Life Is Sweet

by Lily Seabrooke

  Okay, I’d also moved the stuffed unicorn off the table, but that was a given. That would have spoiled the atmosphere.

  I forced a laugh. “Well, I hope you’re not too picky about the taste. I’m not a great cook.”

  She sat down slowly, like she was amazed just to see all of it, and I felt my self-consciousness burn brighter by the second. Had I done something wrong?

  “I honestly didn’t think you’d drink wine,” she said, eyeing the bottle.

  I blushed. I was not going to admit I’d gone out and bought the bottle just for her. “I guess you’re probably used to better,” I said.

  “Don’t actually drink much,” she said, sinking into her seat. “Usually more of a spirits person. But this is definitely a better pairing.”

  My heart was going wild just watching Melissa at my table with the food I’d made. I fumbled with a corkscrew on the wine bottle for a minute until Melissa laughed, offered to take it, and I handed it over trying not to blush. She popped it open like it was the easiest thing in the world, and she poured wine for both of us, raising her glass.

  “A toast,” she said, her eyes meeting mine. “To our continued education.”

  I might have clinked my glass against hers a little harder than I meant to. “Cheers,” I said. “Sorry it turned out like this today.”

  “I get to sit down for a lovely homemade dinner instead of crawling in a ball pit full of screaming kids?” She laughed. “I’m just sorry for what happened to you today.”

  “I really appreciate you helping me,” I said, looking down. “I mean—making you do something weird like pretend to be my girlfriend, I don’t know how I can pay you back.”

  She tried a piece of the food and put her hand to her mouth, like it tasted wrong. I flushed down to my neck. God, I really should have tried it first. And ordered takeout if I’d screwed up. “Is—is it no good?”

  “It’s amazing,” she said, looking down at the lasagna like it was speaking to her. “I’m really impressed. I can’t cook to save my life. This is perfect.”

  “Oh… please,” I said, forcing a laugh, waving her off with a big exaggerated gesture. “It’s not that good. You’re going to make me blush. I’m sure you’re used to fancy dinners where personal assistants come out and feed you grapes.”

  She gave me that stupid sexy smirk again and I realized I had no idea what I was saying. “Most of the time I just eat takeout at my desk. I certainly haven’t had anyone come out and feed me grapes, and I don’t expect that to change any time soon, unless you’re offering.”

  Oh my god. I was going to die. My face was hotter than it should have been able to be as I said, “Well, you know me, so it’d be, like, gumdrops or something instead.”

  She shrugged, taking a sip of her wine—she leaned against the table, one elbow up and her chin propped in her hand, still fixing me with that smirk, and somehow everything about her posture just oozed appeal. “That might not be too bad. I think I’ve started developing a taste for sweets. Although I’m partial to licorice.”

  I couldn’t fight off the image of sitting up against her side, her eyes on mine, me slipping a licorice twist into her mouth, my fingers brushing her lips. My blouse felt too tight all of a sudden. “I should take you on a tour of the shop then. Let you try all the licorice. You know?”

  She didn’t take her eyes off me. “I wouldn’t mind a tour. I’m interested in whatever you have to show me.”

  I was completely, one hundred percent positive she was doing this on purpose. And I really didn’t mind.

  We got along just like that for a while, just about finishing up our food when there was a knock at the door, sharp and hard. I brushed it off, saying it was a package, but when the knocking came again, I frowned and checked my phone. No messages. I had no idea who would show up without sending me a message.

  I leaned over to peek out the window, and sure enough, next to Melissa’s car, there was another car pulled up.

  My stomach tangled up in knots. I’d seen that car before. I used to see it every day—at least, every day I was allowed outside.

  That was Jacob’s car. And the knocking continued.

  Chapter 9

  Melissa

  “It’s Jacob,” Kayla said, her eyes wide. “His car is… oh my god. I don’t know how he found where I live.”

  I felt my chest tighten, my breath getting shorter. I dealt with a lot of people who refused to take no for an answer, but this was different. This wasn’t about a business deal, this was about Kayla’s private life and her consent. I was about ready to drag him in here and put him out the window.

