Authors: Cherrie Lynn
Ross 02 Rock Me (30 page)
“It makes me feel about a million different things. Mostly insanely happy, but freaked out is definitely in there somewhere… Wait.
Shit
, Brian. Tell me Candace isn’t pregnant.”
He shrugged. “Anything’s possible.”
“Do you love this girl?” It wasn’t a gentle question. It held all the promise that if Brian gave the wrong answer, Evan was going to pull over and throw him out of the truck.
“I’m fucking crazy about her.”
“Fucking crazy I’ve gathered. But I asked if you
love
her. I asked if you’ll say the words. I’m talking true, enduring, unconditional, hold-her-hair-while-she’s-puking-from-morning-sickness love.”
“Hell, yes, I’ll say the words! I love her. I told her I love her. I’ll hold any frigging thing she wants me to.”
“Well, you damn sure didn’t talk to her like you loved her earlier. I thought about emasculating you right there in front of everyone.”
“You didn’t hang around long enough to see me grovel. And I appreciate your restraint. I feel emasculated enough as it is.” He reached up and rubbed his face hard. “But I do love her.”
“She’s a sweet girl. Don’t screw up anymore, Brian. And don’t get her pregnant, please? For God’s sake? You are not ready for that level of commitment and respons—”
“Don’t give me your shit, man, it’s not as if I’m trying to. You weren’t either, if I recall.”
Evan grinned. “Kelsey says we’re so in love we can’t help but bond even at the molecular level.”
“You’re not going to be one of those couples who has nineteen kids, are you?”
“Nah. We definitely want at least one more, maybe two, but not right away. Alex is a handful.”
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“You know, as I was sitting in the police department earlier, I had a thought.”
“Uh-oh.”
“At this point, if it weren’t for Candace, I would have no problem moving away with you and Kelsey. Starting over somewhere else…yeah, it sounds pretty awesome right about now. You were right. But now she’s in the picture, and…” He trailed off, frustrated at his own inability to express in words what he was feeling: that no matter what she said to him, or what she did, he wasn’t going anywhere. He could keep his word on that, at least.
“You’ll get things up and going again, don’t worry. Shut down for a couple of weeks or so, get everything functional and you’ll be fine. While you were in giving your statement, I called to have your front windows replaced. They’re going to get to it as fast as they can, so at least everything will be protected from the elements.”
“Thanks, man. For everything. And I’m sorry about all— Shit. I’m just sorry.”
Evan glanced at him, then clapped him on the shoulder. “Don’t mention it.”
Brian drew a deep breath, trying to clear out all the gnawing emotion. “Does Dad know?”
“Yeah, I called him too. He’ll help out any way he can. We all will.”
“You guys have given me too much already. I’m starting all over again.”
“Now you’re just being dramatic. Your insurance should cover criminal mischief.”
“That’s great and all, but I still feel like I’m rebuilding the place practically from the ground up, and I want that piece of crap to pay for it, because he can. This was personal, and I want it taken out of his ass.”
“Regardless, we can’t sit around and wait for that to happen. I know you’re pissed, but keep your head on straight.” When Brian didn’t reply, Evan went on. “Everyone is really proud of you, whether you see it or not. And we’re all outraged about this. The damage is definitely in the felony range. If Jameson Andrews did this, they won’t let me work the case but I’ll have a damn good time watching his ass get nailed for every penny.”
They turned onto Dermamania’s street, and Brian’s stomach pitched in sick dismay as the eyesore it now was swung into view.
Dramatic, my ass
, he thought. Somehow, after being away for a few hours, it looked even worse than before. “You and me both.”
Candace took the week to concentrate on her finals and unwind from the wild events of the prior weekend. Once that was over and done with—and she somehow passed all her courses—she welcomed the lazy days of summer break. She didn’t plan on having too many of them; she spent most of her time poring over want ads and turning in job applications. Even if it was something part time she could fit around her class schedule this fall, having that tiny bit of independence could only be helpful to the soul. And thank God, she got her period. When it was a day late, she’d nearly panicked, thinking that one moment of forgetfulness might’ve had far more serious repercussions than she’d imagined possible. It 172
Rock Me
might feel awesome and romantic in the moment to think about Brian’s baby growing in her belly, but for twenty-four long hours she’d done nothing but bite her nails and wonder what on God’s green earth she’d do with a kid at this point. Yeah, she’d definitely been scared straight on that one. She’d gone straight to her doctor and gotten on the Pill.
