Chapter 2

I got out of my car, waited for the traffic light and then walked towards the small breakfast diner Shelly and I met at every Saturday morning for breakfast. More like coffee and tea most the time. I wore a sun dress, with a strapless bra underneath. My small white back pack purse swayed back and forth. A yellow head band holding my auburn hair back away from my matching eyes. I sighed opening the door. I waved at Dora and found Shelly in our booth. I walked over as she saw me.

"You have a lot to explain!" She said as I sat down setting my purse on the bench next to me. I took out my small electronic note book to access the internet as I read over my assignment that was due Monday. "Richard didn't come back to the party and I heard him and Jason talking this morning."

"Really? What were they saying?" She looked at me. "Come on, amuse me."

"They were sitting down for their morning poker like they always do on Saturdays. Jason didn't say much witch isn't like him at all. Then he asked Richard about you."

"Hot tea please." I said as the waitress came over to ask what we wanted.

"Coffee, decaf. Richard grinned, leaning back in his chair, looking at Jason as if he had the best night of his life!"

"Yea I bet that late night program was a good one. It normally is." I said using my stencil to answer questions on the test.

"You mean you didn't…."

"No." I placed the device on the table top just as our drinks arrived. "I want the fruit bowl." Dora laughed.

"Always such a light morning eater. Princess?"

"Same here too." Dora nodded then disappeared again as we doctor up our hot drinks. "So you and Richard never.."

"Nope. It was only an act to get Jason jealous. I am going to assume it worked?"

"More then you think it did!" She exclaimed. The shocked expression turning to one of amusement. "I can't believe you thought that all up within a few seconds."

"A chef has to be on her toes." I took a drink. "So what did Jason say?"

"Oh… Richard said it was the best night of his life. He had never had any one as passionate as you were." Our fruit came as she continued. "Mike looked from one friend to the other. Jason asked if he had gotten your name. He looked thoughtfully at his cards, put three down to exchange then back up at Jason telling him she had told him to call her Madam."

"Swift." I said eating my fruit.

"After that all three men seemed to be silent until Mike started talking about sports. Then the conversation went from there but you were never brought up again. Richard isn't going to be there tonight. He's got a meeting across seas." I gave a shrug.

"Suppose to be a virgin too when they marry. That's part of the problem." She said mixing the coffee in her cup. "He thinks she is so innocent that she wouldn't even consider sleeping with someone else. He even told his mother to pass doing the lie tests. Honestly, do they really see past her sexual appeal to Henry?"

"They must or else we wouldn't be doing this."

"You mean you."

"You're the one that invited me to the stupid party." She shrugged, looked at her watch and popped her last berry in her mouth. "I'm suppose to be meeting mom and Wench at the boutique. Picking out dresses." She stuck her tongue out as I grinned. "I really hate that she's forcing me to do this."

"I hate it too, Shelly." She smiled, left money to pay for both of us and left the diner. I sighed stirring my tea in my cup. The waitress came by and took Shelly's things as I read my note book.

"Lets ask Candice!" I jerked up right when thighs had touched mine, an arm on the back of the bench and across from me a pair of gray eyes. I rolled my eyes to be looking over at Jason. I placed my electronic book next to me so that he couldn't see what I was doing. His blue eyes on me the same light color. I moved over and looked up at the brothers.

"Ask me what?" I asked back almost timidly. Mike grinned as Richard smiled.

"Well, you see, I met this wonderful women at the party last night…"

"Yea, Shelly told me." I said almost excited. Jason's eyes never leaving my face as I beamed at Richard. "She said that you guys danced, met again, then disappeared."

"Alright that's not what we are here to ask." Jason said shifting in the seat keeping his arm draped over the back of the bench. All sets of eyes were on him as he looked from me to a murderous look at Richard. "What we want to know.." He said looking back down at me. "Is would you ever not give your real name to someone then sleep with them." I felt the blood reach my cheeks before I could look down at my empty bowl of fruit. The moment was interrupted by Dora.

"Well, good morning, Jason." She said bowing only slightly to him. Under the table I felt Richard's foot rub my leg in a reassuring way. I looked up at him as he winked. I looked back up at Dora.

"Good morning, Dora." He said with a nod of his head. "Got any good specials going on this morning?"

"Only what you want." She said winking at him.

"Sausage, egg, and biscuit sandwich with real coffee. Not the crap my sister likes to drink."

"The morning trio." Mike said.

"Just tea. Make it a pot since it looks like Candice is about to run out too." I smiled a thanks to him. "More fruit?" He asked that same teasing husky drawl he had used last night. I blushed more as I felt Jason's attention on me. His arm almost tightening about the bench behind me.

