Eric guffawed. “That’s hardly any of your business.”
Melissa quietly quoted an almost six-figure amount.
“Melissa!”
“Don’t be ashamed, Eric. That’s a nice living. It’s a quaint and energized place. I am impressed.” She hiked her purse higher on her shoulder and stood. “I especially enjoyed the delightful smiles and charm from Drew here.”
Drew bowed. “My pleasure.”
Candy returned his smile, then grabbed the black pen to her left and a napkin. She quickly jotted down two numbers—one a five-digit amount, the other a long, seven-digit number—and turned it toward him. “Not to say that lawyers don’t make a great living, but me being just a model, well, let’s just say I’ve never starved a day in my career.” She tapped the napkin. “The top one is what I made my first year on the runway. The bottom one is what I made by the end of last year.”
Candy winked at Drew, then hugged Melissa.
“Holy shit.” Drew’s mouth gaped.
Smug, she simply strolled across the room and out the door.
Dawning her sunglasses, she strode down the sidewalk to the driver and car waiting for her out front, then slid into the backseat and unclenched her back teeth.
She knew coming here would be a challenge in itself. Melissa’s family had no qualms about saying no to the girl’s modeling dreams. But she’d just realized how hard it would be to prove to them that Melissa was perfect for the career and had everything going for her. And Candy wanted to sign her as the first client in her management business.
Her time in the spotlight was over but she didn’t want to leave the business completely. She was determined to find the next “it” girl and make her a star. Melissa was eager for the chance and was twenty years old—old enough to make her own decisions. But the girl refused to do it without her family’s blessings. Candy was determined to seal the deal and bring Melissa back to Europe with her.
She sighed and watched the buildings rush by outside the window.
No matter how much big brother Eric hated the idea of his sister changing careers, she would prove him wrong.
One way or another, she wasn’t leaving St. Albert until she’d signed her first client.
Chapter Two
“I’m really sorry, Eric. I’ve tried every trick I know to get your loan approved, but it is impossible.”
Eric read the sympathy in his friend and mortgage broker’s eyes and hated it.
Shame coursed through him.
He and Glory had known one another for years and sitting in front of her, embarrassed that she knew he wasn’t doing so great in life, royally sucked. Hell, he’d banked here all his life and knowing everyone here would hear that he’d been denied the much-needed loan hurt and irritated him.
“I appreciate you doing what you could.”
Glory attempted to smile. He hated to see her feeling bad. A quiet and often shy woman, she was loyal to the core. And she didn’t know her own beauty beneath the frumpy business suits she wore. Though she was a decade younger than him, he’d always appreciated her spectacular smile and the light that often shone through her sea-blue eyes.
“I wish there was more I could do. The bank percentages and acceptances are getting harder and more difficult to approve. And you know Ken is a stickler for the rules. No one’s been getting a loan lately without some major collateral.” She fiddled with her pencil. “Are you sure you have no other options?”
Eric wished he could tell her he had other resources. Coming in for a bank loan was his last resort. “It’ll be fine.” He attempted a smile, though there was little happiness in his heavy heart.
He was losing the bar his stepfather Lou had grown from the ground up. The very place where Eric had worked all his life. He had been honored when Lou bestowed it to him before he died, and this was nearly killing him. Then losing his mother six months ago…
He ran a hand over his face. Cripes. Why did life have to be so difficult sometimes? The economy in St. Albert had gone to shit and there was no recovery in sight. At least for his business. Plus losing people who meant so much to him. He’d lost his father at twenty-five and it had cut him to the core. Lou and his father had been the best of friends and Lou marrying Eric’s mom a few years later had filled a hole for Eric and his brother Drew.
Eric was tired of fighting life every step of the way.
“Maybe Drew can help,” Glory said, cutting through his thoughts. “I know his practice is doing quite well. Maybe have him come in to apply?”
