Candy Kisses (2 page)

“That’s why I cut my trip short and I’m headed to her place. Not only is it her birthday, but this year it seems she’s bitten off more than she can chew. She’s booked one too many weddings this year and now the entire family is in charge of seeing they all go off without a hitch.”

“Awfully nice that you could help her out.”

Tabitha began filling the box with items she knew Claire Banks would enjoy.

Preston looked around. “How did you get into this?”

“Chocolate?” He let out an agreeable hum and she shrugged. “It was something I always loved. I fell in love with my Holly Hobby Oven and making those little cakes.”

“Were you one of those girls who wouldn’t share? My sisters never would share Easy-Bake cakes with me.”

Tabitha added a few more candies to the box. “I made one of my mother’s first wedding cakes in my oven. Soon it turned to cookies and decorating the tops. Then I learned the fine art of a double boiler and a chocolatiere was born.” She counted out the items in the box silently. “And with my mother’s affection for getting married every few years, it seemed a good hobby to acquire.”

“And how many times has she been married?” The humor in his eyes raked on her nerves when he asked.

“On Valentine’s Day it will be her fifth.”

“Fifth?” His voice rose in pitch.

Tabitha hated reactions like that, but that’s what she got for opening her big mouth. She shook her head in disgust as she added a few more truffles to the box. He was irritating her, and he was going to pay for it as the box was getting heavier.

He shook his head. “All I can say is wow. Is she using my mother to plan her wedding?”

“If I were only that lucky. No, as if I weren’t busy enough, she’s somehow designated me as her bridal planner.” Tabitha added the last petit fours from the tray she’d taken from the display and closed the box.

“Where do you find time if this is your busy season?”

“A question I’ve asked myself.” She laid the box atop the display. “This is sixty dollars worth of Tabitha Chocolates. Do you want me to dig up more or do you think she’ll be fine with this?”

“I think she’ll be delighted.” He handed her a fifty and a twenty, not once blinking at the price. Perhaps she should have added quite a bit more.

“I’ll be back. I’ve closed the drawer so I have to get you change.” She turned to walk to her office.

“No,” he said, and she stopped. “Consider it my thank you for opening the door.”

“I appreciate it, but that’s not necessary.”

“I insist.”

At that, she turned and pulled a ribbon from a spool that hung on the wall. Carefully she lifted the box and tied the ribbon around it.

Preston watched her intently and lifted his eyes to hers when she finished with the bow. “Are you busy tomorrow night?”

“I’m sorry. What?” Her tone carried her impatience and she just wanted to get back to work so she could finally get home.

“I’d love to take you to dinner.”

She adjusted the bow atop the box and added a gold foiled sticker with the name of the bakery. “Mr. Banks, thank you, but …”

“Preston,” he reminded her with a smile. It did its job in calming her, but she wasn’t comfortable with a stranger asking her out. She was in unfamiliar territory.

“Preston. I don’t go out with men I’ve only met.”

“Why?”

“Why? It’s that simple. I don’t know you.”

“No, but you could if you have dinner with me. Unless you’re married.” His brows drew together and the creases around his lips deepened. “I didn’t think about that.” 

“I’m not married.”

“Great,” he said. “I’ll stop by here after you close. If you’re not done I’d be happy to help you.”

“You talk fast.” She held her hands up as if to stop him. “Do you sell used cars?”

“No, only the finest BMWs and Jags.” He smiled when she scowled. “I don’t really have to do a lot of talking. The cars sell themselves. But if I keep talking the buyer can’t walk away from the sale.”

“I’m walking away.”

“No, you’re not. You’re going to let me take you to dinner tomorrow because now you’re intrigued. And because my mother is not only one of your biggest customers with her business, she’s a great fan of yours as well.” He reached over the counter and grabbed her hand. He lifted it to his lips and brushed her knuckles with a kiss. “Tabitha, it certainly was my pleasure to meet you. Thank you for helping me out. I’ll see you tomorrow.” He picked up his box and walked out the door.

Tabitha stood still, rendered speechless by the man who had waltzed in and out of her store. Apparently she was having dinner with the man. Had she said yes?

She wouldn’t go. No one talked her into things like that. The last thing she needed in February was some man taking her to dinner. She was much too busy.

As she folded the money he’d handed her and shoved it into her pocket, she thought of Preston Banks and his playful smile. He was right. She was definitely intrigued.

Chapter Two

One day closer to Valentine’s Day and Tabitha watched as Brie flirted with the man at the counter. She laughed at his jokes, touched his hand, and made the motion of swinging her hair back over her shoulder even though it was in a ponytail high on her head. Tabitha thought the whole ritual disgusting, but he’d bought a box of thirty-dollar chocolates for his girlfriend and two more matching boxes for his mother and grandmother.

