Author's Notes:

Sweet Candy is a short tale of the loneliness that can be found within a family and the salvation that love brings.

I hope you enjoy it.

All characters engaging in sexual relationships or activities are 18 years old or older.

********

Sweet Candy

********

Chapter 1

Greg loved to run. He ran to school every morning regardless of the weather. Even today's cold November air didn't stop him from enjoying his exercise. That's what cold weather running gear was designed for, after all.

His running tights clung to his legs like a second skin. They were lined with warm fleece and black with red and orange flames rising from the ankles to curl around his calves. He felt fast when he wore them.

Every day, he'd get his run, take his shower at school, and get dressed there before classes. This routine gave him strength, speed, and endurance. This was crucial for his role as the star wide receiver on his high school's football team. With the help of the quarterback's powerful and accurate arm, they'd brought the team all the way to the championships. Today's game would decide the state champion.

He felt especially good this morning as he ran the final blocks toward the school.

His mood may have been influenced by the previous evening when he'd finally been invited upstairs into his girlfriend's bedroom. It'd been the first time he'd been in the inner sanctum!

She'd called him over to her house as she said she wanted to talk to him about something important, but she'd dragged him upstairs to her bedroom the moment he'd arrived. She'd sat on the edge of her bed, spread her legs, and flipped her skirt up to show him the pretty pink lips of her shaved pussy. With an excited grin, she beckoned him closer. As he'd done for her many times during the nine months they'd dated, he knelt between her legs and worshipped her most tender and intimate area with his lips, tongue, and fingers until she screamed into the pillow she was biting on. As was her usual behavior, she'd flaked out for long minutes after, so he relaxed next to her as she recovered.

He'd secretly scoped out her room, this being his first time in her sacred chambers. He found it to be as girly as he'd expected. The few posters she'd had were of boy bands and some effeminate-looking male actors. He knew he looked nothing like them, so it made him wonder at her taste in men and how he fit into this picture.

Watching her eyelashes flutter, he knew one thing she appreciated about him. His insecurity hoped it wasn't the only thing.

When she'd finally pushed herself up onto her elbows to grin at him, he'd been prepared for the usual excuses, but she'd surprised him by getting him to stand before her so she could slide his pants down.

Returning from his recollections, he crossed a busy intersection, waving at a few friends sitting in their cars, waiting for the light.

As he continued on, he self-consciously grinned as he recalled how he'd almost fainted the night before with excitement. But instead of the oral sex he'd dreamed of, he'd been treated to a spectacularly mediocre hand job with a lot of tissues at the finish. Only the fact that it wasn't his hand made it possible for him to finish at all.

Still, it was progress. To date, Crystal had shown significant resistance to repaying his efforts with anything more than kisses and letting him feel up her lovely tits. He truly believed this was the beginning of her dealing with a penis phobia. He'd Googled her previous reactions to see what it might mean.

This morning, he had hope.

Then his mind took him to his encounter last night with Crystal's older half-sister Candace. After their fun, he'd been sent to clean up in the washroom in the hall, as heaven forbid, he use the one in Crystal's room.

Was it the inner-inner sanctum?

Exiting from the washroom, he'd bumped into the taller woman. Her long blonde locks were dyed a soft pink, which she used to hide the right side of her face. He thought the uncovered side was lovely, but he understood she was really uncomfortable about letting people see her scars.

She gave him an odd look with her exposed eye, so he smiled and said hello. He began to worry that she might have overheard their sexy time. Her look intensified as he waited then she surprised him by slowly pushing her hair back to expose the right side of her face. She hid this from everyone, so he was stunned that she was showing him. He saw the jagged and angry-looking scar running down the right side of her face. It started just above her brow, thankfully missed her right eye, and began again on her cheekbone to end at her jawline. Smaller scars followed the larger one's path down the right side of her face. He looked into her nervous blue eyes and smiled. She surprised him again when she made an odd sound and rushed off to her room next to Crystal's.

As he'd watched in surprise, he felt sorry that she'd damaged her brilliant brain in the accident that left her with the scars. He'd learned that she was highly intelligent before.

Greg ran through the school grounds and waved to Mr. Marcy, the football coach. The man grinned at him and waved back. Greg knew the coach was excited about today's game, too.

He greeted a few other friends as he walked through the halls towards the gym and shower room. He spotted Crystal standing at her locker with Heather, girlfriend to his buddy Tim, the quarterback, and Valerie, the girlfriend of Pete, one of the team's defensive tackles.

Crystal was a five-foot-six red-haired beauty who took his breath away when she smiled at him. She wasn't smiling as she talked to her friends, so he altered his trajectory and walked up to the three ladies, hoping to put a smile on his girlfriend's lips once more.

"Hey, beautiful! Hi Heather, Valerie!" he said with a grin, holding Crystal's eyes.

She panned her eyes down his five-foot-nine body, taking in his wide shoulders, slim waist, and powerful leg muscles, visible against the stretchy material of his running tights. The only skin he'd left exposed to the cold November air was his face, gleaming from a sheen of sweat. Her nostrils flared instinctively as he moved in for a quick kiss. He got a peck instead of the soft kiss he was hoping for and gave her a look as he pulled back.

"You're sweaty," was all she said, shifting uncomfortably.

He smiled uncertainly, unsure where this hesitation was coming from. She'd previously said that she enjoyed his manly scent. "I just ran to school."

"Then you should get cleaned up before first bell," she suggested in a clear dismissal, and he nodded as he moved away. He went over the brief exchange in his head all the way to the gym.

"What the hell was that?" he wondered as he entered the shower room. He pushed his backpack into a locker, peeled off his running tights, and stuffed them inside, picking up his shampoo, soap, and towel. He quickly washed his body in the showers, then his long, straight black hair, now reaching the middle of his shoulder blades. He rinsed himself and went back to worrying about Crystal's reaction.

As he dried off and dressed, an older worry resurfaced. When Crystal originally began dating him, he was overly conscious of the difference in the social circles their families came from. Greg's family, the Hughes, had a small software company; most of their customers were from Europe and Asia. Greg's dad did a lot of traveling to meet their customers, leaving Greg and his mom at home for weeks at a time. While that wasn't the best of situations, his parents were still crazy in love, so Greg felt comfort and stability from their marriage. Their business did well enough for them to be considered middle class.

Crystal's family was old money. She was the daughter of Byron Tafferty, the wealthiest businessman in the county, if not the state. He owned all the mines and mining rights in their county and the surrounding counties. The Tafferty family founded the town of Hampstead Hills almost a century before and had been instrumental in keeping it alive and growing.

Greg worried that one day Crystal would come to her senses and drop him for someone from her level of society. She assured him that she was happy, but that doubt lingered.

While they were at the community's apex, the Tafferty family had dwindled to just five members. At its head was Byron, the patriarch in his early sixties. He was still a powerful man and a cunning businessman. It was rumored that he had a cruel streak, and Crystal's tales of her father made Greg believe there was truth to those rumors.

Byron was currently married to his second wife, Missy. She was his five-foot-nine trophy wife, married just one year after the death of his first wife, Ellie. Missy was now in her mid-thirties and the source of Crystal's red hair and beauty. The eighteen-year-old daughter hadn't inherited her mother's overly generous bosom and ass, but she was a svelte version of her mother.

