“Hope not. I’m not ready to let you go.”
She leaned up and took a slow kiss. He pressed his forehead to hers.
He stared into her yes. “Call me. Especially if she hurts you.”
“Okay. Take care of your car.”
“Don’t care about the car.”
She smiled sadly. “Because you’re perfect.”
“Yeah, that’s why your mother hates me already.”
“Tomorrow.” She kissed him and backed toward the doors. The look in his eyes left her worried. Swallowing down her fear, she walked inside.
Chapter 13
Isandro walked straight back to his room, shedding the suit as he went. He hung it up and dropped onto the bed in his boxer briefs. The idea of Arianna spending the night with her mother gutted him.
He fully expected the bitch to get in Arianna’s head and twist her around. Same way Carson’s mother did to Marissa.
At least there wasn’t a ring involved. Maybe they were destined to fall for people who could never truly accept them. Shit…their mother. Marissa. Now him.
Flopping back on the bed, he stared up at the ceiling. Maybe he was she was right, and she’d be there tomorrow. This felt all sorts of wrong.
“Fuck,” he muttered, rubbing his hand over his face.
The pounding started and he rolled to his feet and grabbed a pair of shorts he pulled on before heading to the door. It was too much to hope Arianna had come to her senses and came to him.
He opened the door and found Marissa on his doorstep, still in uniform. “Come in,” he muttered, heading for the fridge. “You off? Want a beer?”
“Yeah. I could use one.” She followed him back. “Why aren’t you at the hospital?”
“She didn’t want me there. Worried her mother would have a conniption and make herself worse.”
“I think Diane Nelson is up to something. That kid who hit your car. His name is Talbot Squire. He works for one of her companies. Apparently she’s hired him for odd jobs here and there. He hasn’t confessed, but I believe she put him up to wrecking your car.”
“Not a surprise, unfortunately. So now what?”
“You know who showed up at the hospital ten minutes after you left?”
“Derrick?” He popped the top of a beer and passed her one. “So? She doesn’t want him back.”
“No, but her mother wants her with someone more her class,” she hissed.
“Look, she’s not Carson. She knows what she wants.”
“Yeah, but does she have the backbone to push? She kept taking him back. If she thinks she can get some appreciation from her mother, she may be willing to give him another chance.”
“She won’t.” He drank half his beer and hopped up on the counter. “Look, I don’t know what’s going on, but if this asshat has anything to do with her mother, is it possible she hired him to break into her shop? Maybe she knew where the money was?”
“That’s what I’m thinking. We’re running his prints against the partial ones from the shop. They look like a match. We have the blood sample. We’re just waiting on confirmation.”
“Good. Now what?”
“Now we wait for results. He’s in for reckless driving. Hopefully a night in jail will loosen his lips.” Marissa leaned against the counter.
“Doubtful.”
“What did she say?” Marissa asked, changing the subject.
“Said she’d talk to me tomorrow. She knows I work in the morning.”
“Yeah, but you would have called in to be there. She doesn’t have a damned clue what she’s throwing away.”
“She’s not.” He hoped. “It’s been a long night. I need to go to bed.”
“For what it’s worth, I hope you’re right. You deserve to be happy.”
“Yeah. And so do you,” Isandro told her before hopping down and tossing the bottle. “Lock the door on your way out.”
“Will do. Get some sleep.”
* * * *
Arianna paced the hall outside her mother’s room. Derrick walked toward her. She stopped, crossed her arms over her chest, and glared him down. “Leave. Just fucking leave already.”
“I’m here for you. Unlike him.”
“He only left because I convinced him not to waste his night here.”
“I came anyway,” he pointed out.
Her teeth ground together. “Don’t want you, and I sure as hell don’t need you.” She turned as Doctor Blake came out. He shook his head with a shrug. “I can’t find anything wrong with her. I’ve run all the tests, but it’s not a heart attack. Not a stroke. She could very easily be faking.”
