CANE

Hell no, I wasn’t calling Eden back.

To be frank, I never wanted to hear from that woman again after I left college. As soon as I was off my flight, I hopped into my car and had Neo take me home. Of course my phone rang again during the ride. One thing I remembered about that woman was her persistence. I knew she wouldn’t stop calling, even when I got home, and the last thing I wanted to talk about with Kandy after not seeing her for three days was another woman calling me.

I groaned, head shaking as I lifted the phone. How in the hell did this happen? How was she a sponsor for Tempt, and I didn’t know it? With a sigh, I finally answered.

“Eden,” I answered coolly.

“He lives,” she chimed, and I could hear the amusement in her voice. Already, she was getting a kick out of this.

“How did you get my number?”

“Oh, I have all of my clients’ numbers.”

“Client?” I questioned. “Since when did I become your client? I don’t recall signing any deals with an Eden St. Claire.”

“That’s because you didn’t.”

“Explain now, before I hang up.”

“Oh, boy. Still so harsh.” She made a tisk noise. “Well, you may recall meeting a Gerald Miller?”

“Yes. He owns Paradise Golf Club.”

“Well, I take care of the ground work for Mr. Miller’s sponsorships. He invested a great deal into one of your Tempt stores in Charlotte, correct? I’m the woman who comes out to make sure our sponsorship banners, wording, and liabilities are correct.”

Shit. I did not see that coming.

“I’m also the one who gets to decide if a sponsorship continues after twelve months or dies. Tempt already doesn’t seem like it will be worth our time later.”

“Is that a threat?”

“Oh, no. No threats, love. Mr. Miller is very interested in having his club endorse the Tempt brand. I also hear you have a shipment coming in for the club—free bottles of wine for our members. Great way to rope him in.” She laughed. “You were always good at that.”

“Eden, what the hell do you want?”

“I just wanted to inform you that I take my job seriously. When I come to Charlotte, I like to see our banners in a spot that many others can see, even from a distance. We will not have our name hidden in corners, or in the dark. We want to be where everyone can see us, so they know that our club is the place to go. I’ll be arriving this Friday. I’d like to schedule a sit-down meeting with you to go over some paperwork.”

“Then call my office and speak with my assistant. She handles my schedule.”

“No, Cane, I don’t think you’re listening to me.” Her voice was tighter. “I am coming on Friday and will be showing up at your office at ten in the morning, with my paperwork for you to sign. No sooner, no later. See, the thing about my position is that I can yank this sponsorship away from you so easily that it’ll be gone before you close your fist around it. I can make you look like a fool to Mr. Miller, just like you made me look.”

My fist clenched in my lap.

“Friday at ten. If you have me wait, I will leave and let him know you weren’t willing to work fairly with us.”

“You do realize that Mr. Miller came directly to me and asked to be a sponsor? Though we can utilize the money, it’s not like I begged for it.”

“Yes, I realize that, but let’s just say that Mr. Miller has a lot of pride and is very easy man to tick off. If I tell him you weren’t willing to take a moment to sit down with me in regard to his club and all his sponsorship entails, he won’t be a happy man, and he won’t be quiet about it. The negative buzz will spread like wildfire.”

“I don’t like your tone,” I hissed.

“And ever since my sophomore year in college, I don’t like you, so I guess we’re even.”

I breathed hard through my nose. Neo was pulling up to my house, and I was sick of this bitch.

“Don’t get too arrogant, Eden. You work for Mr. Miller, but I’ve played golf with him, so if he finds out you’re making threats, I don’t think he’d be too happy about that. You sound very confident that he’ll take your word over mine. Why is that?”

“Because,” she said, “Mr. Miller happens to be my father, and I’m the one who helped him expand this company with my sponsoring skills. I tell him where to promote himself and his club. He gets paid.”

Of fucking course.

“Friday at ten,” I snapped. “Now get the hell off my phone.”

I hung up before she could say anything else to piss me off. It was just my luck that a former fling of mine was the daughter of a man who’d invested a great deal of money into Tempt. Tempt was doing fine, but his sponsorship was going to help us bring in dozens of jobs and internships. Having Eden fuck with that opportunity to expand my business really pissed me the fuck off.

“We’re here, sir,” Neo announced. “Should I get your bags?”

“No, Neo. It’s fine. I’ll grab them. Get back to your family. I’ll see you this weekend.”

“Yes, sir.”

I pushed out of the car, tucking my phone into my pocket. I went for the trunk, took my suitcases out, walked to the house, and unlocked the front door. I heard some murmuring coming from the kitchen, and then laughter.

Placing my suitcase down, I headed down the hallway, following the sound. Mama and Lora were there. Lora had her elbows planted on the island counter, bent over a salad she was eating, and Mama was sipping something from a black mug.

“Look who’s home!” Lora said in the same sarcastic way she always did.

I walked up to them, giving them quick hugs. “Where’s Kandy?”

“Upstairs. She’s not feeling too good today,” Mama stated.

“Stomach bug, probably,” Lora filled in rapidly, putting on a small smile.

“Hmm. She been like that all day?”

“Since this morning,” Lora shrugged.

“Let me check on her.” I turned and made my way upstairs and to the bedroom. Kandy was on the bed, her hair sprawled all over the place. She was sound asleep, and it was only 8:30 at night. Didn’t she sleep in this morning?

Sighing, I sat on the edge of the bed, close to her, and pushed her hair back. She moaned a little, rustled around a bit. She looked like she was sleeping so peacefully. As badly as I wanted to tell her about that dreaded phone call I just had, I didn’t want to disturb her rest. I pulled the comforter on top of her, then kissed her cheek.

Going to the closet, I changed into something more comfortable, but when I came back out, Kandy’s eyes were halfway open.

“Cane?” she groaned.

“Yeah, babe. It’s me.” I climbed onto the bed, pulling her to my chest as she moaned. “Lora says you have a stomach bug.”

She yawned. “Oh. Yeah…something like that.”

“Feeling any better?” I glanced at the ginger ale on her nightstand.

“Still feeling a little sick.”

“Need me to get anything?”

“No.” She hugged me tight, nuzzling her cheek into my chest. “I just need you. That’s all.”

I smiled, stroking her hair back. That phone call may have had me on edge, but being with her and having her arms wrapped around me took some of the edge off. I wanted to tell her what was going on—I’d promised her no more secrets—but right now wasn’t the time. Not while she was sick.

I told myself I’d fill her in once she felt better. Eden’s presence wasn’t to be taken lightly. I remembered a lot about her, and one thing I knew for sure was that she was going to make my life a living hell after what I’d done to her. It was best to brace myself, because until my contract with Mr. Miller was up, I wasn’t going to see or hear the end of that wicked woman.

Too bad the contract wouldn’t be up for another three hundred or so days, and I, of all people, knew how much shit could change in the span of a year.