Kal Tafferty, now twenty-five, was Byron's eldest child. He was born of Ellie, who passed away while giving birth to her second child, Candace, who was now twenty-one.

The Tafferty home was an eight-bedroom mansion in the Oak Hills community. It dwarfed the Hughes family's two-bedroom ranch-style bungalow on Aspen Grove Crescent, situated on the opposite side of town.

From Crystal's stories and his own minimal interactions with the man, Greg knew Kal was a complete ass. He was self-centered, arrogant, and carried an air of entitlement. The man was coasting on his family's wealth and position within the community. He'd peaked in high school as the quarterback and was sliding into obscurity with a serious drinking problem. It was blatantly obvious to anyone who saw him. Greg was convinced the man knew it as well but couldn't find his way out.

Candace's story was far more tragic, but Crystal didn't like to talk much about her older half-sister, especially concerning recent events.

As Candace lost her mother at birth, she and her brother were raised by the household staff. Missy took care of her own daughter at Byron's direction. Crystal had slipped once to say that her father held Candace responsible for Ellie's death, even though she'd had difficulty birthing Kal, too.

The older daughter found maternal comfort during the critical years in the arms of the cook. Until Byron caught her doting on the young girl. The cook was fired that very day. This had upset Crystal as well.

Where Kal barely maintained sufficient grades to progress through school, concentrating on football and his social life instead, Candace demonstrated a genius-level intellect but was stunted socially. No one liked her, as her sharp tongue pushed people away. She was smarter than everyone and not shy about expressing that fact. Compounding the impression that she looked down on people, she was also much taller than everyone her age.

Candace began growing to her current height when she was very young, further separating her from her peers. She was always the tallest in her classes, and as cruel as children can be, they nicknamed her Taffy to describe how she looked stretched vertically. By the time she graduated, she was six-foot-two with long wavy golden blonde hair that reached the top of her ass. She hid her face behind her hair. Tall and slim with an hourglass figure, she used her home gym to keep her long muscles toned and strong. Due to her height, she diligently followed a maintenance routine to protect her back.

Despite how lovely she looked, she remained alone throughout her high school years.

Kal graduated and began his downward spiral into alcoholism. A few years later, Candace graduated at the top of her class with no friends.

This is where Crystal would stop speaking and change the subject, but Greg pieced together the story from people who'd been there.

The year Candace graduated, there'd been a huge house party for her fellow graduates, and to everyone's surprise, she showed up in a taxi.

Though she actually made an effort, no one talked to her, and she began to drink until she passed out on a porch swing. When she woke, the party was winding down, and someone had helped themselves to the money in her wallet. She couldn't afford the taxi ride home. Instead, she called home to get a lift back.

Kal arrived tipsy and helped himself to a few drinks before being asked to leave. The story was that Kal got his sister into his car, then roared out of the driveway, driving erratically. The next morning, the town was abuzz with the news that Kal had totaled his car against a tree in a ditch, and Candace was in the hospital in a coma from being tossed through the car's windshield. The accident left her with terrible scars on her face.

When Candace came out of the coma, she showed signs of severe brain trauma. She was no longer a genius-level young adult but a simple-minded child.

The tragedy of that made Greg's stomach ache.

The first-period bell rang, bringing Greg out of his thoughts. He realized he'd been sitting on the locker room bench stewing. He quickly finished dressing and rushed off to class.

He'd deal with whatever was bothering Crystal later.

Chapter 2

"No, Candy, you can't go into the maternity ward."

Large blue eyes looked back at the nurse and blinked. Nurse Hershey was an obstacle. She didn't like Candace. She was frightened by the very idea of mental disabilities. Candy turned to enter the ward again and heard a sigh behind her.

A hand grabbed her arm and tugged. Candy gripped the door's edge. Another forced sigh behind her. A harder pull that became painful. Fear fueled the nurse's strength. Candace held the door tightly.

Frustration flared. "Okay, if that's how you're going to be, I'll get Margaret. She's the Head Nurse, and she's going to kick you out of the hospital! You won't get to volunteer here anymore. Is that what you want?"

Candy showed her blue eyes and pouted but didn't let go of the door.

With an angry snort, Hershey released Candace's arm and stormed away. The moment she turned the corner and was out of sight, Candace released the door and quickly walked away in the opposite direction, leaving the maternity ward behind.

She only had ten minutes if she calculated this correctly. She slipped into the stairwell and rushed down two floors. She cautiously peeked out the door to ensure the coast was clear. She'd confirmed on her way in this morning that the hospital's security cameras were still down. She made her way to the door of the records room and used the key she'd made from the one on the custodian's keyring. It was a master key and would get her inside.

She slipped in and rushed down the aisles, scanning the boxes on the shelves with her eyes, looking for the date of the accident on the box labels. She finally found it in a back corner. She listened, but all was quiet, so she pulled the file box down then quickly flipped through the pages until she found her records for that fateful night. She took pictures of the pages and did her best to not look at them. She couldn't afford the time. She put them back, then pulled the file for Kal.

Again, she took pictures, trying not to look at the pages, but a number jumped out at her. They'd done a blood test, and it showed a blood alcohol level of 0.134. She froze for a moment. She'd known her brother was drunk, but here was proof. Proof the local sheriff's department had covered up evidence when they did their own test at the scene. They'd missed removing the hospital's paperwork.

She stuffed the papers back into the box and slipped it back onto the shelf. She glanced at her Hello Kitty watch and saw she only had three minutes. She retraced her steps to the maternity ward entrance and sat on the floor next to the door, resting her head on her knees. She took deep breaths and pulled up the saddest memories she had. The day the family cook was fired.

"There she is! I told you!" Hershey's voice rang out.

"Hush. Let me talk to her." That was Margaret's voice.

A gentle hand touched Candace's dyed-pink hair, and she lifted her face to look into the eyes of Margaret Stewart, Head Nurse of the hospital. The older woman saw blue eyes brimming with tears.

"Are you okay, dear?" she asked, her Scottish accent surfacing with her concern.

"My arm hurts," Candace said quietly. Margaret's eyebrows rose, and she gently rolled Candy's sleeve back. She had bruises from Nurse Hershey's overly tight grip. Clear finger-shaped bruises could be seen.

Margaret lifted the younger woman's chin and then looked her in the eye. "Who did this?"

Blue eyes flicked over the Head Nurse's shoulder towards Hershey. "She doesn't like me," Candy whispered in a little girl's voice.

Margaret sighed wearily. "Did you try to enter the Maternity Ward?"

"Just in the doorway. To listen to the babies," Candy whispered.

"Okay, I'll speak to Nurse Hershey. For now, please don't go anywhere near the maternity ward."

Candy opened her mouth like she was going to argue, then nodded. Margaret helped her up, and Candy glanced at Hershey, who was looking at her in frustration again.

"She's promised to not go into the Maternity Ward. Let's go speak to the nurses inside. I also need to speak to you about the bruises you left on Miss Tafferty's arm," Margaret said calmly as Hershey sputtered. The Head Nurse emphasized Candace's family name as a warning. The young woman might be considered to be mentally challenged, but she was still a Tafferty.

Candy walked away, no longer concerned about the nurses. In her mind, she was putting together the next steps in her plan.

