CandiceI wake up the next morning feeling amazing. This is the first day I woke up so far that I don't still feel my injuries. Abby had left me some pain killers in the bag she gave me, and I had taken some last night before bed. I am not a pain medicine type of person, I usually like to wait it out, but I knew if I were going to defend myself against another attack, I would need to get better and fast.I take a long shower and go back to the guest bedroom to get ready for the day. I dress in some black leggings and an off the shoulder white top that goes down to my thighs. When I walk into the kitchen charging straight to the coffee machine, I run smack dab into a wall of muscle. I swear, in order to be a part of their club these guys must have had to pass a six-pack test. Minimum. He is ripped. everywhere. Even his arms are muscular. When I back up and get ready to apologize, her gives me a disgusted look. "Um hi, you must be Shane. I'm Candice. We've met before though. You know,

CandiceA ripple of anger and fear courses through my body. I never should have found this man last year. He has done nothing but cause pain in my life. I hate him with every fiber of my soul and as Austin gives me a worried look, I wonder if Nicholas has ruined any chance I may have had at happily ever after."Babe? Did you hear me?" Austin says."Wh-what?""I asked if you were alright? You looked like you saw a ghost." God, why does he have to be so perfect. As soon as I tell him who I really am, I'm going to lose him, and I've only just gotten him. "Oh, um nothing. The name sounds familiar is all. What's he do?" I ask, even though I already know. Fucking small world."Yeah, should sound familiar, he owns half of New York. He is a business mogul and has his own a construction company. Cole industries. That's one of his faces anyway. The other face is a drug typhoon. He controls most of the heroin coming in, uses the company to conceal it. My father used to work for him. Our cl

CandiceAustin and Max's mother's house is absolutely beautiful. It is an older country style home that sits on at least an acre of land. It is by far the biggest house I had ever seen. There are large windows with white rusty shutters, the paint is peeling in some areas of the outside, a large chimney struck out atop the roof and as we walked further onto the porch, I could see a cedar ceiling that looked newly built under the roof of the porch.As we walk up to the house I could see their mother sanding there by a long white pillar. Of what I could see she is absolutely stunning. She has long wavy brown hair and light green eyes. I know Austin told me that she was on the young side to have grown men for sons, but the woman doesn't look a day over forty. Austin gets out and opens me door. Swoon. Once he has my hand in his we walk up to his mother and he walks up to hug her. Their size difference is almost laughable. She has to be about five foot two inches while Austin is way over s

CandicePinochle is a terrible card game. My grandmother taught me when I was fourteen and I've always hated it. I just always play with her because my grandfather used to and it's one more thing me and her can reminisce about him. As she laughs her ass off her recent win, I get off the recliner and head to the kitchen for a water bottle. As I guzzle down the refreshing drink I think back on Austin and I's conversation a few minutes ago. Austin sounded distracted but it's to be expected. He did tell me that he had another meeting with that Snake guy today, so he is probably still absorbed with that. I hate that he can't be too specific about club business with me, but when I spoke to Abby about it, she explained to me that lots of old ladies feel that way, but it was for our own good. She also told me that after all this is done there won't be secrets between me and Austin because there won't be anything to keep from me. I didn't tell her that I relished in that.I walk back into t

Candice"Alright Mr. Welsh can you take a deep breath for me?" I ask the eighty-one-year-old man in front of me. He came in today for a broken rib and I just finished wrapping him up.After a few painful deep breaths from my patient, I send a nurse in to give him his discharge papers and walk back over to my office. When I get to my desk there is a single rose sitting on it with a note with writing in black ink. A smile pulls at my lips as I recognize Ben's handwriting.You look beautiful today-BenI smile warmly at the gesture. Everyone except Lyla is tip toeing around me today. It's my first day back at work after my vacation and it feel like it's been eight months since I've last worked, not eight days. So much has transpired since the day I got a flat tire on the side of the road. Last night, after Austin left, my grandmother talked me into going after him. Telling me that sometimes as women, we have to not be the damsel in distress but be the knight in shining armor. Her les