A Taste of Sugar

by Marina Adair

  Her hair looked sexy. She’d taken it down and used the hand dryer in the ladies’ room to achieve that tousled, bed-rumpled look he seemed to be so fond of. A quick swipe of the lips and she was set.

  She loved when a plan came together. Loved even more when she got to move all the pieces around so that something that should have been a pipe dream suddenly became the clear choice. And tonight that had happened, Jace had made it happen for her, and she couldn’t wait to show him just how appreciative she was.

  She had watched him the entire evening, her body hyperaware of his from the second he walked into the bar. It was as if they’d had an entire conversation, yet they hadn’t exchanged a single word. So when he dropped some money on the table and started saying his good-byes, she quickly ended the meeting and headed toward the bathroom. A quick glance told her he was still at the table, so she snuck out the back.

  Wanting to surprise him, she ran across the parking lot, cursing her heels as the clicked on the pavement. She made a dash across Maple Street and toward Kiss My Glass, where she’d parked her car. Conveniently right next to his. Only when she reached the little secluded parking lot off the back of the garage and got past the blinding security light did she realize that she wasn’t alone.

  Jace, of course. Looking like a dark and alluring sex pistol standing in front of his manly car, feet crossed at the ankles, that heavenly butt leisurely resting against the hood. The same hood she’d wanted to be splayed across when he came out.

  “You beat me,” she said, a little winded from the sprint, the adrenaline making her legs wobble. Or maybe that was the testosterone wafting off of him.

  “I’m stealthy like that,” he said, his breathing perfectly regulated. She was gasping like a beached whale and he was cool as ice, looking for all the world like a guy who made a habit of rescuing women from dark parking lots. “You in those heels, not so stealthy. I heard you heading for the back door even before you stood.”

  She’d have to work on that. “I was coming out to talk to you.”

  The night was cool and refreshing on her heated skin, and the breeze brushed gently against her bare legs, rustling the skirt of her dress as she closed the distance. The man in front of her rustled everything else, including her defenses, as his eyes dropped the length of her and back up.

  “No underwear usually means that you want to do more than talk.” He grinned.

  Her hand dropped to cover command central. “How did you know?”

  “I’m that good.” His hands immediately went to her hips, then around the back, pulling her between his thighs. “Next time you wear cream with nothing beneath, don’t stand in front of a streetlight.” Lurking beneath the breezy tone was a subtle possessive quality that made her mouth water and her thighs quiver.

  Without a word she leaned in and snagged his lower lip. She didn’t need to start slow, they’d been teasing each other for the past hour, so she went straight for serious and quickly moved into demanding. They were so close that a piece of dental floss wouldn’t fit between them.

  Not that Jace seemed to mind, he was pretty wound up himself. He was grabbing her backside plastered flush against her front side, and when he started sucking on her neck she heard a desperate groan.

  It was throaty and needy. And hers. “Jace.”

  And at the sound, he pulled back and gave her a smoking-hot look. “I love these talks of ours.”

  “Me too,” she said, tugging him back down for another kiss. Because the man knew how to kiss—knew how to do a lot more, too. Like make her world easier. Which was the reason she’d come out here. “Is there something you forgot to tell me?”

  His face went carefully blank.

  “I had lunch with Harvey today,” she said, and couldn’t help the hero worship she felt. “He has ten cars confirmed. Ten cars means that every single former Miss Peach and board member will get to ride in style. We even have room for a few of the nurses from the hospital.”

  He smiled, genuine and open. “Was that what the meeting was about tonight?”

  “Yeah. Darleen tried to say that she couldn’t accommodate ten additional cars, but she was overruled. The board is so excited and happy with the results. For the first time in weeks everyone seemed to be looking forward to the parade,” she said, running a hand down his chest. “And that’s all because of you.”

  She wrapped her arms around him and melted into his body. “Thank you, Jace.”