She deeply regretted manipulating Mrs. Stewart as she'd come to recognize the strict woman had a tender heart. When she'd achieved her goal, she would offer her sincerest apologies. Not that she expected it to be accepted, but she understood it was required.

It had taken her two years to get to this point, as the plan could not be rushed.

She was a regular fixture in the hospital, and everyone who saw her pink hair relaxed and ignored her for the most part. She went from room to room with her little cart, offering books and games for the patients. Sometimes, she just sat and listened to the older people talk, letting them burn off their nervous energy and calming them. The doctors and nurses appreciated her activities.

She discovered people accepted her now. Her keen intellect no longer threatened them, and she controlled her poison tongue, so people liked her! It was a novel and welcome experience. Deceiving them began to feel wrong, but she had a mission.

Getting the master key had been difficult, but she had free rein in the place, so even the custodian staff got used to her poking around in the basement. They usually guided her back to the elevators unless they were busy.

They had a key-cutting machine and let her watch them use it. She knew where the master slugs were kept, and she managed to borrow a set of keys over a dinner hour when the chief took his snooze. Luckily, the room was noisy and mostly covered the sound of her making the key. She got his set of keys back to him before he woke.

With the incriminating photos safe in her cell phone and her shift over, Candace headed for home. There was a bus that would pick her up next to the hospital and drop her off at the entrance of her neighborhood.

As she waited, she glanced back at the hospital and realized she would soon not have to spend so much time wandering its corridors. She felt strangely conflicted by that. She'd come to enjoy how people opened up to her. The lack of connection she'd had her entire life vanished within the walls of this building.

It wasn't lost on her that when she listened more and spoke less, people felt more at ease around her. She recalled how she talked to people before, her harsh words and judgmental tones. This... experiment was yielding insights into herself she hadn't expected.

Then her memories took her back to the bad night after the accident when she woke in terrible pain and overheard her father telling the surgeon there would be no further treatments for her injuries. The facial scars would remain as punishment for her own carelessness. She'd been stunned at the cruelty in his voice.

She realized that night his intent was to cut her loose. He was aware of how smart she was, and he must have been concerned that she might somehow become aware of the financial liberties he was planning for the corporate funds, especially the worker's pension plan. The fact that she was already aware of this supported her theory.

Initially, she just wanted vengeance against this piece of human shit. She would use Byron's wicked ways against him! The only way to do that was to ensure she remained a dependent in his household-for the time being. The brain injury stratagem was born.

It was simple enough to remain silent in the early days after she woke from the coma. Taking on the persona of a simple child was more difficult, but her injuries made it more believable. It seemed to match the doctor's expectations. When they brought an expert in to evaluate her mental state, Candace found the woman had already set her opinion based on what she'd heard from Candace's doctor. It was simple for Candace to fool the tests as the expert wasn't looking for anything more.

The arriving bus brought her back to the present. The door opened, and the driver smiled at her. She put a cheery smile on her own lips.

"Good evening, Candy!" the driver said.

"Good evening, Mr. Dillon!" she replied.

"Did you have a good day?" the older man asked.

"The best yet!" she responded with her usual answer, making him chuckle as he always did.

As she made her way back to take a seat, she realized she'd miss talking to him as well. She struggled to keep the smile on her face, which troubled her too.

While she'd been working on this plan for two years, she hadn't considered how important the relationships she'd made along the way would become for her. She didn't want to go back to being lonely.

She'd turn her intellect on that problem when she got home.

Chapter 3

Greg ran out onto the field and joined the huddle. Tim sent him a big grin.

"What say we start off this victory with a long bomb?" Tim said and got chuckles.

"You want to break their spirit on the first play?" Greg asked in mock surprise.

"No time like the present to let them see what they are up against. Do you have any juice left in your legs, or did you tire yourself out chasing Crystal?" Tim bantered.

"Look who thinks he's a comedian! Just throw the ball, funny man," Greg said with a smirk.

They clapped their hands and took their positions in the scrimmage line. Greg sized up the players he'd have to evade and outrun. The cornerback and outside linebacker were eyeing him like fresh meat. He could easily outrun the linebacker, but he knew this cornerback had some serious sprinting power, so he'd have to keep and eye on him.

Tim began his calls, and Greg focused on the play. He knew where he had to be and when he had to be there. At the snap, he exploded forward. As he expected, the cornerback moved to keep pace, but the linebacker surprised him by running toward his own end zone. Greg put that player out of his mind as he was no longer a concern. He opened his stride and began to distance himself from the cornerback.

It was time. He turned his head to the right to see the incoming pass, his hands in position to snatch the ball, which would be coming in over his shoulder right about—

Tim watched in horror as the linebacker slammed into Greg in a flying tackle, the top of his helmet impacting the side of Greg's, snapping his friend's head to the left. A split second later, the cornerback crashed into Greg's legs. Tim saw Greg's limp body cartwheel in the air as the thrown football sailed past him. His friend hit the ground under the heavy linebacker's bulk.

End of play.

-=-

Greg slowly surfaced from the darkness. His head hurt... everything hurt. He tried to recall what happened but thinking hurt too.

He may have moaned.

"Mr. Hughes? Are you awake?"

Greg opened his eyes and blearily rolled them in the direction of the voice. Someone dressed like a doctor. "yes..." he managed.

"Good. I'm Dr. Green. You've taken quite a blow to the head, so you have a concussion. That's the reason for most of your pain. You also have a broken fibula in your left leg, so it's a good thing football season is over."

Greg's heartrate jumped as he suddenly recalled the state championship game. "The game!" he blurted and sank back against the pillow as his pain spiked.

"That was yesterday. You've been resting here since you were brought to the hospital. What's the last thing you remember? But don't push yourself too hard," Dr. Green asked.

The pain got worse as he tried to recall the game. "I-I ran out onto the field... and Tim said we were doing a long bomb..." His memory faded from that point. "What happened?"

The doctor smiled. "From what I heard, the opposing team decided to take you out early as they considered you a threat. You were hit hard by two of their players."

Greg struggled to follow the conversation, but it was just so hard. "Final score?"

Dr. Green's smile widened. "I understand your team won."

Greg managed a smile then oblivion took him once more.

-=-

The doctor checked his patient's pupils and turned to leave the room. He had good news to deliver to a worried parent. He walked down the hall to the waiting room where a group of anxious teens and a woman, who had to be Mrs. Hughes, waited for news on the young man's condition. He spotted the pink hair of Candy, standing off to the side, looking a little lost. Then he spotted the red hair of her sis—no, her half-sister, he recalled.

"Mrs. Hughes?" he asked, and the nervous woman nodded. He gave her his most reassuring smile. "Greg's going to be fine. He has a concussion, so we'll keep him under observation for a few days as a precaution. The fibula in his left leg was broken as well, but it was a clean break and will heal in time. He'll have to wear a cast for a while."

"So, no running until then?" a tall blond man asked with a little smirk. The doctor saw it was to lighten the spirits of the mother.

He gave the young man a grin. "No running for now."

Mrs. Hughes looked to the blond man with a grateful smile, though her eyes were a little glassy. "Can I see him?"

"He's sleeping at the moment. I believe he will be up to having a few visitors tomorrow. His brain took a little jostling, so we'll keep the visits short at first and not put too many demands on him. Okay?"

