Troy let go of her hand as he opened the door, jingling the bells hanging from the top. She glanced up and spotted the mistletoe.
“After you,” Troy said, his voice deep and enticing.
“No, you go first.” She held back, not wanting to appear like she wanted a kiss. After all, if she was going to listen to Dr. T, she couldn’t be “too easy.”
“Ladies first.” Troy tilted his head and grinned, as he stared at her lips.
Oh no. He wasn’t going to sneak a kiss, no matter how much they both wanted it. Instant attraction got her in trouble with Boris and all the other failed relationships she had, and she wasn’t going to get pulled into another easy-come, easy-go fling, even if she was on vacation.
She ducked under his arm and entered the restaurant before he had a chance to stop her, only to meet with a roar of applause from the old guys congregated around.
“You’re losing your touch, boy.” One of the men stood and clapped Troy over the shoulder. “Who’s the pretty lady?”
“Candi from California.” Troy hooked his arm around her possessively, as if they were already an item. He didn’t even know her last name, and he was already claiming her—sort of.
“Candi from California,” another one of the men said. “I’m Frank. This here’s Albert, Thomas, and Conrad. Welcome to our town.”
“Thanks. Glad to be here.” She waved and smiled, aware that everyone was staring at her while Troy steered her to a corner booth.
He stuck a plastic laminated menu under her nose. “I recommend the fried chicken, or the chicken fried steak, and the chili fries.”
“Does she have anything not fried?” Candi flipped the menu, looking for salad. The only entry was Caesar’s salad which was drenched with dressing and topped with strips of fried chicken.
“There’s mystery meatloaf.” Troy grimaced, and she could tell it wasn’t his favorite. “The cheese sticks are good.”
“They’re fried.” Candi wasn’t usually so difficult on a date, being eager to please, but this wasn’t a date. This was an interrogation or interview, or whatever. Troy was plainly attracted to her, but she didn’t know his game. He wanted sex with her, that much was plain from his testosterone-induced macho actions.
It was hard keeping her cool while he was acting all bossy and blustery, claiming her in front of all the guys in the diner, but she wasn’t going to be so easily charmed—not until he passed her checklist.
“What do you usually order when you go out?” He set his menu down and trained those hypnotizing baby blues on her.
Hot dog on a stick?
Sausage in a roll?
A tantalizing shiver ran through her body, and her nipples perked under her clothes. Sheesh, how was she going to endure the temptation sitting in front of her?
By being hard-to-get. That would be Dr. T’s advice.
She leveled her gaze at him without blinking and challenged him. “Grilled chicken breast in champagne vinegar dressing with sliced apples, over an arugula and quinoa salad sprinkled with goat cheese and candied walnuts. Candied pecans can be substituted, of course.”
“You got it,” Troy said. Before Candi could stop him, he stood and headed toward the kitchen.
She watched heads turn as Troy swaggered around the divider and appeared on the other side of the counter. As he conferred with whoever was cooking, the rest of the patrons returned their attention to her. Some looked curious and others were shocked, probably wondering what kind of bitch she was.
Well, she didn’t care. It wasn’t as if she was moving here. This town was simply a diversion from her troubles back home. As for the sexy country boy—if he wanted to cater to her while she was here, all the better. It would boost her ego and let her forget about the slick city boys who hit on her and ran.
The bells jingled over the entrance, and her sister entered the diner along with several other women. Instead of heading toward her, Honey winked and made a motion to ignore her as she and her friends settled in a booth in the opposite corner. The other women smiled and waved, but made lip zipping motions and acted like they were on a secret mission.
Either that, or they thought she was on a date with Troy and didn’t want to interrupt. No matter what, the people in this town were strange.
“Coffee, miss?” The waitress made her way to Candi’s table. “Are you ready to order?”
“Not yet, thanks.” She should run out the door before Troy returned. What was she doing here acting crazy? Taking the mistletoe was like a high school prank, and honestly, she was jetlagged and should go back to Honey’s house and go to sleep.