  His arms came around her, and it felt as if she was snuggled in a big, warm, man cocoon. They stayed like that for a long moment, silently holding each other. Then she felt his quick intake of breath, heard his heart pick up pace, and he said, “My brothers know.”

  She pulled back and smiled. “I’m glad.”

  “You’re not mad?”

  “At what? That you don’t have to lie to your family anymore?” she asked, now knowing that had been the topic of heated conversation she’d witnessed earlier in the bar. Guilt hit hard. “I’m just sorry that I made coming home even more stressful.”

  “It was my choice to wait. I own that,” he said. “I just waited a little too long, but it all worked out.” He paused, his eyes studying hers for a long, introspective moment. “Do you think maybe we should tell your parents? Get it out in the open before—”

  “No.” She could tell her quick response hurt him, so she reached up to cup his face. “What I meant was, yes, I want to tell them. It is just that telling my mom would be like pinning it to the community bulletin board.” And this wasn’t about her parents. Their opinions of Jace or who Charlotte loved didn’t matter. Not anymore. Charlotte was going after what made her happy, and he was standing right in front of her.

  But she didn’t want her personal life to complicate her professional one. There were too many people counting on her. So if she could keep them separate for just a little while longer she was confident it would all work out. It had to.

  “We said we’d give it until Sunday,” she reminded him, and he stiffened. Which made not one ounce of sense. It was his idea. “I need the parade to be over, the Peaches to weigh in, and the endowment to be secure.” Then she would know what Jace’s plans were, so she could make her own, and hopefully they’d make some together. But Sunday wasn’t that far off, and the realization that it could all end in just a few short days had a bead of panic rising up.

  “We give it until Sunday, but then we will figure this out.” He reached out to pull her closer, and Charlotte immediately curled herself into him, breathing in his scent and trying to remind herself that they still had time. Not a lot, but enough.

  At least that’s what Charlotte hoped.

  Chapter 19

  Grandma’s barricaded herself in the Stingray,” Payton said, rushing up to him. “She said she wants to take it for a drive, and if anyone other than her grandson attempts to get behind the wheel she’d call on Mr. Smith and Mr. Wesson.”

  Jace looked at the crowded parking lot, packed full with coat-clad volunteers sipping hot cocoa and coffee, who had dared the morning chill to come and help prep for tomorrow’s fair. Jace was in charge of the directing the classic cars into their spots, which were due to arrive any minute.

  “Let me call Charlotte.” Who was supposed to be putting the final touches on Jockey Jane. With Hattie.

  “That’s who she’s threatening,” Payton explained, her ponytail bobbing as she talked. Since she was running the refreshments booth with her team, she was in her cheer outfit, which was all but tempting frostbite. “Charlotte was at the Fabric Farm when she saw Harvey waiting out front of the garage. Spencer wasn’t at work yet, so Charlotte went over to let him in and Hattie followed and started up the car. Harvey tried to reason with her, you know, her having a suspended license and all, and that’s when she started waving her purse.”

  Which held Mr. Smith and Mr. Wesson.

  Jace didn’t bother to ask how the information had gone from Charlotte to Harvey to his niece and instead focused his attentio
n on the clipboard in his hand that had a detailed and color-coded list of cars and their designated spots. Then he looked at his phone and saw two missed calls from Harvey.

  Great. He promised Charlotte that he’d handle the car delivery so she could focus on her knitting. But there was no way he could leave her to fend off Hattie and expect there to still be a functioning car when he returned.

  If he left he was screwed. If he stayed he was screwed. He was sensing some sick, twisted pattern.

  “I can help,” Payton said, all sweet and innocently. “I mean if you want, I can go take Grandma for a spin.”

  Jace snorted. “Your dad would kill us both. Only me he’d kill slowly.”

  “Yeah,” she said, knowing he was telling the truth. “Plus, we haven’t done a leak check yet, and it would suck to blow up the engine after we just spent so much time rebuilding it.”

  His gaze slowly rose to his niece. To really look at her, and what he saw staring back had him grinning.

