Lord knew she had enough damn practice.
Refusing to dwell on the past, since she’d shed enough tears over her beloved store last night, Jill sat up, then smiled when she found a chocolate brown Wyne Resort T-shirt and sweat suit in her size. Mason. Her smile increased, as did her pulse, when she discovered a sexy red bra and panties, all in her size, folded neatly at the bottom of the bed with a note on top.
Morning Fireball,
Meet me downstairs in Ethan’s kitchen when you’re ready.
Warmth spread through her body. He was sweet, and just the fact he thought about her, and her lack of clothes, enough to purchase some for her in the lobby gift shop, made her feel special. She liked that feeling, a lot. Every second spent with the guy touched her soul. Even during this dire time in her life. He was proving to be different. The real deal. And it terrified her, but in a good way.
He might actually be someone she could count on. Not that she had come to that conclusion just yet, but entertained the idea.
As she showered, memories of last night and how she’d counted on him to make her feel better rushed through Jill’s mind. He’d delivered. Big time. In a big chair. Heat crept into her face at the memory of shamelessly riding Mason in front of his fireplace.
Wild and out of control, she’d been driven by a deep-seeded need to give and take pleasure. Her movements had been as erratic and uncontrolled as her breathing. Given the heat smoldering in his dark eyes, Mason had enjoyed every second of her hunger, too.
Shutting off the hot water, she stood under the cold for a few seconds to combat her suddenly overheated body. She’d never done anything like that before. The handsome Wyne was going to her head.
With a smile on her lips, she stepped out of the shower and reached for a fluffy, green towel. She was deliciously sore. Straddling on a chair had been a new position for her. A position she was hoping to repeat.
But, first things first.
She had a meeting with her insurance adjuster at noon, needed to stop by the police station to sign some kind of form, then, sometime today, she had to sit down and figure out how the hell she was going to fulfill her orders without a store.
Thank God she’d had her laptop with her at Ethan’s. All her orders and business dealings were on it. Retrieving the orders was easy, creating them without her molds and kitchen, not so much. Tears burned her eyes.
She brushed them aside, finished drying off, then walked back into Mason’s bedroom to get dressed. A new day. A new dawn. A new page in the crazy ass book that was her life.
Retracing her steps down the long, common hall that led to Mason, Keiffer, Ben, and Brandi’s condos, Jill made her way downstairs to Ethan’s kitchen. For some reason, she was eager to wrap her arms around the man who bought the underwear she was wearing.
Rounding the corner, she realized too late Mason wasn’t alone. Her steps faltered when she found Lea and her brother, Ryder, having coffee and donuts with him at the kitchen table.
“Morning, Jill,” her friend greeted, and the others echoed.
Mason turned to her and smiled, brown eyes warm and friendly, and he appeared so happy to see her everything inside her melted. As she approached the table, he stood, and apparently uncaring that others were around, pulled her in for a hug and kissed her forehead.
“Sleep well?”
“Yes, thank you.” She winked before turning to greet the siblings as she took her seat between Mason and Lea.
Her friend passed her a cup of coffee. “Not as good as yours, but it’ll do for now.”
A pang of loss rippled her gut. She pushed the twinge aside and smiled. “Thanks. Why are you still here in the Poconos? It’s Monday. Shouldn’t you be at work?”
“I had some time coming.” The woman shrugged as if it was no big deal.
But Jill knew better. And felt worse. “You did it because of me.” Pulling the pretty brunette in for a hug, she silently cursed, hating that her friend gave up her time for her, thinking she was weak. “That’s sweet, but I’m okay.” At least, she would be. In time.
The selfless actions made her feel weird and out of her element and tingly.
Lea drew back and held her gaze. “You’re not okay. What happened was horrible. You’re my friend and friends stick together. We have each others’ backs. I’m here for you. A concept that’s new to you, I know, but am hoping you’ll get used to it.”
“I’m trying.” She inhaled. “It’s going to take a while, but I’m working on it.”
“Good.” Her friend nodded and released her to return to her seat.
Although she was curious as to why Ryder was there, Jill ate her donut and drank her coffee, contributing to the conversation when required.
“So, now that you’ve had your coffee and something in your stomach, even though it wasn’t very nutritious,” Mason said, gaze alight with excitement. “I have something to show you, and asked Ryder to drop by to hear my plans.”
Plans? Jesus, when had he made plans?
She held his gaze and drew in a shaky breath. “Okay. What is it?”
“Come on,” he said, grabbing her hand and pulling her to her feet. “Follow me.” He tugged her through the house, into the resort with Lea and Ryder in tow.
Her mind was a whirlwind of thoughts all jumbled and insane as they entered the lobby and turned left toward the back of the resort. On the left was the long hall that led to the locker rooms and equipment rentals, and activity reservations. To the right were shops and banquet halls.
“I already discussed it with Keiffer, Ben and Ethan, and they blessed off on it,” he said, leading them to the right. “I just need to know what you think, Jill.”
“About what?” She was having enough trouble keeping up with his stride, and he was holding her hand. Forget trying to keep up with his mind. “I probably should’ve had another cup of coffee, because I’m not sure what the question is…was…were…will be.”