She stood up and headed for the door, but Troy came around the divider and caught up to her.
“They don’t have what you ordered, but Dottie agreed to call Adrianne, and she’ll pull one together and run it over from her place.”
“No, don’t. Tell them not to bother. I was joking with you.” She hadn’t come here to make enemies. “Tell them I’ll take the meatloaf with a green salad, no dressing.”
“It’s perfectly okay,” Troy said. “Adrianne wants to meet you.”
“Uh, I don’t even know who she is.”
“She owns Scott’s Sweets. Look, it’s on the way already.” Troy put his hand on the small of Candi’s back and firmly shepherded her back to the booth.
Once she was seated, Troy took her hands from across the table and stared at her as if he were her lover.
Were all the men here this fast?
“Tell me, Candi from California, one woman crime wave. Theft of the Come Again mistletoe, trespassing in the Herschfield House. What else is on your hit list?” He caressed her hands, sending sparks and tingles radiating through her body. Meanwhile, his mesmerizing blue eyes threatened to turn her into a pool of jelly.
You, sexy country boy—whatever your game is.
“Why do you want to know?” she said out loud. “You already told me you’re not the town cop.”
“True, but I’m in charge of Christmas here, and I’m going to be keeping an eye out for further pranks.”
“Is this why you’re following me around?”
“Maybe.” One side of his mouth tilted into a half-smile.
The waitress came back and took Troy’s order, allowing Candi to take her hands out of his and tuck them under her thighs. If she didn’t cool herself down, she’d be in his bed before the clock struck midnight.
While Troy chatted with the waitress, Candi made a list in her mind. Troy was practice for a new way of dating and relating to men. He wasn’t going to be Mr. Right, but he could stand in for him. There was no way she was going to fall in love with a small town boy, no matter how delectable and charming he was.
Physically attractive. Check.
Masculine and protective. Check.
A gentleman. Not sure.
Had a steady job. Unknown.
Loyal and family oriented. Unknown.
Awesome in bed. Unknown, but likely.
Sweet and romantic. Not likely.
A good listener. Wishlist item. Not likely.
Wants children. Unknown.
A one-woman man. Non-negotiable. Unknown.
“Candi? Hello? You still with me?” Troy waved a hand in front of her face. “What were you thinking about?”
“Nothing. Just jetlagged. Wondering what I’m doing here.” She fiddled with a napkin.
“We’re getting to know each other.” Troy blinked and she noticed how dark and thick his eyelashes were. “I’ll tell you something about myself, and then it’s your turn. I’ll go first. I’m twenty-nine and single.”
“You should know better than to start with age,” Candi said. “Or marital status.”
“Why not? I want to know if you have a boyfriend or girlfriend.”
“I plead the fifth.” Candi raised a hand. “Why, do you?”
“No boyfriend and no girlfriend. I hook up but I’m not in a relationship.”
“I bet you want to keep it that way, d
on’t you?”
So typical. Another player trying to get into her panties. He probably expected a payback for getting her the specialty salad.
“You’re not supposed to put words in my mouth.” Troy shook a packet of sugar into his coffee. “I’m actually looking for a serious relationship.”
Whoa. That was fast enough to leave skid marks.
“Thanks for sharing. And?”
“And, your turn.”
“Oh, no, not me,” Candi said. “I’m here for Christmas and then I’m gone. Whoosh. I’ll be out of your life faster than Santa’s sleigh flies off your rooftop, so no need to share."
“Thought you wanted to be friends. Don’t friends share?” His gaze hadn’t left her face.
“Yeah, but friendship takes years, not ten minutes.”
“We don’t have years.” His mouth turned down with a cute pout. “You’re leaving in two weeks.”
“True.” She took a fortifying breath to keep from jumping all over his proposal and spending the next two weeks in bed with him. Her hands shook as she sipped on the coffee, trying to look calm.
