Poughkeepsie Begins (The Poughkeepsie Brotherhood #0.5) (22 page)

He kept his lights off as he rolled the rest of the way past her house, but slowed when he saw her silhouetted in the window he’d thrown rocks at so long ago. Her hair was up in a bun, and he couldn’t tell from this angle whether she saw him or not. She was up too late. He shook his head.

The Kisses were a mistake, but he couldn’t bring himself to go back and clear them out. He told himself he was thanking her for taking over ghost duty for Ethel, but if he was being honest, he simply hated the idea of Candy giving up on him.

Candy Kisses

C
ANDY
P
UT
T
HE
F
INISHING
T
OUCHES
on her prom hairstyle. She wasn’t going to the dance with a date, but with a few girlfriends—she’d finally made some real girlfriends in English class after Beckett had dropped out—who were in the same position, so she wouldn’t be alone. Both Helena and Rettie had defended her so many times she’d lost count after the horrible pictures-all-over-the-school incident. They’d come into her life just as Beckett abruptly left it, and she was grateful.

It had been four months since she’d spoken to him. She’d called his foster home, only to be told he’d moved out. Blake and Cole listened to her concerns, but wouldn’t give her much information. But she’d found chocolate Kisses in her car one night about a month ago, and that sent her hopes soaring again.

Two weeks later, on the night of her birthday, she’d thought she heard a rock against her window, but by the time she got the thing opened, all she could hear was a car with loud exhaust pulling away, no lights on. She liked to pretend it had been Beckett coming to wish her a happy eighteenth. But it could have been a gust of wind, a tree branch, or a noisy car lighting her imagination on fire.

She slipped Beckett’s leather jacket on over her long, pink dress with the tulle skirt, though, because in the girliest part of her heart, she pictured dancing with him at prom to end her senior year. So she was taking this bit of him with her, even if she’d only have it over her arm or hanging on a chair most of the time.

She’d just come down the stairs and greeted her waiting family when Rettie and Helena pulled up and honked, music pumping. She waved her good-byes quickly, refusing her parents’ photograph requests, and climbed in the back of the car.

They all sang along with the radio as they left her parents on the front lawn, and once they’d turned the corner, Helena passed her a flask. It tasted disgusting, but Helena kept urging her on. By the time they got to the hotel, she was definitely buzzed. Rettie put herself in charge of documenting the evening, so she began taking pictures left and right once she’d parked the car.

“Pose!” Rettie flashed her bright white teeth, and she and Helena draped themselves around her while she snapped the shot.

They strolled into the event space and sparkly blue fabric pretended to be billowing waves above them, transporting them “under the sea” for the dance. They each took their turn signing a giant oyster-and-pearl papier-mâché sculpture while they waited to hand in their tickets, and they posed again wildly for the professional photographer. In every photo Candy wore Beckett’s jacket. When they finally entered the ballroom, a combination of balloons, streamers, and blue lights added to the ambiance.

The first hour was all about people watching and embracing other seniors who were all dressed up. Even passing acquaintances received exuberant hugs. After a while, the sober Rettie seemed to get tired of her and Helena’s uncontrollable giggles and left them to fend for themselves.

As the evening wore on, she, Helena, and Buck—a guy Helena had her eye on from biology class—wound up dancing a little bit while shouting conversation back and forth. Then she found herself alone after Helena launched herself at him. Her friend’s bout of courage got her a kiss from a very happy Buck, so Candy moved away to give them some space.

Her head was clearing a bit from her pre-partying drinks, but the music was crazy loud. How the hotel got away with having people in the rooms overhead was a mystery. She looked around and noticed the ballroom had a few exits that led to a pretty, just-greening-up garden. The cool breeze from the open door called to her, and the twinkle lights looked so pretty. Despite the slight chill, quite a few partygoers were coming in and out, and suddenly it seemed just the place she wanted to be. After grabbing Beckett’s jacket and slipping it over her dress, Candy ventured down the main path, then branched out to a smaller one. She stopped and looked at the stars, thinking of Beckett.

