Gage, Ronna - The Search is Over (Siren Publishing Classic) by Ronna Gage

Candi smiled awkwardly.
    “I’m sorry you are having problems with Jesse, but I want you to know that I’m a phone call away.” Rafe cupped her cheek, and his thumb gently grazed her jawbone. “I’m always here if you need me…anytime.” The gentleness in his voice ignited a spark of flames inside her heart. She looked into his eyes and desire filled her. Slowly, his head came to hers, their lips mere inches apart. The ringing phone sitting next to her caused her to jump. Regretfully, she answered the phone, breaking the sensual gaze.
    “Sorry, there’s no one here by that name.” She hung up. “Wrong number.”
    A wrong number killed the moment that was so close at hand.

Chapter Seventeen

    “Stephanie, I miss you so much. I can’t wait until we are together again….yeah, I know, honey.” Jesse walked around the small living room with the phone up to his ear. “It’s only what, four more months?” Up the long drive he saw headlight beams. He looked at the clock. Midnight. Can this be Candi and Minerva? He racked his brain trying to remember if they had to close tonight or if the other bartender was scheduled. Minerva’s car drove into view. “Steph, honey, I have to go. I need to hit the rack for some shut-eye. Yes, I will talk to you tomorrow night. I love you, too. Bye.” Jesse hung up the phone in time to hear Minerva’s car pull into the drive and then the engine shut off. “Time for my back up plan.”
    Minerva and Candi entered the house. He took one look at her and the glee in her eyes faded.
    “Candi, we need to talk.”
    Minerva looked from one to the other. “I’ll leave you two to it.”
    Candi dropped her tote bag on the sofa by the bedroom door. “What do you want Jesse?”
    “I want you back. To start over.”
    Candi gave a silent harrumph of a chuckle. “What about Stephanie?”
    “She was a passing thing. It was more a reunion of old flames. It’s not her that I want, but you.”
    “Well, I have to be honest with you,” Candi said in a low, seductive whisper.
    Jesse’s breath caught in his lungs. “What’s that?” Did he dare to come closer? No, stay your ground and she will come to you. On cue, Candi approached.
    “You were my passing thing.” She turned and went to the bedroom and slammed the door in her wake.
    Jesse stared at doorway and the realization of his loss hit him.
    Minerva fucked this up but good. Telling Candi my business. Where the fuck does she get off?
    “No, I will not give up. I have to try harder.”

Chapter Eighteen

    I’m making headway with Candi. Jesse spent most of the morning of his day off sitting in the back yard, drinking coffee, and plotting his next move to win Candi’s affections. The early morning sun was perfect. It wasn’t too bright just yet, and the heat was bearable.
    “What’s up, kiddo?” Roy asked, stepping out onto the deck.
    “Nothing much, I was looking a little pale lately, so I thought I would get some sun.”
    “What are you doing besides lying in the sun?” Roy extended a bottle of brandy in his son’s direction.
    Jesse took the bottle and poured a liberal amount in his cup of coffee.
    “I’m planning ways to get into Candi’s good graces in order to get her back.”
    “What?”
    Jesse laughed. “You seemed shocked.”
    “I couldn’t have been more surprised if you told me you’d just shit a gold brick. I thought you liked Stephanie. What happened to her?”
    “Oh we’re still good. I just won’t be seeing her for a while yet, four months in fact. So, why not fuck Candi until that time comes?” Jesse let that bit of information sink into his dad’s head. If anyone could help Jesse get into Candi’s good graces with manipulation, it was his dad.
    “That’s my boy! That’s a really good plan. I have to tell you, I’m hoping in the next few months you will fall in love with Candi and stay.”
    “I don’t know about that, but I refuse to let her go to waste.”
    “What about that Rafe