  “All right,” I said, standing up. “I’ll go talk to him.”

  “Wait, wait, wait,” she said, standing up with me. “I can’t ask you to do that.”

  I offered her a hand before I could think. “Hey, I’m your girlfriend, aren’t I? We can talk to him together if it makes you happier.”

  “Oh,” she said, chewing her lip, looking down at my hand. I should have pulled it back, should have stopped myself from going down this road with her, but I didn’t. And she reached out, took my hand, the softness of her hand brushing against mine before she laced her fingers with mine, and I led her to the door.

  “Thank you,” she said just before I got to the front door. “Thank you so much.”

  I opened the door, and sure enough, there was the same nasty-looking guy who had been breathing down her neck in the store. He glared at me, but he didn’t seem surprised to see me here.

  “Jacob,” I said. “Kayla and I were having dinner. Can I help you?”

  He looked between the two of us before fixing on me. “It was Melissa, wasn’t it? I need to speak to Kayla privately.”

  “Yes,” I said, “Melissa is correct. And no, you cannot speak to her privately. Say your piece now so I can close the door and we can finish our meal.”

  He scoffed. “That’s your car outside, isn’t it? I hear you’ve done pretty well for yourself, Melissa.”

  “I assume you didn’t come here to compliment me, Jacob.”

  “I just want to know what’s actually going on. I don’t believe Kayla is actually dating a power broker, so either you’re not really her girlfriend, or you’re putting on a show with that car.”

  Kayla squeezed my hand. “Jacob, please drop this. I’m not going back. Melissa and I—”

  “Who are you really?” Jacob leaned in towards me. I didn’t budge.

  “Melissa Warden. I’m the CFO for a Fortune 1000 financial institution. You’re free to look me up, I’ve done well enough for myself to become public information.”

  He laughed, trying to sound derisive—shaking his head, one hand on his stomach while he pretended he was laughing so hard it hurt. I just stared. “And I’m supposed to believe you’re dating Kayla.”

  “If you don’t think she deserves a successful partner, I can see why you’d think she should go back to you.”

  He scowled for a second, but he regained his composure just as quickly. “I know what this kind of thing is. You’re both using each other as cover. I deal in these kinds of businesses all the time.”

  I sighed. “I don’t know why you think following this road will get you anywhere. What did you actually come here for? You knew I was here.”

  “I came here to talk to Kayla. Your father is hosting an event,” he said, and I felt my chest tighten. Her father. Why was her father in with her abusive ex-boyfriend instead of her? “An industry event. He wants you to be there.”

  “You already know I’m going to say no, Jacob.” She shifted closer to me.

  “I’m not telling you to get back with me. You can bring your…” He raised an eyebrow at me, smirking. “Your girlfriend, too.”

  Kayla squeezed my hand. “Jacob, you don’t want to do that. She’s not the kind of person you want to screw around with.”

  “I’m not afraid of whatever your bodyguard thinks of us.”

  “Do you think I don’t see what
you’re doing?” I said, leaning against the doorway, giving him a lazy look. “You want to intimidate me into backing out of the invitation by making it sound like a big commitment to a real relationship, so that—assuming our relationship is fake—I won’t go. At which point you can say what we have isn’t real, and you can come in and try to pick up Kayla again. You’re paper-thin, and that plan fell through, so good luck trying to pull anything else.”

  “I—” he started, but I pulled my hand away from Kayla’s, shoved my hands in my pockets.

  “Kayla isn’t interested in you. And I don’t have to prove anything to you. But if it helps send a message…”

  Kayla looked up at me, her eyes wide, and for a second, all I could think about was how perfectly-shaped her lips were, with that slight pink gloss on them.

  She really was a little piece of candy. And I really had developed a taste for candy.

  I put my hands on either side of her head and pressed her back against the wall, and she gasped louder than I realized people actually did, her eyes going even wider. I leaned in, lay my forehead on hers, close enough her eyes were the only things I could see, close enough my nose flooded with the candylike smell of her lip gloss. My heart hammered, my body screaming kiss her, and when she put her hands on my head, I raised my eyebrows just the littlest bit. The subtlest can I that I could manage.