Her eyes beseeched him to follow her advice, but the bar was his to worry about. After Lou’s will was read, Drew and Melissa had both begged him to take all the stock in the bar. Neither had wanted the thirty percent they’d each been given, while their mother received ten percent. Eric had refused their offer of their shares, relinquishing only to accept the ten percent when their mother died. He was now majority owner with forty percent.
The bar was his responsibility. “I can’t do that. As you said, he’s doing very well with his own business. And Melissa is supposed to join him. I don’t want anything to interfere with what either of them have going on. Especially Melissa. Hell, all she can talk about is modeling and not finishing the law courses.”
As if there was a future in modeling. Eric didn’t understand his sister’s fascination with this Candy Wilson and whatever BS she was shoveling. No matter how good looking the woman was, how confident she seemed, there was no way Eric was going to allow her to take his baby sister down a path that would have her strutting around in front of men all the time.
His sister was bound for bigger and better things.
“You know Melissa is going to fight you every step of the way. When she came home from Europe, modeling was all she could talk about. The girl’s been bitten by a bug that isn’t easily swatted, Eric. Maybe she should have the chance to spread her wings and then come back to law later.”
Eric scowled. “Hell, no. She gets used to some jet-setting lifestyle, then what? She’ll never come home.”
Glory sighed and shook her head. “You’re asking for trouble by being the overprotective big brother.”
If it was anyone else but Glory telling him this, he’d probably tell them to fuck off. But Glory was always a great listener and confidant. He valued their friendship.
“I hear what you’re saying but I have to protect her. That’s all Lou asked of me.”
Melissa had been the apple of Lou’s eye. Since the day she’d been born. Even Eric and Drew had been weak for her green eyes that sucked them into her shenanigans every time.
“He’d want her to be happy. And you too.”
He grinned at her. “Happiness is what we make it.” Standing, he leaned over and brushed a kiss across her cheek. “Thanks for everything. I gotta go.”
Glory stood and grabbed his wrist as he walked toward the door. “I’m really sorry, Eric. I’ll continue working on your application. And think of other things we may be able to do.”
Not wanting to burst her bubble over the lost cause, he nodded. “Thank you. Stop by and see me soon, all right.”
Exiting her office, he nodded to the manager, Ken, and went outside into the heat of the day. Six months late on the mortgage already, he wasn’t sure how much longer he had before Ken was at his door with a foreclosure sign to tack onto the door. The house Lou and his mother had lived in, where he and Melissa lived now, had been mortgaged a year ago when their mother was diagnosed with lung cancer.
Her health had deteriorated quickly. He’d had staff run the bar while he spent twenty-four-seven taking care of her. The bar had done okay, but nowhere near as well as it should have. He’d been too focused on his mother to care about the business. He didn’t regret taking the time off, but he wished he’d managed better.
Christ, he was almost fifty years old and about to lose the only livelihood he had. He should have been smarter.
“Hey there. It’s Eric, right?”
He st
alled and pivoted. Behind him was the one person he didn’t need to see right now. Melissa had talked about her enough that he knew all he needed to about her. And some shit he hadn’t cared to.
“Ms. Wilson. Hope you’re enjoying our little town here.”
She leaned against the wall of Abe’s Diner. “Little? This place is huge. I did enjoy some shopping this morning. The market a couple blocks over has some of the nicest things. I spent way more than I should.”
He bet she did. From what she’d shown at the bar yesterday, she had more money than she really knew what to do with. In his opinion, she’d earned it all by letting it all hang out in fashion magazines for the world to see. Wearing skimpy outfits and bathing suits, which to him was too much to be taken seriously. She had the looks for sure, but he questioned her morals.
“Well, I have to get back to the bar. Nice seeing you.”
“Oh, you couldn’t spare a few minutes to have coffee with me? There are a few things I’d love to talk to you about.” She sidled closer to him, a smile lighting her face, her eyes twinkling like stars in the evening sky.
He bet she was used to getting her way all the time.
