Finding Love: Incident at the Candy Apple (At the Candy Apple Series Book 2) (5 page)

Chapter Nine

Jake arrived at the Candy Apple that night around eleven-thirty. He’d tried to hold off going since he intended to go Sunday night, too, but he couldn’t shake the idea that if he didn’t go, Ellie might chose that Saturday to arrive, and he’d miss her.

He flopped onto one of the couches by the side of the main room. The place already hummed with music and talk from the crowd of people who’d shown up that night. The club hadn’t been as busy as this in a couple of months.
Must finally be spring.
Jake smiled at his thought.

He greeted people he knew with a wave of his hand not wanting to get into a conversation because he couldn’t help going over his plan to find information about Ellie repeatedly in his head, until finally he knew he had to try
that
night. He
just couldn’t
leave it for Sunday.

He waited until after midnight and then he wandered up the backstairs to Charlie’s office.

As usual, the door stood open. Charlie wasn’t at her desk, and when Jake carefully looked around the door, her assistant wasn’t at her desk either. Jake could hardly believe his luck. He raced into the room and checked the computer screen on the assistant’s desk. The colored ribbons of the screen saver waved across black. He flicked the mouse and the screen filled with a database.
Hell, this is the membership fee record. I need personal files, I think.

Jake had his hand on the mouse when the assistant strode into the office. He snapped his head up to look at her and just about jumped away from the computer.

She stared at him for a few seconds and then an expression of amusement appeared on her face. “What are you up to, Jake?” She sidled toward him.

Of course, Jake knew Paula, and in fact, in a fugue of despondency, a couple of weeks after being dumped by his girlfriend, he’d made out with her in the corridor. They hadn’t gone very far, but Paula made it clear then she wanted to.

Jake sighed. “I couldn’t remember if I’d paid my membership fees this year and I came along to check…”

Paula gave a puzzled half-smile. “You would already have received a reminder notice. What’s really going on?” She stood very close to Jake.

He wondered if she’d give him the information he wanted about Ellie as a favor.

“Where’s Charlie?”

Paula gazed at his mouth and then looked back into his eyes. “Coffee break. I’ve only been gone a moment or two. Were you watching me?”

A frown creased his forehead. “No, no. I wasn’t watching you.” He held his hands up to show innocence and that’s when he saw the knowing look appear on Paula’s face.

“You want something. Spill. Charlie will be back soon.” She trailed her fingertip along his cheek.

Jake saw it in her eyes. She’d give him what he wanted, but she wanted something in return.

“I need the phone number and any other info about Ellie, the one who tied me up and left me in room two. Do you know who I mean?”

Paula grinned. “I do and I will give you what you want for a price.”

“What?” Jake already knew from the way she traced her fingers up and down his chest.

“Half an hour with you–no holding back–in a room–tonight. I’m free at two.”

Jake sighed inwardly. She was a pretty, shapely woman, but he didn’t know if he could do much since his mind was full of Ellie. He made a snap decision. “Sure. I’ll meet you in the bar.”

Paula moved away. “You’re not stalking her for nefarious purposes? I’m not handing her over to be violated am I?”

Jake shook his head vehemently. “Hell no. I mean her no harm at all. I promise.” His hand went automatically to his heart.

Paula took his arm and steered him to the door. “Two a.m. in the bar.”

“Yes.” Jake strode off to the stairs. He didn’t want to meet Charlie stepping out of the elevator on her way back from her coffee break.

He checked the time on his cell phone as he wandered back to the bar—one-fifteen. Jake had forty-five minutes to mull over what he was about to do. He wondered how much Paula would want. Jake weighed the need to find Ellie against giving Paula the sex she obviously wanted.
Why am I hesitating? This is why I belong to Candy Apple. Hell I’ve been to a private room with a lot of girls—well, quite a few. I love sex. I love women, but I want Ellie. Yeah, and that’s why I have to do this.

Jake hung out, and then danced with a young woman, who talked dirty into his ear as she snuggled next to him on the couch after the dance. He told her he was waiting for someone and eventually she drifted off. Jake went to the bar. He stared at his reflection in the mirrored splash back.

Paula appeared beside him and grabbed his ass.

Jake turned to her. “You’re here.”

Paula smiled. “I am, and I have what you want.” She waved a piece of paper at him.

Jake took a deep breath. “Let’s go to a room.” He took off toward the corridor where the private rooms were.

Paula followed him.