  This was an act. But my body didn’t get that message. I was overwhelmed with the solid shape of her pinned between me and the wall, and I wanted her with a ferocious hunger.

  She gave me the tiniest nod. And for a second, I forgot Jacob was even there.

  I kissed Kayla, lips crashing together, and the feeling of her hot lips on mine was like a match over lighter fluid, a fiery sensation over my entire body. I wasn’t gentle about it—I pushed her hard into the wall, fingers digging into her scalp, kissing her so hard I got lightheaded. She slipped her hands down and grabbed the collar of my blouse, clinging to me, and when she groaned, I lost control.

  I grabbed her wrists and pressed her arms up against the wall, pushing my body against hers, hips shoving hers into the wall, lips ravaging hers. The way she squirmed under me, the way she gasped, I wanted more of her, wanted everything I could get—

  Somehow, I managed to pull myself away, breathing hard. She was red-faced, gasping with her mouth open, looking up at me with wild eyes, and I was pretty sure I was flushed as fiercely as she was. Shit, I wanted her. I wanted to take her completely.

  “Whoa,” I said, forcing an uneasy laugh. “I guess I should slow down. Forgot we had company.”

  I glanced over to where Jacob had his brows furrowed tight, a look like he was trying to cough up something bad. “Kayla…” he said after a second of meeting my eyes, his gaze flickering. Intimidated. “The invitation is still open to you. Your father will want to see you again. You can’t leave him forever.”

  But at least he turned and walked away. I kicked the door shut and fell against the wall, just breathing. Kayla looked down at her feet, breathing hard, still red. I was, too.

  “Sorry,” I said. “Might have gone overboard. Are you okay?”

  She shook her head. “You didn’t go overboard. Or anything. I’m cool. I’m great. I’m Kayla Spencer, and life is sweet.”

  I licked my lips, my gaze trailing over her figure. I still wanted her. More than could be safe. “It can be pretty sweet.”

  She put a hand to her chest, looked away. Avoided eye contact, breathing hard. “You really… go the extra mile. You know, pretending to be my girlfriend.”

  “You know me. I like angling for that hundred percent.” I kept staring, looking at the shape of her lips. “Sorry. I guess I didn’t put you in a position where you really could have said no.”

  She folded her hands together. “I, uh. I appreciate your dedication. And I think you got him off my back, so I owe you. I don’t know how I’m supposed to thank you for… giving me all this time and attention when you’re so busy, just to get this guy to leave me alone.”

  That really wasn’t the only reason. I bit my lip, just briefly. God, I wanted another kiss. I wanted to press her into the wall, take her lip in my teeth, hold her there under me. I had no idea why I was so ridiculously attracted to a sheet of pastel candy dots in human form.

  “You know I’m happy to help,” I said, shrugging. Trying to look casual, not sure how well it was working. “And besides, your ex seems like a rat.”

  She sniffled, and when I realized she was holding back tears, all my thoughts of pinning her down and kissing her vanished. “Yeah,” she said, her voice wavering.

  “Kayla?” I put a hand on her shoulder. “Are you all right? Is there something we can do for you?”

  Ugh. I was getting into business talk, “we” instead of “I.” She brushed my hand away gently, patting me on the wrist before turning back to the table. “I’m all right. I’m fine. I just need a second. Let’s sit down. I’m going to finish this wine even if I have to choke it down.”

  It was still burning inside me, what the story was with her father. But I didn’t dare ask. I wasn’t great with friendships, but I knew that much was a non-starter, at least.

  We finished dinner, conversation subdued, but Kayla slowly picked it back up. She got a light in her eyes again as she talked about starting her business, about intaking loads of candy and gathering her two employees around for extensive quality testing until both of them were sick of candy and had to leave it to Kayla to finish the rest. She laughed when she mentioned she hadn’t meant to only hire lesbians for her shop, but told stories about how she met Shay at a book club, the most out of character thing for both of them. The only time either of them had gone to the club, so really more a case of going to pick up a gay best friend.