Laughing, he stopped outside a door and turned to face her. “About letting us help you fulfill your candy orders,” he replied.
Her mouth fell open. She couldn’t help it. The man was doing it again. Blowing her away with his concern. He’d obviously been thinking about her situation. Who does that?
She glanced from Lea to Ryder to Mason and realized the answer was right in front of her. It was them. All of them. She’d stepped into a strange dimension and did not want to leave.
Jill cleared her dry throat. “How?”
“By having Ryder build you a shop here in the resort while you wait to rebuild your other store.”
Her heart leapt in her chest. “Build? Here?”
Mason smiled that brilliant smile, sucking her in, making her feel that anything was possible. “Yes, here. What do you think?” he asked, opening the door and ushering them inside one of the small banquet rooms.
Ryder immediately walked around, checking the place for who knows what, while Lea hugged Mason, then wiped her face and turned to her, grabbing her hands.
“So? What do you think?”
Her mind was still trying to process everything. She felt as if her brain was stuck in the mud. “I-I haven’t even met with the claims adjuster, so I have no idea when I’ll get money or even enough money—”
“You won’t need it,” Mason said.
Lea released her. “I’m going to go talk with my brother,” her friend said, then headed to Ryder in the back of the room.
Jill inhaled deep, hoping extra oxygen would clear her muddled head. “I don’t know what to say.”
Mason stepped close and ran his hands up her arms. “Say yes, you’ll let us help.”
“You want me to open up a shop in your resort?”
“Yes.”
Jill knew landing retail space in a popular resort like the Wyne’s was huge, but she did not want to give up her old place. “I like the idea, but my place in town was a great location.”
“I agree.” He nodded. “This would be in addition to Confecti
on Connection in town.”
She reeled back. “Two shops?”
“Yes.”
Now she shook her head. “Again, I like the idea, but I know my limitations, Mason. I can’t afford two places yet.”
“That’s why my brothers and I want to partner with you on this one here.”
“You would?”
He nodded.
A spark of hope fluttered in her chest. She glanced around, really taking in the room. This shop would be twice the size, and if she remembered correctly, it was located on the corner, so there’d be lobby access. The spark turned into a flame. She could expand.
“This place is bigger, and you have room to put in industrial size vats, with conveyors and…hey, what’s wrong?” He cupped her face.
She blinked back the tears that had formed. “It’s just…I always wanted a factory. You’re talking about a factory.”
“Yes. You have the room here for a small one, Jill.” He motioned with his hand. “And Ryder is very good at commercial and residential construction. Hell, he renovated this place. He knows exactly what’s in here and what can be done.”
Her own mini chocolate factory…
Her dream.
Mason was offering Jill her dream.
She burrowed into him, pressing her face against his neck and holding him tight. “Mason, I-I don’t know what to say. Thank you. Thank you so much.”
He answered by wrapping his arms around her and enveloping her with his warmth and strength. Sighing, she sank even further into him. Damn, he smelled great. He was really great. And she was finding it increasingly hard to keep things ‘slow’ with them.
Mason was beginning to mean a lot more than ‘slow’ to her heart.
“And I already talked to Brandi, she said she’d love to help you design the factory,” he said, drawing back to hold her gaze. “But in the meantime, let us help you fill your current orders.”
Seemed as if he’d already been giving that some thought, too. “Okay, what do you have in mind?”
“You could use one of the restaurant kitchens at night to create, then set up tables and whatever else you need in one of the other convention rooms to box and ship.”
The gears in her head began to follow his thinking and they clicked together. She had all the records of the molds she’d owned. Ordering them was doable. Again, that spark of hope reappeared. Most of the ingredients were easy to come by, and with express shipping, she could feasibly create, package and ship her orders.
She stepped back and held out her hand. “Okay, Mason Wyne, it’s a deal, if you let me temporarily rent out the space.”
“Deal,” he said, warm hand closing around hers. “And as for the factory shop, that’s all you. You can talk design with Brandi and Ryder. We’re just the silent backers. We trust you.”
Coming from him, that was huge. Her heart swelled and throat closed. She sniffed. “Thank you.”
“I do hope you’ll let me help out with your website though, and open up channels for you to take internet orders so your chocolate can go worldwide.” He stared down expectantly at her, gaze alight with a new excitement she hadn’t seen before.
Web design and setting up businesses were up his ally, and something he obviously enjoyed doing.
“Yes, please. Given the space here, and from what you’ve been saying, we could set up to distribute worldwide. I’d love your help.”
“You’ve got it. Now…” He leaned in, kissed her cheek, working his way to her ear. “Any chance I get to see you in your red underwear later, Fireball?”
She sucked in a breath and her knees considered wobbling. She knocked them together and brushed his jaw with her lips. “Depends. Any chance I get to see you out of yours?”
Chapter Eighteen
The rest of January flew by in a flurry of activity for Jill. Between paperwork for insurance claims, the police and the new shop, she was all papered out. Which worked for her since, once her molds arrived, she also had to throw herself into making candy and shipping out orders.
