She and Jason had had a frustrating discussion on the way to work about who would pay for the cleanup. So far she hadn’t won, but she didn’t want to be indebted to him any more than she already was. The man was giving her a place to stay in addition to fixing up her business. She wanted, no, needed to pay her own way.
Speaking of Jason, he had created an office for himself in a corner, out of the way but where he had a good view of the entrance and behind the counter. There was a back door leading to the alley off the kitchen, and he’d made sure she locked that tight, not letting her open it up for cool air to come inside. She knew better than to argue when he was right.
He’d set up his laptop, plugged it into the wall, had his iPad, his cell phone, and had been making and taking calls and FaceTiming with his partners all morning long, not seeming concerned in the least that he was doing business out of a candy shop and not his own nightclub.
Faith had called his cousin’s wife, Isabelle, and she was coming over to talk about what she wanted for her son’s birthday party. This would be branching out, another way to get her candy into new people’s hands, and she was excited about the prospect.
This morning, with her new door and clear window, business was brisk, walking traffic bringing people inside, but by lunchtime, things slowed down, which worked for her because she could get off her feet.
Just as she was about to sit down across from Jason, a beautiful brunette walked into the store with a little boy in her arms.
“Uncle Jase!” the little boy yelled, wriggling in his mother’s arms to get down.
She placed him on the floor and he ran to Jason, who swung the boy into his arms.
“Hey, champ!” How are you doing?” Jason asked, lifting the boy into his arms and hefting him up on one hip.
“Good. Mommy said candy for my birfday.”
Jason chuckled while Faith grinned at the adorable child.
“Sorry I’m late,” the woman who must be Isabelle said. “I took him for lunch first, hoping to curb his appetite before we hit the candy store.”
“It’s fine. This is the first lull I’ve had all morning anyway. I’m Faith,” she said.
“Call me Izzy.”
“Tell you what,” Jason said. “How about I take this kid for a tour and we’ll handle any customers who come in while you two talk?”
“Are you sure?” Faith asked.
“It’s fine. We’re going to check out the candy.”
“Candy!” the boy said with a fist pump.
“Not too much, Noah,” Izzy said, eyeing Jason warily. “I have to deal with the sugar rush,” she warned him.
Jason’s grin was not to be trusted and Faith had a vision of him with his own kids one day. Oh, he’d insinuated he wasn’t into bringing women home to his mother, but seeing him with this little boy, she had a hunch he’d want to change his mind one day. A wistful feeling curled inside her belly at the notion and she pushed it away. He was her friend doing her more favors than she had a right to expect. Thinking of him as a sexy man she desired would do nothing helpful in her current situation. Considering him as a potential father was an ovary-exploding way to get into trouble.
“Well, that expression tells me a lot,” Izzy said, breaking into Faith’s thoughts.
She blinked to return herself to the present. “I’m sorry. What did you say?”
Izzy grinned. “Basically that you have it bad for Jason. Not that I blame you. Those Dare genes are potent. I ought to know.”
Faith’s face flamed in embarrassment. “I don’t… I didn’t…”
“Oh, you so do.” Izzy pulled out a chair and sat down at an empty table.
Faith joined her, still mortified she’d been caught daydreaming about and staring at Jason.
“But it looks to me like that attraction goes both ways. He’s basically set up his office here. Gabe told me Jason’s helping you out. No specifics, of course. But I can look at him, see how he keeps checking you out to make sure you’re okay, and put two and two together.”
“You don’t beat around the bush, do you?” Faith asked, liking Jason’s cousin by marriage already.
“I figure life’s too short not to go after what you want. I took the long route to my destiny. I thought maybe I’d help you speed yours up,” Izzy said with a grin.
Faith didn’t want to burst her bubble, but the truth was a lot more boring than whatever Izzy was conjuring up in her mind. Although the chemistry was sizzling and the desire was mutual, he was taking care of her out of pity and a fear that something would happen to her that he’d have been able to prevent. She wanted to be more than an obligation to a man. That is, when her life calmed down enough to allow for her to let people in.
