Page 64 of Candygrams

I come back into the room after showing Mr. Perkins where the problem is with the heating and air unit and introducing him to the man fixing it currently. The only reason I left my Lilly this morning was to greet the man and show him where he would be working - which was as far away from my little sleeping beauty as I could possibly get him without just asking him to leave.

“Mr. Baxter, Ander, may I call you Ander?” I really do not like Lilly’s mother.

I don’t answer her and instead ask a question of my own, “Where is Lilly?”

The daughter answers, “Oh, she left. She said last night was a big mistake and she realized you deserved better. I wouldn’t worry about her at all.”

“She left?”

Both women nod and give me sympathetic smiles that I’m not buying. And I’m not buying that Lilly told her she thought last night was a big mistake either. These… women caused her to leave.

“Now that we’re alone, Ander,” the woman is about as manipulative and snake-like as her daughter is and I find myself backing up, “might I introduce you to my lovely daughter, she’s much more attractive than her little sister. This is our Camilla.”

I snarl my nose up at her - and her daughter. Both women would sell the other if the price was high enough. I know exactly who these women are because they are a dime a dozen in my world. Hell, I had to worry about them before I became successful in business when the rodeo bunnies would try to throw themselves at me. All I want is Lilly. The sweet, kind, refreshing, and delicious Lilly. The girl who was so open and loving with me last night. My angel.

I spin on my heels and take off for where I think she might be but first I make my way up to the room I’ve been staying in and throw what little I’ve taken out back in my bag. I also grab the pictures on Lilly’s mirror since I don’t want them to take out their anger on something Lilly really cares about just because I told them no.

I’m back downstairs before the daughter can hit the second step. The father looks at me totally clueless and the mom and daughter give me pinched smiles - probably worried their behavior has cost them the sale of the farm. It’s the mother that notices my bag thrown over my shoulder.

“Where are you going?” That came out rather psychopathic. I think I’ve seen this movie before. It usually ends in the hero they are trying to keep having to fight his way free. It never ends well for the slutty daughter. Sorry, not sorry Camilla. “You can’t leave, we’re going to have a big dinner tomorrow. I ordered it from a top caterer in town. It will be here any moment now.”

“Thanks, but no thanks. I’m going to have my Thanksgiving dinner with my girl, but you enjoy that heat that’s not going to get fixed by then.”

I brush past them wanting to take a cold shower just touching them.

“Ander, my man, what about the sale? Are you not buying the…?”

“After the holiday, I’ll have the contract worked up. I want the sale to go through before the end of the year and I want you out of the house and off the land by the end of January.”

Without looking at the expressions that greet my declaration I turn and walk out the door. I’m on the phone with my assistant barking orders before I even leave the driveway. By the time I drive by the empty storefront of the shop she runs with her friends, I have her apartment address.

It’s the next place I drive to. A light warms the window facing the parking lot of the unit I know belongs to her. It’s a nice, clean group of buildings that have lots of grassy areas and a little pond off to one side with plenty of places to sit. I make my way through the door and up the stairs. I don’t have the patience to wait for the elevator. Not when I am taking the stairs two at a time just so I can be with her quicker.

I pull up short once I'm at her door. Apt. 2945. I want to just kick the door open and take her back to my penthouse with me. And of course, never let her go again, but Lilly is a wildflower. She needs the sun and the wind to blossom. I take a deep breath and talk myself down from banging on the door like an angry cop at four in the morning looking for a bad guy that beats old ladies and is mean to kids.

She opens the door, and all the air leaves my body. Her face is streaked with tears and her eyes are red-rimmed. She’s been crying.

When she realizes who I am, she tries to slam the door in my face. I catch it and push my way through causing her to back up and giving me my first look at what she’s dressed in. She’s wearing a thin, silky nightdress that barely reaches her upper thighs. Then I feel anger streak through me.

“You didn’t look through the peephole, did you? You didn’t check who I was before you opened the door to me.”

“Don’t you pretend like you give a shit!” She crosses her arms over her chest and her dress rises higher. “I don’t even want you here. You just pushed yourself through my door.”

“Answer me, sweetheart. Did you open that door without knowing who was on the other side while wearing next to nothing?”

“I don’t have to answer a damned thing. And don’t call me sweetheart. Or baby or little one.”

I try to tamp down my temper and focus on why she is so mad at me and why she’s been crying. “I know I should have told you who I was, sweetheart.”

“Ya think!” Her eyes narrow after her words. “I expect this shit from my parents but clearly it seems everyone is as fucked up as they are. Or maybe they just found some asshole just like them to sell the farm to. Either way, none of that is my problem anymore. Now leave.”

“I can’t do that, Lilly, and you know it.”

“Really? The sheriff will have a different take on that. He’s always wanted a date with me. I’m sure I could have him drag you out of here and escort you to the county line.”

If she had said anything else, any damned thing else, I would have kept my hands to myself.

“I’m sure he’ll appreciate how I’m dressed too. Since it seems you have such a problem with it.”

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