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An Ellora’s Cave Romantica Publication
www.ellorascave.com
Candy Store
ISBN # 9781419910203
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
Candy Store Copyright© 2007 Bella Andre
Edited by Raelene Gorlinsky.
Cover art by Syneca.
Electronic book Publication: February 2007
This book may not be reproduced or used in whole or in part by any means existing without written
permission from the publisher, Ellora’s Cave Publishing, Inc.® 1056 Home Avenue, Akron OH 44310-
3502.
This book is a work of fiction and any resemblance to persons, living or dead, or places, events or locales
is purely coincidental. The characters are productions of the authors’ imagination and used fictitiously.
Content Advisory:
S – ENSUOUS
E – ROTIC
X – TREME
Ellora’s Cave Publishing offers three levels of Romantica™ reading entertainment: S (S-ensuous), E (E-
rotic), and X (X-treme).
The following material contains graphic sexual content meant for mature readers. This story has been
rated S-ensuous.
S-
ensuous
love scenes are explicit and leave nothing to the imagination.
E-
rotic
love scenes are explicit, leave nothing to the imagination, and are high in volume per the overall
word count. E-rated titles might contain material that some readers find objectionable—in other words,
almost anything goes, sexually. E-rated titles are the most graphic titles we carry in terms of both sexual
language and descriptiveness in these works of literature.
X-
treme
titles differ from E-rated titles only in plot premise and storyline execution. Stories designated
with the letter X tend to contain difficult or controversial subject matter not for the faint of heart.
C
ANDY
S
TORE
Bella Andre
Bella Andre
Chapter One
The orgasmic moans coming from behind Callie were too loud and impassioned for
her to ignore any longer.
“Ooohh, I just died and went to heaven,” exclaimed a middle-aged woman as she
popped another truffle into her mouth. The teenager next to her said, “Stop hogging
them all, mom,” and reached across her mother to grab several treats off the tray the
waiter was holding.
Callie smiled, pleased that everyone was enjoying the truffles so much, but then her
smile turned into a frown as she remembered her accountant’s words.
Your business
better start picking up, and fast, or you’re going to have to shut down Callie’s Candies.
Callie
slumped down in her seat with a loud sigh. Her store wasn’t bringing in enough money
to stay afloat. Even though everyone who had ever tasted one of her confections seemed
to love them, Callie still wasn’t able to make ends meet. Her accountant had arranged
for her to meet with a renowned candy company consultant on Monday, but right now
Callie wasn’t feeling particularly hopeful about it. As soon as anyone started talking
about marketing and promotion, Callie always started daydreaming about new candy
creations, no matter how hard she tried to stay focused on business plans.
She looked around the indoor garden at the two hundred people who were
munching on her truffles with looks of utter rapture on their faces and had to blink
quickly to fight back a sudden onslaught of tears. How could she give up on Callie’s
Candies? Making people happy was worth so much more to her than making money,
she thought as she sniffled and opened her little beaded purse to look for a tissue.
The woman behind her licked bittersweet chocolate dust off of her fingers. “Wait a
minute, honey. I’ve got a tissue here in my purse for you. I always cry at weddings
myself. Everything about them is so perfect and beautiful, isn’t it?”
4
Candy Store
Callie forced herself to nod and then accepted the tissue from the woman. Ignoring
the chocolate smear across it from the woman’s fingers, Callie blew her nose.
She liked weddings. Really she did. Especially since the happy couple had met in
her store last Valentine’s Day.
Callie tucked the used tissue into her purse, trying hard to clear her mind. Right
now she didn’t want to think about Valentine’s Day. She didn’t want to think about
weddings. And she sure as heck didn’t want to think about love.
She snorted at the thought of love—didn’t one need a boyfriend or even, say, a date
first?—and the woman next to her scooted a little farther away. Callie felt tears well up
in her eyes again. Even a middle-aged stranger thought she was weird and wanted to
get away from her. Callie reached for the used tissue and blew again.
The first few chords of the wedding march rang out and the guests leapt to their
feet. Callie noted that everyone was either still chewing and swallowing or licking
chocolate off of their fingers as they waited for the bride to appear. She bit back a
slightly hysterical laugh.
At least there is one thing about me that people love
, she thought as the radiant bride
appeared from an arbor of white lattice and pink roses.
Too bad she couldn’t barter chocolate truffles for love.
* * * * *
Tobey stood next to the priest and tried not to sway. Planting his feet in a wide
stance he clasped his hands behind his back and focused his eyes on the woman in
white coming towards him.
Ruthless memories assaulted him.
What woman in her right mind would want to marry
you? Candy is for children and I want a man.
Everything blurred and Tobey had to close his eyes to keep his feet firmly planted
on the ground.
The priest leaned towards him. “This is a wedding, not a wake, son.”
5
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