Sweet as Candy - Karla Doyle Page 0,65
on it.”
“I wouldn’t worry too much. I doubt Jake will let anybody get that close to you.” Megan’s head jerked back to the window. “Speaking of…”
“He’s here?”
Megan nodded. “Walking up the sidewalk now. I’ll get the door.”
“It’s okay, I can get it.”
Hand raised with the authority afforded a kindergarten educator, Megan halted Candace in her stiletto-heeled tracks. “Stay right where you are. A princess does not answer the door.”
“I’m not a princess.”
“I think my brother will wholeheartedly disagree with that,” she said, striding toward the door with barefooted, stretchy-pants ease. “Especially when he sees you in that dress.”
Less than a minute passed before masculine footfalls sounded in the front hall.
“Awe, you brought me flowers.” Megan’s teasing tone dissolved into a gasp. “Are you kidding? These are for me? Okay, you’re my favorite brother.”
“I’m your only brother.”
“And still my favorite. Now, come in and behold the beauty.”
Listening to the exchange between Jake and Megan slowed Candace’s heart rate to something closer to normal. The moment Jake stepped into the living room, it shot right back up. Only Macy’s presence prevented Candace from plastering herself to the front of him.
His black suit fit to a T, perfectly setting off a crisp, white shirt and candy-apple-red tie. His fresh haircut couldn’t have looked better on a GQ cover model. Chiseled jaw, twinkling blue eyes, and a smile that made every inch of her come alive. He was the most handsome, sexy man she had ever seen.
Not so long ago, she’d barely taken notice of men, good-looking or otherwise. Jake had changed that. Now he was hers to admire. Something she planned to do all night long.
“There isn’t a word good enough to describe how beautiful you are.” He moved in closer and took her hands, sending sparks up her arms with a simple touch. “Sorry it took me so long to say that. You rendered me speechless.”
“I didn’t think that was possible,” she said, playing it safe by teasing.
“I didn’t think a lot of things were possible until you.” No teasing in his tone. Nor in his eyes, as he held her gaze so deeply, she felt it all the way to her toes.
If they were alone, it’d be the perfect time to tell him everything. That Lucky’s was a thing of the past. That she loved him.
“Do you want the flower for Jake now, Mommy?”
“In a minute, Macy,” Megan whispered from the couch, where the pair sat, watching and listening.
“It’s okay.” Candace smiled at Jake a couple more seconds, then turned toward their audience. “Yes, baby girl, please bring the flower over.”
Macy sprang from the couch “It’s a boot in the ear,” she said, proudly presenting Jake with his red rose boutonnière. “I think that’s a silly name for something so pretty.”
“I think so too.” Jake crouched to give Macy a hug, a huge grin on his face as he looked up at Candace. Gaze locked with hers, he whispered something into Macy’s ear. Something that had her little girl nodding and smiling as the hug ended.
If Candace woke up right now, she wouldn’t be surprised. Everything about this moment seemed straight out of a dream.
Macy darted to the front hall, returning a couple seconds later with a clear plastic container in each hand. “We all get flowers, Mommy! Megan got a bouquet and Jake got a boot in the ear, and we get these—one is for you and one is for me!”
Watching Jake remove a small corsage from one of the boxes and slide the elastic bracelet onto Macy’s wrist, Candace’s heart grew another size. He wasn’t the only person rendered speechless today.
“Mommy, Megan, look how pretty it is.” Macy held her hand out, showing off her corsage as if it were a priceless jewel. In a way, it was. “Thank you, Jake,” she said, turning toward him for another hug. “Now give Mommy hers.”
He straightened and took Candace’s left hand.
Every part of her tingled as he slid the beautiful red-and-cream corsage into place on her wrist. A simple custom for a formal event, that’s all this was. So why did it feel like something more?
“Ready, sweets?”
She nodded and leaned—as much as the gown allowed—to hug and kiss Macy, before taking Jake’s offered hand. Rightness settled in her chest as he laced their fingers together and squeezed. It’d barely begun, yet she already knew tonight would be a night to remember.
Jake
“Wow…” Candace’s gaze swept the hall as they entered. “I assumed it would be nicely decorated, but this is next-level elegant.