Page 8 of Caramel Apple Cupcake

“Yes, I can help. But not here. You’re not a mall type person. If you’re asking for my help, then I’m going to make sure you get it.” They drove back to her place so she could leave her bags inside her condo and park her car. She then directed Anders to drive to a place she knew of that catered to men who dressed in a specific style.

Jeans, yes. But high quality. T-shirts, absolutely. But the fit almost looked tailored to the person’s body. Button-up shirts, plenty. Dress pants that fit his long, muscled legs perfectly, without a doubt. Maybe she would even convince him to get a nice black suit. Every time she saw him, he wore jeans and a T-shirt. Not that he didn’t look sexy as sin, because he did.

If she were honest, she wanted to see him without the clothing. Naked. Sweaty. Underneath her. On top of her. Even thinking about it was getting her hot and bothered.

“Hey, Harper. Sweetheart, you good?”

She shook her head to clear out the vision of the two of them entwined together, writhing in need, fucking each other’s brains out. “Yeah, I’m good. Just thinking about how I want to see you dressed.” Or undressed, she thought to herself.

Anders glanced over at her and smirked. Of course, he knew she was hiding something from him, but just didn’t know what. Earlier today, when he caught up to her at the mall, shetried to hide the bag with the store name emblazoned on it. Little did Harper know, he already knew that store well. Over the years, he had bought many items for his lady friends from that store. And they had fun showing off their own purchases, right before he removed the material from their bodies and fucked them into oblivion.

No one ever said he was an angel.

His sweet tooth was for more than cupcakes. He loved the taste of a woman’s skin. The sound of her moans and whimpers as he stroked inside her. How their nails clawed his skin as he brought them pleasure.

Then he stopped himself. Was Harper buying those outfits for another man? Was she planning to wear them for someone else? Someone who wasn’t him? His hands gripped the wheel tighter. Over his dead fucking body.

But he also wondered why else would she hide the bag from him? The only conclusion was that she was trying to keep it a secret. But they didn’t keep secrets between the two of them, so that made him want to know even more.

“So, what did you buy today?” He needed to know if she would tell him.

“Just some stuff for Cassie. Um… some other small things. Nothing big. Just, um… some stuff for me. Oh, this is the place. Turn here. Park anywhere.”

Anders was curious. “Have you been here before?”

She nodded. “My mother comes here for my brother and father. It’s one of her favorite local places to shop for them. If my mother likes it, then I know it has to be quality stuff. Figured it would be a good place for you as well.”

“So, you’re taking me to places you shop at for your family? Should I feel special?” He was only half-joking. He pulled the car into the parking spot and turned off the engine. Glancing over at Harper, he waited for her to respond.

A warm feeling coursed through his veins. This woman made him happy by doing the simplest things. Even sitting here on a Saturday afternoon about to do the one thing he hated most—shopping for clothes—he was just happy to be with her. He fought the side of him that wanted to scrap the gentlemanly behavior and fuck her raw for days straight. No matter how much Anders wanted to stake his claim, he wasn’t sure Harper was ready for him.

“You should,” she said. Her tongue came out to lick her plump lips. She gave him a slight smile. “I only do this for the men I care about. And you’re someone I want to take care of.” Harper did not mean to give so much away, but the words came out of her mouth, and she couldn’t take them back.

He leaned back. “Harper, unless you want me to turn this car around and take you somewhere no one will hear you scream, I suggest you stop giving me that look. Get your sexy ass out of the car. Come on,” he sighed, “let’s get this over with so we can discuss more important things.”

Hand on the door handle, she gasped. “Hold on. Did you just call me sexy?” Because his words had definitely done something to her, and she would have no problem letting him do anything and everything he promised.

“You know you are. Don’t act brand new with me. Come on. Let’s go inside before I lose myself and give you what your eyes are begging for.”

Shook from his words, Harper could do nothing but open the door and do exactly what he told her to do. But now that the cat was out of the bag, maybe it was time to move things along. As she walked into the store, Anders brought up the rear. She couldn’t help but put a little more swing in her hips. Things were definitely about to get interesting.

Chapter 5

The bar was packed. Saturday night was usually busy, and Anders couldn’t be happier with how successful it was. Having a business that was a pillar of the community, was the culmination of his dreams. Coming from a family who struggled to have enough food to eat every week, he never dreamed this would be his life. He was still close to his parents, and he knew they were proud of him and everything he achieved in life. With all that he’d done over the years and who he was today, he never forgot where he came from.

Being the owner of a small business, where regulars could come in each night to drink, eat, and have fun, was not what he expected for his life.

After he joined the military and experienced the things he had over the years, Anders was positive that he would be a lifer. Someone who gave their life to the country. He knew when his life ended, it would be on a desert battlefield. His mission fulfilled. No wife. No kids. The life insurance from his death would sustain his family for years to come.

But he didn’t die. When he returned home, he did not know what to do with his life. He went to meetings with other veterans to deal with the feeling of no longer being needed. Even after speaking with Parker and Ian, his military buddies, he was still on shaky ground. He even toyed with leaving Virginia and moving across the country. Something stopped him. A pull to this city that he didn’t understand.

Then he saw this place. It was empty. Available for lease. There was nothing about it that would stand out as a place where he could build a future. Even still, he knew he had found his new calling. Anders had a new mission, and he was damn good at getting whatever he wanted.

And now, Anders wanted Harper.

She called to him in ways he never expected. He wasn’t too proud to admit that he was happy as fuck that she’d walked into his bar that night. As he thought about their outing earlier today, he knew they were getting to the point of no return.

The sly smiles she threw his way. She even walked with an extra twist of her hips. Harper may not think he noticed those things, but he did. And so did his dick. He had no problem showing her that he was aroused by her presence, but in the middle of an upscale clothing store was not the place.

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