“Jason and I met by chance. He helped me with a slashed tire. It’s been one situation after another since, and he’s been nice enough to help me out. That’s all that’s going on between us.”
“Keep telling yourself that. You’ll be pleasantly surprised when things take a turn. Okay, so let’s talk candy. That basket you gave Jason was delicious. The kids will go nuts for it and the moms will wish they’d thought of it. I’m having a party for Noah next weekend and I’d love it if you could make them up as party favors.”
“I’d love to! If you want me to do something special for the kids, I could do that. If he has a theme for the party? I could work around that and do something more like the baskets for the adults.”
“Paw Patrol. And I love both ideas.”
Faith figured she’d be researching children’s characters. She thought some more, then said, “I’d be happy to deliver them to the party and set them up on the table. Take some of the burden off of you. I’m sure you’ll be busy enough that day.” She could get Kelsey to run the store while she made the delivery and handled the decorative setup.
“You’re so sweet! But Jason’s coming to the party. Why don’t you come with him and stay?”
“But I couldn’t. It’s family and friends…” She didn’t belong there.
“Great idea, Iz,” Jason called as he walked out from behind the counter. Noah had chocolate on his cheeks and a pop stick in his hand. “I was going to tell you I didn’t want to leave Faith alone, and I wasn’t sure if I could make it.”
Faith rolled her eyes at his way of thinking. “It’s over a week away.” For all she knew, the police would link the break-in to Colton and pick him up before then. She didn’t want to discuss the specifics in front of Izzy and her son and frighten them away. Colton was too big of a coward to come after her with people around.
“We’ll both be there, Iz. Thank you. And here’s your little sugar fiend. I kept it at two.”
“I had free, Mommy!”
Izzy nodded and mock glared at Jason. “You listen well,” she said, her tone full of sarcasm. “Come to Mommy, baby. I’ll clean your face.” She pulled wipes from her purse and began cleaning the child’s cheeks.
When she finished, she stood. “I’ve got to get this one home for a nap. Sometimes I still get lucky and he’ll lie down … although thanks to his uncle, I’m guessing today won’t be one of those days.” She turned to Faith. “It was a pleasure meeting you. I’m looking forward to seeing you at the party. Oh, maybe we can get lunch one day soon. Bye!”
Izzy left in a hurry and Faith shook her head, her smile wide as she thought about the other woman’s fun personality. “I like her.”
“Gabe likes her, too. Love at first sight, to hear them tell it, although it took years for them to get together. It was after Gabe’s brother, Decklan, arrested her for grand theft auto. Long story,” Jason said, chuckling. “I’m sure you’ll hear it at the party.”
She blinked in surprise. Not at his crazy family stories but about the party. “You were serious? You want me to come to a family event?”
He nodded, his hooded eyes taking her in.
She knew why he was dragging her along, and despite the practicality of the idea, it hurt her feelings at the same time. “So
you can keep an eye on me and make sure I’m safe?”
She didn’t know why that suddenly bothered her so much when that was the basis for their relationship … friendship. Whatever it was between them. But thinking on Izzy’s words, how he looked at her, how she studied everything about him, from his easy stride to the way he took control with his partners, expressing what he wanted just forcefully enough to get them to agree with him without disagreeing first … Jason Dare was a strong man she could come to rely on.
And as much as that scared her? It made her desire him, and she wanted him to feel the same way about her. Just temporarily. Because eventually, she would get back on her feet, Colton would be arrested, she hoped, and she’d go back to building her life here in New York. But while she was with Jason, was there anything wrong with acting on the simmering attraction?
She stepped closer to him, taking in the chocolate stain on his cream-colored shirt. “I can stay at your apartment and be perfectly safe there.” If she was going to stay at that party beyond setup, he had to want her there.