Jake saw a green light shining over a door. He went into the room, but swung against the wall, and turned the dial to close the video surveillance off. He waited for Paula to enter and then he closed the door. He put his finger to his mouth to make sure she knew to keep her voice down. It wouldn’t be okay to have Charlie know about this tryst.

Paula turned down the audio. She walked to him. “Here you go.” She took his hand and pressed the paper into his palm.

Jake read it. Ellie’s name was Jameson and he recognized her address, but there were two phone numbers for her and her car license plate number. A sigh of relief escaped him. S
urely, I’ll be able to contact Ellie with the phone numbers.
He jammed the paper into his jacket pocket.

Paula eyed him speculatively. “I’d like to fuck you. That’s my price. I hope you’re good for it.”

Jake nodded, but didn’t feel very much like fucking.

“Undress for me.” Paula sat on a chair to watch him.

Jake took off his clothes and stashed them on the table that held toys, condoms, and Kleenex.

Paula beckoned. “Get over here.”

Jake obliged. When he stood in front of her, she stroked his cock, up and down, and then around his stomach muscles and back to his cock.

Despite everything, Jake’s cock stirred under her fingertips. When she bent and took the half erection into her mouth, a murmur escaped him. It felt good. He allowed himself to enjoy the sensation as she sucked his cock hard.

She stopped and stood before him. She turned and moved her hair for Jake to unzip her dress.

Jake kissed her shoulder as her dress slipped down and pooled around her feet. He unclipped her bra and she pulled it off. Jake turned her and lapped at her nipples. Her soft murmurs of pleasure sparked something in him. He wanted to give her what she needed. She had to need it, to be doing this—trading information for sex was probably a firing offense,
and I’ll get banned from the Candy Apple.
He hooked his thumbs in her panties and pulled them down her hips. He bent and kissed her stomach.

Paula held his head as he took her panties down to her ankles and then she stepped out of them.

He ran his fingertips up the inside of her legs, and kissed her mound, before he held her close and kissed down her neck. He whispered into her ear. “Open your legs. Let me feel how wet you are.”

She gasped and held his waist as she widened her stance.

Jake ran his hand down her stomach and teased at her slit, then slipped his fingers between her legs. Her cream slipped on his hand. Jake was surprised how wet she was. He pulled her close with one hand under her ass and slid a finger into her pussy as he sucked at her neck.

Paula moaned softly and rolled her hips to his hand.

Jake’s cock responded to her moan. He sighed with relief. He could definitely fuck her. She was so wet for him. He slipped another finger into her and stroked where he knew she’d feel pleasure. He circled the tip of his thumb on her clit and kissed along her cheek.

She whispered and her breath teased at his ear. “Fuck me now. I need it, Jake.”

He nibbled her ear lobe and pumped his fingers in her pussy to hear her sighs and feel her rocking on his hand. Then he moved his fingers from her gently and turned to get a condom from the table. He opened the pack and rolled it onto his cock. Sex felt good. He went to Paula.

“How do you want it?”

She licked her lips. “I’d like it from behind. Hold me under the stomach and fuck me hard.”

Jake’s cock pulsed at her words.

She turned and bent, supporting herself with her palms on the bench.

Jake stroked at her pussy from behind and then he brought his cock to her entrance and thrust in.

She groaned and pushed backward onto his cock.

Jake slid one hand under her stomach and grasped her hip with his other hand. He enjoyed her soft skin. He liked the sound of her appreciative sighs as he thrust in and out of her pussy. The mood grabbed him and he pounded, ramming into her pussy as he held her tight.

Paula’s moans grew louder. She whispered, “Keep going, that’s so good, so fucking good…”

Jake shifted his hand so that his fingertips pressed into her slit and he could feel her hard little clit. He stroked his cock into her and pressed onto her clit.

She gasped, sighed, and jerked pushing her ass against him. “Fuck … that’s perfect.”

Jake let himself go as she came, and rammed his cock up into her. His orgasm flowed through him. He took the pleasure and let the sensations wave over him.

Paula moved first. She reached down and held the condom on his cock before she slid off.

Jake stepped back to let her pass.

She pulled on her panties and then her bra.

Jake took off the condom and cleaned up. He deposited the Kleenex wrapped condom in the special bin by the door.

Paula had put on her dress.

He went to her and zipped it up.

She turned to him. “You never kissed me—on the lips.”

Jake looked into her eyes. “I’m sorry I didn’t realize that.”

“It was great, though, thank you. I needed it.” She waved at the bench where she’d bent as if they still fucked there.

Jake caught her face in his hands. He kissed her mouth quickly and softly. “Thank you, too, Paula. You’re lovely and sexy, and it felt great for me too.”