True to his word, Mason had set up one of the banquet rooms for her to use along with the kitchen in one of the restaurants at the resort. The owner was a sweetheart of an older man who was more than happy to lease his space at night to her, on her insistence, as long as he got to enjoy some of the candy.
Chocolate, the universal friendship maker.
“That should do it,” Teresa said, closing the last package, and they both stood back to survey the room.
Every order was boxed and ready to ship for the day.
In the beginning, she had three extra workers from the hotel helping her out, but as of this week, she and Teresa had a handle on things and were up to speed. The only order she had left to fill was Ben’s, and Jill hadn’t planned on working on that until next week, so technically, she was all caught up.
It felt good. She could start focusing her energy on the future, and leave the past in the past.
With the exception of Donny.
He still hadn’t been caught and brought in for questioning. Jeremy said there had been a few key pieces of evidence brought into the lab and they were awaiting results. She hoped it clearly pointed to a suspect, and that he or she was found before someone got hurt.
Even though she knew in her gut it had been Donny, a tiny part of her hoped she was wrong.
But, she was not going to dwell on it. She was moving forward and was resolved to make sure he was prosecuted if it did turn out to be him. No more coddling.
Jill turned to her worker and smiled. “Thanks, Teresa. I am so grateful for your help. I appreciate you sticking with me until the shop is rebuilt.”
With her original plans filed with the zoning commission, Ryder would be able to replicate Confection Connection as soon as her check arrived. Right now, he had a crew working on the new site. After his meeting with the zoning board yesterday, and gaining the approval for her factory, everything was moving forward. Fast.
God, she still couldn’t believe her dream was a few weeks away from reality. Her heart raced every time she thought about it.
“No, thank you.” The woman pulled her in for a hug. “Thanks for keeping me on, giving me a paycheck, even though we’re working out of a banquet room.”
Jill’s savings had dwindled to dust, but she was grateful she’d had the foresight to squirrel some money away for just-in-case moments like now.
Her employee drew back, and she watched as emotions filled the petite worker’s eyes. “And it means the world to me that you’re going to put me, a high school dropout, in charge of the shop when it’s rebuilt.”
Teresa had a child at the age of sixteen and didn’t finish school. Jill saw no reason to hold that against the young mother when she’d interviewed her a year ago. And she was so glad she had. The woman was bright, dependable and had a great personality, which was a must for customer relations.
Smiling, she cupped Teresa’s shoulder. “It was a no brainer. You’ve been working for me, learning the business for a year now. I’m glad I have you to count on so I can concentrate on the new one.”
The factory was much more involved and was going to take all of Jill’s concentration and energy once it was up and running, which, she welcomed.
“I’m excited,” her employee said.
“Me, too.” She released her and sighed. “I’d say we’re done for the day. So go on home to your little boy.”
“Okay, I’ll see you Monday.”
Teresa slipped into her coat and disappearing from the room, greeting Mason, standing in the doorway with a thermos, on her way out. He smiled and nodded at her worker, then walked straight to the table at her side and set the thermos down.
“I brought some hot chocolate for the patron saint of lost causes.” He leaned close and whispered in her ear. “I like that you don’t judge.”
She shrugged and met his gaze. “I can’t help it. I try to find the good in people.”
Nodding, he leaned in and kissed he
r softly on the lips, then worked his way back to her ear. “It’s sexy as hell.”
No, he was sexy as hell, him and his wicked lips and…oh, God, his tongue. Breath hitched in her throat and she grabbed his shoulders to keep her wobbly knees from giving out.
“Just…me being me.”
He nipped her ear, making her quiver.
“I like you being you. Not afraid to give someone a chance, or take a chance yourself.”
“Yeah, I’m a big ‘ol softie.” And it had gotten her in trouble more than once.
“I like your soft curves,” he said, running his hands down her sides, giving her knees more reasons to shake. “And that you help people.”
She drew back and stared up at him. “Ditto.”
His lips twitched into a grin as he quirked a brow. “You like my soft curves?”
“No.” She hit his shoulder. “I like that you help people. You helped me.”
“That’s different,” he said, stepping in close, hands settling around her waist. “I love reaping the rewards.”
She knew what he was doing. Hiding his feelings behind a joke. She’d done it herself plenty of times. He had feelings for her he wasn’t ready to deal with, and she needed to tread carefully or he’d pull back. The strong feelings she had for him scared the crap out of her, too, so she was okay to leave that subject off the table for now.
Sliding her hands up his neck into his hair, she held his darkening gaze. “I love how you reap.”
“Yeah?” He brought his mouth down on her and kissed her like he meant business, brushing his tongue against hers as he explored without mercy.
Her heart skipped a beat and more quivering commenced, until his cell phone vibrated between them.
Exhaling a curse, he released her and answered his phone. “Nope. Didn’t forget. I’ll be right there.” He shoved the phone back into his pocket and stared longingly at her mouth. “I have to go take a group out on the Cats.” He brushed his thumb over her lower lip. “Hold that thought.”
Wyne and Chocolate (Citizen Soldier Series Book 2) Page 15