He pressed his lips together and blew out a self-deprecating smile. “I bet you think I’m strange, but I’m insanely attracted to you. If you don’t have a boyfriend or a girlfriend, can I be your boyfriend for the next two weeks?”
Candi set her mug down and her jaw dropped. She bet he said this to every attractive female visitor. Why, he was probably the town welcome wagon all on his own.
“No, that wouldn’t be necessary,” she said, kicking herself under the table, because she was passing up two weeks of fun and orgasms just to keep her word to Dr. T.
Troy was prime hookup material, but hookups led to heartbreak, and she was tired of being dumped, especially since the potent mix of hormones and emotions associated with sex went straight to her heart.
“You’re involved with someone?” he asked in his direct way.
“I didn’t say that. I’m trying to take things slow.”
“Ah, so you’ve been hurt before.” He reached across the table and took her hand—again. “I understand and won’t push you.”
That was the first considerate thing he’d said to her, and in her state, it brought tears to her eyes. Why couldn’t all men be as considerate?
“I thought we weren’t putting words in each other’s mouths.” Candi didn’t want him to have an inkling how close to the mark he was. The last thing she wanted to be was pathetic in his eyes.
“Fair enough. I won’t let anyone hurt you.” He kissed the back of her hand, and all she could think of was how sweet this stranger was, and how straightforward he was, and how courageous he was telling her his feelings and risking rejection.
“Yoohoo.” A perky blonde woman walked in with a takeout box and headed toward them. “Did anyone order my organic chicken apple salad?”
Troy waved at her. “Thanks for delivering. Adrianne, this is Candi.”
“Nice to meet you,” Adrianne said. “Troy knows I’d do anything for him. You must be new in town.”
“It’s nice to meet you, too,” Candi said. “I’m visiting, and I truly didn’t mean to bring you over out of your way.”
“It’s not a problem. Troy’s friends are my friends, too.”
After a chitchatting for a spell, Adrianne said she’d give them privacy and joined the table in the corner where Honey sat with her townie friends.
They ate in silence, but it wasn’t awkward, not at all. The salad was better than what she got at home, and the scent of his fried chicken made her mouth water. He offered her a drumstick, and she shared her salad with him, and they chatted about this and that, sports, the weather, and compared San Francisco with Sapphire Falls.
And it was amazing. No pressure and no strings.
Chapter Six
“I can’t believe you haven’t kissed him yet,” Honey said to Candi a few days later while she was getting last minute alterations done to her wedding dress.
Candi knew it wasn’t her business, but Honey seemed to have gained weight. It was probably all the good country cooking in this neck of the woods.
“I’m here for your wedding and to collect those items for you,” Candi said. “I’m not interested in a Christmas fling. I have, however, found out more about him.”
She showed Honey her checklist. “He has a steady job at the county hospital down the road, he’s a gentleman—hence the no kissing, and he wants children.”
“He told you he wants children?” Honey’s eyes widened.
“Yep, it’s surprising how much you can share when your hands and lips aren’t busy making out.”
“You’re not frustrated?” Honey turned and raised her arms while the tailor adjusted the pins. They were in Omaha, so there was no worry that gossip would get back to Sapphire Falls.
“More than frustrated. I’m starving.” Candi’s entire body felt shriveled like a prune from lack of stimulation. “But I look at this as practice for when I get back in the game. If I can resist Troy, I’ll be able to resist Mr. Right when he comes along and make him want me enough to propose and marry me, instead of use me and lose me.”
“You’re sure Troy’s not Mr. Right?” Honey’s eyebrows arched.
“He hasn’t met all my checklist items.”
“Like what?” Honey spun around and faced the mirror while the tailor let out a seam.
Yep, she’d definitely gained weight—either that, or she was pregnant. Hmmm …
“The most important,” Candi replied. “He has to be good in bed and a one-woman man. He also hasn’t talked about his parents, so I have no clue if he has any role models for a stable family the way Max has with his parents.”