She smiled. “I reckon you want to find Ellie badly. Just know if it doesn’t work out with her, I’ve always wanted you. I’d be open to seeing you again … like this.” She looked him up and down.

Jake stood naked before her. He thought it was important to acknowledge her offer. “I’ll remember that.”

“I have to go. Good luck, Jake.” She left the room.

Jake dragged on his clothes. He stuffed his tie in his jacket pocket and the paper with information about Ellie brushed against his hand. He flicked the catch on the door as he left indicating the room had been used and needed cleaning.

The club was still packed. People swayed and bumped against each other as the dance music thumped. The bar had customers three people deep. Jake blinked in the brighter light of the bar area. Fatigue suddenly overwhelmed him.

He checked the time. They’d been in the room just over half an hour. Jake thought about not having kissed Paula until she asked. The kiss he’d given her wasn’t passionate. The sex hadn’t been passionate, but nice. It was what it was. Two people giving each other something, pleasure, and information. He felt some kind of fondness toward Paula, but it wasn’t love. He didn’t know what it was. It was probably because he’d been with her intimately and she deserved tenderness. He left the Candy Apple and walked around to the parking lot.

Jake drove home. It was way too late to try calling either of the phone numbers for Ellie, but Jake promised himself he’d call as soon as it was a reasonable hour the next morning.

Chapter Ten

After tossing and turning most of the night, Jake threw on jeans and a T-shirt around six a.m. to make some coffee. He leaned on the kitchen counter and stared at the phone numbers on the piece of paper that Paula had given him.
I hope I can reach her on one of these. I hope she’ll talk to me. Fuck … I’m not acting like Tyler am I?
Jake frowned thinking about the idea. The coffee was ready and he pushed the thought away as he poured a mug.

He stood at the French doors in his kitchen that led to a patio and drank his coffee watching as rain fell in huge drops from a gray sky. Jake took a shower and dressed. He made more coffee. He wandered out onto the patio and checked some plants he recently re-potted. He couldn’t shake the nervous energy that resulted from constantly looking at the time. He dropped down onto the living room floor and did twenty push-ups. He grabbed a hoodie and walked around the block.

At ten a.m., he tried calling the first number on the piece of paper. It was a company answering machine and Jake figured that was where Ellie used to work. Naturally, he couldn’t find out if she still worked there on a Sunday. With his heart hammering, he called the second number. The call went to voicemail. Jake hesitated for a second and then left a message.

“Hi Ellie, it’s Jake. I’m checking to see if you’re safe. I wish you’d call me. I’ve worried about you since I last saw you. Please call back.” He ended with his number, although he hoped her phone would record it anyway.

Frustrated, Jake threw his phone down on the couch and went to make his fourth coffee of the morning. He made instant after busying himself throwing out the stewed percolated coffee, the used filter and grounds, and finally rinsing out the coffee pot. Jake took a drink of the coffee and put it down.
Get a grip. She might never call. What are you going to do, keep pestering her and acting like a damn lovesick teenager?

His phone rang. Jake practically flew to the couch to pick it up. “Jake Reeves.”

“Hi Jake, it’s Ellie, you called me.” She paused.

Jake hurried to fill the silence. “I did. Are you okay? How are you? Where are you?”

“I’m okay. I’m actually back in town. I was away for a few weeks. The police contacted me. Tyler’s dead. He had a letter to me on his person. It seemed to the police from the letter that Tyler was my fiancé. They broke the news to me. I came back to town. I’ve been so busy sorting out an apartment and work. Thank you for calling me. I … I wanted to contact you. I thought about calling around your place, but after the way I left … I thought you might not want to see me.”

A smile spread across Jake’s face as he listened. “I hoped you’d show up at the Candy Apple. I’d love to see you. It’s great that you’re okay.”

“How did you get my cell number? I don’t remember giving it to you. Not that it matters. I’m happy to hear from you. Do you want to get coffee sometime?”

Relief flowed over Jake as Ellie proposed this and he didn’t have to pursue a meeting with her. “How about today?”

“I’ve taken an apartment not far from you, Jake. I don’t know why, but it made me feel safer being around the corner from you. We could meet at
Café on the Corner.
What about in an hour?”

Jake rushed to accept the suggestion. “That’s perfect. I’ll be there.”

Ellie ended the call. “See you.”

Jake gave a little leap of delight. He checked his T-shirt and changed. He found a suit jacket to wear with his jeans and as he cleaned his teeth, he thought about what Ellie had said, that she felt safer living near him. Jake couldn’t have been happier.

