Page 52 of Like Sugar

“No, sugar.I already told my father this was happening.He asked that I try to keep it subdued as long as possible, and I got on the next flight.Elle has been working on a press plan with his team.If the world finds out right now, my question is the same.Will you please come home with me?”

“As Wyatt’s nanny?”

“No.As my girlfriend.”

“And if I want to keep it quiet?”

I wiped water off my face.Rain soaked me to the bone, but I wasn’t leaving this spot without her.“You call all the shots.As long as you come home with me.”

“You have to tell my dad.”She jutted her chin at the man now standing behind her.

“Mr.Rodriguez.I don’t deserve your daughter, but I’m hopelessly in love with her.”Her dad’s eyebrows hit his hairline.“Please don’t murder me in the street.”

“She’s twenty-one,” he said, crossing his arms across his chest.

“I know.Trust me, I know.”

“Didn’t youjustget divorced?”He eyed me suspiciously.

“A year ago, sir.And I have a kid.His mother is my ex-wife’s sister.I’m a mess, but I love your daughter and I am begging her to come home with me.”

“What makes you think my daughter wants to get involved in your drama?”

“I was hoping she loved me too,” I shrugged.“We’ll figure out the rest.”

“People voted for you?”he asked, incredulously.Candace smirked.

“I believe you did, sir.You and your wife endorsed me.Publicly.”

“So we did.”He leaned down and said something to Candace I couldn’t hear.The pair laughed and I couldn’t decide if that was a good sign or a bad one.“Probably rethink that when you are up for re-election.”

I shifted on my feet.“I don’t think I’ll be running.It’s too much on Wyatt to go back and forth.When my term is over, I’m moving back here so I can be close to him.”

“Can I let the poor man in now, sweetie?”he asked Candace.

“Give us a minute, daddy?”she asked.He left the doorway, and I remained on the sidewalk in the rain.“Say it again.”

“Which part?The part about quitting?Or the part where I beg you to come home with me?”

“The part where you tell me why you want me to go home with you.Loud enough that the neighbors can hear you.”She gave a mischievous grin.

I took a deep breath so I could yell.“I love you, Candi.Please come home with me.”

“You can come inside, Mason.”

Chapter31

Candace

Staring at Mason standing in the pouring rain as he yelled that he loved me had me melting like ice cream in the microwave.Then he had to throw in my nickname, and I was a goner.As much as I wanted to stay mad at him, I wanted to run into his arms and tell him I loved him too.

Instead, I told him to come inside.No reason to let him get out of this the easy way.I left the doorway as he made his way back up the sidewalk into the foyer so I could get him some towels.

“There’s a bathroom over there.Toss your clothes in the dryer,” I said as I handed him the towel and he dried his dace and hair.

“And stand in the middle of your house naked?”he asked, glancing over at my dad in the kitchen.

“Absolutely not,” my father replied.“There’s a bathrobe in there you can throw on while your clothes dry.No funny business.Stay where I can see you.”

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