Free Candy Store by Bella Andre

of relief. Derek’s assistant seemed a whole lot less scary when she had chocolate smudged on her lips.
    “I didn’t mean to interrupt you,” she said, after Alice had bitten into the truffle with a sound of delight.
    Alice held up her hand, making it clear that she wanted to finish the chocolate in silence. Callie grinned, pleased that her candy made people so happy.
    But her grin fell away as the woman said, “I wasn’t sure that I approved of your relationship with Derek at first—it is unprofessional for a consultant to date his client, after all—but now I can see that you’re the best thing that’s happened to him in some time.”
    Callie was frozen where she stood.
    “I love him like a son and he’s about to make the biggest mistake of his life. I want you to stop him.”
    Callie's brain struggled to catch up. “Do you mean how he’s closing his business?”
    Alice nodded, her lips tight again in disapproval.
    “Has he talked to you about it?”
    “No. But that boy can’t hide anything from me. Never could, never will. I’ve known for months. But I also know that he hasn’t made it official yet by firing me because he doesn’t really want to shut down his dreams.”
    “Alice, I appreciate you coming here to try and help Derek, but I don’t think he’s going to listen to me.”
    Alice’s eyes were bright. “Honey, that’s where you’re wrong. You could tell him to jump off of a cliff and he’d do it. It’s up to you to make sure he doesn’t make the biggest mistake of his life. I’m counting on you.”

    * * * * *

    That night as Callie sat in the chic new restaurant surrounded by Derek’s parents and his brother and wife, she was still trying to get Alice’s words out of her head.
    He doesn’t want to do it. It’s up to you to make sure he doesn’t make the biggest mistake of his life. I’m counting on you.
    Callie tried to focus on getting to know Derek’s relatives, all the while wondering when things had become so complicated. One day she was running a very small business and the next she was dating a passionate, complex man who was turning both her little store and her life upside down.
    Derek’s mother, Joan, turned to her and said, “So you’re the famous Callie from Callie’s Candies?”
    She blushed. “I don’t know about famous.”
    Joan waved her hand in the air. “Nonsense. My women’s group has been enjoying your truffles for years. And besides,” she said, lowering her voice, “John and I haven’t heard about anything else for weeks.”
    Callie stuttered unintelligible monosyllables, but Joan obviously wasn’t expecting a response.
    “John and I think it is just perfect that you and Derek found each other. Two candy lovers who are obviously in love with each other.”
    Callie had to clamp her teeth together to keep her mouth from falling open. She tried to smile, but she was sure her attempt looked pathetic. Thankfully, Joan was drawn into a conversation with her husband and Derek. Callie turned to Derek’s older brother, Jed, with relief.
    Jed leered at her and she barely repressed a shudder as she took in his beady eyes, oily hair, and bad breath. His wife, a thin dour woman, sat like a mouse beside him. Her eyes were glassy and Callie didn’t envy the woman one bit.
    “So you own a candy store,” he said, more a statement than a question.
    “That’s right. Callie’s Candies is just down the street.”
    Derek's brother rolled his eyes. “Candy,” he scoffed. “Good thing my brother has finally come to his senses.”
    Callie sucked in a breath. “Excuse me?” she said, her voice soft and still, working hard not to betray her growing anger.
    How could it be, she wondered, that Derek and Jed were related by blood? They were polar opposites.
    “I’ve worked on him for years to join me in the accounting firm. Something he’ll finally get some respect for. Do you know how embarrassing it is to be related to the Candy King?” The words ‘Candy