The group nodded to him, and the relieved mother shook his hand. He'd done his job here, so he moved on.

-=-

From the side of the waiting room, Candace secretly watched Crystal's reactions with interest. Last night, she'd overheard her tell Missy that Greg was badly hurt during the game. They'd been told to wait until the morning to visit the hospital.

Candace had been surprised to see the conflicted expressions of relief and guilt on her half-sister's face. Her curiosity flared as she'd believed Crystal and Greg were a happy couple.

Based on the noises she heard from Crystal's room when Greg visited, they were a very happy couple! She'd gotten so worked up listening to Greg pleasuring Crystal and her half-sister's bliss.

She made a mental note to remove the listening device she'd snuck into Crystal's room when she heard Greg would be visiting.

After eavesdropping, Candace unexpectedly found herself waiting outside the washroom door, where Greg bumped into her. She certainly hadn't expected to expose her brutal scarring to him. When he showed no sign of revulsion but instead smiled at her, she'd had to flee as her thoughts completely derailed.

She'd heard Crystal mention to her mother that she would be coming to the hospital today with her friends, and Greg's mom would likely be there, too. Candace made sure she was in the waiting room when they all arrived. Greg's friend Tim had greeted her with a smile and a nod, but his girlfriend Heather had been stiff and uncomfortable like Crystal sometimes was.

She and her half-sister had never been close, as their father forbid it. Candace protected Crystal from her father's wrath by keeping her distance.

With the doctor's assurances and his departure, Candace could see Greg's mom still looked upset. Tim gave her a hug and whispered something to her. She smiled gratefully when he released her.

"Unlike Greg, who gets to laze away his day today, some of us have part-time jobs that make us work Saturdays. Besides, we have to spread the word as lots of people will want to hear the good news," Tim said aloud, and the group nodded.

Candace could see the woman take strength from his words. She was amazed at how Tim's confidence set people at ease. Better yet, he wasn't obnoxious like Kal and seemed to get a lot of respect.

She waited for Crystal to hug Mrs. Hughes, but instead, she was one of the first to leave the waiting room. This didn't go unnoticed by the older woman, who watched with surprise.

Without understanding why, Candace stepped away from the wall, moved before the woman, and hugged her. Surprised at first, Mrs. Hughes soon wrapped her arms around Candace, and they stood like that for a long moment. Candace gently released her and looked into her eyes to see if she was okay.

"Thank you," the older woman said to Candace. "I don't think I've met you before, and Greg brings everyone home." She smiled fondly, thinking of her son.

"I'm Ca—"

"Candy! Aren't you supposed to be doing your rounds?" Nurse Hershey asked bluntly.

Candace looked at the nurse, then rushed away. She didn't like to be near the unpleasant woman. Their previous encounter and the subsequent scolding from the head nurse had set Nurse Hershey on the war path. Until Candace could finish her plan, she'd have to avoid the woman.

She passed Greg's room and paused for a moment outside the door. She promised herself she'd check in on him later.

He was Crystal's boyfriend! Why was she so drawn to him?

Chapter 4

Crystal leaned back against the pillows she'd propped up against the headboard of her bed. The redhead glared at her blonde friend Heather and saw Valerie hide her face behind her brunette locks, so she must also feel she'd been rude to Mrs. Hughes.

"I'm just saying, as Greg's girlfriend, it's kind of expected that you make an effort to get along with his parents. She seems like a really sweet lady," Heather hastened to explain her earlier criticism.

Crystal huffed and crossed her arms over her chest. "I've been trying to become his ex-girlfriend for a few weeks."

"WHAT?" "WHY?" her friends exclaimed simultaneously. Crystal hushed them.

When they settled down, Heather spoke first. "We thought you two were doing so well! You look so good together, and he's such a hunk!"

Valerie leapt in. "Is it because he's from the wrong side of the tracks?" Her friends looked at her in confusion, so she continued. "He lives east of Prentice Street, where the train tracks divide the town. We live west of Prentice."

Crystal glared at her dense friend. "That has nothing to do with anything; besides, he isn't poor!"

"What reason could you possibly have for dropping him then?" Heather gasped.

Crystal squirmed under the intense scrutiny of the two women. She finally caved. "We aren't compatible... sexually."

"You've had sex?!?" Valerie hissed as Heather's jaw dropped.

"No!" Crystal snapped. She pouted. "He's too big."

Heather and Valerie squealed excitedly and leaned closer for details.

"How big does it get?" Valerie asked.

"That's another thing. Greg's is always big," Crystal sighed, and their eyes widened. She shook her head. "He doesn't have a constant erection," she growled in frustration. "I Googled it. There are two kinds of men: growers and showers. Grower's penises start small and get bigger when they get excited. Greg is a shower. His penis is full size and just becomes hard when he's erect." She squirmed again as she recalled holding Greg's in her hands.

Heather shared a puzzled look with Valerie, then turned back to the redhead. "What difference does that make?"

"He's too big for me!" Crystal complained.

"You keep saying that, and now I'm imagining a monstrous donkey dong!" Valerie giggled, setting off her friends.

When she stopped laughing, Crystal shook her head. "He's maybe seven inches long but thick. Too thick to fit inside me."

"You've tried?" Heather asked cautiously.

Crystal shook her head once more. "We haven't had sex yet, but I know that it won't fit," she said definitively.

"You said you tried dropping him weeks ago? What happened?" Heather asked as Valerie went back to imagining Greg's cock.

Crystal looked into Heather's eyes. "Every time I had an opportunity to break-up, I'd chicken out. Instead, I'd have to have him one more time—"

"You liar! You said you didn't have sex!" Valerie chirped.

"We didn't! But Greg has the most talented tongue and mouth and gives me the most incredible orgasms!" Crystal trembled as she recalled the pleasure.

Valerie and Heather exploded into squeals of delight, and Crystal joined in.

Once they settled down, Heather leaned a little closer. "He's that good at it?"

Crystal nodded with a dreamy expression, which faded into a frown. "If only he'd be willing to do it without expecting anything in return."

"Wait! You've done nothing for him?!?" Valerie gasped in outrage.

"We kiss! He's such a great kisser! I let him play with my boobs. I-I've touched it! I stroked him off the night before the game," she said defensively.

"You've never used your mouth on him?" Heather asked quietly. Crystal shook her head with big blue eyes open wide. Heather made a circle with her index finger and thumb to guess Greg's thickness.

The redhead rolled her eyes and adjusted her friend's fingers to match Greg's actual size.

Heather gave her a curious look. "That's a nice girth, maybe just a little wider than Tim, but I'd hardly call it too big to fit. We stretch, you know."

Valerie reached out to seize Heather's hand as she stared at Greg's measurement. "Shit! Pete's half that size and four inches long. Do you want to swap boyfriends?"

"I'm built really small, okay?" Crystal snapped. "I've tested this. I bought a vibrator—"

"WHAT?!? Where did you get one? They don't sell them in any of the stores in town!" Heather blurted, then blushed as she'd just confessed to having searched.

"I ordered it online from a very reputable and discreet site. They delivered it to our home in a plain package," Crystal explained.

Heather blinked in surprise. "Weren't you worried someone would open the package, like your mom or worse, your dad?"

Crystal shook her head. "Dad's too busy to look at mail not addressed to him." She paused momentarily, then continued. "Mom's ordered a collection of vibrators and dildos from the site because Dad is too busy." More giggles erupted.

