Sweet Tooth Page 15

  “Yeah. Probably being paranoid.”

  “Doubt it. Instinct is often right. You always doubted Derrick. That’s why you kept dumping him.”

  Arianna snorted. “Didn’t stop me from taking him back too many damned times.”

  “But you’re done with him. And had you listened to your instinct, you wouldn’t have taken him back.”

  “Maybe. I’m not even sure why I kept letting him back in. It wasn’t ever the same after I came back from college.”

  “At least you finally learned your lesson.”

  “Got that right. Now I need Derrick to butt out of my life. I don’t want him to fuck this up with Isandro.” She leaned back and closed her eyes.

  “Don’t think you have to worry about that anymore. Isandro has him figured out. He won’t let Derrick get in your way.”

  “Hope not. Isandro is everything I never thought I’d have.”

  “Why?”

  “Used to assholes like Derrick.”

  “What about Trent?”

  “He’s a good friend. We didn’t click. Which is good, because he was meant for Ella. And he isn’t Isandro.” Then she sighed. “Can I ask you something?”

  “Sure.”

  “Carson. How did I never know?”

  Marissa shook her head. “Most of our relationship took place in Vegas.” She smiled sadly and looked away. “Carson and I had been friends throughout school. He helped a lot after I left Randy. Once I dumped the asshole, he took me on a weekend to forget. That weekend turned into our entire summer break from college. We eloped that first weekend.”

  “How did it end?”

  “We came back a few days before our next semester. He told his mother. She got in his head, twisted it all around. He didn’t fight her, and I signed the divorce papers.”

  “I’m sorry. He was always a pussy.”

  Marissa laughed. “Shit, let’s not talk about the douchebags in our pasts.”

  “Is there a man?” Arianna asked.

  “Nope. Not right now. I’m not even sure what I’m looking for.”

  “Ever get lonely?”

  “I go out. I try men on. They haven’t worked out. Most are intimidated by a woman with authority.”

  “I’m sure others are turned on.”

  “Sure, and half of those men are pussies. I want a man who knows what he wants but doesn’t want to control me. Probably too much to ask.”

  “I don’t know. Isandro’s that kind of man.”

  “After all the shit we lived through, it’s a miracle. I’m glad he didn’t turn out like my father.”

  “Me too. I sure as hell can’t resist him.”

  Marissa covered her face with a wince. “Don’t want to know. That’s my little brother. I may be happy for you two, but ignorance is bliss.”

  Arianna giggled. “I wouldn’t spill any of our secrets.”

  “That’s a relief. Now, you want someone to hang out with? Or want to get back to reading?”

  “He won’t be here for a few hours, but if you’d like a glass of wine, you’re welcome to stay. We could find a movie. But if you want to go home I’ll be fine.”

  “I’d take a glass of wine.”

  * * * *

  Isandro came home to find Marissa watching an action movie while Arianna had fallen asleep on the couch. Maybe he’d kept her up too late the night before.

  “Hey, she crashed a little while ago,” Marissa whispered. “We had some wine. She really does love you.”

  “She’s it for me.”

  She looked over at Arianna with a smile. “You’ve always wanted her. I’m glad it worked out.”

  “Yeah, but I didn’t expect to fall in love. Not like this. All I want is her to be happy. It guts me to know how her mother treats her. And her piece of shit ex did a number on her confidence.”

  “I think it’s safe to say you’ve given that back to her.”

  “She’s getting there.” He looked down at Arianna and smiled. “I should eat, then take her to bed.”

  Marissa hopped up. “Like I told her, ignorance is bliss, little brother.”

  Isandro smirked. “Get out of here. I’ll see you soon.”

  “Have a good night.” She left, and he set the alarm.

  Arianna didn’t wake while he ate. She was so peaceful he almost didn’t move her. But the bed would be more comfortable than the couch.

  He carefully picked her up.

  Her arms went around his neck as she snuggled against his chest. “Mmm, missed you, Isandro.”