“You’re not staying home.” A low growl made its way up his throat.
Her nipples puckered at the sexy sound. “Why not?
“Because.” He moved in, his big body hovering over hers.
Body heat and his musky scent surrounded her, warmth and a tingling sensation dancing over her skin. “Because why?” He needed to say it. Needed to tell her he wanted her there.
Reaching out, he slid his hand behind her neck, his fingers gliding into her hair, tugging her head back as he said, “Because I want you there. I. Want. You.”
Jason knew she was pushing him to admit what they both felt. What couldn’t be denied. And he was through fighting the yearning for this woman. For as long as she needed his help and desired him, too, she was his.
He slid his tongue into her mouth and knew he was lost. Arousal ripped through him, hard and fast, the warmth of her mouth and the way she pressed her body into his turning him on. He tugged on her hair and she moaned, the vibrations rippling through him. She wound her arms around his neck and pressed her lush body against his, stripping away his defenses. With a groan, he tangled his tongue with hers, then pressed kisses and nibbles down the side of her neck, suckling on the sensitive spot behind her ear.
She gripped his hair, holding on as he devoured her, tasting her flesh and finding it as sweet as she was. His cock throbbed as desire consumed him, fast and furious, based on this one first kiss alone. He could go on like this forever, just feasting on her mouth, learning what she liked, imprinting himself on her.
But without warning, the tinkle of the doorbell interrupted them and she jumped, backing away from him, fixing her hair, and swiping her hand over her mouth, her cheeks flushed as she faced the customer in front of her.
“Umm… Hi. I just wanted to buy some candy,” a woman said, stepping toward the door, her own face flushed.
“No, wait. I’m sorry. What can I get you?” Faith rushed behind the counter, leaving Jason with a hard-on the likes of which he’d never seen and the inability to speak. So he lowered himself into the chair in front of his laptop, drawing in a deep breath and hoping he could get back to work.
Long after the customer left the shop, Faith busied herself in the back, clearly avoiding him, which he let her do, knowing they’d be alone later tonight at his apartment. In the afternoon, the shop became busy, the after-school crowd tumbling in. Clearly word had gotten around and teenagers came and went, keeping Faith hopping.
At no time did Jason catch sight of anyone looking remotely suspicious, although he realized he needed a picture of her brother if he was going to recognize anyone stalking the premises. He checked in with the PI Gabe had given him and the man said he hadn’t found any hint of Colton in the city. He’d tracked his movements in his hometown up to a week ago, after which he’d disappeared. But the man was still searching.
Finally, the end of the day came, and since Faith closed up at six during the week, only staying open later on the weekends, they could go home. He helped her clean up and close the store in silence. He understood she was still flustered by the kiss. Clearly she wasn’t one of his more experienced women, and he both liked and appreciated that about her. She was unique, special, and got under his skin. And if her brother came near her, he’d have to answer to Jason.
They were settled in his car when he turned to her. They hadn’t eaten since lunch and he was starving. “How about Italian for dinner?” he asked.
Her eyes lit up at the thought of food. “Sure.”
“I know a great little place we can go. The owner is a friend of my cousin’s. He introduced me to him when I moved to town and you’ll love the food.”
“Oh! You want to go out and not order in?” she asked, sounding surprised.
He chuckled. He wanted to talk to her in a setting where she couldn’t escape to her room, make sure she understood that kiss had meant something.
“You owe me a date, sweetness.”
Her face flushed and she turned to him. “Did I ever actually agree to go out with you?”
He reached over, because they were at a stoplight, and ran his knuckles down her cheek. “By moving in with me, it was implied that we’d have dinner together.”
He drove them to a parking garage, left the car with the attendant, and strolled, his hand on the small of her back, to an old-fashioned northern Italian restaurant.
The owner, Gino, greeted him as they walked in the door. “Jason Dare, it’s been too long! Rosa! Jason is here!”