Whenever Brian called, she answered, like he’d said she would. But surprisingly, he didn’t push her. He talked about how Dermamania V2, as he called it, was coming along. She could tell how excited he was to be reopening soon. He and his employees and Evan had been working every day cleaning up the place. Kara and Marco had come down to lend him any equipment he needed until he got his own. Candace was disappointed she didn’t get a chance to see them, but she was determined to stay away for now. It didn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out his strategy. His way of chasing her was giving her the space she’d demanded. It was working better than any flowers, gifts, candy or stalking techniques he could ever have employed, because she missed him like crazy.
She wanted to run to him, and knew she couldn’t. Not yet. There were so many reasons: for herself, for her family where things were slowly getting back to normal. For the fragile relationship with her parents, who seemed to be looking at her in a new light. Despite everything, she found she needed and wanted their support. In the beginning it had been much like walking on eggshells, but now she and her mother had been getting along better than she could ever remember since she was a kid. Seeing Brian again so soon might only tear it all down again.
And then there was her brother to deal with.
Jameson was an entirely different story. He’d sported two black eyes for days. She visited her parents quite often, and he was always there, as if he was hiding out. He might as well move back home, for the way he lingered. It was one more thing that added to her suspicion. He was scared. A ringing phone or a knock at the door could make him jump out of his skin. But damn if she could get him to crack, no matter how many knowing smiles she sent his way. Her very existence had become all about torturing him.
“It’s only a matter of time before they catch the guy,” she told him ominously one night at dinner when her mom and dad left the room for a moment.
And the next evening: “The investigation is moving right along. Evan says they’re closing in.”
“Who cares,” he would growl every time.
And she’d return with some variation of, “Doesn’t it bother you that vandals are running loose through town? Although it’s funny they haven’t hit any other businesses, don’t you think? Just Brian’s. I wonder why.”
There were times he would get up and leave the room.
He was so freaking guilty. And there was nothing she could do about it…except make his life hell, as Starla had said.
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Nothing she could do about it…until one very shocking phone call. Macy sounded funny from the moment Candace answered. It was extremely odd for her to ask how things were going with Brian, but it was one of her first questions.
“They’re…okay,” Candace told her. “We’re just talking, letting things cool off. I think all I needed was to step back and catch my breath. Now I’ve caught it, and everything is clear, and I don’t feel right without him.”
For some reason, that made Macy dissolve into tears. “I’m so sorry.”
Dumbfounded, Candace muted the volume on her TV and sat up straight on her couch. “Mace, what’s the matter?”
“I’ve got something to tell you,” she sobbed. “You’re going to hate me.”
What in the
hell
? Candace spent the next two minutes trying to calm her friend down, assuring her there was nothing she could do to make Candace hate her. Although, given the girl’s reaction, that still remained to be seen.
“I was at Dermamania the night it was vandalized. I saw Jameson’s SUV drive by once, really slow. The only reason I even noticed it is because it looked so much like his, and I wondered if it was him and what he would be doing there. When I left later on, it was parked in a lot a couple of blocks down. I thought surely I was mistaken. But now, after what happened between him and Brian…”
Candace’s pulse was pounding in her ears. Seeing his car go by…was that enough? Dammit, she wished she had Evan’s phone number. “Why were you there, Macy?”
Dead silence on the other end for at least ten seconds. “I met Ghost there late that night.”
Ho. Lee.
Shit
. “Ghost? How did that happen? I never gave him your number.”
“Did he ask for it?”
“Yeah, on the way to Dallas. I thought there wasn’t any way you could be interested.”
“We ran into each other at the sushi bar. It was the evening you guys got back from the concert. We talked, and he got my number. He called after he got off that night and asked me to meet him there.”
