by Rhian Cahill
Relief flooded him. He made it to her side before his legs buckled and he fell to his knees, lowered his head to the cushion beside her.
His heart continued to race while his breath shot in and out of his lungs. Until this moment, he hadn’t realised how scared he was.
Taking a deep breath, he raised his head. He could see Jack and Chris in his peripheral vision, but ignored them to take in the woman in front of him.
Her skin was pale, but not flushed or sweaty like it would be if she had a fever. The curve beneath each eye was slightly darker in colour and he hated knowing that even with him beside her last night she hadn’t managed to sleep well. She hadn’t stirred, so clearly she was exhausted.
Was that why she called in sick? Was she too tired to go to work?
As much as he wanted an answer, he knew she wouldn’t like to wake and find him here. She wouldn’t take his invasion of her privacy well, would probably hand the two men in the room with him their balls while she was ripping Parker a new one.
With that in mind, he kissed the tips of his fingers and pressed them lightly to the top of her head before pushing to his feet. Turning, he went against his heart and walked away.
“She won’t be happy to find us here,” he murmured on the way passed Chris and Jack.
He was almost to his car when Jack caught up to him. “Hey, Parker, hold up.”
Parker stopped, but didn’t turn around. “Yeah.”
“You’re just going to leave her?”
He lowered his chin to his chest. “She obviously doesn’t want to see me or she wouldn’t have called in sick and locked herself away.”
“Didn’t take you for a coward,” Jack drawled behind him.
Parker spun around. “I’m not. But she needs time. I’m giving it to her.”
“Seems like giving up to me.”
“Nothing could be further from the truth and if you knew Kandy you’d understand that she needs to meet me halfway. Not for me. For her.”
“He’s right,” Chris agreed as he joined them on the footpath. “She’d never accept anything other than equal footing.”
Parker nodded in acknowledgement and smiled grimly. “I’m taking the rest of the day off work. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
Turning away, he headed for his car. He needed to clear his head so he could decide what to do from here. He wasn’t giving up, but they both needed some time to put things in perspective.
And Parker had a plan to hatch.
***
Kandy smiled when she stepped inside Santa’s Village. It was early. Five in the morning early. No one would arrive for two hours and she planned to make the most of her solitude.
She loved everything this place stood for: hopes and wishes, love and laughter, family and fun. It was a magical wonderland and she needed a little of that right now, needed to find herself again. This was the one place she knew would allow her to do that.
She was done with yesterday’s pity party.
Today was a new day and she planned to make the most of it and every one that followed. So what if she hadn’t found the love of her life yet. She wasn’t old. There was still plenty of time and she was going to be the best surrogate aunt any kid ever had to Jack and Elle’s little one.
Wandering along the snow covered street, she ran her fingertips on the top of a fence. Memories crashed in. She and Jack and Chris racing through these streets when they were little, the mischief they got up to with Grammy. Laughter bubbled in her chest.
God, that woman had a knack for being a kid. She’d never really grown up which explained why at eighty-two she still dressed in her elf suit and spent every day in Santa’s Village from the moment they laid down the first foundation to the moment they ripped it back up again.
Kandy hoped she still found joy in Christmas at Grammy’s age.
She rounded the curve outside Santa’s house and spotted the slide. Smiling, she picked up her pace and was running by the time she reached the crate of sacks at the bottom of the stairs. With a laugh, she raced up the metal steps to the top. Out of breath when she got there, she took a moment to catch it and enjoy the bird’s eye view of the Village.
Yes. She definitely needed the magic of this place today.
Kandy dropped her mat in the marked off area and climbed on. It took one little push to send her sliding over the edge and down the thirty metres of smooth ice. She let out a whoop and threw her arms in the air.
She slammed into the padded end and jumped to her feet. Scooping up the mat, she ran for the stairs once more. This time she’d go down on her belly, headfirst.
Screaming with delight, she sailed down, arms out superman style. At the bottom she rolled over and stared up at the ceiling. It was the only thing in the cavernous arena that didn’t look like it belonged at the North Pole.
“Hey.”
The voice startled her and she whipped her head around to find Jack standing a few feet away, his hands shoved in the front pockets of his jeans.
She hadn’t seen him since the day Parker had punched him in the face and she’d told him to go to hell. She wasn’t sure how this first encounter would go, but she owed him an apology, so she slowly stood and faced him.
“Hi. You’re here early.”
Jack split his time between the Village and head office; normally he didn’t arrive onsite until after lunch.
“The security system let us know you were here.”
“Us?”
“Chris.”
“Ah. He’s here too?”
“Yeah.” Jack pointed up.
Turning, she spotted Chris at the top of the slide. She sucked in a breath. “Why are you both here?”
“I’m sorry. I should never have said what I did. I have no excuse other than I’m an arsehole.” Jack shrugged. “I flipped. Not proud of it, but you’ve never worried me like that before.”