  “Time for bed, sleepyhead.”

  “You eat?” she murmured.

  “Yeah.” He laid her down, and she scooted out of her clothes while he undressed. “I would have done that.”

  “I don’t mind,” she murmured. “I get to have you wrapped around me faster this way.”

  “Hmm, I do love to have your skin against mine.” He climbed in beside her and pulled her into his arms. Then she slid her silken thigh between his and tucked her head under his chin.

  “Glad you’re home.”

  “Me too. Still scared?”

  “Not with you here.” She yawned, and he rubbed his hand up and down her back, urging her back to sleep. In the morning, they could make love. For now, he wanted to hold her.

  Chapter 20

  The next day, Arianna walked into her office and grabbed a piece of paper and a thick Sharpie. She wrote out Hiring. Inquire inside.

  Isandro watched her from the door with a grin. “That mean you’ll get to spend more time with me?”

  She laughed. “I certainly hope so. I’ll probably still come in daily, but I won’t feel the need to be here open to close.”

  “Good. You work too hard six days a week. You deserve more than one day off.”

  “Not ready to skip coming in to deal with the books. Maybe if I can find the right employee and I trust them, I’ll consider it.”

  “And what happens if you want to take a vacation?”

  “Then I close the shop for it. I haven’t taken more than an extended weekend in a long time, though.” She sucked in a breath and let it out. “All the places I wanted to go are places Derrick didn’t want to go with me because they required bathing suits.”

  “Fucking bastard,” he muttered. “You do realize I’ll go anywhere with you, clothes or no clothes.” He paused and looked up at the ceiling a second. Then he grinned. “Yeah, I could handle men seeing you mostly naked as long as you’re with me.”

  Laughing, she hugged him. “You have a way of making me feel like the sexiest woman alive.”

  “You are.”

  Didn’t even matter if he was the only one who believed that. She loved hearing it come out of his mouth.

  She walked to the front of the building with a grin and taped the sign to the window.

  “Where should we go on vacation?”

  “Hawaii, Jamaica, Bahamas, I don’t care as long as there is sun and sand, and lots of blue ocean.”

  He moved closer with his sexy grin. “We should do it. Together. When do you want to go?”

  “Next month? Month after? I don’t know. How long does it take for you to get time off work?”

  “A month is doable. Set a date, tell me how much my portion is, we’ll go.”

  “Really?”

  “Hell yes. You parading around in a bikini all day, every day. Do you even have to ask?”

  Grinning, she wrapped her arms around his neck. His mouth descended on hers in a heated rush.

  The bell rang and someone cleared their throat.

  She turned to find a young woman blushing. “Am I interrupting?”

  “No. Sorry. We got excited,” Arianna stammered.

  Isandro backed away with a smirk.

  “I could come back,” the girl offered.

  Arianna shook her head. “No, please. Can I help you?”

  “Yeah, I wanted to inquire about the job?” she pointed at the sign. “I’m Miley Munsen.”

  “I sh
ould get to work. I’ll see you later, Arianna?”

  “Of course.” She smiled.

  Isandro stole a quick kiss before slipping outside and heading to his truck.

  “Boyfriend?” Miley asked.

  “Yeah. He’s pretty amazing. Sorry about that.”

  “I understand. What exactly are you looking for? Full-time I can’t manage. I’m still in college, but I do need a part-time job.”

  “Well, come on back. We’ll discuss your availability and we may be able to work something out.”

  “That’s perfect.”

  * * * *

  Isandro still wore a grin when he walked into the firehouse. He could taste Arianna on his lips. His favorite flavor in the world.

  Metcalf’s brow arched. “Hey, what’s going on with you?”

  “Planning a sexy vacation somewhere in the tropics.”

  “With Arianna?”

  “Yup. I can hardly wait to get her alone for a week or two.”

  Metcalf smiled, but Isandro saw the pain in his eyes.

  “Have you called Jeanette?”

