“All my other friends came.” Candi flashed him a smile. “I’m sorry you stayed away from the community center and missed all the fun. Are you sure you’re not the one with the unhealthy emotional attachment?”
“I’m the man who loves you.” Troy took both of her hands, enclosing them in his large, warm palms. “There’s nothing unhealthy about the way I feel about you.”
“Even when I showed you my biggest failure?” She swallowed a lump that was forming in her throat. “Even though I was betrayed and hoodwinked? Lost my business?”
She couldn’t bear adding that she’d also been dumped by her partner, or that she was always the one dumped.
“None of that matters.” His gaze on her was intense and focused, like he not only treasured her, but craved her.
It was that craving which made her feel strangely vulnerable, reminding her of her flash-in-the-pan romances.
“Will you wake up one day and wonder what this was all about?”
“No.” He kissed both her hands. “Because I’m not asleep, and I’ve waited for you all my life.”
“How can that be, Troy Caine, when you don’t truly know me?” She had revealed as much as she could, but not the string of men who’d dumped her.
No guy liked a loser who no one else wanted.
It was why the advice columns all said not to tell a guy about past lovers. Not to go into detail. Not to talk about ex-boyfriends and breakups.
Candi’s heart cracked a little at Troy rendered speechless. She could see the slight doubt in his eyes, by the way he glanced away, and the tightening of his jaw.
The truth was, he didn’t know everything about her, and he’d claimed he’d fallen head over heels for her. But as she well knew, that kind of love or limerence didn’t last.
She wished she had waited her entire life for Troy Caine, instead of wasted her time with all the other men.
Chapter Sixteen
Troy’s hands were sweaty, and his pulse jittered as he stood in front of the door with Candi at her mother’s house. It was one of the older ones in the neighborhood, but well maintained.
He wasn’t prepared to meet her mother, and she hadn’t told her mother she was bringing a boyfriend. He’d heard her mumble on the phone about a friend, and from the one-sided conversation, he’d gotten the distinct impression her mother thought she was with a girlfriend.
Which peeved him. He’d told her he loved her. He’d offered to be her boyfriend, and they were great in bed together. The feelings couldn’t be one-sided, not with the way they slept curled around each other.
They’d appeared like lovers at all the tourist sites, kissing and holding hands, taking selfies, and she’d showed him her childhood sites, talked about her hopes and dreams—but why did she refuse to acknowledge him as more than a friend?
Not to mention, he was the last to know she’d agreed to open a dance studio in Sapphire Falls. Why was she so determined to keep him at arm’s length?
“Is that you, Candi?” a female voice spoke on the intercom mounted over the iron gate.
“Yes, Mom.”
The door creaked open and her mother, who was strikingly beautiful with the same bright blue eyes, greeted him. “Why, you must be Candi’s friend from Sapphire Falls.”
He felt like correcting her, but instead he greeted her, then graced Candi’s mouth with a kiss as they entered the house.
Instead of kissing him back, Candi shrank from his side and froze. Her eyes focused straight in front of her, and her mouth gaped open in shock.
Troy came face to face with the man who’d been Candi’s dance partner.
The ass crossed his arms and narrowed his blue eyes at Candi, his lips curled with a nasty smirk. “You certainly didn’t waste any time.”
“Mom, what’s he doing here?” Candi shot an aggrieved look at her mother.
“Why, darling, he wants you back.” Candi’s mother wrung her hands. “I didn’t know you were bringing a man friend. Well, I’ll leave you kids alone. I have to take a casserole from the oven.”
Her mother disappeared to the kitchen, leaving Troy, Candi, and the blond man glaring at each other.
The man extended his hand for a shake. “I’m Boris, Candi’s fiancé. I see she didn’t bother telling you about me.”
Troy didn’t want to shake the man’s hand, but his natural politeness won out. He clenched the man’s hand hard. “Troy Caine, Candi’s lover. Looks like she dumped you for me.”
