Page 68 of Beaches, Bagels & Babes
Giving Candace one final look, Uncle Perry took the mic. He boomed, “My Candy is one of a kind, isn’t she? Falls into a closet for her outfit and still looks like a million bucks. How about a hand?”
The smattering of polite applause buzzed like a hornet hive in Candace’s ears. It grew worse as he went on.
“Family, folks. A family that sticks together can accomplish great things. It makes our community a stronger, safer place. It makes usgreat. So, when Candy here asked to work with her dear old uncle, I knew great things were on the horizon.
“Wonderwood, I’m thrilled to announce the expansion of my amazing fun pier, along with a very special partnership with my niece. It’s going to be a whole new boardwalk when we’re through with it.”
Candace couldn’t breathe. The buzzing turned to a sharp, stinging tone. She looked out over the swimming sea of faces. So many strangers clapped along, except for one lone, still figure.
Daisy DeMarco.
She wore an impossible-to-miss crimson dress. Backless, it bore a deep diamond view of the woman’s front, with sides that cinched behind her neck in an elegant curve. The A-line hem split high, giving an incredible frame of her long legs and black lacing gladiator heels. Her hair was styled and textured, slicked back from a face touched with makeup as bold as her dress. She was the most gorgeous person in the world, a hibiscus flower in a sea of gray.
The smouldering amber eyes that looked back at Candace were filled with hatred.
Chapter 18
Daisy
The last time Daisy needed to dress up was Halloween two years earlier. Rio’s friend group threw a party, and Daisy ended up getting dragged along as their plus one.
The “costume” they provided was actually averynice cosplay of a character from some survival horror video game. Ada Wong, the semi-love interest of Rio’s costume character, was known as “the woman in the red dress.” Daisy rolled her eyes when she saw the satin-smooth, blazing crimson garment. A qipao-wearing, zombie-killing femme fatale was a nerd fantasy, for sure. However, she looked so good that she ended up keeping it. Now, she was as grateful as she was mortified.
Walking around as a sexy secret agent at a nerdy party was one thing. At this kind of event? Daisy wanted to fling herself into the ocean. She’d forgone the costume’s gunbelt andgrappling hook accessories, yet eyes followed her the moment she stepped through the doors.
Occasionally, conventions or craft fairs would set up in Wonderwood’s Music Pier. The last time Daisy was inside the place was forPuffconpastry convention—a fun afternoon filled with people doing their bestGreat British Bake Offrecreations. Dotty’s friend was running the ticket booth and had snagged them a pair.
Tonight, the vibe was markedly different. It felt, and looked, like a bougie vampire masquerade populated by members of the local golf club. Gaudy gold accessories and red velvet accents dominated the space.
Daisy spared no time locating one of several bars and got herself an Old Fashioned to sip. The pimply waiter tried to pawn off his quick-to-pour wine, but she recognized the label as a local dud.
Drink in hand, it did not take long for Daisy to find Candace. She watched from afar as the woman chatted with Demi. They were close. Closer than close, with a bond that made Daisy—and her increased desire toalsobe close to Candace—uneasy. It was not (wholly) jealousy. Faced with someone who loved Candace, the pressure of understanding her own feelings nagged Daisy.
Feelings that were, at the moment, dominated byotherthoughts. It was hard to think objectively about Candace Perry when the woman looked like that. The slacks that hugged her perfect ass… the boss-girl blazer…Her tank top. When the dazzling woman left Demi for her uncle, she crossed the room right past Daisy without realizing it.
Lilac trailed in her wake.
Dazed, Daisy gravitated to Demi. The yogi eyed her like she was coming in half-way late to a class.
“Hello, Zee. Don’t you look nice.”
The word “nice” was a loaded one, but Daisy decided to take it as a compliment. She returned it, saying honestly, “That color suits you.”
“Thank you.”
Daisy cringed at their mutual stiffness. She kicked back a sip of mulled, malty orange and tried to loosen up.
“This is one weird party, huh?”
“Have you ever been to one of these?”
“No,” Daisy answered. “Not exactly my scene. You?”
Demi let out a musical chuckle. “Every now and then. I believe in community engagement, but this is a bit much.”
“You mean bull?” Daisy commented with a snort, “Look at ‘em, just patting themselves on the backs for making money off people.”
“You’re a part of it, too. The whole cycle of owning a business, growing it, is a balance of give and take. Although, yes. Most of the people in this room are on the ‘take’ side.” As she played with the rim of her glass, Demi gave Daisy a measured survey. “Candace tells me things are going well. That you’re having… fun.”
