Free Candy Crush by Tami Lund

front door
of the candy store. She carried two Styrofoam cups of steaming
coffee and Gabriella recognized her as one of the women who had
flirted with Brandon at the Chamber mixer last night. She was tall,
had high cheekbones, bright green eyes and brunette hair with lots
of red highlights. She wore a fitted black leather jacket, belted
over a black suit and she wore black boots with four-inch heels on
her feet. Gabriella was instantly suspicious. Butter was not. She
rushed up and wagged her tail, sniffing the woman’s feet.
    “Good morning,” she called, and Gabriella
walked toward the front of the store, feeling horribly inadequate
in her sweatshirt and jeans. She barely wore any makeup and she
wasn’t even wearing jewelry. If Brandon saw them side-by-side right
now, Gabriella was sure he’d quit chasing her and go back to what
he knew, because Gabriella was sure he’d slept with this woman at
one time or another.
    “What can I do for you?” Gabriella asked,
trying not to sound standoffish.
    “I brought coffee, do you drink it?”
    “Yes,” Gabriella admitted, because the fresh
coffee smelled wonderful.
    “Here.” She handed one of the cups to
Gabriella. “I doctored it with a little creamer. I hope that’s
okay.”
    Gabriella nodded. “Thanks.”
    The woman stood in the middle of the room
and took her time looking around. “You’ve really made progress in a
very short time. After the Sarantos’ are done on Saturday, you’ll
practically be ready to open next week.”
    “You know that Brandon’s family is coming to
help on Saturday?”
    “Sure. I’m sure I’ll be here too.”
    “Why?”
    “Because I’m pretty sure we’re going to be
sisters-in-law at some point, and family always helps family,
especially around here.” She looked mighty cheerful as she said
it.
    Gabriella fumbled with her coffee cup and
quickly placed it on the counter, next to the cash register so that
her suddenly jumpy hands would not spill it.
    “Excuse me?” she said, sure she had not
heard the woman correctly.
    “I’m Nicole Sarantos. Brandon’s
sister-in-law.” She was still grinning, clearly enjoying
herself.
    Gabriella frowned. “I thought you were one
of Brandon’s ex’s.”
    Nicole nodded. “Oh, I am. It was so long
ago; I hardly remember what it was like. Well, that’s not true.
Brandon is pretty unforgettable, and he was even back in high
school. I’m married to his brother now, and he’s pretty
unforgettable too. It obviously runs in the family. I figure I got
the bonus package.” Her grin widened.
    Gabriella found herself warming to the
woman, even though she wasn’t sure she wanted to. “So who do you
think I’m going to marry?”
    “Brandon, of course. God, the older women in
the family will be so ecstatic. I hope you like the idea of a big
wedding. Yours will be the wedding of the century around here.”
    “I think you can cancel the invitations.
That is not going to happen.”
    “Have you slept with him yet?”
    “Of course not,” Gabriella blustered.
    “Definitely not cancelling the invitations.
I was there last night. I saw that emotional display. Brandon’s
never shown that much emotion over a woman, ever. I’ve known him
since we were in diapers.”
    Gabriella stared at her, unable to form any
sort of response. She thought about the emotion he expressed
yesterday evening. He’d been possessive, angry, demanding… Hardly
emotions that could be mistaken for love.
    “Anyway, my husband and I run the local
insurance agency.” She pulled a card out of her purse and set it on
the counter. “I don’t know if you’ve insured this place yet, but
we’ll give you the family discount, which is going to be better
than anywhere else you check. Just call me, and I’ll send Anthony
out to assess the building and put together a quote. Or he can just
do it Saturday, since we’ll both be here.”
    Gabriella nodded absently, because she did
need to insure both the store and the apartment