“She’s only playing with you, country boy.” Boris looked Troy up and down disdainfully. “Oh, look, you have a stalk of hay behind your ear.”
“Boris.” Candi grabbed the man’s arm. “Can I have a word with you in private?”
Troy clamped his hand tighter around Candi’s shoulder. “You don’t have to say anything to him. After what he did to you.”
She squirmed from his grip, blinking and biting her lip. “Can you go to the kitchen and help my mother?”
“Sure, but I want to know you’re okay.” He caressed her behind her neck. “I’ll be near in case you need me.”
“She won’t need you,” Boris taunted him. “Not when she hears my proposal.”
* * *
Candi shoved Boris into the parlor. “The only thing I’m going to say to you is ‘Where’s my money?’ Otherwise, get out.”
He puffed himself up, even though he was several inches shorter than Troy. “I have your money and more.”
“You do?” She stuck her hand out. “Hand it over.”
“Not so fast.” He grabbed her hand and looped his other one around her waist, pulling her belly against his erection.
The pig!
“Disgusting.” She pushed him, but he held her tighter.
“That’s not what you said when I had you screaming, ‘Harder, more, don’t stop.’”
“It’s over, Boris, when you cheated on me and stole my clients.”
“They were our clients, and I wasn’t cheating on you. I was investing in our future.” His whitish-blond eyelashes lowered as he leered at her.
“Investing? How?” She shouldn’t listen to his bullshit, but then, she wanted her money. “Were you able to get what you owed me?”
“That and more. Try millions. Not only can we reopen Toe to Toe, but we can expand our clientele. This entire dancing with celebrities thing has taken San Francisco like a storm, and I got us a contract with an investment bank to sponsor a season of international competitions.”
“Like I’m supposed to believe that?” Nevertheless, her heart jumped, and she salivated at the prospect of international competitions—one of her ultimate dreams.
“I do have to ask your forgiveness, though.” Boris loosened his hold on her and got on his knees, looking up at her with large, sad eyes.
“What did you do?” Her voice softened at his sorrowful puppy expression.
“I was only pretending to dump you so that the women I wined and dined for the studio, of course, would believe that I was sincerely interested in them. After you went to Sapphire Falls, they believed me enough to donate money to my foundation.”
“You have a foundation? To do what?”
“It’s a nonprofit cultural foundation to expose the world to ballroom dancing.” He kissed her hand and rubbed her palm. “I want you to be a part of it. We have an invitation to Moscow to do a New Year’s Eve demo.”
“Travel to Russia?”
“Yes, all expenses paid by the foundation.”
Candi swallowed, biting back the temptation. “I don’t know if I can go. My sister’s wedding’s this Friday, and …”
And there was Troy. He would completely misunderstand the trip.
“That’s plenty of time. We can spend Christmas together and then fly over the next day. It’ll still give us a few days to see the sights, meet the members from the Bolshoi Ballet, and do our demonstration.”
It sounded tempting, but she couldn’t trust a man who’d played fast and loose with her heart—
pretending to dump her so he could advance their business.
“I’ll have to think about this,” Candi said. “Do you have the money you owe me?”
He reached into his pocket and produced a small velvet box. “I spent the money on a diamond ring for you.”
“But, I don’t—”
“Please, hear me out.” Boris opened the box, and a huge diamond solitaire glittered at her. “I never realized how much I missed you until you left for your sister’s wedding. I was going to surprise you at the wedding, but your mother talked me out of it. When she told me you were coming by for dinner, I knew it was the right place and time to tell you how I feel for you. Will you marry me?”
“I want—” Candi turned at the sound of the kitchen door swinging on its hinges.
Troy and her mother stood there, frozen with their mouths and eyes gaping wide.
Boris quickly slipped the ring on her finger and jumped to his feet. “You’ve just made me the happiest man in the world.”
