Sweet as Candy - Karla Doyle Page 0,66
Is the gala always done up like this?”
“Don’t know. This is my first one.”
She froze in her tracks, wide-eyed stare focused squarely on his face. “You’ve never been to the Chief’s Gala before?”
“Nope.”
“Why not?”
“Coming to the gala without a date is kind of seen as a kiss-up move.”
“I’m positive you could have found a date. One flash of your golden-boy smile and you could have had a swarm of women to pick from. You still could.”
“I don’t want a swarm.” He lifted her hand and kissed her fingertips. “I only want you.”
“Very smooth.”
“And very true.”
“Also, very evasive.”
“Mildly evasive,” he said, winking.
She sighed and curled her arm around his as they resumed walking. “You’ve never told me anything about your previous relationships or…other encounters. Nor do you have to, obviously. But I don’t want you to feel that you can’t tell me.”
“I haven’t told you about anybody that came before you because they don’t matter anymore.” One glance at her face and he knew that while she’d accept the answer, it wasn’t enough. “You really want to know?”
“Yes.”
He nodded at a small group of fellow officers and their plus-ones while steering Candace to an unclaimed table near the dance floor. “Here okay?”
“Are you sure you don’t want to sit closer to the bar? You look like you could use a drink, all of a sudden.”
“I’m good, but you might want one after I tell you what you think you want to know.”
“It can’t be that bad, Jake. Especially compared to everything you’ve accepted about my life.”
“Your stuff is a job. What I’ve done was by personal choice. Really stupid personal choice.” He pulled out a chair. “You might want to sit.”
She shook her head. Maybe she’d declined because of her dress. Hopefully it wasn’t her faith in him that kept her standing. If so, she was about to be disappointed. Again.
“My last serious relationship burned me pretty bad and I kind of swore off the serious stuff afterward.”
“That’s understandable.”
“And replaced it with watching strippers.”
She laughed. “You thought I’d need to sit down for that? You’re a guy. Guys like watching strippers.”
“Yeah, no. That’s not the worst part.” He glanced at the bar. Maybe he should’ve gotten something.
“Jake.” Her hand on his was as soft as her voice. “I’m not going to judge or overreact.”
“Even if I tell you I went on a pretty major meaningless-sex bender for a big chunk of that time?”
She shook her head. “I’d say that’s pretty normal after being burned by a serious relationship.” Most women would be jealous or disgusted. Likely both, with a side of raging mad. Not Candace.
“You’re so calm.”
“See,” she said, laughing a little. “I told you I wouldn’t judge or overreact.”
He slid his arm around her waist. “Or run away.”
Turning to face him, she wrapped her arms around his neck. “I didn’t promise that, but I don’t want to run away.”
Finally. The hum of voices and soft music became a distant buzz. The couple of hundred bodies sharing space in the hall might as well have been shadows. With Candace staring into his eyes, smiling at him as if everything was right in the world, nothing else existed.
“How long ago was the serious relationship that burned you?”
Not the topic of conversation he wanted now. Or ever, if he could avoid it. Which he could, with some distraction techniques and clever avoidance. That wouldn’t be fair. Not after he’d pushed for full disclosure about her life.
“Little over a year ago.”
The little head tilt and accompanying raised eyebrows said as much as any words could. More details required.
Might as well get it over with, so they could move on and never revisit the subject again. “I met her outside the courthouse. I was on my way out after a hearing. She—Anna—was standing in the parking lot, looking kind of lost, so I asked if she needed help.”
“Were you in uniform?”
“Yeah.”
“Lucky girl.”
“Conniving bitch would be more accurate.”
She grimaced. “Yikes.”
He eased out of her arms. Holding Candace close while talking about Anna didn’t feel right.
“I know what’ll help,” she said, lacing their fingers together.
“Me too. Not talking about it anymore.”
Her laughter burst the bubble of doom that’d enveloped him. “Nice try. You’re getting lucky tonight, but not that way.”
A little tug had her back in his arms. “Let’s focus on what’s really important here. Tell me more about how I am getting lucky tonight.”
“It starts with a kiss, like this…” Lips so soft they put satin to shame brushed his mouth. She slid her palm up