  I almost lost track of time as the sun set, and we moved to the floor to give Leonardo—a pudgy gray rabbit who took to me immediately—some well-deserved rubs. But I still could only be here for so long. I had calls to place.

  “Melissa,” Kayla said not long before I was planning on bringing up the time. “Can I tell you something kind of hard?”

  “Yeah,” I said. “Of course. I’m listening.”

  “Thanks,” she said, her gaze falling to the floor. “I think you probably figured it out, but you do know this is a coping mechanism, right?”

  I blinked. “What is? Talking with me?”

  “I mean, that’s a big help, too,” she laughed awkwardly, still not looking up. “But no, I mean my whole life is sweet thing. Like hey, everyone, I’m Kayla Spencer and I’m the happiest person in the world! Look at me I’m a lollipop!”

  Leonardo hopped into my lap and glared at me until I petted him. “I thought you just liked… colorful things.”

  “I do,” she laughed, looking up and meeting me with a sweet smile. “Bright colors and stuff make me happy. But I wasn’t always like this. I wanted to reinvent myself after my parents disowned me.”

  I flinched, my hand coming up off Leonardo. He glared at me again. “Oh… Kayla. I’m sorry. Because you’re bisexual?”

  She laughed weakly. “They didn’t care about that. I can’t really talk about why. But it was a while ago, and I thought I got over it, but… Jacob got my dad involved. I don’t want to see him again, but I also kind of do, you know?”

  I looked down slowly. I had my family. I had a full, loving and supportive family who just wanted to spend more time with me, but I never did. “That… sounds really hard,” I said. “You’re not thinking you want to take Jacob’s invitation, though, are you?”

  She pouted. “So sue me if I wish I could see my dad again. If I wish I could have him back in my life. It sucks.”

  “I’m sorry,” I said reflexively. “But… he’s on Jacob’s side in all this, isn’t he?”

  “He always was.” Her voice cracked a little. “But… I don’t know. It’s stupid anyway. I can’t ask you to go with me as my fake girlfriend again. I’ve asked you for enough.”

  “I could
try to clear space for it. No guarantees, but I’d do everything in my power to.” I shifted closer, meeting her gaze, and her eyes went a little wider. “If it’s this important to you.”

  “Oh,” she mumbled. “Oh. Uh… I mean. You really can’t do that. I don’t know how I’m supposed to repay you. I already owe you so much I don’t know…”

  I squinted. She gave me a quizzical look back, but I was lost in my thoughts for a second.

  I was about to make the absolute stupidest suggestion in my life. This would cause so many more problems than it would solve. But…

  “I have something… you could help me with,” I said. “It’d be fair.”

  She lit up. “Really? Oh my gosh please tell me so I don’t have to feel so bad about all this. I’ll do whatever.”

  “You’ll laugh,” I said, leaning back, shoving my hands in my pockets.

  “I like to laugh.”

  She did. That was something I liked about her. “I need… a fake girlfriend.”

  Her jaw dropped.

  “For my family,” I explained.

  “You’re joking.”

  “Dead serious. I’ve been telling my sister for the past few months I’ve had a girlfriend, to keep her from worrying about me as much as she was. But now with the shower coming up, she wants me to bring my girlfriend.”

  She went red, staring at me for a while, and then she laughed breathlessly. “You’re kidding me. So you want me to go with you to the baby shower and pretend to be your girlfriend.”

  “If you did that for me, I’d be happy to repay you the favor with a visit to your father.”

  She looked down at where Leonardo was nuzzling her, and she scratched him behind the ear for a second before snatching him up in a hug, kissing him on the top of the head.

  “Okay,” she said. “I’ll do it.”

  “Really?” I blurted before I could think. “It’s a deal?”

  “It’s a deal.” She grinned. “It sounds like fun. I think you’re learning quickly. You’ll get your degree in no time.”