Chapter Four
Faith
I make candy in the back of my shop alone since Kelsey looked dead on her feet, and I sent her home early.
I finish up and rush to the counter, where I can be the face of Sweet Treats, selling my candy.
I need to hire another employee, but I have to make sure I can afford the expense.
As long as things continue as they are, no more incidents like the vandalism, and I’ll be okay.
Jason and I had a frustrating discussion on the way to work about who will pay for the cleanup. So far, I haven’t won, but I don’t want to be indebted to him any more than I already am. The man is giving me a place to stay in addition to fixing up my business. I want, no, need to pay my own way.
Speaking of Jason, he has created an office for himself in a corner, out of the way but where he has a good view of the entrance and behind the counter.
There is a back door leading to the alley off the kitchen, and he made sure I locked that tight, not letting me open it up for cool air to come inside.
I know better than to argue when he’s right.
He set up his laptop, plugged it into the wall, has his iPad, his cell phone, and has been making and taking calls and FaceTiming with his partners all morning long, not seeming concerned in the least that he is doing business out of a candy shop and not his own nightclub.
I called his cousin’s wife, Isabelle, and she is coming over to talk about what she wants for her son’s birthday party. This will be branching out, another way to get my candy into new people’s hands, and I’m excited about the prospect.
This morning, with my new door and clear window, business is brisk, walking traffic bringing people inside, but by lunchtime, things slow down, which works for me because I can get off my feet.
Just as I am about to sit down across from Jason, a beautiful brunette walks into the store with a little boy in her arms.
“Uncle Jase!” the little boy yells, wriggling in his mother’s arms to get down.
She places him on the floor, and he runs to Jason, who swings the boy into his arms.
“Hey, champ!” How are you doing?” Jason asks, lifting the boy into his arms and hefting him up on one hip.
“Good. Mommy said candy for my birfday.”
Jason chuckles while I grin at the adorable child.
“Sorry I’m late,” the woman who must be Isabelle says. “I took him for lunch first, hoping to curb his appetite before we hit the candy store.”
“It’s fine. This is the first lull I’ve had all morning anyway. I’m Faith,” I say.
“Call me Izzy.”
“Tell you what,” Jason says. “How about I take this kid for a tour and we’ll handle any customers who come in while you two talk?”
“Are you sure?” I ask.
“It’s fine. We’re going to check out the candy.”
“Candy!” the boy says with a fist pump.
“Not too much, Noah,” Izzy says, eyeing Jason warily. “I have to deal with the sugar rush,” she warns him.
Jason’s grin is not to be trusted, and I have a vision of him with his own kids one day.
Oh, he insinuated he wasn’t into bringing women home to his mother, but seeing him with this little boy, I have a hunch he’ll want to change his mind one day.
A wistful feeling curls inside my belly at the notion, and I push it away.
He is my friend doing me more favors than I have a right to expect.
Thinking of him as a sexy man I desire will do nothing helpful in my current situation.
Considering him as a potential father is an ovary-exploding way to get into trouble.
“Well, that expression tells me a lot,” Izzy says, breaking into my thoughts.
I blink to return myself to the present. “I’m sorry. What did you say?”
Izzy grins. “Basically that you have it bad for Jason. Not that I blame you. Those Dare genes are potent. I ought to know.”
My face flames in embarrassment. “I don’t… I didn’t…”
“Oh, you so do.” Izzy pulls out a chair and sits down at an empty table.
I join her, still mortified I’ve been caught daydreaming about and staring at Jason.
“But it looks to me like that attraction goes both ways. He’s basically set up his office here. Gabe told me Jason’s helping you out. No specifics, of course. But I can look at him, see how he keeps checking you out to make sure you’re okay, and put two and two together.”
“You don’t beat around the bush, do you?” I ask, liking Jason’s cousin by marriage already.
“I figure life’s too short not to go after what you want. I took the long route to my destiny. I thought maybe I’d help you speed yours up,” Izzy says with a grin.
I don’t want to burst her bubble, but the truth is a lot more boring than whatever Izzy is conjuring up in her mind.
Although the chemistry is sizzling and the desire is mutual, he is taking care of me out of pity and a fear that something will happen to me that he’ll have been able to prevent.
I want to be more than an obligation to a man.
