar. He admired the way her brown Coogi sweater dress hugged her curves. “Have a seat.” He said watching Candy sit down on one of the bar stools at the bar.
“Since you’re my first guest le’me fix you a drink if it’s not too early.” He said.
“Don’t threaten me with a good drink.” Candy joked making Brendon laugh.
“Well its Armadale Vodka and Cotton Candy Pinnacle Vodka mixed with cranberry juice and lemonade.”
“Hmmm sounds good.” She commented. “I’d love a glass of that.”
Brendon grinned. “And still she has jokes. This is going to be the best mixed drink you’ve ever had.” He fixed two drinks, one for him and one for her.
“You look kinda good standing behind the bar,” she said.
“Is that right?” He asked.
“Yep, that would be right. But don’t let it go to your head. I was only saying.” She teased.
“That comment or compliment whatever you want to call it just blew right past me.” He said with a smile. “Plus, I already have someone running the bar.” He said giving Candy her drink. She smiled taking a sip of it.
“I’m impressed.” She said making Brendon blush a little.
“I knew you would be,” he said as she turned her drink up emptying the glass. “Well, damn don’t hurt yourself.” He commented.
“I’m no rookie at this.” She responded. “I’ll pay for the next one.” She handed him the empty glass. Brendon grinned.
“I don’t want any money from you.” He said.
“Well, what do you want?” Candy asked. Brendon paused then proceeded in mixing her another drink. He cleared his throat.
“I wanna get to know you better.” He said then giving her the drink he’d just mixed. Candy reached for the drink and immediately drank a little from the glass. She looked in his eyes as he stood there watching her.
“What if I’m not the person you think I am?” She asked.
“And what if you are?” He responded drinking a little from his glass. He sat on the bar stool beside her.
“You don’t mind do you?” He asked.
“Nah, this is your bar. You sit wherever you want too.” She answered, sipping a little bit more from her glass.
“A’ight, this drink will sneak up on you.” He said.
She grinned. “I doubt it. I’m a pro I keep telling you.”
Brendon just shook his head and laughed. “You are a trip.”
“I’ve been told that a few times.” She paused. “Sooooo, Brendon… My bad… Bren, what really brings you to Augusta GA?”
“Change,” he responded. Candy drank from her glass.
“Were you a bad boy in Texas?” She asked.
“Sometimes,” he said.
“And you’re thinking that coming here is going to make you a better man, huh?”
“Kinda,” he responded, but having thoughts about his cousin’s baby mama wasn’t going to make him a better man.
“Can we answer questions with more than one word?” Candy joked.
“Yeah,” he responded and they laughed.
“Did you have a girlfriend back home and if so is she planning on coming this way to be with you?” Brendon turned up the drink and quickly turned to fix him another one. Candy slid him her empty glass too.
“A’ight now,” he said looking at her sideways with a smile.
“Just fix it and answer my question.” She giggled. Brendon began mixing their drinks. He thought about her question feeling unsure about revealing certain parts of his life to her so quickly.
“Yeah and no,” he said.
“Meaning what exactly?”
“Well, I did have a girlfriend, but we broke up a few months ago. So no, she won’t be coming here not even to visit me.” He slid Candy her drink and she quickly sipped it.
“This shit is good,” she commented.
“I see.” Brendon said. “I’ll have to think of a name for this mixed drink and put it on my menu.”
Candy smiled. “So what was her name?” She asked.
“Trina,” Brendon said.
Candy grinned. “Was she really the baddest bitch?” Her comment made Brendon laugh.
“Yeah, I’ll give her that.” He said thinking about Trina’s pretty face and sexy body. Candy smiled. Her buzz was slowly coming on.
“Were you good to her?” In a way she wanted to see if Brendon was like Monty in more ways than just looks.
“Uh, I guess that would depend. We had some good times,” he said.
“Good times, huh?” She said gently rubbing her index finger around the rim of her glass. “Am I being a little too nosey?”
“Just a little bit,” Brendon said with a smile.
“Well if you really want to get to know me better then I think it’s only fair that I get to know you better.”
“I don’t disagree with that,” Brendon said.