And as if wishing for him had conjured him up, she felt his voice against her cheek as his arms slipped around her middle. “Happy prom, pretty lady.”

She turned in his arms, eyes wide. “What the hell?”

“I’ve been wondering how long it would take for you to come out here. And then I wondered which poor bastard would be stupid enough to take my girl to the dance.” Beckett smiled at her, dimples blazing.

He looked leaner, but also bulked up in all the right places—jeans and an army jacket looked more appealing on him than any of the tuxes inside. She had a feeling this moment would ruin quite a few relationships for her down the line. She tried to wiggle out of his grip, but he held tight.

“Wearing my jacket, Candy? That’s quite a prom look.” He insisted she meet his eyes.

“It’s my weakness.” Being in his presence after wanting him for so long was staggering. And so close. Sitting in her bedroom, she’d pictured an across-the-room situation. She was supposed to have time to prepare before the nearness of him scattered her system. She tried to get some perspective by pushing him away. “No. All this time? You say nothing? No one would tell me anything.” She crossed her arms under her breasts.

“That’s not true. My brothers told you I wasn’t dead.” His smile faded, but his eyes were still welcoming, as if no time had passed since the last time he’d had his arm around her.

“Yes, at least I had that. Knowing you weren’t dead clearly told me we were connected. Deeply.”

“Do you have a date? For this?”

“No. I came with Rettie and Helena.”

“That explains the booze on your breath. Helena’s a wild child.”

“She’s a bad influence, but she has nothing on you.” Candy wanted him to kiss her so much she dug her fingernails into her palm.

“That’s the truth.” His eyes went from welcoming to sad as he spoke, and she wished she could take it back.

“Don’t ask me about dates,” she said instead. “Explain why it’s okay for you to show up here at my prom.”

He took her elbow and pulled her off the main path. She expected his wiseass mouth, but instead he looked her up and down.

“You, in my jacket, is
my
weakness, baby. You’re my girl.” He touched the lapel.

“I didn’t think you had a weakness—especially when it came to me.” She stepped backward. He seemed older to her now, more worn. It had only been months, but his eyes had lost the carefree part of their recklessness.

“Actually, the fact that I’ve been gone for so long—away from the way you smell, the little purr you get going when I breathe in your ear…” he stepped forward, not touching her, but crowding her personal space, and spoke into her neck “…should tell you more about my weakness than my mouth ever could.”

Passion flared through her, flowing from her neck to all of the places she wished he would touch.

She reached out and pressed her fingertips to his. “I missed you so much.”

Beckett pulled back to look at her face. “Kiss you, miss you.”

She wanted to tell him she’d known it was him, but instead she sighed as he pulled her to him, resting his hand on her jaw. And then he kissed her, and she drowned. His mouth, his lips—it was more than just kissing; it was wishing too.

When he finally tapered off, nipping her chin and neck before hugging her to him, she had to ask, “So are you my date now? All this ‘my girl’ talk gets a lady’s hopes up.” She put her hands on his wide shoulders.

His smile started on one side and widened until she basked in his happiness. “Well, technically Tryler has a pretty enforceable restraining order against me, but I haven’t seen him here this evening. If you want a date, baby, I’m all yours.”

The beautiful song that had played during their car dance came on, and Candy went to her tiptoes. She was mad—God, she was angry for all sorts of reasons, but none of them seemed to matter at the moment. She wanted a dance with this handsome guy at prom. “They’re playing our song.”

He tilted his head toward the door. “Yes, they are. I hope Byler keeps the requisite one hundred feet away from my ass. Let’s go.” The mischievous glint in his eyes made him look a bit lighter, less burdened.

It wasn’t until he turned that she saw him, a huge, towering man close enough to hear everything they were saying. She gasped, and Beckett laughed.

“Don’t scare her to death!” He pulled Candy over to the man in the shadows, smiling. “This is my security detail. Mouse, meet Candy Cox.”

Mouse nodded. “Hey, Candy.”

He stepped forward, and she noticed he was younger than she’d initially thought. His voice was high and squeaky. He made no comment about her name, and that made her like him.

