Page 1 of Kandi's Crush: A BWWM Sweet Billionaire Romance

1931 - 2019

Kandace

Ten Years Ago

My heartbeat echoed in my ears. I ran down the dark and narrow hallway as if my life depended on it.

His approaching footsteps grew louder as he gained on my lead. His legs were almost a foot longer than mine and far more powerful.

When I turned to look behind me, the turquoise of his polo shirt filled my view. For one second, I contemplated throwing my arms up in surrender and screaming ‘uncle’ while flashing a pretty little smile. But the look on his face said he wasn’t in the mood for games.

Run, Kandi! Run faster!

I pumped my arms harder and harder hoping they would become wings, allowing me to fly away from the chaotic scene. The rapid movements only made my chest ache as if someone had reached inside and squeezed my heart.

I was the fastest girl in my fifth-grade class, but I was no match for a high-school football player.

Two hours ago, we’d been in the middle of a weekly trip to Winn-Dixie when the piano riff ringtone on Mama’s new iPhone 3 blared over the noise of the busy grocery store. As she’d searched for the cellphone in her purse, I had prepared to run down the aisles for another last-minute request from my aunt. Mama rolled her eyes and immediately switched to her soothing and caring voice. It was the tone she reserved for old people, little kids, and Mrs. St. Clair.

Mrs. St. Clair’s shrill voice pierced the hum of the crowded store. Her frantic and hurried tones were so loud, I wondered if Mama had her on the speakerphone.

“Yes. I’ll make sure everything is okay, Genevieve,” Mama soothed. “I’m sure everything is fine. I’ll call you when I get there. Try not to worry and enjoy your vacation.”

A tacky person would call my mama a maid. She preferred to be called a household manager. My mother was the chef, laundress, and housekeeper for the St. Clair family. She also supervised the gardener and the evening housekeeper.

Mrs. St. Clair’s phone call had worried me. She always ruined my time with my mother. Today was Mama’s day off, and she’d promised we would hang out. Going to the grocery store and stopping by the St. Clair house wasn’t my idea of fun.

A groan escaped my lips as we’d pulled into the driveway behind the house, but the sight of Chadwick’s blue bicycle lying in the driveway put a tiny smirk on my face. Now, I could entertain myself. Chadwick was a fancy teenager who thought he had better things to do with his time than play with me. I loved getting under his skin.

We weren’t but a few steps into the kitchen when Mama presented me with a grape soda and bent down to look me in the eye.

“Go to the sun parlor. Sit in the chair and read your book. Don’t wander through the house. Don’t touch anything. Don’t break anything. And don’t push any interesting buttons,” she’d ordered.

Why did she always bring that up? How was I supposed to know it was the silent alarm? Nobody had gotten hurt.

“Do you hear me? Don’t start trouble.”

“Yeah. I heard you,” I’d answered. My eyes had wandered around the large white kitchen while I searched for something fun to do.

“Excuse me?” The sharp tone and hands on her hips instantly reminded me of my manners.

“Yes, ma’am,” I’d corrected softly.

Following Mama’s instructions, I had walked directly to the screened-in back porch and took a seat in one of the white wicker chairs. I reclined with my feet on the floral pillowed ottoman and found the page I’d marked in “Little Women.”

I’d only read three paragraphs when yellow and black wings fluttered over the pages of the book and my eyes traced the movements of the swallowtail butterfly until I lost sight of it. It was unusual to see butterflies in the late spring, and I wanted to see the beautiful creature up close.

Amidst the gentle hum of crickets and evening cicadas, I’d heard quiet voices. I strained to make out a low pleading whisper followed by a girlish laugh. Propelling myself from the chair, I had tiptoed across the gray slate tiled floors and peered through the window screen. Chadwick sat on the garden bench, his arm wrapped around a skinny blonde girl.

Is this the reason he ignores me? I’ll fix him!

Holding my breath, I carefully opened the screen door and stepped onto the staircase leading to the gardens. I breathed a sigh of relief when the screen door closed without alerting my presence. I crept down the stairs until I reached a large green shrub. The greenery dwarfed my tiny frame, hiding me from view as I leaned forward to peer around it.

The hand that wasn’t around the girl’s waist had inched upward beneath her t-shirt, and her rosy pink lips parted when Chadwick’s fingers tickled her bare flesh. She’d giggled while playfully swatting his hand away.

The light hits hadn’t stopped Chadwick. His hand continued its slow trek along her skin until it reached its intended destination. ?He whispered in her ear before dropping his head and kissing her on the neck.

Yuck!

His lips then glided up her neck and stopped at her mouth. He’d licked her lips and then their tongues touched.

They were licking each other’s tongues! Gross!

I had averted my eyes as I struggled to keep my lunch down when the sound of a zipper shattered the silence and pulled my attention back to the two. I leaned further around the bush, hoping to get a better view of the scene.

“Come on, Regan. Touch it for one minute,” Chadwick moaned.

“Nooooo!” she’d squealed. Lowering her voice, she added, “That’s nasty.” She rapidly swung her head back and forth, looking at the neighboring houses. “Someone will see us.”

“It’s just us. We’re the only people out here. Look at what you do to me.”

“My mama told me I would get pimples if I touched a boy down there.”

“Not true. Your mama would be one big zit.”

She’d gasped in speechless shock at his statement.

“Chadwick St. Clair! I’m going home!”

“I’m fucking with you. Please, baby. Don’t go. Besides, God intended for us to populate the earth,” Chadwick had pleaded in a half-moan and half-coo. Regan seemed to soften reluctantly.

“Okay. But you have to promise you won’t tell.”

“Mmm. I won’t tell a soul. Don’t stop. Pump me . . . stroke me.” He sucked in a breath. “Yeah. Like that.”

“Wow! It’s like a snake. So big and thick.”

“I’m close. Keep going.”

I had risen on my tiptoes but lost my balance, and I crashed into the shrub. My fall interrupted the couple, and they’d both turned toward the noise. Regan stood to get a better view of the backyard while Chadwick frantically zipped his pants.

“Who’s there?” asked Chadwick. His face had been red with embarrassment as he stood.

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