She brushed a hand over his bicep. “Just a quick coffee, and maybe a bite to eat?”
The heat from her palm rushed through him. His fingers tingled and the urge to feel her warmth around him caught him off guard. He took a step back and shook his head. Damn her for getting to him. He needed to steer clear. She would do anything to take his sister away from here, even use her wiles to do it; he’d seen her flirting with Drew yesterday.
“Sorry, I don’t have time to entertain you. You’ll have to find someone else to keep you occupied, Ms. Wilson. Have a good day.”
Eric turned and strode away. He needed to keep a watchful eye on his sister and find a way to dig himself out of the hole he was in.
Neither would be easy, though.
Not with the distraction of Candy Wilson around to battle with.
****
Candy clenched her teeth as she took a seat in the corner booth of the diner. Damn that Eric McKenna. Getting even a millimeter in front of him to discuss anything was going to be next to impossible. He obviously wanted nothing to do with her. She swallowed hard. The nerve of the man. She wasn’t used to being treated like that, and no way in hell would she take it.
“What can I get ya, hun?”
She glanced up and smiled. The grey-haired woman returned the gesture. “I’ll have a poached eggs on toast.” She glanced at her nametag. “Thank you, Diane.”
“Welcome to St. Albert, by the way, hun. Heard you were the beauty from all those magazines.” Diane tilted her head and checked her out. “You models. You need to eat more. You sure you just want that little bit?”
Candy liked this woman already. That kinship of saying what was on her mind was nice to find here. “Why not throw on a slice of ham or bacon too?”
Diane laughed, the jolly sound filling the diner. “That a girl. I like you, young lady. I’ll go have Abe dish that up for you. Coffee?”
“Yes, please.”
“Back in a few minutes.” Diane scurried to the kitchen, leaving Candy to stare out the window.
Everyone she’d met today had been so warm and welcoming. She found herself getting lost in the stories of the town, the who’s who at the market, and buying more than she’d planned for. She touched the light satin of the scarf around her neck. The softness of it calmed her. The peach color had caught her eye the moment she’d walked up to the table. Kelly, the woman who made them, was sweet and charming. A young mom of two, her gift in making the scarves wasn’t lost on Candy.
Kelly should be in her own shop. The few stands of earrings she’d also had on her table were magnificent. Candy couldn’t imagine her talent being lost in a small market when it could be showcased in a larger way. She’d given Kelly her number, to contact her if she ever wanted to discuss opening a small boutique, and had parted with half a dozen scarves and that many new sets of earrings.
Watching the cars drive by, she let the St. Albert atmosphere warm her soul. Her body was tired from the endless travel over the years and her mind soaked in the quiet community.
Eric’s face filled her thoughts.
There was a job to do here, and she couldn’t walk away without Melissa in tow. The girl had too much promise.
“Here we are.” Diane set two plates in front of her, and a cup of coffee. “I added some fruit to the side. Don’t want it, don’t eat it. No charge.”
Candy stared at the large amount of food. Not the normal amount she ate for lunch, but she wouldn’t be rude. “Thank you so much. This all looks delicious.”
Her eyes widened when Diane sat opposite her. She held in a chuckle when the other woman huffed out a deep sigh, then leaned back. “So what brings you to St. Albert, honey?”
Shrugging, she cut into the poached egg on toast a few times to make smaller pieces. “Taking a vacation.”
Diane snorted. Candy wasn’t sure whether to be offended or not but obviously there was no fooling the older lady.
“I heard that Melissa Weatherly’s caught your eye for modeling.”
The gossip of a small-knit community.
Candy knew she shouldn’t be surprised, but she and Melissa had wanted to keep things quiet until they’d talked to her brothers.
“I met Melissa in Europe. She told me how peaceful and beautiful her hometown was, thought I’d come see it for myself. That’s it.” She took a bite of her food and met Diane’s gaze across the table.
After a few moments of silence, and scarfing the deliciousness of her meal, Candy sipped her coffee. “Have you known the McKenna-Weatherly family a long time?”