That is, when my life calms down enough to allow for me to let people in.
“Jason and I met by chance. He helped me with a slashed tire. It’s been one situation after another since, and he’s been nice enough to help me out. That’s all that’s going on between us.”
“Keep telling yourself that. You’ll be pleasantly surprised when things take a turn.
Okay, so let’s talk candy. That basket you gave Jason was delicious.
The kids will go nuts for it and the moms will wish they’d thought of it.
I’m having a party for Noah next weekend and I’d love it if you could make them up as party favors. ”
“I’d love to! If you want me to do something special for the kids, I could do that. If he has a theme for the party? I could work around that and do something more like the baskets for the adults.”
“Paw Patrol. And I love both ideas.”
I figure I’ll be researching children’s characters.
I think some more, then say, “I’d be happy to deliver them to the party and set them up on the table.
Take some of the burden off of you. I’m sure you’ll be busy enough that day.
” I can get Kelsey to run the store while I make the delivery and handle the decorative setup.
“You’re so sweet! But Jason’s coming to the party. Why don’t you come with him and stay?”
“But I couldn’t. It’s family and friends…” I don’t belong there.
“Great idea, Iz,” Jason calls as he walks out from behind the counter. Noah has chocolate on his cheeks and a pop stick in his hand. “I was going to tell you I didn’t want to leave Faith alone, and I wasn’t sure if I could make it.”
I roll my eyes at his way of thinking. “It’s over a week away.
” For all I know, the police will link the break-in to Colton and pick him up before then.
I don’t want to discuss the specifics in front of Izzy and her son and frighten them away.
Colton is too big of a coward to come after me with people around.
“We’ll both be there, Iz. Thank you. And here’s your little sugar fiend. I kept it at two.”
“I had free, Mommy!”
Izzy nods and mock glares at Jason. “You listen well,” she says, her tone full of sarcasm. “Come to Mommy, baby. I’ll clean your face.” She pulls wipes from her purse and begins cleaning the child’s cheeks.
When she finishes, she stands. “I’ve got to get this one home for a nap.
Sometimes I still get lucky and he’ll lie down …
although thanks to his uncle, I’m guessing today won’t be one of those days.
” She turns to me. “It was a pleasure meeting you. I’m looking forward to seeing you at the party.
Oh, maybe we can get lunch one day soon. Bye!”
Izzy leaves in a hurry, and I shake my head, my smile wide as I think about the other woman’s fun personality. “I like her.”
“Gabe likes her, too. Love at first sight, to hear them tell it, although it took years for them to get together. It was after Gabe’s brother, Decklan, arrested her for grand theft auto. Long story,” Jason says, chuckling. “I’m sure you’ll hear it at the party.”
I blink in surprise. Not at his crazy family stories, but about the party. “You were serious? You want me to come to a family event?”
He nods, his hooded eyes taking me in.
I know why he’s dragging me along, and despite the practicality of the idea, it hurts my feelings at the same time. “So you can keep an eye on me and make sure I’m safe?”
I don’t know why that suddenly bothers me so much when that is the basis for our relationship …
friendship. Whatever it is between us. But thinking on Izzy’s words, how he looks at me, how I study everything about him, from his easy stride to the way he takes control with his partners, expressing what he wants just forcefully enough to get them to agree with him without disagreeing first …
Jason Dare is a strong man I can come to rely on.
And as much as that scares me? It makes me desire him, and I want him to feel the same way about me.
Just temporarily. Because eventually, I will get back on my feet, Colton will be arrested, I hope, and I’ll go back to building my life here in New York.
But while I am with Jason, is there anything wrong with acting on the simmering attraction?
I step closer to him, taking in the chocolate stain on his cream-colored shirt. “I can stay at your apartment and be perfectly safe there.” If I’m going to stay at that party beyond setup, he has to want me there.
“You’re not staying home.” A low growl makes its way up his throat.
My nipples pucker at the sexy sound. “Why not?
“Because.” He moves in, his big body hovering over mine.
Body heat and his musky scent surround me, warmth and a tingling sensation dancing over my skin. “Because why?” He needs to say it. Needs to tell me he wants me there.
Reaching out, he slides his hand behind my neck, his fingers gliding into my hair, tugging my head back as he says, “Because I want you there. I. Want. You.”
* * *
Jason