  “No. She doesn’t want to hear from me. She’s made that clear. At least she lets me talk to Ashton.” He sighed. “I’m done trying to convince her I’m better. She’s moved on. Engaged.”

  “Sorry, man. I don’t know what to tell you. That’s hard, and I know you tried for a long time to get her back.”

  Metcalf snorted. “I think she was already seeing Brett before she left me. He was there for her when I wasn’t capable. He’s the better man for her.”

  “Bullshit. If she was already with him, that’s not cool.”

  Looking away, Metcalf stuffed his hands in his back pockets. “I wasn’t there for her. She found what she was looking for. I wasn’t it. I can’t fault her, especially when I know how bad I fucked up that relationship.”

  “You’re a better man than me. Don’t think I could forgive that so easily. Especially with a kid involved.”

  “That’s the part that hurts. She took Ashton to New York, and I don’t get to see him often enough.”

  “Sorry.”

  “Not your fault. So, you and Arianna are looking to get lost in the tropics?”

  “Yeah. I told her to tell me when, how much, and where. There isn’t much I wouldn’t do for her.”

  “Then hold on tight.”

  “With both hands,” Isandro promised.

  * * * *

  Once Sweet Tooth closed, Arianna turned to Miley. “See you tomorrow afternoon?” She’d hired the girl to work a few hours, several days a week. Having Miley there allowed her to finish the chocolate orders faster.

  “Looking forward to it,” Miley answered and grabbed her things from the kitchen where she’d stashed them. “Have a good night, Arianna.”

  “You too.” Miley let herself out, and Arianna locked the door.

  Earlier Ella had invited her to come hang out with Mila, but after spending the previous evening with Marissa, she wanted to include her.

  She plucked the phone out of her purse and dialed.

  Marissa answered, “Officer Cortez.”

  “Hey, Marissa. What are you doing this evening? Think you might want to come hang out with the girls and me?”

  “What girls? Where?”

  Arianna giggled. “Ella and Mila. Come on, we’ll have fun.”

  She was silent a moment, then asked, “Where? What are we doing?”

  “Mila’s. Her kids are going to bed soon after we get there. They’re setting up a fondue pot. I’m bringing chocolates. Ella is making appetizers."

  “What am I bringing?” Marissa asked.

  Arianna frowned. “Um, not important.”

  “How long before we go?” she challenged.

  “Two hours.”

  “Perfect. I’ll bring drinks. Fruity mojitos, both alcoholic and non, since Ella doesn’t drink.”

  Arianna grinned. “Sounds good.”

  “Want to drive over together?”

  “Sure. I’ll see you later. I need to go home and change, but I need to close up the shop before I head to your brother’s.”

  “See you then.” Marissa hung up, and Arianna called Isandro.

  He answered after a couple rings. “Hey, beautiful. Getting off work soon?”

  Smiling, she answered. “Yeah, then heading over to hang out with the girls. We’ll be at Mila’s.”

  “Sounds like fun.”

  “I invited your sister. We’re driving over together.” She stopped at the counter and ran her fingers over the surface. “Thought we could get to know each other a bit better.”

  “Enjoy yourself, and if you’re still there when I get off, maybe I’ll pick you up.”

  “Either way, I’ll see you tonight.”

  “Go have fun. I need to get back to work.”

  Her heart swelled. He was so damned perfect. “Think of me,” she whispered.

  “All the time, Ari.”

  * * * *

  Isandro parked outside of Kyle and Mila’s house. He didn’t go to all the barbeques like Trent and Gavin, mostly because the Cortez’s did their own thing on the weekends.

  He walked up the steps, and Trent joined him. “Picking Arianna up?”

  “Yup. Looks like she rode with Marissa, which means I get her all to myself.”

  “We’ll have to start up the bigger barbeques again. We won’t mind your brothers coming. And Marissa is always welcome, especially after all the help with Logan.”

  Logan was Ella’s stalker. Bastard was in jail for a good long time.

  “Hey, I have a big back yard. So does Marissa. I’m sure we could have them over in our neck of the woods some of the time.”