“Shoot, I’ve known them all since they were in diapers. Was friends with their momma and daddy. Then with Lou when their momma married again. They are a much-loved family around here.”
“I really enjoy Melissa’s company.”
Diane pointed a finger at her. “You’ll wanna do right by that girl, honey. Those brothers of hers are not going to like it if you steer her on the wrong path. They’ve always been protective of her, especially now that both their folks are gone. Bernadette didn’t think she’d ever have more kids and when that little girl came along, well, Melissa’s always been special to many of us.”
Nodding, she wrapped her fingers around the mug. The warmth of it on a hot day like today shouldn’t have soothed her but it did. This town wasn’t going to be an easy one to work with. She wouldn’t just have to win Drew and Eric over, but it seemed many of the community.
Born stubborn and determined, as her parents used to say, Candy leaned forward toward Diane and said, “Melissa is special. I see so much in her. She has a great talent and could really make a nice living on the runway or doing magazine layouts. And she wants it, Diane. She wants it a lot.” She stared the other woman in the eye. “Melissa’s ready to grow up and reach for her dreams. And she shouldn’t be denied the right to do it. Would anyone really want to dim the light in that girl’s eyes? Take away the chance to live the life she’s always wanted? I certainly won’t.”
Leaning back in her seat, she watched Diane’s contemplative face as the older woman seemed to mull everything over. Yes, the other woman would be a wonderful ally to have in this, but Candy was sincere. Melissa could have a huge career in fashion, and maybe even bigger than Candy’s had been over the years.
“All right, girl, let me know if I can help. I’ll be watching you, though. Any harm comes to that girl and I’ll know who to blame.” Diane stood, stared at her another few heartbeats, then turned and walked away.
Forking up another piece of her food, she shoved it in her mouth and chewed. Deciding her next course of action would be very important. She needed to make some headway with Melissa’s family.
And if Eric—whom she knew Melissa wanted the blessing of more than anyone else—wouldn’t come to her, then she’d go to him.
She’d shadow
him night and day if she needed to. Be around so much that he’d have no choice but to talk to her at some point. He seemed like a man with a short fuse.
Oh, yes. She’d be the match to light that man’s fuse on fire.
One way or another.
Chapter Three
Candy tapped her fingers on the table as she waited for Melissa to bring her a refill. She’d agreed to meet Melissa at the bar while she was working, and during her break they’d tackle their best options for dealing with Eric and Drew.
Of course, she couldn’t resist having a couple martinis while she waited. Her cheeks were already warm and she wanted to dance. The drinks here were potent, indeed. And from her vantage point facing the bar, she could ogle Eric to her heart’s content.
Watching him work for the last half hour, she fought with herself. She really shouldn’t find him so frickin’ attractive. Not when she’d be battling with him on what his sister wanted for a career. But the man oozed sex from head to toe. What had she heard said one day…sex on a stick to describe some dancer on TV? Yes, that fit Eric perfectly. Thoughts of hot nights rolling between the sheets with him, licking him wherever she could reach, then going back for more over and over fueled her naughty mind and set her pulse racing.
She crossed her legs. Her pussy was thick with juices. If she rubbed her thighs together¸ she had no doubt she’d combust right there in the booth. Not that she’d mind letting go of some of the tension rolling through her. Though, if she made a quick trip into the washroom and hiked up her short skirt a little bit, she could take care of the rising need for release in no time flat.
As nice as it would be, it didn’t hold much appeal. Not when she wanted a man’s hands on her. His hands, to be precise, and until she got away from here, she didn’t think her need would go away anytime soon.
“Hey, I’m sorry.” Melissa dropped into the seat across from her. “It’s crazy in here tonight. I forgot the local ball team had their first round of playoffs.” She frowned at Candy. “Are you okay? Oh shit! I forgot to bring you another drink.”
Stirring Up Dirty Page 2