Page 1 of Candygrams

Chapter One

Candy

I can do this. I can do this. I’ve got this. I am the captain of my own ship or something like that. I push the car door open and step out. The street I am standing on isn't very busy right now but that's because I'm here so late. This is a small town - the streets are pretty empty by around five every day and dead on Sundays. I’m told that summer is busier and that the town stays fuller.

I love people - well, I love people-watching. I love to imagine what their life might be like and who they might be. It's the peopling that actually pisses me off, I'm just no good at it. Thank God for Bon Bon and Lolly. They’re the ones that will make this crazy endeavor work out in the end. I just have to make sure they have what they need and one of the ways I am doing that is by coming to this town, moving here from the city, and checking out prospective properties to find just the right storefront for our little bakery and candy shop.

This town is so appealing to us because Bon Bon, or Bonny as everyone except us calls her, already lives here. Lolly, or Lilly, lives in the next little town over, so she’s very familiar with the area as well. It's only me who seems to be out of place. I check my notebook and my watch again. A man is leaning against the building I am supposed to be looking at. He is neither the proprietress nor the person I am supposed to be meeting. So why the hell is he just standing there looking at me?

Finally, after he's raked his eyes up and down me more than once he straightens, "Are you Candace?"

"Yes." He holds his hand out for me to shake but I don't automatically give him mine. "You don't look like a Mini to me."

He laughs loudly. Loud enough to make what few people who are still around pause and turn towards us. "I'm Mini's nephew. She wanted to be here to show you around and meet you, but she had a four o'clock bingo thing that ran long so you got me. Storm Carson." He keeps his hand out and I realize there is no getting out of giving him my hand.

"Candace Wilson." I try to pull my hand back out of his, but he hangs on. His thumb caresses the skin causing chills to break out on my body, but I shut them down. There is no way I am showing this guy how hot he is. He's the type of man who already realizes that and has been told by every woman he's ever met.

"Well Candy, we should get started." He finally lets my hand go and turns to unlock the door. I cringe At the nickname he uses.

"It's Candace." If he heard me, he doesn't let on, just holds the door open for me to walk through.

I go through the whole building with him and find that he is surprisingly knowledgeable about everything. The man knows his stuff.

To my surprise, there is even a little apartment above the store space. On the way up he hits on me, "You're new here, right? Why don't you let me take you out tonight and show you the best places to go on a night out?"

"Why don't you just show me the apartment and leave it professional." He does but he also doesn't give up; continually flirting with me. He never pushes too hard or causes me to worry about being alone with him. He just keeps flirting.

"So what do you think?"

"It looks like the perfect place for what we want to do."

"We?" Is he really asking me who the other people in this with me are? Or is this just a ploy to hit on me again?

"It will be me and two other women."

"Ah, will you all be needing the apartment too?"

"No. Yes. I'm not sure just yet." I don't just want to come out and tell this guy I need a place to live because I don't have one as of now. "Is it extra?"

"No, the price is included in the rent for the bakery." Well, that’s the first bit of good news I've heard all day.

Darkness has fallen and a light rain and snow mix has started to fall when we step outside and he locks up. I'm staying with Lolly tonight and need to get going so I don't have such a hard time making my way to her house. "I'll talk it over with the girls and let you know something tomorrow. I'm sure it will be perfect for what we need, and the price is good so as long as they agree I can't see any reason we couldn't go through with signing the lease."

"Terrific. I'll let Aunt Mini know." He offers me a million-watt smile that I am sure all the ladies around here fall for before offering me his hand one more time.

This time I shake it just so I can be on my way. But he doesn't let go right away. "Sure you don't want to take me up on that night out?" I pull my hand away from his.

He's persistent I'll give him that. "I'm sure I should be flattered that you want to spend time with me," I walk to my car as I'm talking, "But I have no intention of taking a ride on the hottest rail in town. I'm sure there have been too many trains on the track, and I won’t be the next box...car on your groove train."

I wait for him to get pissed and tell me to go to hell or that he will make it so we never have business in this town again. It's what I'm used to from men who think they are in positions of power. So when he gives me a killer smile and only leans in closer to my car I'm taken aback. "But you do think my rail's hot."

With that, he turns and makes his way back to a big truck that is parked not far off.

"See ya soon, Candy."

I climb into my car and sit for a few seconds. This guy has thrown me more than anything else has in a long time. The location is good but how am I going to deal with this guy if we choose this town to start our dream in? More importantly, how am I going to resist his charm?

Chapter Two

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