Tastes Like Candy

Thirty-Six

 

Thirty-Six

Candy

He expected to find a Lean Dog waiting for them when they landed at Heathrow. Instead, they found Raven Blake.

Michelle's aunt wore black leggings, black high-heeled boots, a shapeless black sweater and a burgundy wool coat, and still managed to be glamorous in an obvious way. Maybe it was the whole model thing, or the runway training, but he thought it was probably just her – this aura of a woman who didn't give a single damn what anyone else thought.

Candy knew when Michelle spotted her because she squeezed his hand a little tighter.

Fox said, "Seriously?"

"Nice to see you too, Charlie." Raven pushed her sunglasses up onto her forehead and her eyes were even bluer in person. "The gang's all here, I see," she said, fathomless gaze tracking across her assorted half-brothers. And then it lighted on Michelle.

She opened her arms and Candy felt Michelle's fingers slide free of his. "Hello, love."

Michelle dove into the offered hug and they both clung tight. Candy had a view of Raven's face where it was resting over Michelle's shoulder, and he saw emotion ripple across her features, a quick cycle of gladness and regret. She didn't want Michelle in London.

Candy, though, couldn't say that he felt any regret. He didn't regret Michelle loving him, or agreeing to stay in Texas. He didn't for a second regret keeping her for himself.

But, in this moment, he regretted, just a little, the look on Raven's face. A look he thought was echoed on his Chelle's face. He didn't want her to miss her family in a painful way.

The hug ended and the girls pulled apart, dark and light heads bent together as Raven whispered something that made Michelle laugh.

Then Candy found himself on the receiving end of Raven's small, mysterious smile. "And this," she said, stepping toward him, "will be the Candyman."

"Miss Blake," he greeted, and offered his hand.

She took it, her grip a quick, firm press of manicured fingers. "And he has manners." Her smile widened. "Do you hear that?" she asked her brothers. "Manners. Something the lot of you are sorely lacking."

Then she gave Candy a wink. "I've got heaps of questions for you later."

Oh shit, he thought, stomach tightening. It didn't matter that he was forty-five – this was his first ever grown-up romantic relationship, and he dreaded the inquisition from any member of his girl's family. Raven, of course, looked delighted to step in and play mommy.

"Sure," he said.

"Not that I'm not happy to see you, sis," Walsh said, stepping in to hug his sister, "but I was expecting one of the boys."

She hugged him back and sighed. "All the 'boys' are up to their eyebrows in panic about whatever terrible thing you've got planned. I offered to come. And since I've got the Rover." She shrugged. "I'll take you to the Hall."

"That's real sweet," Tommy told her, stepping in for his own hug.

"Uh-huh. You just remember that the next time I need a favor."

"Of course," Miles said.

Fox stood with his hands in his pockets, bag slung over his shoulder, looking supremely bored with the proceedings. Raven folded her arms and squared off from him, and she, Candy decided with a grin, was the sibling who could take him on, toe-to-toe.