He arrived at the café ten minutes early and took a window table so that he could look out for Ellie.

She was early, too, and he saw her cross the street only a couple of minutes later. She was even prettier than he remembered. Her long hair flowed out behind her. She wore the skinniest jeans Jake had ever seen, and the black leather jacket he’d seen her take from the rented apartment.

He stood as she came into the café, saw him, and headed for the table, smiling.

He gazed at her and she looked into his eyes. Jake smiled, too. “It’s so good to see you.”

Ellie reached up her hands to hold his shoulders and kissed his cheek. “Yes.” She let him go.

Jake waited for her to sit on a chair at the table before he took his seat. “You look great. I’m so pleased things worked out for you. Weird how life can suddenly change—I mean Tyler was alive one moment and dead the next.”

Her expression changed. “That morning—he chased my car, it must have happened then. The accident I mean.”

Jake frowned, intent on her words. “You were there?”

“No, no, not when he was hit. I sped away. He was running behind my car. I think he must have been waiting for me to come back to my apartment and when I did he tried to catch up with me, but I … I couldn’t let him, you understand. I drove off fast. I thought he must be crazy chasing a car.”

Jake heard the distress in her voice. “You couldn’t have known he’d be killed. A grown man running in the road like that … it’s ridiculous. He had to have been a little crazy.”

The server came for their order. They both fell silent, only speaking to ask for coffee. When he’d gone, Jake reached across the table and took Ellie’s hands as she fiddled with the menu card. “Are you okay?”

Ellie looked down at her hands in his. “Yeah … I just wish he didn’t have to die so that I could be free of him. He could have simply gone away when you told him to, but—why does that stuff happen?”

Jake shook his head as he answered. “I don’t know, Ellie, but he would have hurt you again. I would have had to give him another beating and so it would go on.”

She smiled wistfully. “How are you, Jake?”

Jake still considered the weirdness of Tyler chasing Ellie’s car.
The guy must have lost it, for sure.
He tried to put it out of his mind as a flash of thought about what he’d done to get Ellie’s number gave him a spike of worry. He answered her.

“I’m okay. I’ve been concerned about you. The accident was reported on the news and I thought you’d come back to the Candy Apple. I looked out for you.” He grinned then, wanting to lighten the mood.

Ellie smiled. “I was about to. I intended coming back next Saturday. I … I wanted to see you and explain things. I’m so glad you called.”

Elation brought another smile to his face. He didn’t know what to say next because the happiness immediately dimmed when he realized he hadn’t needed to bribe Paula with sex to get Ellie’s number after all. Then he closed down that avenue of thought. It was done and Paula had enjoyed it.

Their coffee arrived.

Ellie drank some. She sighed as she looked at him, her gaze flicking from his eyes to his mouth and back to his eyes. A silence grew between them.

Jake traced the shape of her face with his gaze. He imagined kissing her mouth and holding her close. He closed his eyes for a moment as he pictured her naked. When he opened them, she leaned toward him.

She slid her fingertips along his cheek. “Jake, I’ve thought about you these last few weeks. I hope we can see each other again.”

Jake grasped her hand and kept it against his face. “I hope so, too. I can’t pretend I’m not aching to kiss you. I haven’t forgotten the way you kissed me at the Candy Apple.”

She ran her tongue along her top lip. “Or the way I tied you up…”

She’d obviously meant it in fun, but Jake’s cock jerked as he remembered her straddling him.

Jake held back from lunging at her and sucking her tongue into his mouth. He unconsciously mirrored her gesture with his own tongue on his lips. He still held her fingertips to his face. He brought them to his mouth and kissed them.

Ellie sighed. She tried to lean closer, but the small tabletop was still too wide for her to reach his face with hers. “Maybe we could go to your place and talk a little more.” Her eyes darkened at him. The look on her face was unmistakable. She wanted him.

It made his cock harden even more and a wave of complete desire washed over him.

“Yes, let’s do that.” Jake couldn’t stop his cock from growing. He fought down the urge to grab Ellie to his body. He knew there’d be a bulge in his pants when he stood, but what could he do? He needed her badly, and so he ignored it. He pulled out his wallet and left money for the bill on the table. He gestured at a server to collect it.

Ellie stood and Jake followed.

He’d walked to the café since it was on the end of his street. He took her hand as they exited. She walked close to him and before they reached his place, he’d slid his arm around her shoulders. He wondered if her heart hammered the way his did.