Aaron nodded, impressed by her words. “I have every intention of keeping them.”
Giselle nodded as though she were equally impressed. “I wish you the best of luck then. I hope to see you put your words into action.”
“I look forward to that,” Aaron said, not sure he meant looking forward to keeping his word or having her around to witness it.
~32~
“They’re not home.”
Pitched turned from the glossy pine door to look at the attractive young woman who had addressed him. She was quite tall, not to mention lovely with her full afro, model curves and milk chocolate skin. Skin, she clearly didn’t mind showing a lot of, given the white and black striped halter and coordinating white shorts that rode high on her thighs. She carried herself in a way that said she was used to being looked at...drooled over.
“Miss Daniella’s down in Louisiana, family stuff.”
Pitch went to the top of the stoop. “Did Candace go with her?”
Curiosity seemed to pair with subtle understanding on the young woman’s face. “Let’s just say, Candy’s enjoying having the place to herself. She should be back soon, though,” eagerness flashed on the girl’s face. “She’s been gone a while and um-well you’re welcomed to wait at my place. We’re just a few stoops down.”
“Vic?”
Pitch lost whatever interest he had in the girl’s words. His total focus was on Candace who had just arrived.
Arms full of groceries, she approached the stoop and looked up. “This is a surprise.”
“A damn good one,” the young woman said. “Won’t you introduce me, Candy?”
“Vic Tesano, my neighbor Ashira Morris,” Candace made no effort to hide the lack of enthusiasm from her tone.
“Tesano,” Ashira’s arched brows lifted a notch.
Pitch moved to take the grocer’s bags.
“Oh you don’t...have to,” Candace watched as her words were ignored.
Pitch spared no attention for Ashira Morris either. Still, the girl eyed him like a treat she very much wanted to sample.
“Dinner for the boss, huh Candy? Guess that explains how you and your mama can afford this very nice brownstone.”
“Go fuck yourself, Ashi,” Candace said as if she were bidding the girl a goodday.
Ashira laughed. “Candy, wait! Girl please, hey? Hey I’m just playin’. Hey?” She blocked Candace before she could follow Pitch up the brownstone steps.
“Anymore at home like him?” Ashira whispered conspiratorially.
“More at home? Yes.” Candace smiled with equal conspiratorial flare. “Like him? No way.”
~~~
“Sorry about that,” Candace sounded just slightly out of breath when she rushed in. “And for keeping you waiting. Why didn’t you tell me you were coming over?”
“Thought I’d see you at the office, but I missed you everyday this week.”
“Yeah, they’ve had me all over the place. Everywhere but headquarters,” she wiggled her fingers toward the bags he carried. “Thanks for this. You can bring them back.”
Pitch hesitated, his grin wicked and brilliant. “I know Miss Dani’s out of town.”
Candace laughed. “Meaning can I have a boy in the house?” She refused to dwell on how his smile melted something inside her. “I doubt she’ll mind you bringing groceries in.”
Candace sighed once they’d moved silently into the kitchen. “Then again...she’d probably be upset with me for letting you exert yourself in her home. You should be relaxed and waited on hand and foot, according to her.”
Pitch hugged himself. “Miss Dani is a rare woman.”
“You know you’re the only one she lets call her that.”
“Is she okay, Candace?” He sobered to ask. “Your neighbor said she was in Louisiana-family stuff.”
Oh yeah, she’s fine,” Candace started to unpack the groceries. “One of my uncles. Mama’s older brother Claud, he’s sick- won’t listen to anybody, including his doctors. Mama went to try and help her sisters talk some sense into him.”
Inside the small, inviting kitchen, Candace worked diligently for a while. She put away half the groceries before pinning Pitch with an uneasy look. “Please excuse my neighbor. Ashira is a bitch unless you’re a member of the opposite sex-dammit.” Candace hissed the reprimand to herself over the slip. Wearily, she propped a hand to her hip. “Tell me about your trip, so I’ll stop saying stupid things.”
Pitch didn’t respond and Candace turned, concerned by his expression. “Vic-”
“My uncle’s been selling guns behind my father’s back.”
Once he started to discuss it, he couldn’t stop. By the time he was done, he’d shared all including the scam Emilio had going with the guards’ doctors.
Candace had forgotten the groceries. She was leaning to one side of the kitchen door frame, arms folded over the front of the pink top she wore with jeans.
“I’m so sorry, Vic. Your dad’s a great man. He doesn’t deserve that from his own brother. And the guards...” she drew a hand through the cloud of wavy light brown tresses framing her face. “Putting their lives on the line to be cheated like that. What are you going to do?”