Her friend's previous words finally trickled into her brain. "Wait... you two seem to be intimately familiar with your boyfriend's penises. You've had sex!"

They grinned, and a wave of jealousy rushed through the redhead.

"Maybe if you stopped calling them penises, you'd be less hung up on the idea of sex," Heather suggested. When she saw the rage building, she moved to defuse it. "I'm really jealous of the oral treatment Greg gives you, though. Tim barely spends any time down there and has never brought me to an orgasm with his mouth."

Valerie read the signs, too, and jumped in with her two cents. "Pete refuses to use his mouth anywhere south of my tits. I'd love to experience what Greg does for you at least once in my life."

They'd managed to derail her anger, but sadness had taken its place. "I have to break up with him, but I think I'm addicted to the pleasure he gives me."

Heather snorted in amusement but saw her friend was being serious. "H-how often?"

"Two or three times a week," Crystal sighed.

"Daaaaaammnnn!" Valerie exclaimed as her mind spun with the concept.

Heather blinked as she tried to work out the logistics. "How do you find the opportunity for this in your busy schedules?"

Crystal smiled mischievously. "We've mostly done it at his place after school as his mom has a job. Greg really enjoys it, too!" Her smile became extra wicked. "We once did it in a supply closet at school. A real quickie. Fuck! That was so hot!"

"And in all these play times, you didn't give him a little pleasure in return? Is the man a saint or an idiot?" Heather mused to herself but aloud. Crystal nailed her with a thrown pillow. Heather frowned. "Come on! Even you must admit your relationship with him is decidedly one-sided."

Crystal was back to pouting. "I know, all right? I just... his penis. It's too big," she grumbled.

"Then cut him loose as gently as you can. He's gonna be really hurt and probably angry, but the longer you use him, the worse it will be for both of you," Heather said softly.

Crystal glared, but she knew it was true and nodded.

Still, such shitty timing!

Chapter 5

Greg was resting back against his pillow as he watched the clouds floating by outside his window. He knew much of the contentment and ease he was currently feeling came from the pain medication they had him on.

The concussion was easing at last, and all he really had to deal with was his broken leg.

He heard a noise and turned his head to see his mom walking into his room. The second bed was empty, so they had privacy. Seeing her smile made him smile.

"Hi, Mom."

Her smile widened, making her eyes twinkle. He loved seeing her happy.

"Good morning, sweetie. How are you feeling today?" she asked.

"I'm feeling no pain if you catch my drift," he added with a grin.

Her smile became a smirk. "Do I need to ask them to reduce your meds?"

"Please don't. I think it's too early for that. I can feel the pressure of the pain behind the buzz from the drugs. I'm grateful for their support at the moment," he asserted, and his head throbbed slightly as if to back up his words. Her expression became concerned once more as she saw him wince slightly.

"Is there anything I can do, anything you need?" she asked as she took his hand.

He gave her a reassuring smile. "Not right now. I think the doctors have things under control. Heard from Dad?"

She nodded as the smile returned to her face. "He called last night and sends his wishes for a speedy recovery."

"How'd his meeting go?" Greg asked, closing his eyes against the throb in his head. He felt lips on his forehead and opened his eyes to see his mom pulling back.

"It went well, but negotiations continue. I can see you're still in pain from your concussion, so I'm going to head off to work. I'll check in on you on my way home. Okay?"

He nodded and gave her a smile as he was beginning to fade once more. He wasn't as far along in his recovery from the concussion as he'd thought.

Greg once more turned his eyes to the window to watch the clouds pass by, but he drifted off before seeing their movement.

-=-

Candace did her rounds and timed her arrival outside Greg's room for when the nurses were working in the rooms further down the hall. She'd tucked her cart against the wall out of sight behind a spare gurney. When the coast was clear, she stepped into the room and listened. The only sound she heard was Greg's steady, slow breathing as he rested back against the pillows.

She silently moved closer and gazed down at his sleeping face. He looked so peaceful... and innocent.

But he wasn't innocent, was he. He did things to Crystal that Candace was desperate to experience herself.

It wasn't fair.

She'd never had a boyfriend.

She'd never been kissed.

She'd never felt a man's touch, and certainly not his kiss in her most intimate places.

Candace wanted these things desperately, and Crystal was throwing all that away!

Last night, before she'd had the opportunity to remove her listening device from Crystal's room, her sister and her friends had the door closed, and the giggling sounds began. Unable to resist, she'd listened in and heard her sister's guilty confessions.

Candace bit her lip as she imagined Greg's mouth caressing hers, his hands in her hair, his hard body pressed against hers. She suddenly recalled when he'd bumped into her in the hall.

She moaned slightly, and Greg's eyes slowly opened. She froze.

"Candace?" he asked quietly, his voice rough with sleep.

She didn't know what to do. She was risking everything by being in here. Greg was waking up, and he was watching her curiously so far. He didn't seem alarmed to find her in his room.

"Is Crystal here?" he asked, and she heard the hope in his voice. She felt her heart ache for him.

After hearing Crystal talking with her girlfriends last night, she knew what was in store for Greg. If Crystal didn't succumb to her selfish desires again, that is. Candace wouldn't bet against it. She knew how self-indulgent her little sister had become.

While she didn't really know Greg that well, from the few occasions when he spoke to her, she knew he didn't deserve to be treated so poorly. He seemed like a genuinely nice person.

"Is everything all right? You seem sad."

His voice brought her back to the moment, and she forced a smile onto her lips. His eyes moved to the door as if expecting Crystal to walk in to visit her boyfriend.

It was too painful to watch, so she quickly turned away and slipped outside the room. She collected her cart and moved on.

She couldn't keep one thought from circling around in her head again and again.

It wasn't fair!

Chapter 6

Monday afternoon after school, Tim and Heather visited Greg and found him awake.

"Hey, buddy! Sorry we didn't come by yesterday, but the doctor said you needed to rest and to give you some time. How are you feeling?" Tim asked as he shook Greg's hand.

"My head no longer immediately hurts when I think," Greg admitted.

"Wow! You're better than you've ever been!" Tim teased.

"Jerk!" Greg scoffed with a grin.

Heather shook her head with a smile at the clowning and leaned in to give Greg a kiss on the cheek. Her eyes went to his mouth as her mind replayed Crystal's confession.

Greg's eyebrows rose as he looked back at the woman. "Thanks, but what was that for?" She'd never kissed him before.

She blushed. "Y-you just gave us all such a scare!" she said, flustered by her own behavior.

Tim snorted with a grin. "Oh, I see how it is, Greg! You injured yourself purposefully to steal away all our girlfriends with this invalid act!"

Greg laughed and smiled back at his friend. Truthfully, while his brain had needed the quiet time, he'd been a little lonely. His mom had visited for a few hours on Sunday, and he'd seen Candace several times as she poked her head in his door for a smile. He missed his friends and was grateful Tim was here.

The tall blond bowed ceremoniously to him. "On behalf of the team, I'm here to thank you for your sacrifice, which drew the team together like never before. It unified us so completely we crushed our opponents 47-3 and won the state championship."

Greg smirked at Tim's speech. "You were actually able to use butterfingers Ron as your receiver?"