“Soooo, Bren…” She paused. “Is there anything you wanna ask me so that I don’t feel like I’m the only one asking all the questions?”
Brendon looked over at her.
“If you don’t mind me asking, how old are you?” He asked.
“I’m nineteen, but my birthday is in August. So I’ll be twenty before you know it.”
Brendon smiled. “I need to take my drink back then. You’re not legal.” He teased.
“If I don’t get it here, I’ll get it from home.” She responded.
“Well in that case,” he grinned. “People like to say when you’re older that you look very good for your age. Well, I want to just say that you look very good period.” He could see that Candy was blushing even though she was trying her best not to show it.
“What types of things do you like to do?” He asked. “Like hobbies, dreams, plans…”
“Good question,” she said taking a drink.
“My hobbies would include doing hair on my leisure time and studying up on new styles or cuts.” She crossed her legs and chewed on her gum. “Hmmm… Let’s see… I love shopping with my girls and more than anything spending time with my little one. M
y dreams right now are something that I’m reevaluating, but I plan on starting school in February to become a licensed cosmetologist. I’d like to one day open up my own beauty salon.”
Brendon smiled. “You would make a fine business owner.” He said. “Not meaning like fine, fine, but you know what I mean.”
“So you tryna say I ain’t fine?” She joked.
“Nah, I ain’t saying that,” he smiled looking down at her thick thighs. She was surely one sexy lady to him.
Candy was feeling pretty good by this point as she looked over at him. He was looking down in his drink as if he was full of thoughts.
Candy cleared her throat. “You know my cousin moved here from Texas too.”
“Oh she did? What part?”
“Houston… that’s the same area you’re from right?” Candy asked.
“Technically, I’ve lived there about three years, but we actually lived in Galveston, TX. It’s about an hour from Houston.”
“Oh okay. I was just surprised that you two hadn’t already bumped into each other since before now.” Brendon grinned at her comment.
“Nah… Plus, Houston is a very big city.”
“Well, you know it’s a small world,” Candy commented.
“Yeah it is. Look at us and how we kept meeting up in that little bit of time.” Brendon said.
“That’s what I was thinking.” She smiled then grabbed her coat. “I think you were right. Your drink snuck up on me.” They laughed and Brendon looked down at his watch.
“Yeah, I’m scheduled to meet Rico’s mom within the hour.” He said.
“We wouldn’t want Mama Mack to be thinking anything,” Candy said as she stood up and put her coat back on. The drinks she’d had was really working on her.
“Are you okay?” Brendon asked.
“Meaning,” she asked.
“To drive,” he said. “That’s all I meant.”
“Yeah, I’m good. I’m going straight home.” She said.
“Can I see you again?” Brendon asked. He really liked Candy and was hoping that she felt the same way.
“Sure, why not. This is the most interesting thing that has happened in my life in a long time.” She said thinking back to the first night she and Monty shared their first kiss.
“Mine too,” he agreed. Candy walked over to the door. She turned quickly to look back at Brendon not realizing how close he was to her.
“Oh my bad,” she said staring in his eyes.
“You good,” he responded. They were standing within inches from each other as he looked down in Candy’s face.
She cleared her throat. “This feeling is too good to be true and I’m kinda scared of it.” She admitted.
“Don’t worry I got you,” he said.
“But what if we get caught?” She asked.
“I got you. I’ll never do or ask you to do anything that will put you in jeopardy of being caught. Besides, we’re not doing anything but talking.”
“I know, but let’s keep it real. I feel something when I’m around you.”
“I know the feeling, but don’t worry about it. If you ever feel uncomfortable just let me know and I’ll do my best to ease that feeling.” He leaned down a little and kissed her softly on the cheek. She felt giddy inside as if he had kissed her on the lips.
“Yeah, I think it’s definitely time for me to go,” she said.
“When will I see you again?” He asked.
“Call me,” she responded. “We’ll see… Oh by the way… Candy Girl,” she said.
“Huh?” Brendon asked.
“The name of the drink,” she responded as Brendon frowned. “You wanted to know what you should call the drink.” She said.
