Chapter 21
Kandace
I t’s Tuesday afternoon and the store is slow.
I’ve taken advantage of having someone to carry and move things.
Together, Dax and I have moved shelves and cleaned.
I also asked him to put together some shelving I’d had at my folks’.
The back room is more crowded, but most of the extra inventory is now available whenever I need it.
Dax looks as handsome as ever as he leans against the doorjamb between the back room and the office with his arms crossed over his chest. His long legs are clad in blue jeans, and he’s wearing the blue t-shirt he’d worn at the softball game.
“I like your hair longer,” I say.
He runs his long fingers through it. “I don’t know. It was something different. Are you still planning to take Quintessential Treasures online?”
“I am.”
“You’re going to need more room for merchandise.”
Sighing, I lean back in the office chair. “I’m going to need more than that. I’ll need room for shipping—boxing and mailing.”
“You can’t do this alone.”
“I was waiting for you to sign the store over to me. Mr. Murphy said until you did, I was basically just an employee.”
His golden eyes narrow. “You’re not just anything.”
“You know what I mean. I couldn’t authorize hiring or big expenditures.”
“Maybe you could put the shipping center and more storage upstairs.”
His suggestion reminds me of my plans for upstairs.
I jump up from my chair. “Let me show you.” Hurrying to the front door, I lock it and put out the sign that says I’ll be back in ten minutes.
My circulation races as I open the door to the upstairs.
Dax has seen this space, but I haven’t told him what I have planned.
Looking over my shoulder, I smile. “Come on, keep up.”
“I’ll keep up.”
I giggle as he chases me up the stairs. Once I’m to the top, I spin around, unsure where to go. Dax is a step behind me. When he catches me, his arms wrap around my waist, and he spins us around.
When is the last time I giggled?
For a second, we’re young and carefree again.
My hands go to his solid chest, and I feel the beat of his heart.
“Dax.”
I lick my lips as my mouth goes dry. I’m caught in his strong arms as he stares down at me.
“Remember the text you sent me?”
I shake my head. Nothing is coming to mind except him.
“Telling me you were thinking about kissing me.”
I feel the heat rise in my skin. “I think you sent that to yourself.”
Dax pulls me closer, bringing my hips to his. “I’m thinking about it, Kandace. I’ve been thinking about it since I saw you at the softball game.”
“I’m scared,” I tell him honestly.
“Me too.”
I’m looking at his lips, trying to remember the way they felt on mine. Slowly, we move toward one another until it happens, and our lips meet. Strong and firm. Possessive yet gentle. He tastes like desire, the way I remember but even better.
Pushing up on my tiptoes, I take what I thought I’d never again have.
Dax’s hand moves up to my hair as his tongue teases mine.
I feel his kiss everywhere. It’s only our lips, but my body is sparking to life.
Synapse after synapse is firing as electrical current flows from him to me.
It’s been so long since I’ve been kissed, really kissed.
It’s been equally as long since I’ve been with the only man who’s ever touched me this way.
My knees go weak as he holds me against him.
When we finally pull away, I feel my cheeks warm.
His smile quirks. “I’m sure glad you sent me that text.”
I reach for his hand and talk about why I brought him up here. “I want to tell you what I want to do on this floor and the one above.”
“Molly told me you want to make this your home.”
“I do,” I say excitedly. “Dad’s been talking with Lynell, and Mick’s been working with me on ideas.
Nothing is official, but try to picture this.
..” I begin describing the layout as I had to my mother.
With each passing day, it feels as if my dreams may actually come true.
“And then I’ll be home with Molly while being able to work at the same time. ”
“It will be expensive.”
“I have savings.”
“I can help.”
“No. I need to do this myself.”
Dax goes to the large windows in the front of the room and looks down on Main Street. “I can help,” he finally says as he turns toward me. “If not money, I can physically help. On weekends when I’m here.”
“Did you buy Ruth’s house?” I hadn’t brought up the subject since he mentioned it the other night at ice cream.
He nods. “It is all but done. I’m buying it as is. I don’t want my parents in charge of the remodel if it’s my house.”
“I miss Ruth’s pictures,” I say.
“Replacing that ugly paneling in the basement was a good move.”
“I agree. It sounds like you’ll be busy doing work on your own place.”
“I’ve talked to Mick too. Since I won’t be here during the week, he said he can send crews in while I’m gone.”
“You’ll pay Mick to work on your house, but you’ll help me here. Why?”
Dax walks closer, too close, as he again snakes his arm around my waist. “Because you said you wouldn’t let me pay. And more importantly, if I’m here, I’m with you and Molly. That’s where I want to be, Kandace.”
“When are you going back to Chicago?”
“Wednesday.”
My heart sinks. “Tomorrow.”
He nods. “I’m meeting with Mr. Murphy tomorrow morning, and I have some pressing work at the firm.”
“I know you’re an attorney, but what do you do? What kind of law?”
“Mostly real estate. Large construction. Our firm has some big clients, and it’s all about getting more.” He shakes his head. “It’s not what I imagined.”
“But you did it,” I say. “I’m glad you did what you set out to do. You made your dream come true.”
He looks around. “You’re realizing your dream too.”
I look at the open space and smile. “I am. There was a time I thought it wouldn’t happen, but I never gave up.”
Dax’s palm gently cups my cheek. “Dreams change.”
“Please don’t tease me, Dax.”
“I’m not. I’m confused. I know what I want, and what I want, Kandace, is you and Molly, here.”
“You used to ask me to go to you.”
“I remember. You never did.”
“I visited,” I said, thinking about Indiana University. “I like here better.”
“And I like you. If that means here, I guess it’s here.”
I shake my head. “Don’t give up your dream for us.”
“This is now, the future. There are limitless possibilities.”
“What does that even mean?”
“I’m leaving for Chicago on Wednesday after my meeting. I won’t be back next weekend, but I will be here the next. Hopefully by then, I’ll have things worked out.”
“I’m trusting you.”
“I won’t let you down again.”
The sound of the school bus down on the street catches my attention. “Oh, Molly is back. I need to open the front door.”
Dax follows me down the stairs. As I hurry to the front door, Molly hops down from the bus and runs my direction.
“Is Dax here?” she asks.
“Yes. What am I? Chopped liver?”
Molly’s nose scrunches. “What’s chopped liver?”
“Something grosser than school pizza,” Dax says as he lowers himself to her level.
Molly runs toward Dax as she says, “Eww.” Nearly plowing him over, she wraps him in a hug.
“Your mom has popcorn in the back.”
Molly looks up at him. “Will you help me with my homework?”
“You have homework in kindergarten?”
I chuckle. “Welcome to my life.”
His sexy grin turns to me. “It’s where I want to be, Kandace.”
Turning, Dax follows Molly to the back of the store. For a moment, I close my eyes and breathe. I think about our kiss—the one we just shared, the best kiss of my life, and I want to believe. Yet I’m scared that Dax will leave and not return.
When I walk into the back, I hear Dax telling Molly that he’s coming to our house for dinner.
“You are?”
He looks up from the desk and nods.
“You’ve been here all day and you didn’t mention it.”
“It was a surprise.”
“Wait, does Mom know?”
“I think so,” he says with a grin. “She’s the one who invited me.”
“She invited you…when?”
“Last night when she called.”
I can’t believe my ears. “My mom called you. How did she get your number?”
“You’ll have to ask her.”
“Oh, I plan on it.”