Tim laughed. "Ron was so inspired by your sacrifice that he caught everything I threw at him. His new nickname is peanut butterfingers, as every catch stuck."

Greg's stomach growled. "Great! Now I'm craving peanut butter."

Tim's face fell. "Dammit, I left the donuts I picked up for you in my truck. Hang on a sec!"

Heather remained behind as Tim rushed out.

After an awkward pause, she suddenly sat on the edge of the bed, pulling the sheets tight across Greg's lap. She stared in shock at the clear impression of Greg's cock against the sheets.

"Oh! I-I'm sorry!" she stammered as Greg loosened the blankets from the other side to hide his contours. Having seen the evidence, her mind again flashed back to the confession. "Crystal mentioned you were too big," she gasped quietly in her flustered state.

Greg was surprised that Crystal would be talking about their intimate times then he froze as he realized what she'd said. Too big. His eyes locked onto Heather's.

As she struggled to calm herself, her mouth continued to run wild. "But she sings your praises for your oral technique!"

Greg's face heated with a deep blush as his anger and embarrassment surged.

Tim burst into the room, slightly winded but grinning with a donut box in his hand. His smile slipped away as he saw Greg was upset and Heather's desperate expression. "What's going on?"

His girlfriend no longer trusted her mouth and just shook her head. She looked miserable.

"Crystal has been loose-lipped about our time together. That's gotta stop if she wants to remain my girlfriend," Greg insisted.

Heather's head dipped to hide her expression, but Greg and Tim knew something was up.

Tim dropped the box on the little table next to the bed, then reached out to lift Heather's chin to look into her eyes. "I think it's time to come clean."

Heather's eyes flicked to Greg and back to Tim. "He'll know later today when Crystal comes to visit. It's not for me to say. I've already made a mess of things. Crystal will tell him."

"Shit. She's going to dump me." His mind spun as it felt like this was coming completely out of left field. He thought they were doing so well. Sure, she seemed to have a hang-up about his—

"Is it because she thinks I'm too big?" he asked quietly.

Once more, her expression told him he'd guessed correctly.

He glared at Heather. "Why? Why did she lead me on for all those months? She used me to get her rocks off and left me with blue balls so many times. I-I was willing to be patient—FUCK!"

Heather winced at Greg's shout and looked to Tim for support, but his sympathies were clearly reserved for his friend.

Nurse Stewart pushed through the door with a frown on her face. "What's going on in here? Who was shouting? There is no shouting in the hospital."

Heather stood and stepped next to Tim with a sad expression.

The head nurse took in the upset on Greg's face. "Perhaps visiting hours for your friends are over for you today, Mr. Hughes."

"That's fine with me. Other than Mom, I don't want to see anyone else anyway." He looked into the woman's eyes. "Especially Crystal," he forced out, and the nurse nodded.

Greg looked to Tim, who gave him a nod, so he returned the gesture. He looked out the window, ignoring Heather.

Nurse Stewart gestured for the couple to leave the room before her, so they did, with her following close behind. She let the other nurses know about the visitor restrictions for Greg, and the ward settled down to its normal quiet state.

-=-

Crystal walked into the ward ten minutes before the end of visiting hours. She'd spent hours trying to devise the words she would say to let Greg down gently. She'd rehearsed the lies until even she'd begun to believe them. She'd run through multiple scenarios in her mind for how he'd react. In her favorite one, Greg graciously requested they remain friends, with benefits.

Walking down the hall, she realized she didn't even know what room he was in. She stopped by the nurse's station. Two ladies were having a conversation behind the desk.

"Excuse me, please? Would you tell me which room Greg Hughes is in?"

The oldest of the two women turned to look at her, and Crystal saw recognition flare. One of the benefits of being a Tafferty, she thought. The woman approached the counter, but she wasn't smiling. In fact, her body language seemed rather stiff.

"Mr. Hughes is not having visitors today."

Crystal stared at the woman in surprise. "What? Did something happen to him?" she gasped in concern. She was worried he was having complications from the concussion.

The senior nurse thawed slightly. "No, he's healing well. He just had a visitor earlier who left him in an agitated state. As he couldn't control his anger, he insisted no more visitors, other than his mother—"

"But I'm his—"

"And especially not you. I'm sorry, Ms. Tafferty."

Crystal took a step back in her shock. Was he angry with her? Wait, he had visitors who left him angry?

"Who were his last visitors?" she asked quietly.

The nurse shook her head. "I didn't get their names. I believe they were friends from school. A tall blond man and his blonde girlfriend."

Heather! That bitch! She betrayed her trust!

Crystal turned and fled from the hospital. Her tears blurred her vision, so she almost collided with a woman entering the hospital. She squeaked, then dodged around, rushing outside to escape in her car.

-=-

Nurse Stewart looked up at the sound of someone rushing up to the nurse's station. It was Mrs. Hughes, and she had a frightened look on her face.

"Greg?"

"He's fine. Resting comfortably and healing well," the head nurse said immediately.

A look of relief crossed her face, then confusion. She gestured back toward the entrance.

"Ms. Tafferty just learned your son doesn't want to see her," the nurse said and shrugged.

"Oh?" She glanced once more back to the front door. Then she looked back to the nurse. "Thank you," the mother said, quickly moving towards her son's room. When she stepped inside, she saw Greg looking out his window. He had a wad of tissues crumpled up in his fist.

"Greg? Honey?" she said softly.

When he turned his head to look at her, she saw his eyes were red from crying.

"Hi, Mom," he croaked.

"What happened? I just saw Crystal run from the hospital in tears."

She watched rage and despair pass across his features.

Greg seemed to be struggling to speak. He swallowed and tried again. "I feel so stupid. All this time. She's been using me."

"What? Crystal? You two seemed so happy together?" The mother moved beside the bed and gently ran her fingers through his hair.

Greg made a choking sound. He tried to clear his throat. Then, he was able to speak again.

"I thought... I thought it was love, but she never did—"

That's all Greg managed before the pain from his broken heart overwhelmed him once again. His body shook as silent tears began once more.

His mother stood beside him, her palm touching his cheek as he leaned his face into the loving human contact.

-=-

Candace stood in the hall, just outside Greg's room. Tears were running down her face, too. She'd heard Greg's confession, and it was tearing her up inside. She was so angry with her sister that she wanted to scream. Greg had been so good to Crystal! He'd loved her! The spoiled redhead used him and tossed him aside.

She desperately wanted to go into the room and speak with him but knew she wouldn't be welcome there now.

"Candace? Come away from there. That's private," Nurse Stewart scolded quietly, startling the younger woman.

"Sorry!" Candace apologized quickly and joined the nurse as they returned to the nurse's station. Her emotions were going off the rails. She usually had such tight control over them but thinking of Greg seemed to kick her feet out from under her. She suddenly reached out and placed her hand on the nurse's arm.

The woman stopped and looked at her. "What is it, girl?"

Her mind spun in circles. She wasn't sure what to do but needed to say something.

"Greg is so sad!" she blurted, then felt foolish, but her tears kept falling.

Margaret's expression softened, and she hugged the taller woman. "Broken hearts are painful but rarely fatal. He has plenty of friends and his mother to help him overcome this. He'll be fine... in time."

The nurse released Candace and gave her a kind smile before heading back to the nurse's station.