No, no, no. She wanted her money back, not the ring.
But before she could protest, he swept her from her feet and smashed his fish lips against hers, and it was all she could do to struggle not to let his tongue intrude.
How was it possible that she’d once worshipped this man? Felt like he was her past, present, and future, but now she wanted nothing to do with him.
Chapter Seventeen
Troy’s heart dropped to his knees at seeing Candi in the arms of another man. It looked like she’d accepted his proposal, and he was bending her back almost to the ground with that kiss.
Even worse, she was energetically kissing him back, clawing over his shirt, and kicking the leg she had raised in the air.
Disgusting.
How could she be in his bed this morning when she was waiting for an engagement ring?
She twisted her head and moaned loudly, almost like she was having sex right in her mother’s parlor.
Troy definitely wasn’t from California, and he had more respect where these two had none. Fornicating in front of a parent was a no-no where he came from.
Troy rushed toward them, pulling Boris off Candi and slamming him into the wall.
He turned on Candi. “What do you think you’re doing?”
Her face was red, and she wiped her lips with the back of her hand. “Trying to get away from him. You didn’t think I was willingly kissing him, did you?”
“It sure looked real from where I was standing.” He grabbed her left hand and stared at the ring. It had to be at least four carats. “What’s really going on with you? When I asked you if you had a boyfriend, you didn’t answer me. Now I find out from your mom you’ve been with Boris for almost six months.”
“We broke up.” Candi yanked the ring from her finger and threw it at Boris. “And you. I want my money back in cash, not this piece of cubic zirconium.”
“It’s a genuine diamond, and it’s what you’ve been begging for not that long ago.” Boris picked up the ring. “In fact, you gave me an ultimatum, give me a ring or else, right before I dumped you.”
“You were cheating on me with those dance students.” She shook her fist at him. “You stole my money.”
“I invested it. And if you want to see a cent of it, you’ll come with me to Moscow for the tour. Otherwise, you’re in breach of contract.” He sneered nastily.
“You can’t.” Candi’s face paled and she shuddered. “There is no contract.”
“You gave me power of attorney, so I signed you up for the gig. The investors of the foundation require you to travel with me and put on demos ahead of the competition.”
Troy’s gaze bounced from Candi to Boris and back to Candi. She sounded like she was a lot more involved with Boris than she’d let on.
“You should have discussed this with me before signing,” Candi said, her voice quavering. “I’m no longer in business with you anymore. Go find another idiot to take on your tour.”
Boris waved the ring in front of her nose. “This is what I spent your money on. Take it, or leave it. Your choice.”
She snatched it from his hand. “Where’s the receipt?”
Whistling, he headed for the door. “I don’t know. I lost it.”
“Wait.” Troy grabbed Boris by the shoulder. “You don’t get to leave until you pay Candi back what you stole from her.”
Boris shrugged away from his hand. “She can take it up with the foundation. I invested it for her future—her dream of taking an international tour. She has no leg to stand on because we’re business partners and I was only doing what she wanted me to do, before she got this crazy notion that I was cheating on her.”
“You were!” Candi jutted herself in his face. “You not only cheated on me, but you stole my clients, and you dumped me. You threw me out of your apartment and left me broke.”
“It was an act to get money from those ladies,” Boris argued. “Have you forgotten your dream?”
“No, it’s turned into a nightmare. Go. Get out of here. I never want to see you again.” With tears streaming down her face, Candi turned and ran down the hall into a bedroom.
“You better go,” Candi’s mother said, opening the front door.
Troy gave Boris his hardest glare as he watched the other man leave through the front door.
Right before he shut the door, Boris said, “Candi’s crazy. She can’t hold onto a job or a boyfriend. You’ll be dumping her in less than six months max. Ask her mother how many boyfriends she’s had.”
Troy slammed the door in the douchebag’s face, then glanced at Candi’s mother.
“I’m not saying a word. The casserole’s getting cold.” Her mother retreated to the kitchen.