“Worried you?”
He glanced away. “Yeah. It’s not like you to flaunt your relationships. I didn’t like the idea of some guy taking advantage of you either.”
“What if I was the one taking advantage?”
His gaze whipped back to hers. “What?”
“It’s not always the woman who’s the victim. I can take care of myself, Jack. I’m not a helpless teenager going on a first date.”
Jack laughed. “You were never a helpless teenager.”
“Hey! You two coming up here or what?” Chris yelled.
Kandy smiled. “Just like old times?”
“Up to you.” He looked so worried that she’d knock back this olive branch he was holding out.
“Race you!” she screamed as she took off towards the stairs.
“Fuck.” Jack’s footsteps pounded behind her. “I’m too old for this shit.”
Kandy laughed, her heart lighter — her mood higher — than it had been in weeks. She hadn’t screwed things up between them. It was enough to give her hope that maybe she could make things right with Parker, at least be able to salvage their friendship if nothing more.
They rode the slide, the three of them, over and over again, like they had as kids.
Completely out of breath, she plopped down on the mat once more. “Last go,” she said. “I’m done in.”
“Jesus. I’m gonna be in pain all fucking day,” Jack grunted.
“I think my bruises have bruises,” Chris added, while rubbing an elbow.
Kandy laughed. “Worth every bump.”
She shoved off and heard the two of them scrambling to do the same for that split second before gravity grabbed her and hurtled her towards the bottom.
Crashing into the padding at the end, she rolled over and watched as two of the most important people in her life came barrelling towards her. Jack slammed to a stop on her right, Chris on her left and she did something she hadn’t done in years, she reached out and grabbed their hands.
“I love you both so much. I’m happy you’ve both found happiness with amazing women. You deserve it and mo
re.” She blinked back a tear.
Proving their years of growing up side-by-side had produced a bond even her shitty behaviour couldn’t break, they squeezed her hands at exactly the same time. “So do you.”
She did. She knew that. And it would happen. If she’d learned one thing in the last few weeks, it was that she couldn’t force something. She could go after it with her usual enthusiasm, but she had to let it happen too.
“Speaking of that happiness.” Chris jumped to his feet. “I think we’ve earned a little TLC.”
He offered Kandy a hand, then pulled her to her feet and into his arms for a hug. When he let her go, Jack took his place. A lump formed in her throat. These two were her family. Regardless of what her own life brought, she’d never allow her own wants to come between them again.
“Who wants hot chocolate?”
Kandy turned to see Elle sitting in a chair, a thermos held out. Beside her sat Leah, a tray of cups resting in her lap. On another chair sat Parker, a bowl of marshmallows in his hand.
“Parker.” His name whispered through her lips. He looked tired. Uncertain. She glanced at Jack and Chris.
They’d done this, brought him here. Moving her gaze back to Parker, she took a step closer. His eyes flared, hope burning bright. That look, the sweep of his gaze like a caress over her skin had her walking. Her pace picked up with every step. She made it out of the slide to the road where they’d set up their little spectator section with no clue what to say.
He was on his feet, the bowl on the seat behind him. “Hi,” he murmured.
“Hi.”
“Having fun?”
She smiled. “Yeah.”
“Good.”
“Why are you here?” She held her breath.
“You know why.” He moved closer, his warmth touching her, tempting her.
“What are we doing?” It took everything she had not to throw herself into his arms.
“If I tell you, will you believe me?”
Kandy closed her eyes. The pain in his eyes cut into her heart, stole her breath. The fact she had the power to hurt him that deeply made her regret everything. Everything except the way she felt about him. “I’m sorry.”
“You keep saying that and I keep telling you I forgive you.”
She opened her eyes. “Why?”
His mouth tilted up on one end. “You still don’t get it, do you?”
She shook her head.
“It’s always been you. Since the moment I fell flat on my face at fifteen I’ve been hooked. And like any addict once I had a taste for Kandy, I could never give it up.” He stepped closer. “I want to tell you that I love you, will love you for the rest of my life, but you’re not ready to hear that, so here’s what we’ll do.”
He paused and she couldn’t stand the wait. She grabbed his shirt and pulled him closer. “What? What are we going to do?”
Smiling, he lowered his forehead to hers. “We’re going to date. You’re going to give me a year to prove to you every word I say is the truth.”
“And y-you love me?” Her voice squeaked.
Parker laughed. “Jesus, woman, we’re not even five minutes in and you’re already questioning what I’ve said.”
“I’m sorry, it’s just…I lied.”
“K.” He wrapped his arms around her and pulled her close. “There was nothing fake about the way things were between us. The other stuff is unimportant. This.” He squeezed her. “Us. We’re what’s important.”
“I don’t deserve your forgiveness.”