Candace stood in the hall and realized she would be useless if she stayed. It was time to go home.

Chapter 7

Crystal slammed back another shot of her father's whiskey and gasped as it burned its way down her throat. When she recovered from this last swallow, she glared at the bottle as it was empty. It'd been half full when she began. She tried to put it back on the bar but missed and dropped it. When the bottle didn't break but bounced and rolled away, her relief was so great she wobbled on her feet. The room swam, and she clutched the back of her father's high-back chair next to the bar.

She was so angry with Greg for embarrassing her like that at the hospital. Couldn't he have had the courtesy of listening to her? She would have broken up with him without all the drama, and they could have gone their separate ways, remaining friends. Maybe... maybe he would have continued to give her oral from time to time.

Crystal squirmed as tingles raced through her body. Then, reality rudely slapped her as she realized Heather had destroyed any chance of that happening. She was so angry with Heather. The woman was dead to her!

She took some deep breaths as her head spun from the booze. She pouted as she knew she'd hurt Greg. She regretted that deeply, but she was sure she could have made it less painful for him if she'd been allowed to speak with him before Heather ratted her out.

Crystal turned back to the bar, grabbed another bottle of something, and poured herself another drink. She thumped the bottle back onto the bar's surface and glared at it blearily to ensure it would stay there. Then she tossed the shot back. It went down her throat, but the burning was much worse. She coughed and dropped her tumbler as she stumbled back from the bar. She hit the arm of the chair and fell across it. She tried to turn on her way down, but the other arm struck her across her tits. Pain lanced through her, and her stomach protested, heaving its contents out onto the carpet next to the chair.

Her head was spinning so badly that she passed out where she was.

-=-

Byron was in a foul mood when he got home. He'd had to fire one of the accountants as he caught him nosing about in places he couldn't afford anyone to be looking.

The new accounts Byron had set up to siphon off the pension fund and the corporate capital were ready to accept the funds. That prick Taylor from his accounting department almost found the entries in the audit logs before Byron had a chance to purge them.

Security escorted the stunned man from the building before he'd had the chance to review the log. Taylor had a few flags on his file, so the quick departure wouldn't cause Byron too much grief.

All he needed was two days, and he'd have a juicy nest egg he'd be able to draw upon from his private estate in French Polynesia.

He stood in the cavernous foyer of his mansion and stared gloomily at the portraits of his forefathers. The stern faces all seemed to be looking down on him, judging him.

Fuck them!

The Tafferty dynasty ended with him. His son was a drunk idiot without the ambition or intelligence required to continue the family business. Candace murdered the woman he loved, and Crystal was just another self-absorbed moron.

With the loss of Ellie, Byron's entire world shifted. Every plan he had, every dream for the future, suddenly became meaningless. She'd been the one bright spark in his life. With her gone, his life came to a complete stop, and he took a moment to re-evaluate.

Until that fateful day, he'd dutifully done what his forefathers had before him. He'd dedicated his life and energy to expanding the family business and ensuring the community thrived. He didn't enjoy it, but he understood what was required of him and did it. His father had beaten that lesson into him.

With the loss of the woman he should have grown old with, the role he played in the company and the community felt empty. Instead, he made a new plan that put his own desires ahead of his responsibilities to the business, the community, and even his family.

He'd married Missy to have something pretty on his arm at the social events he was expected to attend. She was a pretty good fuck, but he quickly tired of her as she had nothing between her ears he could relate with. He gave her a child to keep her occupied, though he had no desire for another brat since he already had two, and it was Ellie who'd wanted them.

Twenty years he'd been working on his new plan. Carefully crafted and skillfully orchestrated, he was just days away from liquidating the employee pension plan as the package finally matured. The funds were to be transitioned to a new investment platform. Instead, the funds would move into his personal numbered account in an offshore bank. At the same time, a transfer would move the corporation's working cash into his second offshore account. Then he would fly away to his tropical paradise and be free of the business, this dreary little town, and the parasites he called family.

He sighed heavily. Soon.

For now, he just wanted to have a drink and relax for a few minutes.

The moment he stepped into the study, he smelled the rank odor of vomit. He spotted the empty scotch bottle on the floor, and his son's name immediately sprung to his lips as rage forced him to surge into the room. He stopped short when he spotted Crystal stretched across his chair, her head and arms over one arm and her ass sticking up on the other arm. She stank of his booze, and the carpet next to the chair was a mess.

Byron was sick and tired of the spoiled behavior of this brat! He flipped up her skirt and tugged her panties down. The first crack of skin striking skin jolted the drunkard from her unconscious state. The sharper pain from the second and third dragged her mind from the oblivion caused by the alcohol.

"AAAAAIIEEEE!" she screamed.

The noise just inflamed Byron's rage, and he struck her harder, alternating sides randomly as he slapped her reddened ass.

"DADDY! PLEASE! AAAAAAHHHHH! Huuurr!" Crystal screamed and then vomited again as agony washed over her.

Byron pinned Crystal to the seat as he raised his hand higher to strike her even harder for making more of a mess.

Crystal's screams drew Missy to the study wearing her housecoat and slippers. She rushed to Byron's side to grab his arm.

"Byron! What are you doing?" she shrieked in terror.

He yanked his arm free from her grip as he glared at her. "What I should have done years ago to prevent her from becoming this spoiled slut! You indulge her too much!"

He slapped Crystal's ass twice, drawing more screams from the young woman before Missy broke free from her stunned state to grab at his arm once more. Instead, she caught the back of his hand across her face. She rocked back, tripped over the empty bottle, and fell against the liquor cart, striking her head. She hit the floor with the contents of the cart. Some of the glassware shattered on the floor, and she cut her arm.

"GOD DAMMIT! Look at the fucking mess you've made!" Byron bellowed at Missy.

-=-

Candace stood just out of view in the hall outside the study, her cell phone held up to her cheek. She heard ringing then someone answered.

"911, what's the nature of your emergency."

Candace had to catch herself before she answered, as she still had to stay in character. "Daddy is hitting Missy and Crystal. He knocked Missy down, and I see blood. I think they're hurt."

"Who's this?"

"Candy Tafferty," she said and listened while the operator quietly cursed her luck for taking this call.

"O-Okay, Candy. I'm sending ambulances to your address... and a police car, okay? Stay on the line—"

"You spying on dad, Candy?" Kal snapped as he snuck up on her from behind, yanked the cell from her hand, and slammed her back against the wall, making her head ring. He glanced into the study and saw Missy lying on the floor unconscious, blood splashed across her housecoat. "Shit! Is that blood?"

"Sir? Who am I talking to?" the 911 operator called out.

Kal finally looked back at the cell in annoyance and hung up. He grabbed Candy by her hair and dragged her into the Study. He absently tossed her cell onto the couch and then pushed Candace down as well. As she hit the cushions, she managed to grab the cell and shoved it under the waistband of her pants. She looked up at Kal, who was examining his dad's handiwork on Crystal's ass.

"Fuck, she's pretty cut up. What were you spanking her with, a meat tenderizer?" Kal said with a grin at his own cleverness. He looked at Missy. "That's a pretty nasty cut too."

Byron scowled and then looked at his reddened hand.

Candace saw his signet ring had spun around to face inwards, and its rough face was covered with blood.