  “Maybe the weekend after this one at my place. We’re looking forward to the cake. Then you can do one.”

  Isandro grinned. “Oh, you have no clue how good it is.”

  Feminine laughter leaked through the front door as Kyle opened it. “Come in. They’re cracking themselves up over dick cakes.” He glanced back with a smile. “I have no clue what’s going on at this point.”

  Isandro stepped inside and spotted Arianna sipping a strawberry mojito. No doubt his sister’s doing.

  Arianna’s eyes sparkled as they met his. Her smile widened. “There you are.”

  “Miss me?” he asked, ignoring everyone else in the room as he walked to her.

  She wrapped her arms around his neck and pressed against his body.

  He stifled a groan as he kissed her neck, behind her ear. “Missed you.”

  “You too,” she answered in a breathy whisper.

  Mila giggled. “Did you know Arianna is thinking of dong wedding cakes?” Then she busted up laughing.

  Arianna spun, a giggle escaping. “Doing wedding cakes—as in making them. Though…for the bachelorette party, I could probably come up with something.”

  “Oh my God, yes. Please, that would be perfect,” Ella exclaimed.

  Mila nearly doubled over she was laughing so hard.

  Kyle looked at Trent, then at Isandro with a raised brow. “Dong cakes? Seriously?”

  Arianna shrugged sheepishly. “Mila misspoke earlier, and we haven’t stopped laughing since.”

  Trent chuckled. “For you ladies, sure, but not at the wedding.”

  Isandro whispered in Arianna’s ear, “Think you can pull it off?”

  Her breath caught as she glanced back, her eyes locking on his.

  Marissa gave Isandro a smirk. “You taking Arianna home?”

  “I am. You okay to drive?”

  Smiling, she nodded. “I am.”

  Mila grabbed Marissa’s and Arianna’s hands. “We definitely need to do this again. I haven’t laughed this hard in forever. Maybe we can make it a regular thing.”

  Marissa looked at Arianna.

  Arianna nodded enthusiastically. “Definitely.”

  “I agree,” Marissa answered.

  Ella added. “Next week. And the week after. We’ll figure out the best n
ight for all of us.”

  “Sounds good,” Arianna offered. “Now, I’m going home with Isandro.”

  “Have a good night,” Mila called, waggling her brows.

  Arianna slipped her arm around his waist and whispered in his ear, “Maybe I should frost your dong and have dessert.”

  He nearly choked on his tongue as he walked her outside with a wave over his shoulder. “Have icing at home?”

  Her eyes sparkled as she met his gaze. “Mmhmm. You game?”

  Nodding, he did his best to keep from molesting her until they got home.

  Chapter 21

  Still no answers. Talbot hadn’t shown up. Arianna wasn’t sure if she should still be worried or not.

  At least Derrick and her mother had left her alone all week. Now she was in her shop, baking a dozen small cakes for Ella and Trent to taste. Ella offered to come hang out, but she was training the new girl.

  Miley was bubbly and learning fast. She hadn’t taught her to make any chocolate yet, preferring to do that herself, but if she worked out, eventually Arianna might. Maybe.

  “Hey, Arianna. Someone’s here for you,” Miley called.

  She walked out and found Isandro standing there with a vase of beautiful lilies. “Those are gorgeous.”

  He grinned. “I thought you might like them. Think you can get away for a little while? I was hungry and wanted to steal you for lunch if possible.”

  “If you can wait ten minutes. I have to pull the cakes out of the oven, and they need time to cool.”

  “Do I get a sneak peek?”

  Biting her lip, she nodded and headed back to the office, knowing what he wanted.

  He locked the door before wrapping his hands around her waist and backing her toward the desk. “Missed you.” His tongue swept into her mouth, dancing with hers.

  Desire poured through her as she opened his pants.

  “Better be quiet this time,” he whispered against her ear.

  “I’ll try,” she breathed, wrapping her hand around his hard cock. “God, I need you, Isandro.”