She groaned and turned toward Derrick. “Go. Seriously.”
His tone gentled as he moved closer. “Why are you so stubborn? I love you, Arianna. Why do you think I always come back to you?”
“Because you’re a mooch, and no one else is willing to put up with your bullshit. But guess what? I’m done putting up with you at all. Now leave, or Dr. Blake can call security.”
The doctor chuckled. “Listen to Arianna. She doesn’t want you here. Leave.”
“What about Mrs. Nelson? I’m here for her too. Sooner or later I’ll be her son-in-law.”
“Bullshit you will,” Arianna snapped back.
His eyes narrowed. “Infuriating woman, you.”
Dr. Blake turned to her. “Go in there. I’m about to send her home if the last tests come back normal.”
She wanted to kick herself. Coming here was a mistake. Arianna stepped into the room and crossed her arms over her chest. “You faked it, didn’t you?”
“Faked what?” her mother demanded.
“Your chest hurting. Feeling faint. All of it. All to keep me from Isandro. Why the hell do you care who I’m with? I can’t make you happy? I don’t even care about making you happy anymore.”
“If that were true, you wouldn’t be here now.”
She huffed. “I’m here because Cherise is celebrating her engagement and your favorite daughter is too busy being selfish to give up some time for you. I came because I thought there was something seriously wrong with you, and I thought you could use a familiar face. But no, you’re trying to ruin my happiness.”
“You know how I know about Isandro? Why I know his mother begged and begged for his father to stay with her? Why he nearly left her a dozen times? You want the story?”
“Won’t matter.”
“It will. He’s exactly the same as his father. Did you know Mario killed his wife? Shot her, then himself.”
“He’s nothing like Isandro.”
“He’s the spitting image.”
“And how would you know?” Arianna sneered.
“I loved Mario. He was my first. Wrong side of town, bad boy, couldn’t keep his eyes or hands off me. I fell hard. I wanted the forbidden fruit. My daddy warned me, but I didn’t listen.”
Arianna crossed her arms over her chest. “He’s not a bad boy.”
“Who gave Derrick the fat lip?”
“What?”
“Who punched Derrick?”
Arianna shook her head, rage building inside. “Isandro wasn’t supposed to defend himself?”
“Is that really what happened? He stole you right out from under Derrick.”
“Oh no. I dumped Derrick before I gave Isandro a try. I’m never taking Derrick back. He’s a worthless cheater who doesn’t appreciate me.”
“You’re a fat slob who runs a candy shop and will never deserve love.”
“You’re a bitter old woman who has no clue what she’s talking about,” Arianna sneered.
She laughed harshly, climbing off the bed. She looked ridiculous in the hospital gown. “He’ll hit you like his father hit me. And you know what, you’ll fall so hard you won’t be able to walk away until he grows tired of you. Then you’ll beg and plead until he comes back.”
Arianna shook her head. “I’m not you. And he’s not his father.”
“You know why I married your father? He could provide wh
en I got pregnant.”
Arianna laughed out loud and turned for the door. “My father is Antoinette and Cherise’s father.”
“True, but I lost a child before I had Antoinette. I’d left Mario after he beat me. Then I found out I was pregnant. So I did the only thing that would make my parents proud. I started dating Anthony. I got him drunk and let him have his way with me. Then told him I was pregnant a few weeks later. Next thing I knew, we were engaged, as planned.”
“You’re despicable. You didn’t even love Dad, did you?”
She shook her head. “No. And you know what? Mario found out. He beat me nearly to death. I lost that baby. And by then I figured if I married Anthony, that would be the end of everything. It wasn’t. Even then I couldn’t help myself. At least he married his other girlfriend. Poor Luciana didn’t have someone else to bail her out of that destructive cycle. She was in love too.”
Arianna looked away, trying to sort out the shit her mother was spewing. “You were sleeping with him even after marrying Dad?”