When the man walked out of the store Brie whistled as she walked past Tabitha and rearranged the display in the case.

Tabitha shook her head. “Doesn’t it bother you to use your female charm to sell things?”

“He came in here wanting a four pack of truffles. A four pack,” she emphasized with her fingers held up. “He walked out spending ninety. Do you really see a problem?”

She winced. “I see a problem with the whole holiday and the whole month of February. But as long as people like you roam the streets thinking that love lurks around the corner I’ll make my car payment and my mortgage nicely for the next year until I have to watch you all do it again.”

“I’ve decided we should find you a florist that hates February, weddings, and Mother’s Day too. Imagine the two of you would fall madly in love.” Brie leaned against the counter and crossed her arms over her chest. “Just think, you could make all the money off those of us who believe in romance, love at first sight, and till death do us part. And the two of you could sit around your own kitchen table and just shake your heads at us as we spend money in your stores.” She raised her hands in the air with her palms up. “It would be a match made in heaven, or hell – wherever it is you live in that head of yours.  The chocolatiere that doesn’t believe in Valentine’s Day and love.”

“You’re mean.” Tabitha snarled at her best friend who sadly knew her much too well.

“I’m realistic. Love is wonderful.”

“Love is overrated.” Tabitha watched the woman who stood at her window waving a gloved hand. “And this is why I think love is overrated.”

The woman opened the door and shut it quickly. “Oh, it is freezing out there.” She smiled her million dollar smile at Tabitha and be lined around the counter. “There is my beautiful daughter.”

Her mother gave her a noisy kiss on the cheek and stood with her gloved hands cupping Tabitha’s face. “She’s working too hard.” She studied her intently. “You need some time off.”

“Mom, I don’t have time for time off.” She took her mother’s hands from her face and forced a smile. “This is the season where I make most of my money. Add that silly day in May where we worship our mothers and my year is paid for.”

“You do worship me.” Her mother turned to Brie before Tabitha rolled her eyes and shook her head. “She’s mad because she’s doing my chocolates for the wedding.”

“That’s a tossup, Corrine.” Brie interjected. “She’s mad because she doesn’t think I should flirt with customers to make them spend three times what they came in to spend.”

“Foolish,” her mother laughed as she took off her gloves and her heavy suede coat. She draped it over her arm and adjusted the pearls, which hung from her wrist with her perfectly manicured fingers. The nail polish was red and it had been as far back as Tabitha could remember.

“It won’t stop me either,” Brie added. “If they want to open their wallets while I giggle at their lame joke, then I am happy to oblige.”

“You two are horrible.” Tabitha walked to the back of the store and pulled out tray of long stem strawberries from the drying rack.

Her mother followed her. She set her coat on the stool by the door and pulled up another to the table where Tabitha worked. She sat down and crossed her legs. Her foot, in its fashionable, yet very unpractical shoe, bounced to the beat on the radio. “Peter and I registered yesterday. It was very exciting.”

“What could you possibly have registered for?”

“Don’t belittle my wedding,” she said looking over her manicure. “Peter is the best isn’t he?”

Tabitha didn’t wish to get into the war of words that were brewing in her head. She agreed with a nod and let it go.

“Well the reason I wanted to stop by was to tell you to double our order. We downsized the cake so we could show you off more.”

Tabitha lifted her head and stared at her mother. “Are you kidding me? Mom, your wedding is in two weeks. I have five other weddings and this silly holiday that makes all of you love sick people crazy. I can’t fit in time to double that order.”

“You’d do it for me,” she said grinning.

Tabitha was sure her mother’s common sense had never developed. But one thing was true. She’d do it for her mother and she hated herself for it.

“Fine. I’ll do it. But if Claire Banks needs more, I’ll do her weddings first. She pays me full price.”

“Is it always the money?”

She wanted to tell her it was the principle, but as her mother was still glassy eyed thinking of her wedding, she just couldn’t do it.

Brie poked her head through the doorway. “Um, Tab, you have a visitor.” She bit her lip, but the edges of her mouth turned up into smile.

“Who?”

“A gentleman who says he’s come to take you to dinner.”

“What?” Tabitha wiped her hands on her apron and noticed the expression of joy that crossed her mother’s face.

She walked to the front of the store and there stood Preston Banks. He was dressed casually in jeans and dark leather jacket. Handsome, was the first thing Tabitha thought as she watched him give her a nervous smile.

Her mother gave her a slight shove toward him and she turned to scowl, but she was sure her mother never noticed. She was starry-eyed looking at Preston as though he were Prince Charming and came baring a golden slipper.

He took a step toward her. “I know I’m really early, but I was afraid if I waited you’d lock up and leave without me.”

