Free Gage, Ronna - The Search is Over (Siren Publishing Classic) by Ronna Gage

you made passes at Rafe.” Candi couldn’t believe he said that. He went too far. “Never mind, I don’t need or want to know the details.”
    “Good, there are no details to tell. I didn’t make any passes, not that it’s any of your business. I was…me.” She batted her eyelashes up at him. “I had a good time talking and joking with Rafe, and Jack.”
    “Yeah, I know how inviting you being you can be.” He softly covered her hand with his.
    She stepped back quickly. “Don’t…”
    “Sorry. That was a boneheaded thing to say,” he admitted, almost with a tinge of regret.
    The front door opened, stopping her comment. A small group of men entered the building, each one greeting her warmly as they passed.
    “Gotta go.” Candi let the matter drop. She took the drink tray and headed to the group.

    * * * *

    Jesse watched as she worked the group. Candi had a way of making everyone think she was there to be at his, or her, beck and call. She made every table feel special with the little things she provided.
    The couple in the back was catered to feel like the bar was the most romantic place in the world when Candi placed a rose scented candle on a paper lace doily in the center of the table. Jesse could feel his gut wrenching at the sight of her smile that she gave so easily to others and was now a commodity for him. He salivated as he noted her uniform. The black blouse settled just past her shoulders. The exposed skin was sexy. Her black miniskirt hit two inches above the knee and a classic black headband held her blonde hair back from her face. Her low-heeled pumps accentuated her firm calves as a silver ankle bracelet wrapped daintily around her right ankle. A diamond twinkled at him as she walked to the bar.
    Now, there was the neighbor—Rafe? Where did he come from? I have to put a stop to that budding friendship. I wish Candi wasn’t aware of Stephanie. It would make my stay less lonely . How can I convince her that I still want her? I can’t see her going to waste, or me either, for that matter . He couldn’t be celibate for five months until he got back to Idaho where Stephanie waited for him. A man needed to get some release and there was no one better at releasing tension than Candi.

Chapter Eleven

    Rafe walked around the auto shop, almost floating on air with happiness. Saturdays in the automotive business were hectic, even for a small mom-and-pop style store. His morning started at 5:00 a.m. He got up, showered, dressed in his uniform, and left for work. Today, he took a second look at Candi’s window. He arrived at the shop at 6:15 a.m. and immediately brewed coffee in the customer waiting room. He was in charge of the auto repairs while his dad ran the sales area of the small family-owned, after-market car repair business. Grabbing a cup of coffee and a cart, he pulled parts and accessories from the storeroom. Starting from the front and working his way to the back, he stocked parts on the shelves. The first phone call of the day didn’t bother his mood one bit. In fact, his heart fluttered with excitement. Could Candi be calling me? He looked at his watch for the time, but it was too early. He had actually smiled when he answered the phone, but became a little disappointed it wasn’t her voice he heard on the other end. He hung up the phone, smiled at the awing moment. “I can’t believe I’m hoping to hear from someone.”
    “Why are you in such a good mood?”
    Rafe looked up and saw his bay partner Evan Tyler. His muscular, medium build filled the small doorway. The man teased him with that knowing bad-boy smile.
    Evan worked out feverishly to keep his twenty-one-year-old body in high-school shape. His dark hair, brown eyes, and pearly white teeth had women falling over themselves to get close to him. Normally, women hated coming to the automotive shop until they saw Evan.
    “You look as if you just had the best lay of your life,” he taunted as he picked up a box from the cart