“I’m going to spend the next year proving you wrong. Then I’m going to put a ring on your finger and you’re never getting rid of me.”
“What?” She tried to pull away. “You can’t be — ”
His hand covered her mouth. “Dead serious. No more lies between us, Kandy. I mean every word.”
“But…” She spoke against his fingers.
Parker shook his head. “All you have to do is say yes.”
“Yes?” She’d lost track of what exactly she was agreeing to, but the smile on Parker’s face, the hope in his eyes, had her belly quivering, her heart trembling.
He was right. They had something. All she had to do was give them a chance — believe.
***
One year later…
Kandy let herself into the arena and made her way towards the slide. Today was the last day before they dismantled Santa’s Village and packed it away for another year. She’d woken early, wanting to sneak in and ride the slide one final time while silence shrouded the Village, giving it the zing of magic only the quiet, empty streets could.
But when she rounded the curve in the snow covered street, she wasn’t alone. Parker, Jack, Elle, baby Miles, Chris and Leah had set up a picnic in the middle of the road in front of the slide.
Smiling, she ran over and threw herself at Parker. And like he’d done numerous times over the last year, he caught her without missing a beat. “Hi,” she chirped.
His eyes crinkled at the corners, the way they did every time he saw her. They were his happy lines. She made him happy. He returned that feeling tenfold. Everything about Parker and being with him made her happy. So happy she struggled to keep her squeals of delight inside every day.
“Well, hello there Ms Cane.” He kissed her and she melted into him, offered him everything she was. Pulling free, he murmured, “Wow. What has you in such a good mood?”
“You.” It was the simple answer. But even if she’d tried to explain in more detail it would come back to that — him. In the last year Parker had done more than prove he loved her. He’d proven their love was more than she could ever wish for.
“Right back at you, K.”
She never thought she’d be one to go mushy over special nicknames, but when Parker called her K she’d willingly do anything he asked.
And the bastard knew it.
Not that she cared. There’d been a number of times he’d used that particular hold on her to get his way. The funny thing was his way always made her happy.
“C’mon, no more kissy-face, let’s get this show on the road.” Jack dropped a sack over their heads. “Race you to the top, Kandy.”
“Dammit.” Laughing, she yanked the mat off their heads and slid out of Parker’s arms. “Be right back,” she said over her shoulder as she took off.
Running after Jack, she saw Chris was already halfway up the stairs. She sped up, slipping a little in the snow before her shoes gripped and she launched herself up the stairs behind them.
“Cheaters,” she called out.
“Takes one to know one,” Chris yelled back.
Laughing hard by the time she reached the top, she bent over, hands on knees, to catch her breath. When she straightened, Chris and Jack leaned against the back wall, neither of them in the starting blocks. “What are we waiting for?”
They both grinned, and Jack tipped his chin towards the slide.
“What?” She moved closer to the edge. Parker sat, crossed legged at the bottom, something small cupped in the palm of one hand. What the hell? His other hand swept over the ice in front of him and that’s when she saw it.
Imbedded in the ice, red and bright, were the words “Marry me, K”.
“Oh God.” She blinked, but the words in front of her didn’t waver. “W-when?”
“He can’t hear you.” Jack stood beside her. “You need to get down there.”
She sat, straight on the ice, no mat. Two sets of hands landed on her back and pushed. Squealing ‘yes’, she flew down the slide and, like he had only moments before and every other time since last Christmas, Parker was there to catch her.
They crashed back into the padded wall, his body cradling hers, protecting her from the impact. God she loved this man. She’d be forever grateful that he’d forgiven her, that he didn’t hold her stupid lie against her.
“Yes! Yes! Yes! Yes!” She peppered his face with kiss. “Yes!”
“You better let me put this ring on
you then.” He chuckled, grabbed her left hand and slid the ring on. “And remember what I said about it?”
She was too busy staring at the gorgeous diamond to remember to breathe, never mind anything else. “Huh?”
“I just put a ring on your finger. You’re never getting rid of me now.”
“Don’t want to.”
“I want to relive our first night together, K.”
Her gaze snapped to his. “What? Why?”
“I want it to be exactly the same, except for the lie.” He brushed a finger over her lips, his eyes so intense her stomach dipped and spun. “This time I want you to tell me the truth.”
“You want…”
He grinned, winked and said, “I’m positive we can do it better.”
The End
Thanks for reading A Taste For Kandy. I hope you enjoyed it.
If you’d like to know more about me, my books, or to connect with me online, you can visit my webpage www.rhiancahill.com, follow me on Twitter https://twitter.com/RhianCahill, or like my Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/RhianCahillAuthor.
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You’ve just read a book in my Frosty’s Snowmen series. The other books in this series are A Touch Of Frost and A Kiss From Kringle.
This book was published by Escape Publishing. If you’d like to sample some more great books from my fellow Escape Artists, please turn the page.
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