Truth was she’d forgotten about telling him she’d go to dinner she’d been so busy with orders. No, she suddenly remembered he’d tricked her into a dinner date. Well now she was very glad he was there so she could tell him under no circumstances was she going to go out with him. He was a total stranger. She didn’t go out with men she didn’t know.

Her mother shoved past her. “Oh, and here I’m keeping her from getting ready.” She shot her hand out toward Preston. “I’m Tabby’s mother, Corinne.”

Tabitha felt her stomach churn. Perhaps she’d become violently ill and die.

Preston gave a gracious nod as he shook Corinne’s hand. “I see where your daughter gets her lovely looks.”

“You are a prize.” A laugh poured from her mother.

“Well, Tab, why don’t you introduce me to your new
boyfriend
.” Brie walked around the counter and joined her mother by Preston’s side.

Now not only did she feel her stomach twisting she could feel the blood drain from her face. For a moment, she wasn’t sure if the better idea was to introduce them and die or leave with the man just to escape the goofy looks from the two women who didn’t understand reality.

“Preston, this is Brie. My least favorite friend at the moment.” She narrowed her eyes on her as Brie brushed her aside and shook Preston’s hand.

“She didn’t mention she had a date.” The look on Brie’s face was the same as when she’d flirted her way to the bigger sale.

“Didn’t she?”

Preston had turned to look at her and was gazing at her. Not looking, but gazing. She’d seen that look in the men that Brie conned out of bigger sales, but they didn’t look at her that way.

Now her mouth dried and her stomach was still very uncomfortable.

Preston reached for her hand and gave it a gentle squeeze. “I can just make myself comfortable in the corner until you’re ready.”

“She’s ready,” Brie and her mother answered in unison.

“We’ll close up.” Brie had committed before Tabitha could protest. “I’ll get your things.”

Within moments, her mother had helped her out of her apron and Brie had managed to slide her into her coat and tighten the ponytail at the base of her neck while Preston looked on smiling.

“It looks like you’re all ready to go. It was a pleasure to meet you both.” Preston took Tabitha’s arm and started toward the door. “I won’t keep her out too late.”

Tabitha let Preston guide her to his car with his hand on her elbow. Aside from the fact that the sidewalk was slick, she supposed he was being a gentleman.

She turned back to see her mother and Brie watching from the window. She couldn’t help but wonder where she’d lost her spine. Somehow, she’d been kicked out of her own business and was going to spend the evening with a man she didn’t know. This would have been a typical night for Brie, or her mother, but certainly was a first for her.

There was some comfort that she knew his mother. But Claire Banks was only a client, not a close and personal friend. For all Tabitha knew the entire Banks family could be a group of raving lunatics. The thought humored her. Okay, she had to be honest with herself. They didn’t seem like lunatics at all. Just a nice, well-rounded family.

Preston opened the car door for her and she climbed into the passenger seat of the BMW as he skirted the front of the car and then climbed in next to her. The cold air blew through as he shut the door to block it out. “I would have had it all warmed up for you, but I didn’t know we’d be leaving so soon.” He started the engine and the heater kicked on.

“I’m sorry about the two of them. Though loving, they are crazy.” She could still see them, their faces pressed against the glass of the door, grinning from ear to ear.

“I found them endearing.” He pulled away from the curb and headed out of town. “I thought we’d head up to Morrison. I know a wonderful little sushi place.”

He’d turned to her and she assumed he was waiting for a reaction, whether she turned up her nose or would smile. She kept her face as still as she could.

He looked back at the road. “You don’t like sushi?”

“I like it fine, but Morrison is a little further than I figured we’d go.” Then again, maybe he was a lunatic. Didn’t they take women up into the hills? She shook away the thought. This was why she didn’t date men she didn’t all ready know.

He didn’t apologize or offer to turn back. “I won’t hurt you. I promise.”

She let out a loud huff of breath. “I didn’t plan on giving you a chance.”

When he laughed at her, she couldn’t help but find his laughter sexy. It was low and husky. She should have felt offended that he was laughing, but she didn’t feel as though it was directed at her.

He rested his hand on the gearshift knob. “You don’t appear to be the kind of woman who would let a man hurt her.”

“You’re right.”

Preston glanced casually at her. “I think I would surprise you with what I already know.”

Tabitha narrowed her stare on him. “I would guess you spoke to your mother?”

“Of course. She wants me to tell you she loved the selection you picked for her, by the way, and that she’ll also be calling you with a small wedding she picked up yesterday. It’s only a thirty person private wedding, but she thought she’d give you a heads up.”

Tabitha let out a sigh when she thought about adding one more wedding, but then again, it was one more payment on her car..

He focused back on the road. “Anyway, I told her I’d met you and asked you to dinner. She’s thrilled.”