by Ali Parker
“You just said you’ve always hated me.” She laughed. “How can I hold my ground after a declaration like that?”
“I don’t hate you.” I leaned into her.
“You just want me to stay out of your life,” she said. “And I will, Candice. I promise.”
“That’s not what I want either.” I sat up. “I just want you to support me, Mom. To understand that I have my reasons for everything I do. And that, even without a man by my side, I can still succeed. Haven’t I proven that by now?”
Mom reached for me. She tucked a loose strand of hair behind my ear. Her gray eyes softened as they considered my face.
“You have,” she finally said. “Even though I haven’t said it enough, I love how independent you are. I don’t think I’ve ever met a woman with more strength.”
“Yes, you have.” I blushed.
Mom scoffed. “Who?”
“You.”
We both dropped our eyes, embarrassed. It wasn’t like either of us to let our emotions rule the room. I couldn’t remember the last time we’d been so open with each other, so honest.
“I need you to back off,” I said. “Not completely. Just enough to let me figure things out on my own.”
“With the company?” she asked.
I nodded. “And with Ryan.”
Her eyes widened. She quickly tried to stifle her excitement, but it was written in every line of her face.
“We’re together,” I said. “It’s new. We’re still trying to work through everything, but I like him more than I ever expected to.”
“If that’s true,” Mom said slowly, “why don’t you just take him to the banquet? It would appease the board and bring you and Ryan closer.”
I was already shaking my head before the last word had left her lips.
“Why not?” she demanded. “You just said—”
“And I meant it,” I said quickly. “But I’m not sure I want to do that, not when it means giving into the board’s every whim.”
“Candice—”
“I’ll think about it,” I promised. Smiling, I got to my feet and made my way across the room. “Trust me, okay? Whatever I decide, it’ll be the right choice.”
“I know.” Mom sighed and followed me to the front door. “I still worry about you.”
“You don’t have to.”
She smiled and pulled me in for a hug. I could have stayed to talk to her longer, but I’d gotten everything I needed. Things were far from perfect between us. We had a long way to go before I could forgive her completely, but we were on our way.
I knew that no matter what I decided, my mother would stand behind me. And that was more than I could have hoped.
Chapter 45
Ryan
Max waited for us at the very back of the restaurant. His back was to us when we walked inside, so Paisley tiptoed up behind him. At the last second, she jumped forward with her arms raised and roared as loud as she could.
“Ahhhhhh!”
Spinning around, Max jumped out of his chair. His eyes flew wide with fear, but when he saw Paisley, they narrowed playfully.
“Sneaking up behind an unsuspecting uncle is never very smart, kid,” he teased.
Paisley giggled and hopped onto a chair. I sat down beside her while Max recovered himself. With his hand over his heart, he chuckled softly and slowly lowered himself back onto the chair. I tried to fight back my laughter, but seeing him jump was too hilarious to deny. I snorted and shook my head, glancing at Paisley who was shaking with silent giggles.
“Yeah, yeah, yeah.” Max waved his hand. “Keep it coming, you two. Just wait until I get you back.”
“You can’t scare me,” Paisley challenged. “I’m the best at scaring.”
Max pretended to ignore her. His eyebrows rose as he pulled a menu to him. Peering at her over the top, he cackled softly. Paisley glared at him, but her attention span was too short. The arrival of a cherry coke and some crayons was enough to distract her.
She pulled the kid’s menu toward her and began to color bright pictures all over it. I watched her, my mind miles away.
“Hey.” Max nudged me under the table. “What’s with you?”
I glanced up at him. He was watching with me a concerned look in his eyes. When I looked back at Paisley, she was consumed by her drawings.
“Things got complicated with Candice last night,” I said quietly, looking back at Max.
“Complicated.” He nodded. “Complicated how?”
“She had a visitor on Friday,” I said. “The head of the board at Smart Cosmetics stopped by her office unexpectedly to threaten her.”
Max’s eyes widened. “Isn’t she the president of the company? How can anyone threaten her?”
“The board pretty much has full control,” I said. “If they decide she’s out, there’s nothing she can do about it.”
Max shook his head. “Wow. That sucks.”
I nodded but looked away. Max was right. It was horrible for Candice. The thought of losing her company was the worst thing she could imagine. Her father had built that business from nothing. I knew Candice would do anything to keep it in her grasp.
But it wasn’t Candice I was worried about. Not right now. Not as I watched my daughter scribble a yellow circle on her menu, wondering how I would support her if I lost my job.
“That’s not everything,” Max said, pulling my attention back to him. “I can tell.”
“It’s nothing.” I waved him off.
“Bullshit.”
“Hey,” I snapped, pointing at Paisley. It didn’t matter. She didn’t hear a word we said.
Max rolled his eyes. Leaning forward he said, “Just tell me what’s going on. Maybe I can help.”
“Fine,” I groaned. “The board wants Candice to take a date to the anniversary banquet to show she isn’t afraid of commitment.”
“That’s great, right?” Max frowned. “That’s exactly what you need to get back in B’s good graces.”
“Except Candice doesn’t want to take a date,” I finished. “She wants to prove she can run the company on her own without a man by her side.”
