Chapter 84 Candy

Chapter 84 Candy
Gianna 

"Do we have to be here?" I ask, rolling my eyes.

Somehow, Dmitry had managed to drag me out of the house to meet his ex fake partner... Candace, I think.

He offers me that annoyingly warm smile before pulling me into his arms. "I want you to meet everyone I care about. Is that so bad?"

I frown, resting my chin against his chest.

No.

It wasn't bad.

I just knew I wasn't going to like her.

The woman had given him that ridiculous nickname, and from the way he'd spoken about her, they'd been close once. Maybe I was being irrational. Maybe I was being dramatic.

Maybe.

But if you had someone like Dmitry Orlov, you'd be possessive too.

I let out a deep sigh before shaking my head at him.

"This isn't going to go well. I can feel it deep in my chest, Dima, sweetie."

A chuckle rumbles in his chest.

"I never took you for one of those petty women, kitten." He brushes his knuckles against my cheek. "Don't overthink it. Candace is pretty cool."

Candace.

Right.

That's her name.

"You never call me cool," I quip, pouting up at him.

Dmitry chuckles before tilting my chin until I'm looking up at him, his smile soft enough to make my heart skip.

"That's because 'cool' doesn't even begin to describe you." His thumb brushes across my cheek. "You're the most beautiful, multi-talented, prettiest, cutest, coolest girl in the world."

He pauses, his blue eyes locking onto mine.

"And I love you, baby."

Before I can think of a witty comeback, he leans down and brushes a soft kiss against my lips.

It's only meant to be a peck.

I smile into it anyway, my arms sliding around his neck as I pull him back to me. I kiss him again, slower this time, pouring every ounce of relief and love I'd been carrying inside me into the kiss.

When we finally part, I rest my forehead against his, unable to stop smiling.

"I love you too," I whisper.

A throat clears beside us, pulling us back to reality.

We break apart at the same time, our heads turning toward the sound.

A gorgeous brunette stands a few feet away, dressed in a yellow lace patchwork V-neck mini dress paired with red bottoms. She's effortlessly beautiful, the kind of woman who knows exactly how much attention she commands the second she walks into a room.

I glance up at Dmitry.

He's already smiling in recognition.

No way.

That can’t be Candace... right?

"Oh my, Dimaaaaaaa!"

She squeals, clapping her hands together before practically running toward us, her heels clicking excitedly against the pavement.

My eyes flick between the two of them.

She opens her arms for a hug, but before Dmitry can move, I hook two fingers into the back of his shirt and tug him toward me.

He gets the message immediately, instead of stepping into her embrace, he offers her his hand.

Candace glances at it before laughing, slipping her hand into his for a shake.

"Still the gentleman, I see. New York's been treating you well."

"You don't look bad yourself, Candy."

I slowly turn my head to look at him, so it wasn't a one-sided nickname.

Lovely.

Hell, amazing even.

"Hello, Candy," I cut in, interrupting their little reunion.

Dmitry shoots me a guilty look from the corner of his eye, but I pretend not to notice.

I'll deal with him when we get home.

Candace finally turns her attention to me. A cheeky smile spreads across her lips as she looks me over.

"I'm guessing you're Alec's sister?" she asks, extending her hand toward me. "Dmitry's mentioned you. I'm Candace."

I glance at her outstretched hand before taking it.

"Gianna."

"Pretty name."

“So I've been told." I point out, trying my best to be nice to her. “Actually I’m not just Alec’s—“ 

She interrupts me, pulling Dmitry with her, “come on the buffet is about to start and I don’t know about you both but I’m starving.” 

Dmitry shoots me an apologetic look over his shoulder before allowing Candace to drag him toward the buffet.

I trail behind them, watching the two fall into conversation as though no time has passed since they'd last seen each other.

It's... strange.

For starters, Candace is exactly the kind of woman Dmitry's mother would handpick for him. She's beautiful without trying too hard, rich enough to fit seamlessly into his world, and somehow still manages to be down to earth. She laughs easily, probably chats with the waiters by name, and apologises before asking for a refill.

I hate that she's likable.

It makes the whole fake relationship thing make a lot more sense.

I can see why they'd chosen each other. They fit. They understood the rules of each other's world, and there isn't a single awkward moment between them.

Maybe that's what bothers me, not that they're close but that they're comfortable.

I watch Candace nudge Dmitry's shoulder after he says something, earning a laugh out of him, and a familiar sting settles beneath my ribs.

No.

I don't like this.

Not one bit.

What the fuck?

Okay, Gianna, get out of your head.

Give Dmitry the benefit of the doubt. If he wasn’t with her when you weren’t even in the picture, then I’m sure as hell he isn’t going to entertain her now that we are…
What are we?
My steps falter.
What was I even trying to tell her back there?
That I wasn’t just Alec’s sister?
Then what?
That Dmitry and I fuck sometimes?That we’ve confessed our love for each other? That we have something unnamed between us?

What does any of that make us?

“Baby?”
A thumb brushes gently across my cheek.
“You good?”

I blink, taking in my surroundings.

Apparently, I’d stopped walking halfway across the room. Conversations have gone quiet around me, more than a few people are openly staring, and even Candace is looking at me with genuine concern.
Shit.

“Yeah…” My voice comes out shakier than I’d like, forcing me to clear my throat before trying again. “I’m good. I guess I just got lost in thought.”

Dmitry’s brows knit together.

“No, you’re not.” His hand cups my face, his expression softening the second his thumb catches another tear. “You’re crying.”

Instinctively, I touch my cheeks and as sure as hell they’re wet.

“I…” I let out a shaky laugh. “I guess I’m still not over what the doctor said.”

The words taste hollow.

“I think I should head home. You and Candace have fun.”

Before either of them can stop me, I force a smile in Candace’s direction.
“It was nice meeting you.”

Then I turn and walk away.

By the time I push through the hotel doors, walking isn’t enough.
I need air.

The cool evening breeze slaps against my face as I step outside, and I lean heavily against one of the stone pillars near the entrance. My hand presses against my chest, trying to slow the frantic pounding of my heart.

What the fuck was that?
Candace hadn’t done anything wrong,Dmitry hadn’t done anything wrong so why did it feel like the ground had disappeared beneath my feet?

I squeeze my eyes shut, forcing myself to take one slow breath after another.
Maybe I just need a walk, a really long walk.

I push away from the pillar, my head still spinning, and take one step forward before crashing face-first into something solid.
The impact sends me stumbling backward, my heels slipping against the pavement before I land hard on the ground.
“Ouch…”

I rub at my forehead before looking up, towering over me is a blond man with striking features and piercing blue eyes.
My stomach drops.
Kevin Greyheart.