Beckett slapped Mouse on the arm but missed the look of pure devotion on the man’s face because he’d turned back to speak to her.

“If you ever see this dude around, know I sent him. He’s safe.”

Candy held out her hand formally, like her family had ingrained in her. Mouse took it and gave her a gentle smile.

“Thanks, Mouse. Nice to meet you.”

He nodded and stepped back, scanning the area.

“Song’s almost over, baby. Let’s get in there.” Beckett bent down and tossed her over his shoulder. She screamed, and he spanked her on the ass. “We gotta run!”

She tried to hold on to the top of her dress. When they got to the door, thankfully he set her down.

“Tits good?” he questioned.

She laughed and readjusted her dress. “Yeah. You’re an animal.”

Beckett wiggled his eyebrows. “Especially if I have your skirt as a hat.” He took her hand and led her through the door.

When they got to the dance floor, he pulled her in for the final strains of their song, laughing as it came to an end. A fast song was up next, and Candy soon remembered that Beckett could dance—like, really dance.

She felt inadequate next to him, but he was amazing at pulling her into his moves, making her feel better at it than she was. When another slow song piped in, she was finally able to cuddle into him.

“Don’t leave me again.” She touched his face, smooth from a recent shave.

“I dropped by on your birthday…” he said suddenly.

“I thought so! Then I thought I was hoping too much.” She shrugged.

“People hoping for me doesn’t happen a lot. So thanks.” He kissed her forehead, then her cheek, then her lips.

“Mr. Taylor, last time I checked you weren’t enrolled at our school anymore.”

Beckett twirled Candy as he spoke to the assistant principal. “That would be true. As far as I can tell, Candy can bring a date, though.”

“Yes, if you both have tickets,” Mr. Gold pointed out.

“You want money, baby? I got mountains of it.” He continued dancing with Candy while pulling out his wallet.

Mr. Gold shook his head. “Actually, Zyler’s parents just got in touch with me because someone told them you were here.”

“Nyler’s a pussy.”

“That may be, but I’d love to have this year end without seeing a cop place you in handcuffs. I’m sorry, Candy.”

Mr. Gold backed away, giving them space to make their choice.

“Let’s go. I’ve got hours before I have to be home.” Candy kissed Beckett’s frowning mouth.

“Sure, just one last thing.” He twirled her out of his arms and bounded up to the stage. Taking the mic from the stand, he tapped it a few times to make sure it was on. “Graduating class of Poughkeepsie East High School, just wanted to remind you to get high and get laid tonight!”

The crowd cheered.

“Except for Zyler Merchant. For you I have a message from your hand. It’s exhausted, so you won’t get any sweet, sweet loving tonight!”

With that he leaped down and found her again. Candy pointed to two girls in the crowd and mouthed that she would call them, complete with making her fingers seem like a phone. They waved back just as she and Beckett ran for it. Mouse was holding the door open when they got there, and Candy laughed as Beckett pulled her through the garden and into the parking lot.

“Mouse, you have the rest of the night off,” Beckett told him. “I’ve got some things to handle.” He hugged Candy to him and nuzzled her ear.

“All right, boss. See you tomorrow morning.” Mouse nodded as Beckett held open the car door for Candy.

She looked fucking delectable. Holy Christ. The pink dress and the flush on her cheeks made him ready to bite her. His dick was as hard as a paddle. God, he wanted to swat her ass with it.

Her freaking tits were so soft looking, and fuckable as well. What he could do to this girl…She watched as he looked her over, leering at the parts of her he wanted in his mouth first. When he looked at her gorgeous face again she was blushing even more.

He drove faster. He had a new deal with a hotel in town, and his contact said they’d save a room for him if he watched out for their business. It was the beginning of something beautiful, but expanding Kick’s business into an empire took constant work. And that was okay. He was good at it. And this kid he’d found, Mouse, the numbers he could work in his head were amazing. He was a great asset.

Candy crossed her legs, kicking up the fluffy bottom of her dress, which had some fancy name Beckett couldn’t bring to mind. When they parked in the lot at the hotel, he dragged her across the seat to sit in his lap and started licking everything he considered his.