“Ooooooh… it slipped my mind just that fast.” He said. “Candy Girl,” he repeated. “Nice ring to it.” He smiled. “That’s what it’ll be then, Candy Girl.
“I knew you’d like it,” she said and turned her back to him as she walked out of the back door. Brendon hated to see her go but he enjoyed the view as she walked to her car. She opened the car door and before getting in she looked at him. “Better yet, I’ll call you.” Without saying a word he nodded and understood exactly what she meant by that. He wasn’t going to pressure her and felt good that she’d be the one calling him when and if she was ready to see him again.
Chapter 11
Candy woke up feeling very refreshed. It was the early morning of February 13th and it was her first day of school. She was excited about starting something that would surely fulfill parts of her plans for her future.
She looked over on her nightstand at the picture of MJ. He was adorable and getting bigger by the days. He was her plump juicy baby and he looked so much like his daddy. She loved him very much and wanted nothing than to be able to provide a stable living and future for her son.
She and Monty remained civil over the past few weeks. She had stuck to her word and hadn’t taken him back. Needless to say Monty hadn’t tried very hard at winning her back. He was however still the stand up guy to her and her son and that meant more to her than anything. He made it his personal business to make sure that he spent just as much time with MJ as she did. Lately he’d been working a little more, but MJ was still his first priority. She couldn’t ask for a better baby daddy.
She walked into the bathroom to freshen up. She brushed her teeth and rinsed her mouth with the water from the sink. She looked in the mirror while wetting her wash cloth with warm water and wiping her face as her thoughts reflected on Brendon. He’d had been a person of interest on her mind for quite some time. The funny thing is that she hadn’t called or attempted to see him since their encounter at Raven’s Hot Spot nor had he even tried to reach out to her. He was indeed mysterious, but she liked every minute of it. She was thinking of celebrating her first day of school that weekend and had thoughts of maybe seeing him at some point, if he was willing too after all this time.
She remembered getting a quick peek of him a week earlier. He had brought Monty over to drop off MJ. Just seeing him through his driver window was enough to give her butterflies. She remembered waving her hand as she spoke and the way he nodded his head while addressing her was very enticing. She was much too afraid of that feeling and so she decided that she’d better stay away until she got it together. How could she even be around a person like Brendon if she hadn’t fully gotten over Monty?
And Monty… it seemed that every time he stopped by he smelled better and better each time. He dressed flier, wearing his Sean John suits every now and then. He was sweet on her and even loved to joke around about giving him some, but he never sat around long enough to see if she actually would. He had stepped into the busy business role and that was very attractive.
She didn’t want to be confused let alone crazy about two men that happened to be cousins so sitting back and focusing on herself was what she was planning on doing.
She sighed as she stood in her closet trying to figure out what she was going to wear on her first day of school. She looked through her jeans, but figured that jeans wouldn’t be a good look for such a great day. She reached for the hanger which held her striped faux wrap sweater dress. She held the dress up against her body and faced the mirror.
Nah, I don’t think that I really wanna wear this. She thought shaking her head. “Back to the drawing board,” she whispered while looking through all the different outfits she had hanging up. She grabbed the hanger which held her smoke gray jacquard textured Ann Taylor skirt and searched for her black Ann Taylor whisper blouse. “Here it is,” she said. She walked over to the bed and laid her outfit down with the blouse lying on top of the skirt to make sure that this was what she actually wanted to wear. The doorbell rang catching her attention.
“Oh shit,” she said looking over at the alarm clock on her nightstand. She had forgotten that Monty was bringing MJ over on his way to the office so Dee could keep him. She hurried to the door and opened it not realizing that she only had on a pair of boy shorts a
nd a tank top that she’d slept in.
“Well good morning,” Brendon said holding the car seat that held a sleeping MJ inside it. The startled look on her face explained everything. “Damn, I get the impression that Cuz must not have called you yet to tell you that I was going to be bringing MJ over.” Candy stood still for a moment. She was speechless. She never expected to see Brendon standing at her door. She followed his eyes as he traced her body. Her black boy shorts and black tank top had him smiling.