“Well, of course, she can.” Max snorted. “I’ve only met her once, and I can already see she doesn’t need much help from anyone.”
“Exactly.” I smiled. “Which is why this whole thing pisses her off so much.”
Max nodded, understanding slowly dawning on his face. He was saved from having to speak by the arrival of our waitress. We ordered lunch and handed over our menus. Paisley continued to color in peaceful oblivion while Max turned his eyes back on me.
“You didn’t tell Candice about Beatrice, did you?” he asked.
“She knows about my job,” I said evasively.
“That’s not what I meant.”
Rolling my head back, I ran my hands over my hair in frustration. All the pent-up emotion I’d been feeling since last night spilled over.
“No,” I said. “I didn’t tell Candice that I need an invite to the banquet or I’ll get fired.”
“Why the hell not?”
“Because it has to be her decision,” I said firmly. “She has to do whatever she thinks is best for her and the company, not for me.”
“But you’ll lose your job.”
“I know.”
My eyes closed. I put my hands on the table to steady myself. I could already see B’s face as I walked into her office, her eyes narrowed and ready for a fight.
“When B finds out I’ve been seeing Candice again,” I said slowly. “She’ll be happy at first. She’ll think I somehow managed to fix my screwup, but the second she finds out Candice isn’t taking me to the banquet, I’m through.”
Max nodded sympathetically. He was thinking something, but he didn’t voice it until after our food had arrived. Popping a French fry in my mouth, I eyed him closely and waited for the inevitable moment when he would spill.
“You already said you wanted to quit,” he finally said.
<
br /> Rolling my eyes, I ate another French fry and ignored him. We both knew I couldn’t just up and leave Romeo Rebound.
“Didn’t you say that?” Max pressed. “Just a few days ago? Standing in my living room?”
“Yes,” I snapped. “But that doesn’t mean I can actually do it.”
“Why not?” he demanded.
I looked pointedly at my daughter. She was nibbling on the corner of her grilled cheese and bouncing gently in her seat, always unable to sit completely still. Reaching out to smooth down her hair, I smiled and knew I would do anything to keep her safe.
“I have to support Paisley,” I said, keeping my voice even and turning back to Max. “If I don’t have a job, she doesn’t eat.”
“Do you really think I would let that happen?” Max snorted. “Come on, Ryan.”
“I can’t ask you to take care of us.”
“You’re not.” Max dusted fry salt off his fingers and took a sip of his coke. “If you don’t quit Romeo Rebound, you and Candice can never take things to the next level.”
“Trust me, I know.”
“Then, do it.” Max laughed. “Just walk in there and tell B to suck it. Hand in your two weeks’ notice, or whatever you escorts do, and be done with that place.”
“Then what?” I demanded. “Work as a fry cook at McDonald’s?”
“You have other qualifications, idiot.”
“Like what?”
Max sighed and leaned forward. Shaking his head, he stared at me with exasperation. It was the same look he always gave when talking about my job.
“My company is always hiring,” he said simply.
“Max—”
He held his hand up to stop me. “Before you dismiss it, I’m serious. I could get you a job. One that pays as well as the Romeos. And it would actually be legit.”
“B’s place is legit,” I argued.
“Maybe,” Max said. “But it isn’t exactly respectable.”
“It’s—”
“Do you honestly think Candice will stay with you if you keep working at a place like that?” Max asked. “If she knows you’re out with other women, night after night?”
I shifted uncomfortably in my seat. Max had managed to put words to my deepest insecurities, and part of me hated him for it. But another part, a bigger part, knew he was right.
“Paisley deserves to have a woman in her life,” Max said. “I know you can see how much she needs someone like Candice.”
“Of course, I can.”
“Then, don’t lose her. Don’t let your stubborn pride stand in the way of something that could be really great for you and your daughter.”
“So, I should just quit?” I snapped. “Give up all the money I’m making for the slim chance that I can come work for you and end up with Candice?”
“Yes.”
Max made it sound so simple, so easy, when I knew it was anything but. There was nothing easy about quitting my job, not when it was the one way I could keep a roof over Paisley’s head.
My brother had been offering to hire me for years, but I was terrified it wouldn’t work out. If I didn’t do well, and they fired me, it wouldn’t just look bad on me. It would threaten everything Max spent years building. How could I take that risk?
Glancing at Paisley, another question overwhelmed me. How could I not?
***
“When is Candice coming back?” Paisley demanded.
We stepped through the front door and moved to the living room. Paisley headed straight for the movie drawer and pulled it open. She ran her finger over every DVD, carefully selecting the one she wanted. When she found it, she pulled it out and placed it dramatically on the table in front of her.
“When is Candice coming back?” she asked again.
“She went to work for a little bit,” I said. “She just texted that she’s on her way.”
“Awesome!” Paisley jumped on the couch beside me.
“Should we wait for her to start the movie?” I asked.
“Yeah.” Paisley nodded. “We can make the popcorn and get everything ready first.”
“Sounds good.”
We went into the kitchen where I pulled out our favorite popcorn bowl and stuck a big bag in the microwave. Staring at the bright light as the bag moved round in a circle, my mind drifted back to lunch.