"Sure!" I exclaimed. Dora nodded.

"Be right back then." She disappeared. I put my finger under my lower lip to think.

"Well, I really don't know." I said looking over at Jason just seconds before the look of murder and jealousy was replaced by one of amusement. "I've never been with a guy to begin with. I'm not really a pl…"

"Are you saying you've never had a relationship?" Mike blurred out. All three of us looked at him as his gray steel eyes were on me blankly.

"No…." I said low. "No one has caught my eye, I guess." I gave a slow shrug as I stirred my tea again. I heard Jason about to say something when Richard's hand came over the table, placed firmly but gently on mine. I felt a giggle form in my throat as his gray eyes looked at mine.

"I would be willing to give you the chance." Knowing he was making a front for Jason, I smiled sweetly, adding a blush witch I had to think about Jason asking me to be his girl in order to blush.

"I would be willing to try." I said a little on the sheepish side. He smiled back, patted my hand and withdrew. At that moment Dora came by with our stuff. Jason seemed to be stuck staring at the table as she did so. They talked as I tuned them out eating my fruit and with my back towards the window, I was doing my school work. I didn't want Jason to get a chance to look at my electronic note book. I just had to take this last test, get my assignment witch only included video taping myself making a cake from scratch and decorating it. I liked that idea. I had a camcorder and a tripod so it would make it all the more interesting. I was thinking of trying to make it into a cooking show witch Shelly and I had done once when we made dinner for my parents. Jason sat with his feet planted on the floor, his arms folded on the table and he had only taken a few bites from his breakfast sandwich. He stood tossing some money on the table leaving a lot of his food left. The coffee gone as he looked down at me. My feet were on the bench, note pad on my knees, my back against the window, and my amber eyes looked from that note pad to the blue eyes.

"Are you guys ready?" He asked. Both twins nodded at the same time, took some money out and placed it with his.

"I'll call you." Richard said as I smiled in response. They all got up and left the diner. Jason kept his hands in his pockets all the way into the men's store. My guess was he was getting suit for him and the guys. I watched as Mike opened the door. Richard went through and Jason stopped for a moment, looked at Mike as if he didn't really want to go through the door. Come on Jason! Back away! I thought. But no of course we weren't that lucky. He walked through, no expression on his face but if smoke could come out of your ears, you can guarantee that his would be smoking up the store. I waited for a minute before I gathered my things, thanked Dora and left the diner. I hated what we were doing to him. I hated that he couldn't see right through what Olyvia was doing to him and what he was getting himself into. He didn't need her. If not me, then someone that would treat him with love and care. Someone there for him when he needed, and faithful. Not some.. Whore wanna be screwing with his own staff or rather at the moment his treasurer. I sighed waiting for the traffic light to turn. If what we was doing wasn't going to work, then maybe he deserved to be treated like that. But then, no one did. No matter what they did or didn't do. My text alert went off. I took my phone out and looked at it. It was Shelly telling me to save her. I laughed typed back to grin and bare it besides we have a show to put on tonight. I got an lol back. I put my phone back in my pocket as the light changed. The walk light came on and I stepped forward.

"Candice!" I heard someone call. I didn't get a chance to turn when a pair of strong arms were wrapped around my waist, pulled towards them, and I heard honking horns as my face was buried in a scent of pure male. Mettle hit mettle as the pair of arms moved protectively around me. I could hear screams, yells, and gasps around me. I opened my eyes seeing a white under shirt. My hands flat on the chest as I looked up. Blue eyes looked around as people came to the curb. I placed my ear on his chest hearing his uneven heart rhythm, his breathing harsh as if he had just ran a marathon. I looked without taking my head off his welcoming chest, where the crowd was starting to gather. A few asking Jason if I was alright. He would only nod his head as I moved slowly away from him. His arm loosely around my waist as I looked at the scene in front of me. A red SUV was smashed on the side by a truck. Both vehicles looked to be almost totaled as I realized what could have happened instead of the car. The truck had run the red light the moment I was crossing the street. Somehow, Jason had seen the truck and pulled me out of the way right in time. I felt the blood drain from my face as I placed my head on his chest feeling a slight faint. His arm went up and down my back in a soothing gesture.

"Jason, what happened?" I heard both Mike and Richard ask at the same time.

"Speedy there ran the red light the moment Candice was crossing. I realized I left my phone at the diner and went to get it before we go too far into the measuring." I placed my cheek on his chest keeping my eyes closed.