* * *
Candi brushed her teeth and gargled with mouthwash to get the disgusting taste of Boris from her mouth. How stupid had she been to think he was a prince of the dance world and to hitch her star with him. Now, she would never see her money again, because it was all tied up in this secret foundation he’d set up, and she would be sued by the investors for breach of contract.
She threw herself on her childhood bed and bemoaned her fate. How had she not seen what a creep he was? How could she ever have thought she wanted to marry him? Her judgment went from poor to poorer. She shouldn’t trust herself on any decisions. She needed advice.
Her hands trembling, she woke her phone and browsed to Dr. T’s relationship forum. He hadn’t answered her last note—the one where she’d acted so superior. She reread his messages and wondered if he was right.
Maybe she was afraid of commitment, and that was exactly why she always chose the loser guys. Ones who looked great on the surface, who came in with a bang, and left with a whimper six months later.
If so, what did it all mean with Troy? The guy she told Dr. T was perfect for her. Six months ago, she would have sworn Boris was perfect. He was a dancer at the same ability level as her. He was handsome, hot, and great in bed. He and she shared everything together, mingled their finances, merged their studios, and dreamed about traveling the world together.
Now, Troy seemed like the perfect man. A small town hero who everyone liked. A son devoted to his mother, who happened to be an alcoholic. Yes, his mother had told her the reason he’d canceled dinner. Not only that, he’d promised not to ever hurt her, and he’d already confessed his love for her. And he was out of the world in bed. Was she making yet another mistake?
She typed a note to Dr. T.
Dear Dr. T,
I think you’re actually right about me. I’m the one who’s commitment phobic and I’m always choosing the wrong man. They all seem so perfect at the beginning of a relationship, but something happens and everything ends in a crash of epic proportions.
Remember the man I told you about? The Mr. Perfect? I decided to let him know all about me. I brought him to my hometown, and we accidentally ran into the last man who dumped me. It was a disaster. I can see how disappointed Mr. Perfect was with me when he saw how horr
ible my ex was to me. He now knows I’m a failure. I lost my business and I can’t keep a boyfriend.
It’s only a matter of time before Mr. Perfect dumps me, too.
I’m sorry you weren’t able to help me. I know your advice has helped many others find true love, but love is not in the cards for me.
Signing off, No Longer Vibrant
Tears overwhelmed her eyes, and she hugged her pillow, getting everything off her chest. She cried until she didn’t think she had any moisture left in her body, then buried herself under the blankets, curling up into a tiny ball.
There was a knock at her door, and Candi knew it wasn’t her mother, who never knocked. She shoved her phone under her pillow and sat up in her bed.
Here it came. The blow off. Frankly, she couldn’t blame Troy if he walked away and never looked back.
“Come in.” Her voice wavered.
Troy looked grim when he came through the door. “You okay?”
“Not really.”
He sat next to her and cleared his throat.
Candi studied the patterns on her bedspread, unable to meet his eyes. “I’ll understand if you walk away from me.”
He was silent a long moment, looking down at her hands. It seemed he was mustering energy to confirm his walking away.
Finally, he looked her straight in the eye, his blue gaze burning through her. “You’re Vibrant, aren’t you?”
An icy hand seized Candi’s heart. But of course, the entire town of Sapphire Falls had been following Dr. T. It was only a matter of time before Troy put two and two together.
How freaking mortifying.
She hung her head and closed her eyes, not daring to see his expression of disgust and rejection. “How’d you guess?”
“I read that last letter you to sent to Dr. T five minutes ago. It’s too coincidental.”
“I bet everyone in Sapphire Falls knows by now.”
“Maybe, maybe not. Why should you care?” His voice was level, without emotion, alien, like he no longer cared about her.
Sapphire Falls: Going Toe to Mistletoe (A Christmas Romance) (Kindle Worlds Novella) Page 11