Max and I didn’t resolve anything. His offer hung over my head like something between hope and misery. The idea of leaving the Romeos was exciting, and after all, Max was right. Why would Candice stay with me if I kept working at a place like that?
“Hey.” I spun around to face Paisley. “What would you think about spending the whole week with me?”
“Really?” Paisley jumped once. “Are you serious?”
“Yeah.” I shrugged. “I think I’ll take a little vacation from work. Your last day of school is Wednesday anyway, and then you’re out for the summer.”
“So, you’ll be home?” she asked. “All day?”
“For a week,” I said, making sure she understood. “But only if you want me to.”
“Duh!”
Paisley giggled and sprinted a circle around me. Laughing, I watched the excitement pour off her.
With a ding, the popcorn finished popping. I pulled it out of the microwave and dumped the bag over into the bowl. All the pieces fell out as I shook the bag and thought about things to do with Paisley on my week off.
I couldn’t believe I hadn’t thought of it before.
Taking a week away from work, a week to think, was exactly what I needed. I couldn’t make a sound decision while I still had dates lined up almost every night.
Candice arrived just as Paisley and I settled back in the living room. We laid out the popcorn, candy, and drinks before opening the door.
“Ta-da!” Paisley waved her hand over the display with a flourish. “We made snacks,”
“I see that.” Candice laughed. Turning to me, she stood on her toes and pressed her lips against mine.
“Hey, you,” I whispered.
“Hi.” She grinned and followed me to the couch.
We all snuggled together, passing the bowl of popcorn between us while we watched the movie and let our problems drift away.
Chapter 46
Candice
Monday morning came earlier than I expected. I crawled out of bed, exhausted from the weekend, and threw on the first dress I found. Shoving my feet into my heels, I moved to the bathroom to do my hair and makeup. I just finished getting ready when my phone rang.
Yawning, I picked it up and peered down at the screen. Leslie’s face smiled up at me.
“Hey, Les.” I stifled the end of my yawn as I pressed the phone to my ear. “Are you at the office already? I’m on my way.”
“You are?” Leslie asked, confused. “I thought we were meeting for coffee.”
“Oh shit!” I groaned and grabbed my purse from my bed. “Yeah, we are. I’m sorry. I totally forgot.”
Leslie laughed. “You’re fine. I’ll order your usual.”
“Thanks, I’ll see you soon.”
We hung up, and I darted across the living room. It only took me five minutes to get downstairs and hail a cab. The coffee shop was close enough to walk, but my exhaustion was too strong. I succumbed to the ache in my legs and slid into the back seat of the first cab I saw.
My head fell against the seat as the driver whipped in and out of traffic. He pulled up to the coffee shop and twisted around.
“We’re here,” he said, looking pointedly at the meter on his dash.
Chuckling, I pulled out a twenty and tossed it over the seat. He grinned his thanks and wiggled his fingers as I climbed onto the sidewalk.
Leslie was waiting for me at the back of the shop. Two cups of coffee sat in front of her, and a half-eaten muffin stood between them.
“I saved you some,” she said, gesturing toward the muffin.
“I’m good.” I grabbed the coffee and took a long sip. “Just need coffee
.”
“I can see that. Long weekend?”
“You have no idea.”
I groaned and savored the cappuccino on my tongue. Monday had only just begun, and already, I wanted the week to end. The banquet was fast approaching and, with it, so were my endless responsibilities.
“This week is going to suck,” I moaned. “The last thing I want to deal with right now is banquet prep.”
Leslie waved her hand casually. “It’ll be fine,” she said, crossing her legs and leaning back in her chair. “You’ve done this a thousand times before.”
“This is different.” I shook my head. “I’ve never had to worry about whether or not to bring a date.”
“A date?” Leslie’s eyebrows shot up.
I quickly filled her in on my conversation with Bart Banks. While I talked, Leslie’s face grew steadily darker. By the time I finished, she was so angry, I thought she might burn a hole through the floor.
“That son of a bitch!” She shook her head, her cheeks flushed. “I’ll fucking kill him. Who does he think he is?”
“Mom thinks he wants my job,” I said simply.
“Wait.” Leslie froze. “Mom?”
I frowned and then realized why Leslie was so shocked. She didn’t know Mom and I had spoken since the blow up about Ryan. Sighing, I set my coffee down and reached for the muffin. If I was going to tell Leslie everything, then I definitely needed sustenance.
“After Bart came to my office,” I said, “I went by Mom’s place to talk.”
“Why?”
“Come on. Who else would understand?”
Leslie closed her eyes and sucked in a breath. When she opened her eyes again, she nodded reluctantly. She knew I was right, even if she didn’t want to admit it.
“I just can’t believe you spoke to her,” she said. “I thought you would punish her for at least another month or so.”
“We talked,” I said. “And it was good. She apologized for everything and even agreed to stay out of my personal life. I don’t think she’ll be setting me up on any more dates anytime soon.”
Doubt covered my sister’s face. She tried to force a reassuring smile on her lips, but it was too tight to be believable. I cocked my head to the side and waited for her to speak her mind.