  “What?” Arms crossed. “I totally listened to everything you said. I might not be a gearhead like you, but I know enough about cars to hang with Mason.”

  “You probably know more than Mason,” he said, damn proud. “Which is why I’m giving you this.” He handed her the list. “You need to match each car to the chalked number on each parking spot. Scan it and tell me if you have any questions.”

  She got three lines down, and two big eyes peeked up at him over the clipboard. “Omigod! You have a Shelby coming? Mase is going to freak!” The sparkle in her expression said she might freak a little herself.

  “Yup,” he said, taking in the awesomeness that he and Payton now shared a common interest. That he’d managed to do something no one else in his family had—pass on his dad’s love of cars. “If they arrive before I get back, my buddy’s name is Drew, just point him to where each car is supposed to park.”

  “Are you serious?” she squealed, and Jace gave her a big hug because she was so damn cute.

  “What? You didn’t think I wasn’t paying attention to you paying attention?” he said, and she laughed. “Thanks, kiddo, you’re doing me a solid.”

  “Solid enough to take Grandma for a spin?” she asked, but Jace was already on the move.

  It took him approximately four minutes at a steady sprint to make it to Kiss My Glass. When he arrived Hattie was sitting in the driver’s seat, arms folded—scowl dialed to Scrooge. Charlotte was sitting on the concrete slab in the middle of the bay, eyes closed, calmly knitting while effectively blocking Hattie’s escape. And Harvey, man of the world, had positioned himself as far away from the drama as possible, leaning against the workbench, sucking on a toothpick.

  “Hey, Harvey,” Jace said, making his way into the garage. “How’s it going?”

  “Not bad. Need to get moving, though.”

  Jace removed his hat and wiped off his brow with the back of his hand. “Give me a minute.”

  Harvey looked at the circus in the bay. “You’ll need more than that.”

  “Morning,” Charlotte said when he got closer.

  That was it. No yelling or rolling of the eyes, none of those big theatrics or guilt trips most women he knew would do when forced to deal with batshit crazy in-laws. She just looked up at him with a sweet “Morning” and an even sweeter smile.

  “You’re knitting?”

  “You’re staring,” she whispered, then proudly held up the doll. It was pink, lopsided, but nearly finished. “After this I just have to stuff, stitch up the hole, and she will be a fully functioning member of Team Woolamena.”

  He squatted down, balancing on the balls of his feet. “Did I mention how sexy you look knitting?” he whispered back.

  She sent him a secret smile.

  “Sorry if she”—he waved a hand at Hattie—“complicated your day.”

  “Are you kidding? I carry needles and nasal syringes in my lab coat and corral sick kids for a living. This was nothing. Plus, Hattie’s actually been a big help. Giving me tips and pointers.” She lowered her voice. “From the driver’s seat, of course.”

  Jace actually felt himself relax enough to laugh. Two things he found himself doing a lot around Charlotte. “Wouldn’t expect any different.”

  “I’m right here,” Hattie snapped. “No sense talking about me like I’m dead.”

  “Don’t tempt me. The day’s still young.” Jace straightened and finally looked at the car he’d been jonesing on since he was a teen. With a low whistle he circled it, appreciating every hard-won detail. The soft curve of the frame, the two-toned leather seats, the white-rimmed tires he’d had shipped in from a place in Detroit. He knew that it was even better under the hood.

  “Payton was right,” he said, running a hand over the fender. “Sky blue is the perfect color.” He met Hattie’s gaze, which was shiny and full of pride. “Dad would have loved this.”

  “Would have been over the moon.” Hattie patted the seat next to her in that Come here, son kind of way that reminded Jace of summers as a small boy, sitting on his grandma’s lap and watching the day float by.

  He was too big to sit on her lap anymore, but he wanted to be right there with Hattie when he took in this moment, so he opened the door and swung himself in. It took a little negotiating to get his legs inside, but he managed. The leather melted around his frame, and the smell of new car and fresh oil greeted him as he leaned his head back.

