Page 25 of Beaches, Bagels & Babes
“Well, still, I’m sorry.”
A sincere, knowing smile tugged the woman’s full, dark red lips. “Family is more than blood. You might not have picked him, but the Panopoulos’ pickyou. Don’t be a stranger.”
With that,TheiaThea went off to take care of any one of the million other things that demanded her attention in the bustling place. It was odd. A warm, contented feeling filled Candace as her gaze followed the motherly woman set to work. It was a familiar sight, but one she had not seen in so long. Was this what other people felt like when they returned home? For the first time since she came back to Wonderwood, pleasant memories stuck out over the bad.
After finishing what they could of their platters and wrapping the rest to go, Candace begrudgingly let Demi paytheir tab. It was cheap thanks to a family and friends discount, which made her grateful heart grow to bursting. She waited while Demi hugged her cousins goodbye, fighting back happy tears.
The pair left Zeus' Torch and exited onto the boardwalk. Despite the slight chill of the May evening, the place was packed with people crammed from storefront to rail. Candace watched the bustle with awe. In just a few short, weeks schools would let out, and the shoobies would arrive in full force. More so than ever, she was sure this would be a record-breaking summer.
Down the boardwalk, too far to see, Candace wondered how Rio was doing at the bagel cafe. Daisy had to be long gone. It was nearly closing time, and they had both been up since well before dawn. Longer, in Candace’s case, since she had never been able to fall asleep. She could not believe she had gotten through that whole shift, a yoga class, and was still standing. After stuffing her face, all she wanted to do was crash.
And yet, her eyes lingered in the direction of Bagel Bombs!.
Beside her, Demi gave Candace a peck on her cheek. “If there’s one thing I’m sure of, it’s that you know how to get what you want. Business-Candace has her time and place. But, if this is really what you’re after, you might need some sweetness to draw them in.”
“You’re probably right.”
Candace cringed. It was time for Candy to come out and play.
Chapter 8
Daisy
The last days of May melted away until the metaphorical pressure cooker was set and locked. Memorial Day, the unofficial kickoff of the summer season, was coming up fast. Daisy was surprised, confused, and (she realized with a fair amount of annoyance) glad when Candace continued to show up. Aside from the shifts helmed by Rio or Dotty, the woman jumped right into Daisy’s admittedly grueling schedule.
Every morning, as Daisy pulled up to the back lot, the woman was waiting there with a bright smile and her arms open to help carry the inventory. Apart from a mild phone addiction, she was a model employee. Great with customers, a multi-tasking wiz, and never complained about sidework.
It was the bare minimum for someone who wanted to have a personal stake in the business, Daisy reminded herself. All that effort was not forher. Candace worked for Candace’s interests.Even so, it was hard to ignore the excitement bubbling inside her. The chance of something new, the chance for change… Daisy knew that she needed to be careful, or she would get burned.
It was a particularly hot day, the hottest of the season so far, that things boiled over.
Daisy could not believe how busy they were. From the minute she opened, the pair was met with a line of hungry customers. While Candace handled the register, Daisy danced between the ticket spike, the freezer, and toaster oven fulfilling orders. It was close quarters, with multiple bumps and accidental brushes against her would-be partner. However, they both soldiered on.
The business did not let up even as Rio arrived for their evening shift. Daisy stayed on to help, and so did Candace without even being asked. A mix of concern and giddiness struck Daisy as she noted that they had nearly blown through their whole inventory. A problem, but a welcome one.
In a lull between customers, Daisy took over the register while Rio and Candace cleaned up. Despite her uptight demeanor, the woman was not afraid to get dirty. On her hands and knees, Candace scrubbed the disgusting gap between the floor and the oven.
Like her first day and every other day, she was not dressed for the job. Her top was a form-fitting but modestly cut plum-colored blouse. It buttoned and tucked neatly into a snug pair of high-waisted creamy white slacks, secured with an accenting black belt. White pumps lifted her calves and tensed the muscles underneath.
Crouched as she was, squatted like a frog to avoid staining her clothes, Daisy again noticed her subtle athleticism. Despite her awkward position, she balanced with ease on the balls of her feet even as she furiously worked away grime.
There was something else Daisy could not help noticing.
Candace faced the opposite direction. Her belt pulled taught at the linen pants, creating a gap and, although her shirt wastucked, it lifted while she scrubbed. Lifted, and revealed the smooth and lily white skin underneath… along with the trace curve of a thong’s purple lace.
Unconsciously—with no subtlety—Daisy craned her neck up, angling to see more. Why did such an awful human have to have such a perfect peach of an ass? It wasn’t fair. Daisy thought she remembered the woman mentioning yoga in one of her overly familiar customer chats. Did yoga sculpt butts? Daisy had no idea, but if that’s what Candace wanted, the results were plain to see.
It was only Rio’s voice, wry and tilting, that broke Daisy from her lechery.
“I see why you’ve wanted to work all these shifts with her. She’s like a nice Regina George.”
“She’s still training,” Daisy shot back in a low hiss. Rio gave her a pointed look. “And she’snot‘nice.’”
“Uh-huh. I remember you leaving me to work this place alone after one day.”
“What can I say? You’re a star.”
Daisy’s attempted brush-off fell flat as Rio crossed their arms over an oldPower Rangerstee.
