Page 97 of Beaches, Bagels & Babes
“Egg–cellent! You’re setting yourself up for girlfriend of the year already.”
Girlfriend.
The word took Daisy’s belly and did somersaults with the organ. She was the one who first said it, but hearing Candace so casual about the title was different. It was real.
It was a good thing Daisy had the eggs to focus on. Otherwise, she would have been in real danger of saying screw it, and throwing the woman right back in bed. Eggs kept her on task. The hardest part was not moving slowly.
Daisy wanted to sear the image of Candace hanging out in her kitchen, wearing only a borrowed tank top and shorts, into her brain for eternity. Obligation moved her, but the promise of picking up where they left off when she got home was what finally got her out the door.
Circumstances kept her there.
The state of emergency declaration was imminent, and the town was due to officially close the boardwalk by midday.Even so, as soon as Daisy opened, Bagel Bombs! was swamped with customers. The little cafe was one of the only places not completely boarded up, so the storm lookie-loos, weather station crews, and Beach Patrollers all flocked there.
Daisy wished she had brought Candace with her for the extra pair of hands alone. She did not even have time to respond to the sexy selfie the woman sent from her bed until hours later. Her reply went unread.
When she finally had a break around noon, she sent another text that also went unread. She tried again minutes later.
Daisy:Were the eggs that bad?
A jolt shot through Daisy’s chest as a notification came through.
The text did not just go unread.
It was undeliverable.
Chapter 23
Candace
Candace was no stranger to comfortable beds.
In luxury hotels and resorts all around the world, she had slept in some of the most high-end beds, nestled in sheets fit for royalty. The Comfort Clam’s musty linens had been a steep downgrade. Even so, she slept like a baby most nights thanks to sheer exhaustion.
Daisy’s bed, though?
Candace conked out so hard, she might as well have been dead. Multiple, mind-blowing orgasms would do that. But, also, with Daisy’s acceptance came a different release. They couldfinallymove forward, and in ways Candace had only ever dreamed.
After eating the simple, yet ridiculously delicious, breakfast Daisy prepared for her, she almost fell right back asleep. Instead, she contented herself basking in hergirlfriend’s domain.
Daisy’s bedroom was the mostherspace in the whole house, an eclectic mismatch of treasures and things that resonated with the prickly woman. Like the rest of the home, the bedroom was compact by modern standards. However, with the bed pushed to one wall, there was room for an impressive art drafting table. All kinds of projects, from the makings of another wireframe seaglass flower to the evidence from her map-making for their date, were strewn about.
Candace smiled to herself as she ran a hand along the seaglass and polished shells strung from the window curtain rod; her girlfriend was a magpie. Shiny, pretty, colorful things dominated the small space, with elements from her beloved seaside home and a strong preference for blueish green. No wonder she wanted to collect Candace, too.
The thought made her tumble with joy. Candace rolled herself up in Daisy’s sheets, inhaling their earthy, toasted flour scent. She only pouted for a short while after the sexy selfie she sent was ignored. Unfortunately, she had her own business to handle and far less fun communications to draft.
Resigning from the pier and her uncle’s “partnership” was not a thread she wanted to leave hanging. Screw his image with the God Squad or his Boy’s Club. Candace wanted out. No matter what he threw their way, Daisy and Candace would figure it out together.
And, maybe someday, she would thank Uncle Perry for being so horrible. That way, she had no choice but to see him for what he was and run straight into Daisy’s arms. Easiest decision she ever had to make.
Easy in theory, though, did not mean easy in practice. Candace had never formally resigned from a job. The cafe she worked at in college had come to a natural conclusion once she graduated, and her last job had ended with security looming over her while she threw her desk belongings into a too-small box. She fretted over the proper language to use, whatever ended things as unequivocally and quickly as possible.
No emotion. No bargaining or apologizing.
In a surprise turn, it was Uncle Perry who came to bargain. Or, Vinny Lamarka on his behalf. A little before noon, Candace saw the man in his red polo and tan Dockers walk up to the porch. She should have pretended not to be home. However, feeling bold, she went to the locked door and yelled for him to go away.
“Fuck off,” she ordered, borrowing one of Daisy’s favorite phrases. “I’m not dealing with my uncle’s bullshit anymore. You can tell him—”
“That his niece is a dirty whore? He knows that, but the rest of the world will find out just how depraved you are if you take that tone with me again. Open the door, Candy.”