She nodded. “I couldn’t help myself. The man knew how to make a woman scream. I wasn’t the only one. He bedded anyone in a skirt.”
“He’s not his father.”
“Derrick has money. He can offer you the life Isandro can’t. He has no ambition. No drive. He’s a fireman, for God’s sake.”
“He’s a hero. He appreciates me. He’s proud that I own my own business.”
“That won’t last. You’re a new conquest. That’s it.”
“Wow, you know what, find your own way home.”
Her mother sank onto the bed. “You’re a fool, Arianna.”
“You’re a bitch, and I wish to God I could have another mother.” She walked out the door and slammed it.
In the lobby Derrick stepped into her path. She shoved him out of the way and kept walking out the door, onto the street and kept going. Thankfully, the hospital was only a few blocks from her house.
Her heart ached. What if she’d already fucked everything up with Isandro? God, her mother had fucked his father. Was that some kind of twisted shit or what?
Tears ran down her face as she climbed the stairs to her condo. Then Derrick pulled in, and she strangled back a frustrated scream. Almost two in the morning and it was too late to call Isandro when he was getting up in a few short hours. Though she was tempted to call the police and have them take Derrick away.
Instead, she went inside, locked the doors, and turned off all the lights, hoping to God the bastard would leave her alone.
Chapter 14
Early the next morning, Isandro slammed on the brakes in the middle of the damned street. He hadn’t heard from Arianna since he left her at the hospital.
Now he knew why. Derrick’s Boxster sat right next to her BMW, in front of her condo.
Someone honked, and he hit the gas, tearing out of there. Pissed didn’t begin to describe what he felt.
She sent him home.
He listened.
She didn’t call.
He stayed up most of the night, waiting to hear from her.
She let Derrick back in.
He wanted to punch something—someone. Not that hitting Derrick was going to solve his cracked heart. He pulled into the firehouse and sat in the truck for a long moment, gripping the wheel until he felt like he might break the damned thing.
Someone rapped their knuckles on the window. He looked over to find Trent standing there with a smirk. Asshole couldn’t know how fucked everything was.
Isandro climbed out of the truck and shook his head before walking into the firehouse.
“Hey, what’s going on? How was the party?”
“She’s with Derrick now. So, fuck off.”
“What? No, she’s not,” Trent insisted.
“Yeah, well, the bastard’s car is sitting outside her complex, right next to her car.”
“What the hell happened?”
“Trent, don’t. I’m not in the goddamned mood to think about it right now.”
“Have you talked to her?”
“Why? His car is in front of her place. He doesn’t live there. So what do you want me to say? Hey, how’s Derrick? Yeah, no fucking thank you.” He stormed into the building and went to the locker room. He shoved his lunch in. The bells rang and he slammed the door shut before heading to the truck.
* * * *
Arianna woke up and checked her phone. Not a single message. Her heart stuttered as she sent a quick text. Hey, Isandro. Mom was faking. I went home. Figured you were asleep long before two in the morning.
There was no reply.
Arianna sent another. You were right. I should have listened. I shouldn’t have gone. I’m sorry. She dropped her phone on the bed and headed for the shower.
Within an hour she walked down to her car and found Derrick’s parked next to hers.
“Son of a bitch,” she hissed, kicking his tire. She had a feeling that was why Isandro wasn’t answering.
A malicious smirk pulled at her lips as she took her phone out. She wanted to fuck with Derrick as much as he fucked with her.
She looked up a friend’s company and smiled when he answered.
“Hey, We Tow, what can we do for ya?”
“Hey, Ted. This is Arianna Nelson. I need you to come tow Derrick’s car out of my spot at my condo.”
“You finally dump his ass?”
“Yeah, a while ago. I guess he figured I’d be nice and let him hog my extra spot, but my boyfriend may need it.” She hoped like hell Isandro was still her boyfriend. First, she needed a little revenge on the prick.
“Give me fifteen minutes. I’ll be there.”