  Heaven.

  Then her fragile frame settled against his bigger one and everything fell into place. He was right back there, on the front porch, swinging with his grandma and telling stories.

  “They did a great job on the dash,” he said quietly. “And look at your radio. Payton and I refurbished the original one so it works again.” Every part of this car belonged. Not one thing he and Payton used went against the integrity of the original design. “I can’t believe this made it through a fire.”

  “I can,” Hattie said, her voice shaking. She placed something in his palm and closed his fingers around it, and suddenly Jace knew that they weren’t talking about the car. “Your dad loved this car because you loved this car. It was something that the two of you shared. My Ray left it to his son, and your daddy intended to do the same. Only life got in the way and plans changed, but it’s time now.”

  “Grandma.” He cleared his throat and tried again. “You can’t give me Dad’s car.”

  “Sure I can,” she said. “And after we take it for a little test drive, real slow down Maple so everyone can see, you can drive me home. Just be sure to pick me up in time for the parade tomorrow.”

  “You want me to drive you in the parade?” He had assumed that after she accepted the fact that she wasn’t driving herself she’d want Cal to do it.

  “With all those fancy cars, a lady does what she needs to make a splash,” she said, patting her spiky hair. “And cruising through town with a Ferrari driver as a chauffeur, it doesn’t get any more big city than that.”

  “You know I don’t own one. I just work on their engines.”

  Hattie seemed unconcerned with this. “Put on your Ferrari hat, wear a shirt that shows off those guns, and people will think you’re that sexy Tom Selleck.”

  “Tom Selleck didn’t really own that car. It was just a show.”

  “Well, then,” she patted his hand. “I guess I’ll have to drive through town with my favorite grandson.”

  “Brett’s your favorite, and he and Cal might want to have a say in what happens to the car.”

  “We had our say,” Cal said from behind, and Jace turned to find both of his brothers standing in the middle of the garage. “We want it to go to you.”

  “Why?” Jace asked, completely floored. Sure, he had a connection to it and loved cars, but this car was one of the few things that belonged to their dad to make it out of the fire. Why would they want to give that to someone who might not be here in a week’s time?

  “You dare question the favorite grandson?” Brett laughed, then he was b
ack to being serious. “It’s always been yours, Jace. From the time we were kids. Remember Mom used to load up a backpack and you’d camp in the damn thing instead of in the tent with us?”

  Jace had forgotten about that. “It was warmer in the garage than the tent. I was just being smart.” He was also hanging with his dad. Because when the other guys fell asleep he’d sneak into the garage and his dad would come out and they’d make their own camp, right there on the garage floor. “Wait. Was this a setup?”

  Cal and Brett both smiled.

  Hattie took his hand and gave it a kiss. “I asked you to stay and fix the car because I wanted you to finally finish what you and your dad started. Hoped that maybe it would help you find some kind of peace in the storm.”

  He’d found more than he could ever verbalize. That car had given him a relationship with his niece, rekindled one with his dad, and brought him closer to his family—closer to knowing who he was and who he could be. Most importantly, it kept him here in Sugar, provided the time he needed with Charlotte.

  He looked at his dad’s old radio and smiled, wondering if maybe it was his old man’s last attempt to bring him home.

  “Thank you.” He pulled Hattie in for a hug.

  “You hug just like your mama.”

  “I’ve been hearing that a lot lately.” His eyes found Charlotte, who had moved to the side of the garage, as though giving him and his brothers space while making sure she was there for him.

  “I hate to break up this touching family fest, but Kiss My Glass is an official No Family Drama zone. So can you and your family go hug it out somewhere that doesn’t smell up my garage?” Spencer said, coming out of her office. She was wearing a sleek red dress, red heels, and had some kind of flower fastened to her hair.

  “What are you wearing?” Jace asked, because he’d never seen Spencer in anything but boots and jeans.