Never Dare A Duke

Chapter 8 (Rose Petals)

Chapter 8 (Rose Petals)

Nancy had brought up a tray full of food, moist garlic bread, piping hot grilled chicken seasoned with squash, Zucchini and various spices Candice couldn’t seem to name. Of course she only watched as Nathan took bite after bite. He moaned and looked up at Nancy with a heavy lids.

“This is amazing.”  he cried happily and was the very cause of the warm smile on Nancy’s face. 

“I hear you’re a chef.” Nancy turned towards her and Candice smiled just like she would at any of her critics. Small but sweet, warm but sharp; she didn’t fool around when it came to food or her art of cooking it. In her dark days food was the only thing she had control over. The only thing that comforted her when Anthony lay awake too shook up from his attack to sleep. Candice shut off her dark memories in a small box in her mind and concentrated on Nancy’s clear zealous eyes. 

“Hardly. I just started out.” she answered with as much honesty as possible. She looked over at Nathan who was indulging his taste buds in mind altering food. She had to admit; it smelled amazing. 

“And went straight catering one of London’s biggest events?” Nancy questioned with a perk of her brow. Candice shifted underneath her gaze. She couldn’t help but feel uncomfortable under Nancy’s questioning gaze. Then Leeza came to mind. Her ecstatic friend always held on to her before a major event and told her that everyone is ignorant when it comes to food. That she had to be a teacher ; and teach-Teachers don’t get nervous she had added and gave her a tight hug. Although the words weren’t as wise as Leeza sought them to be; Candice understood as Nancy lifted both her brows waiting for her answer. 

“It was luck. Even though I know I am fully capable of handling grand event such as these- I never expected for an opportunity to land in the palms of my hands so fast.” Candice told her the truth. 

She had been flabbergasted when her phone rang and the head chef ordered her to come meet him instantly. She had a polka dotted dress in the most vibrant of colors; yellow and she didn‘t care to change out of it as she ran to work. She had smiled and couldn’t help but hug Nicholas. He nodded at her and winced covering his eyes.

“Next time try not to dress like a highlighter” he grinned and left her joyous and fulfilled. This was exactly the opportunity she needed to gain respect in the industry of hounds. She wanted to be known and like people say. Be careful what you wish for. Now she was all over the news and running for her life with a man she hardly knew. Candice didn’t know where her life was going but she couldn’t think of it at the moment.

“Luck eh?” Nancy questioned her with a sharp tone causing Nathan to look up from his plate. He could feel the air becoming tense around them and noticed the territorial look on Nancy’s face. She was clearly inspecting Candice. Judging by the way Candice stiffened besides him ; Nancy was driving her patience.

“What exactly are you implying Nancy?” Candice asked shocking Nathan. He thought of her to be shy, quite and soft as rose petals but she surprised him with the direct question. No one ever questioned Nancy. Not even him. No one dared to test her. Everyone knew Nancy was sweet as honey but her temper was just as spicy. Except of course Candice. The woman he just had sex with. Minutes ago they were breathless ,naked and fondled each other in various embraces and now they sat side by side fully clothes as if nothing had happened. Some how he felt at ease; that Candice wouldn’t look too deep into the situation. They were just grown adult driven by lust and that was that. Simple.

Candice watched eagerly waiting for Nancy’s reply. She could see Nancy’s expression shifting as the room became more tensed. There was so much Candice could hold in. She shared a bed with a man who she only knew was royal and had hands of a god. She wanted to moan and do nothing but to kiss him again but he had just sat there, motion less as Nancy displayed the food in front of him. He was rigid, detached and highly aware of his body. He shifted away from her when her fingers brushed his knees. She had bent down to pick up her bra and he flinched at her touch as if she was poisonous and that had hurt. More than she would have liked it to.