Sweet as Candy - Karla Doyle Page 0,54
hated to admit it, his buddy had raised a solid point. “Got any suggestions?”
“About the gala, or Candace in general?”
“Either. Both. Keeping in mind that I will punch your teeth down your throat if you call her a prostitute again.”
“Noted. Have you had sex with her yet, outside the massage parlor?” Curtis asked, as they headed for the locker room.
“You’re damn close to the line, man.”
“With reason. Answer the question.”
“For the sake of your pearly whites, it had better be a good reason.” Jake pushed through the door and did a sweep of the room to ensure nobody was within earshot. “No sex yet, anywhere.”
Curtis’s dark eyebrows rose. “All those visits you’ve been making to Lucky’s and still no contact?”
“I didn’t go there to get laid.”
“But you paid her.”
“Yeah, I paid for her time, not her body.” Jake pulled his gym bag from a locker. “You got your answer, now get to whatever damn point you planned to make.”
“Look, I don’t have a problem with Candace. I liked her the time I met her. Sara liked her, considered her the closest thing to a friend she had at that place. You’re crazy about her, and that’s the key point right there. Have you thought about how things will be once you’ve taken your relationship to the next level? Are you going to be able to watch her go off to work, or ask her how her day went, knowing she spent it doing sex shit with other guys?”
Sex shit. His buddy had the words right, he just needed to reverse the order.
“Ever had the kind of sex where you’re wishing it’s over while you’re in the middle of it, so you finish just to get it over with, then you don’t give the person you fucked another thought afterward?”
Curtis grunted. “Unfortunately.”
“I figure that’s probably what it’s like for Candace. Worse than that, obviously, but similar. Lots of people go to jobs they hate and don’t take that shit home after they clock out. She doesn’t want to talk about her work when we’re together and I’m good with that.”
“So it’s not going to bother you at all, knowing she’s with other men?”
“They’re just a job. Money in the bank, nothing more. Nothing to be jealous about.”
Curtis whistled under his breath as they exited the locker room. “I couldn’t do it. I lost my fucking mind when I found out Sara was working the reception desk at that place.”
“Might not have made you as crazy if she’d been upfront with you. Getting blindsided is a kick in the balls. No secrets for me to uncover with Candace, everything’s on the table and my eyes are wide open.” Something he very much needed from a relationship, after the huge load of shit his ex-girlfriend had dealt.
“If you’re happy,” Curtis slapped the back of Jake’s shoulder, “I’m happy for you.”
“Happy enough to grab a couple tickets to the Chief’s gala?”
“Hell no. Wore a tux for my brother’s wedding back in June, don’t plan to wear another one until Sara’s ready to meet me at the end of the aisle.” Curtis slapped the back of Jake’s shoulder as they stepped out of the gym. “Have fun rubbing elbows with the brass Saturday night,” he called, walking away. “And if you finally get to rub body parts with Candace, have fun with that too.”
Jake issued the middle finger, grinning when his friend’s laugh rang across the parking lot. He turned and headed for his vehicle. He had his friend’s support and best wishes. Next Saturday night, he’d have Candace all to himself for the evening. Things were looking damn good.
Chapter 12
Jake
Their current audience was the only thing preventing Jake’s jaw from dropping and his tongue from wagging. Since Candace’s daughter was within earshot—and eyeshot—he restrained himself. But not easily.
The sight of Candace in a bikini took his dick from dormant to dominant instantly. A state his swim trunks couldn’t hide.
He crouched beside Trooper and stroked the panting dog’s black fur. “Move to the shade, crazy dog.” His canine best buddy would never take the suggestion, but Jake’s hunched position provided necessary cover.
“Does he ever go in the pool?” Candace stopped in front of them, putting the small triangle of white floral material covering her pussy directly at Jake’s eye level.
With that visual, his hard-on wouldn’t be going away any time soon. Guess he’d be camping out down here with the dog a while longer. “Trooper is more of a beach dog than a pool dog.”
“Your