“Well, duh!” Honey exclaimed. “You’ll never find out if he’s good in bed unless you try him. As for the one-woman man, I can ask Max about that one. Same with the family situation.”
The tailor was finished pinning and marking. She unzipped Honey and carefully removed the wedding gown, leaving her in her underwear.
Candi stared at Honey through the mirror and shook her head. “I want to find out all of it on my own. If he’s not ready to share about his family, then I don’t want to force him. He’s made this friendship safe for me, and I want to return the favor.”
“You two are so sweet.” Honey sighed along with the tailor who smiled to herself as she left the dressing room. “But you only have ten days left, and you haven’t gotten me the something blue, something old, and something borrowed. Even the mistletoe which was something new is now old.”
True. Candi had been slacking off on the list because she’d been busy being Troy’s friend. They’d taken walks in the square together, visited the shops in the Sapphire Hills development, and even went snowshoeing along the riverbank.
“We can buy the something new at the mall before we go back to Sapphire Falls,” Candi suggested as Honey pulled on a pair of jeans, barely zipping it. “How about new shoes?”
Or a new pair of pants. Candi rolled her tongue inside her cheek.
“Eh, I want that something new to be a new boyfriend for you.” Honey twirled her hand and turned to face her.
“New boyfriend? After you told me not to rush into another relationship?” Candi lowered her gaze to Honey’s waistline. “Seems like you have something new brewing in there. Is there something you haven’t told me?”
Honey blushed and hurriedly put on a loose sweater. “I haven’t told Max yet, but yes, I’m two months pregnant. I don’t want him marrying me for the baby.”
“I’m sure he’s marrying you for you, Honey.” Candi gave her sister a hug. “He wanted you back even before your divorce was final. Congratulations.”
“Thanks.” Honey fixed her hair. “But I’m holding you to that list. No exceptions. You better get cranking when we get back to Sapphire Falls.”
Honey used that bossy tone of voice she had when they were young. Even though Candi was the older sister, one would never have known by the wa
y she submitted to Honey.
Which was why she needed to get out of her rut. Not only was her younger sister getting married before her, she was also getting married for the second time before Candi had ever received even as much as a promise ring.
They exited the dressing room and bade the tailor goodbye.
“I’ll get cranking on that list if you tell Max about the baby. It’s only fair,” Candi said as they walked down the snow-covered sidewalk.
“Okay, then you have to get a new boyfriend for my something new.” Honey put her hand up for a slap. “Deal?”
Candi waved off the high-five. “How am I going to get a new boyfriend if I’ve sworn off kissing?”
“There’s Troy. I’m sure he’s a great kisser.” Honey hooked her a sly glance.
“One thing will lead to another. I know I’m passing up some great sex, but I want more. You don’t know how it feels to lose everything.”
“Of course I do,” Honey exclaimed, leading her through the doorway of a department store. “I lost Max when we got divorced.”
“You two are getting remarried. Things must be working out better.”
“They are, but whenever he experiences a relapse, I feel like I’ve lost him all over again. I keep fearing he won’t snap out of it.”
Candi turned Honey to face her. “He always comes back. It’s because he loves you and the kids.”
“I sure hope so.” Honey stopped in front of the makeup display. “It makes me grateful for every minute I have with him. You should give Troy a chance.”
Candi pulled out a perfume sampler and spritzed herself lightly. “I’ll have to see what Dr. T says.”
“You and your Dr. T.” Honey uncapped a lipstick sample and compared it to her lip color.
“Hey, his tactics are working. Troy calls me all the time. The more I stay back, the harder he tries.”
“Just don’t hold back so much you lose out.” Honey wagged her finger and giggled. She loved to tease her and laugh at her expense.
* * *
Sapphire Falls: Going Toe to Mistletoe (A Christmas Romance) (Kindle Worlds Novella) Page 4