“Macy, I don’t know which has shocked me more…”
“I know, okay? I didn’t want to get Jameson in trouble, and I was scared. But it was him, and it’s not fair that he’s getting away with it. I haven’t talked to Ghost about this at all.”
“He must have not seen anything, or Brian would have been all over it. Where were you?”
“We were sitting in the parking lot in my car. I figure James was waiting for us to leave, but at the time I didn’t think anything of it. I didn’t know what had gone down between James and Brian and I had no idea he was about to trash the place, you know?”
Candace remembered she hadn’t talked to Macy that night. Macy really hadn’t known to look for anything suspicious. “I would ask what you were
doing
in your car, but obviously not much if you noticed my brother driving by.”
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“It did not go there,” Macy said adamantly. “We just talked.”
“Uh-huh, and are you still
talking
?”
“Talking. Yeah. That’s all.”
“I can’t even imagine carrying on a serious conversation with that guy, but whatever.”
“There’s something about him…”
“Hey, you don’t have to explain. I’m not going to torture you over your decisions like you did me.”
“I’m so sorry,” Macy wailed.
“I’ll tell you what. If you’ll go tell this to the police, all will be forgiven. I’ll go with you, if you want. James was angry and lashing out, and he’s my brother, but you didn’t see Brian and how heartbroken he was. James owes him, big time. Maybe I can talk Brian into not pressing charges if James pays him for the damage. Maybe an I’ll-drop-mine-if-you’ll-drop-yours deal.”
“I would feel so much better if he did that.”
“I can’t promise it, and that’s up to him. But no matter what, Macy, you have to follow through.”
Macy sniveled. “I know.”
“In fact…do you want to go and talk to him now?”
“Not particularly.” Candace could definitely understand that. The thought of seeing him set off flocks of what felt like hummingbird wings in her own belly. “He’ll hate me too for not coming forward sooner. It’s been almost three weeks, but it’s been eating me up.”
“I’m pretty sure he’ll be so happy to finally get some closure that he won’t even mind all that much.”
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Chapter Twenty-one
Candace hadn’t realized the parlor was open already. When she and Macy pulled in, it looked good as new, and upon entering the only difference she could see was the flat screen TVs hadn’t been replaced yet. Janelle greeted them with a big smile, coming forward to give Candace a hug. Ghost looked up from the tattoo he was working on and met Macy’s stare with a lascivious grin. Candace couldn’t resist giving her a hidden nudge with her elbow. Love was indeed a strange thing. She didn’t see Brian anywhere, but his truck was parked outside.
“Is he here?” she asked Janelle quietly.
“In his office. I daresay it would be fine for you to go on back.” She winked at her. Taking a deep breath, she tore Macy away from the object of her desire and steered her toward the back.
Brian looked up from his laptop as they entered, and the yearning that filled his expression when he saw her was all she needed to know how hellish these past weeks had been on him. It was a fight to keep the burn of tears out of her eyes. He rose out of his chair as if pulled by puppet strings and crossed the room to wrap her in his arms. “God, it’s good to lay eyes on you,” he murmured, his lips near her ear. The familiar warmth and solidity of his body was something she didn’t want to release. Ever. She buried her face in his shirt and inhaled his scent as deep into her lungs as she could. “I miss you.”
“I just…fuck, I don’t know what to say. I didn’t expect to see you.”
Candace glanced at Macy, who was biting her lip in apprehension. “I’ll be glad to talk, but right now, Macy needs to tell you something.”
Brian looked at the other girl as if he’d forgotten her presence. “Oh, hey, Macy.”
“Hi. Um…I’m just going to blurt this out.”
He gave a perplexed chuckle. “All right.”
“I can place Jameson at the scene the night this place was trashed. I was in the parking lot. I saw him drive by, and he also parked a little ways up the street.”
“Holy sh— Are you sure?” He looked as if he wanted to grab her in a bear hug and twirl her around. Candace noticed she left out the details of why she’d been here, and he was beyond questioning it.