"She looks pale. Lets get her out of the sun and in the store. Then she can sit for a moment." Richard said. I felt a protective squeeze from Jason. "Mike and I will stay here till the police get here. Then we will let them know what happened and get a statement from you and her." I felt Jason nod as he went to move from me. I placed my hand on my forehead closing my eyes.

"Candice?" His voice dropped to a concerned tone. I nodded my head and too late realized I shouldn't have done that. I swayed as I felt his arms under my neck, then my knees. He had turned as my hands were placed on his chest along with my cheek on his shoulder. My heart beat quickened as he nodded a thanks to the store owner as he took me in. He sat me on the soft bench seat at the front of the store and sat down next to me looking out the window. His back against the arm of the couch, his ankle tucked under him as his arm was on the back of the couch. I swallowed and swayed slightly. Wasn't sure if it was from being so close to him or to death. I felt his arm around my shoulder as he pulled me to him. "Are you alright? I know that must have shocked you." I nodded my head. I could hear the sirens as his hand moved up and down my back sending even more shock waves through my system. "Hm…" I heard him moan and my eyes shot opened. I felt the color in my face return as I was looking at his jean thighs. "Candi.." He hadn't called me that since we were kids. I shot up, straight in the couch. Still looking at him, his blue eyes cloudy as I moved back against the other arm of the couch. I ran my fingers through my hair, closing my eyes for a brief moment before looking out the window. His eyes never leaving me as I watched the ambulance examine the people that were in the cars. I saw Richard talking to the police and Mike talking to a medic. I hated Dr visits. I definitely didn't want some medic looking me over or taking me to the hospital.

"You should go back to your appointment. I know your busy on Saturdays."

"I'm busy 24/7." He said with a chuckle at the end. I looked up at him through my lashes as I noticed that little dimple showing up. I was always the one to make it appear. He had said so. My little child like antics always was his excitement for the day. Blood rushed to my cheeks again as the bell on the door rang. He looked at the tall uniformed police officer and stood, shaking the man's hand. "Neil." He said.

"Sir!" He nodded his head slightly. "I don't need statements. The girlfriend in the truck said he was driving and was on a cell phone. She had told him to get off the phone and drive when he yelled at her and ran the red light. How are you Candice?" He asked. I looked up at the older man's brown eyes faking a smile.

"I am OK. Grateful that Jason was there to catch me." He nodded adding a slight almost knowing chuckle at the end of it. I stood, adjusting my back pack purse on my back. Jason stood almost at the same time. "I am alright. I was just headed to the store to get a few things that's all. I will have to pay more attention to the cars around here. It's not every day I get almost ran over." Neil nodded then looked at Jason who was looking down at me.

"Good day sir, Candice." I smiled as he left. I looked up at Jason as I noticed Mike and Richard coming through. Richard came to stand next to me, his arm going around my shoulders to pull me in.

"Are you alright?" And the sparks flew from Jason's blue eyes. I nodded.

"Yea. I think I am going to go home though. No need to chance my luck anymore."

"Want an escort?" Richard asked. I nodded.

"Wouldn't hurt." I said as he grasped my hand entwining his figures with mine as he looked up at the now dark blue electric eyes.

"Be right back. I am going to make sure she gets to the car." It was Jason's turn to nod. He didn't say anything as Richard gave him the chance to. I walked along side Richard. "Where did you park?" He asked.

"Across the street by the groceries store." He nodded as we crossed the now closed street.

"Damn I've never seen Jason move so fast in my life!" He exclaimed as we came to my car. "He took off his over shirt, looked out the window for only a brief moment, said he would be right back. Mike and I looked at each other, watched him walk over to where you had just placed your phone in your pocket. He looked down the street when you crossed it. Grabbed you and we saw that truck run the light."

"So what your saying is he was watching me?" I asked.

"I am going to guess so. I think he was going to come out to talk to you." He let my hand go as I unlocked my car. "I think your really getting to him." He said leaning against the door. "And I can bet he's watching from the shop." I laughed.

"Probably. We aren't very far from it."

"I am sorry I can't be there tonight. I got a flight to catch at seven. I was able to squeeze this in."

"Then I won't take up your tux time." He laughed. I smiled, kissed his cheek as he moved from the door.

"Be safe, OK!"

"Yes I will. I am going to look both ways!" I exclaimed as I got in the car. He closed the door and went to walk back across the street. I didn't pull out right away. What was Jason going to say if he was going to come out before the car accident? I sighed. If it was important I was sure he would call or say something some other time. For right now, a nap, hot bath, and relaxing with green tea sounded good before my big debut.