She climbed into her car and sank into the seat while she waited. Thoughts cycled through her head.
He probably saw Derrick’s car.
What if he thinks I spent the night with the asshole?
What if he hates me now?
I should have called.
She sent another text to Isandro. Call me. We need to talk.
She tapped at her head, wondering, God, how bad did that asshole fuck with the first man who really wants me?
Ted pulled in with the tow truck, and she climbed out.
“You really have a boyfriend now?” he asked.
She nodded. “Yeah. And he treats me a million times better than Derrick ever did.”
“Good. You deserve someone who’ll treat you right.”
“I do. Now get Derrick’s piece of shit out of here so I can get to work.”
“You got it, babe.”
At the shop she busied herself with making chocolate before opening. Isandro never called, never texted. She wanted to fall apart. Her mother was wrong about him. He wasn’t his father. Hell, he was probably thinking she’d let Derrick take her home and she was stupid enough to take him back.
Around noon Marissa called her with an update about Talbot, and how he was connected to her mother. And all she could think was her mother had lost her damned mind.
Could she really have set up the accident? Faked the heart attack? Then sent Derrick to make it look like he’d been with her? She couldn’t figure out why he was parked in front of her house, only she knew Isandro saw. That had to be the reason. But where the hell did that fucking weasel go after parking in front of her place? And other than reckless driving, they didn’t have enough to keep Talbot at the jail forever. Man, she wanted answers.
Derrick stalked through the door with a malicious glare. “Hey, Arianna. Where’s my fucking car? Did your thug steal it when he saw it in front of your place?”
Anger flashed through her as she glared back. “It’s at We Tow.”
“You towed my car?”
“You were parked in my spot. Of course I had it towed. We’re done.”
He stalked forward. “You don’t plan on listening, do you?”
It took every ounce of will to keep her ass in the stool to keep from throwing something at him. “Nope. Now, get out of my shop. I don’t wan
t anything to do with you. Nothing.”
“I’m the right man for you. The only man who will ever put up with your silly dreams of being the best chocolate maker. The only one who will always love you. Where is your fireman? He wasn’t at the hospital. He’s not here now. Where is he?”
“Working,” she stated with ire. “Now leave me the hell alone.”
“Oh no. I want you back. I’ll have you back,” he promised.
“Damn it, Derrick. You don’t get it. I fucking hate you.”
He shook his head. “You don’t mean that.” There was no love, no attraction in his eyes. Whatever he wanted, it wasn’t love.
“I’m over you, Derrick. Completely and totally. Now leave.”
“Fine, fine. Remember this, you’ll come crawling back. You always do.”
“No. I fucking won’t.” She slammed the door shut and locked it. She flipped the sign and pulled the new security mesh down. It was dead and she had a mess to clean up.
* * * *
Isandro sat in his truck, staring at the wheel. He didn’t want to look at the thirty-five texts from Arianna. He didn’t want to believe she chose Derrick but what the fuck else was he supposed to think?
Someone climbed into his truck, and he looked over.
Metcalf sat, staring at him. “What’s going on? I thought you were happy with this girl.”
“I was. I could be. Now I don’t know what to think.”
“Why?”
He gave Metcalf the brief rundown of the night before. “Her ex’s car was outside her condo this morning. Right next to hers. What would you think?”
“Are you sure he isn’t showing up, or leaving his car where he’ll do the most damage to your relationship? Maybe he’s desperate enough that he wants to fuck with yours so he can have her back.”
“Shit, maybe. And what if it’s all a lie? What if she’s only with me to fuck with him?”
“Why do you think that?”
“Her mother hates me. Her sister thinks I’m scum. What the hell did I ever do to them?”
He shook his head. “I don’t think Arianna is the same as them. Hear her out. Maybe Derrick’s trying to get in your way so you leave her, opening her up to take him back. You want to be the reason she goes back to him? Or do you want to give her a chance?”
Sweet Tooth Page 11