A robust woman came out of the kitchen, rushing over to greet them. “Jason! Did you bring Gabriel?” she asked, giving him a kiss on the cheek.
“He’s home with his family,” Jason said. “But I did bring a friend. Faith, this is Rosa Bianci and her husband, Gino. She makes the best pasta in the city. This place is a hidden gem.”
Rosa, an attractive older woman with dark hair, smiled at Faith. “Oh, what a pretty young lady. You finally brought a girl here to meet us!” She grasped Faith’s cheeks and held her face in her hands. “So nice to have you here.”
“It’s wonderful to meet you,” Faith said, finally getting a word in. She shot Jason an amused glance, and he was pleased she wasn’t put off by Rosa’s friendliness.
He deliberately never brought women here. Rosa, who had taken an instant liking to him in part due to the fact that he was Gabe’s cousin, and she loved Gabe and his family, would assume there was more going on than just a dinner. And Jason didn’t want any woman he was with making that assumption as well. It spoke volumes that he didn’t have a problem with Faith here now.
“Come,” Gino said. “I have your special table and nobody’s sitting there.” He led them to a small corner in the back that Jason knew well.
“Sometimes I come here and sit in the corner and work,” Jason explained. “This table is quiet.”
“And you never bring women here. Interesting,” Faith said under her breath.
Jason grinned as he held out her chair. She was going to grill him about his love life, he could see it coming. And he didn’t mind answering. She already knew his mother hadn’t met women in his life. Faith had a strong inkling as to what he was about. She just didn’t know why he kept his emotions bottled up tight. If she asked, he would admit to some things, but not to all.
After ordering fried zucchini and a bottle of Pinot Grigio wine, Jason leaned back in his seat and studied Faith. After a long day at work, she was still as pretty as he’d found her this morning when she walked out of her room, a smile on her face. He loved how she easily wore the Sweet Treats tee shirt, never worried about being dressed down, always comfortable in her own skin.
“So, how was your day?” he asked with an amused grin on his face.
She mock glared at him. “Are you looking to discuss that kiss?” she asked, surprising him that she broached the subject first.
Score one for her, he thought. Maybe he hadn’t given her enough credit. “O
nly if you had issues with it.”
“Issues like what? It was so good I want to do it again?”
Her admission both shocked and aroused him.
Her eyes opened wide at the words that had escaped. “And I haven’t even had a glass of wine as an excuse for being so honest,” she muttered with a shake of her head.
“Good thing I want to do it again, too,” he said, deadly serious. He reached across the table and grasped her hand, his thumb running across her skin.
He let the silence surround them for a few moments before speaking again. “I admit I didn’t plan for you, but you’re here, you’re in my life, and not only am I going to protect you, I’m going to have you,” he said, his words as serious as the growing feelings that kept taking him off guard. “Any argument?” he asked.
She swallowed hard. “No.”
“Good.” Satisfaction rushed through him. He’d felt the power in that kiss and knew they were destined to do it again … and again. He wanted his mouth and tongue on other parts of her body, tasting the innate sweetness that was Faith.
“Wine!” Gino said, coming up to the table and uncorking the bottle. He poured some for Jason to taste.
He enjoyed the flavor and nodded. The older man filled each glass. The restaurant was starting to fill up, and he was glad they’d made it here in time to snag his favorite, more isolated table.
“Would it be okay if I brought out the house special?” Gino asked. “My Rosa would love to treat you and she cooked it with love.”
Faith smiled at the older man. “That would be fine with me,” she said.
“Me, too.”
Gino strode off and Faith met his gaze. “So tell me, Jason Dare, what is your situation with women? You haven’t wanted to introduce any to your mother, and these people are like close friends and they’ve never met one of your dates. I know you’re not gay. What are you hiding?” Faith tucked her hands beneath her chin, grinning as she put him on the spot.
Vote Then Read: Volume I Page 25