The red and blue lights of the police and ambulance arriving shone in the study windows, and Byron scowled.

"What the fuck are they doing here?" he snapped as he looked at Kal.

He held up his hands. "It wasn't me. It was Candy!"

There was a thumping knock on the front door, and Kal just stood there looking at his dad with a stupid grin on his face.

"Go tell them to piss off," Byron snapped at Kal.

"That's a cop! He won't listen to me!" Kal argued.

"Get the door! Be fucking useful for once in your miserable life and make them go away!" Byron bellowed.

Kal flashed an angry look at Byron and left.

Candace took that moment of distraction to move to Missy and check the gash on her arm. It was deep and still bleeding. She grabbed one of the fancy white cloth napkins from the overturned bar cart and tied it tight around the wound.

She felt a presence at her back then she saw stars as a fist struck her in the temple. The room went sideways, and Byron was dragging her away from Missy by her hair. She screamed as it hurt so much.

"Are you faking, cunt?" Byron snarled into her face. She blinked her wide blue eyes up at him in terror. That emotion wasn't fake. He looked like he was ready to beat on her some more, and her head was still spinning from his punch.

She needed him to believe. "You're hurting me!" she cried in a little girl's voice.

Doubt then disgust returned to his eyes as he bought her act once more. He released her hair with another tug and then turned to the hallway to see a police officer standing there with an uncomfortable look on his face. He stepped inside to make room for the paramedics at his back. Two of them entered. One immediately went to Missy while the other paramedic hurried over to Crystal.

Candace knew she had to get out of the house tonight. If the paramedics were taking her stepmom and sister to the hospital, that was the safest place for her as well. The police wouldn't protect her. She slipped away while the officer spoke quietly to Byron.

She went up the stairs to her bedroom and quickly changed, right down to her underwear. Her head was still bothering her from his punch, and she wondered if she had a concussion. She grabbed her little Hello Kitty purse, slung it across her body, and slipped back downstairs. Hearing Byron and Kal viciously arguing, she dashed outside and climbed into the back of the ambulance with Missy strapped to a gurney.

The paramedic arrived to close the back door and spotted her. "No, Candy. You have to stay home."

She shook her head and winced.

The man frowned and climbed in. He quickly examined the bruising beginning on the side of her face and checked her pupil dilation. His expression went through a series of emotions. "Looks like he hit you, too," the man grumbled. He turned and closed the doors. "Let's go!" he called out to the driver then they were underway.

The second ambulance followed, but the police car remained at the house.

On the way to the hospital, the paramedic looked at Candace, leaning against the wall wearily.

"Did you tie the napkin around this woman's injury?" he asked.

She nodded and winced with the movement of her head.

"You did a good job. You may have saved her life," he said, and Candace smiled weakly.

Then they were at the hospital, and Candace's headache got worse. She was having trouble keeping her eyes open. Admitting processed her through with Crystal and Missy, but as her injury was a lower priority, they put her in a consultation booth to wait.

The emergency ward was so busy, and the ambulances were immediately sent back out. Candace heard someone mention a multi-car pileup on the nearby interstate.

She was holding her head in her hands as the pain throbbed when Nurse Stewart stopped to speak with her.

"Candace, dear? Why are you still here?" Then she noticed the wristband. "Oh! What happened?"

"Daddy punched me," she managed to say as she pointed to the side of her head. "He hurt Crystal and Missy, too."

Margaret checked Candace's eyes and frowned. "It looks like you have a concussion, but you'll have to wait for a doctor to give you that diagnosis."

"After my job again, Margaret?"

She smiled at the younger man who stepped into the small exam room to run the same test she had. "Dr. Markle, why would I want your job when I have all this respect and authority?"

He chuckled and nodded. "I concur with your diagnosis. There's also a nasty abrasion on her temple at the hairline." He frowned. "A ring, perhaps?" He looked at Candace. "Who hit you?"

She looked at the doctor, then Margaret, who nodded. "Daddy."

"Why?" the doctor asked.

"I tied a napkin on Missy's wound to stop the bleeding."

The doctor glanced at the nurse, so she explained. "Missy is Candace's stepmother."

The doctor wasn't finished. "How did Missy get hurt?"

"My head hurts, and I'm so tired," Candace said. She didn't want to keep going as she felt bad about acting in front of them.

"We'll get you a bed, but we just need to know a few more things," Markle said.

Margaret frowned at him. "It's highly unlikely that anything you hear would be admissible. And remember who these statements are about."

The doctor frowned and looked away. He sighed and then looked back at the nurse. "Get her a room. We'll keep her overnight for observation. I'll see if her stepmom might wish to make a statement."

Margaret nodded and looked at Candace. "Just wait here until I can find you a room."

Candace closed her eyes and faded in and out until someone finally put her in a wheelchair and brought her to a room. The next time she surfaced, she was in a hospital gown, resting in bed. The woman leaned over to speak to her.

"We'll come in to check on you a few times during the night. This is just a precaution. You're safe now."

Candace smiled up at her. Safe. The nurse didn't know.

As long as her father was a free man, she wouldn't be safe.

Chapter 8

"Good morning, sleepy head!"

Greg opened his eyes and smiled as he recognized his mother's voice.

His eyes opened fully when he saw both his mom and dad standing beside his bed. The curtain was drawn as he was no longer alone in the room.

"Dad! You're home?" he gasped.

The man smiled and took his hand. "Home? I may be a little jet lagged, but I'm pretty sure I'm in a hospital."

Greg's Mom rolled her eyes and gently slapped her husband's arm. "George, don't be a tease." She looked at her son. "How is your brain feeling today?"

He smiled at her. "It feels much better. No ache at all. Does this mean I can come home?"

"I think we'll be getting that assessment later today," his mom said, and he nodded.

Greg frowned and looked at his dad. "I thought you wouldn't be back for another two weeks."

George smiled. "Your mother filled me in on your progress after the accident, and I decided you could use some assistance during your first week at home. I'll work remotely with the team at night. Your mom can't take any more time off from her job." She made a sound of protest. "It's true, Marion. Besides, we made excellent progress on the package, and it's just down to polishing a couple of features. That won't take more than a week or two. We're still ahead of schedule."

Greg couldn't stop smiling, and his parents just returned it.

The sound of a woman crying could be heard from the doorway. Greg's smile froze as the voice sounded more and more familiar. He turned his eyes to his mother, and her expression was pained.

"Is... is that Crystal?" he asked quietly.

Marion nodded. "I overheard some of the nurses talking while we waited to come in to see you. There was an incident at the Tafferty's estate last night. Byron allegedly beat Crystal's bottom with something sharp. She was injured and had surgery last night, as did her mother. They're both in the room across the hall. We're not sure how the mother was injured. Candace is in the next room with a concussion—"

"What kind of monster beats up a mentally disabled woman?" Greg snarled in reaction to the news about Candace.

"A lot of people are asking that question. The problem is, there is no one better connected and protected in this town than the man who employs most of the people in the county.

Greg's eyes were once more drawn towards the door and the sound of Crystal crying. He wondered why he wasn't taking any pleasure from hearing that.

"I hope I get to go home soon. I'm not sure how much of that I can bear to hear. I mean... I hate what she did to me, and I'm really mad at her. I'd be entirely okay if I never spoke to her again. But... I-I don't want to hear her suffering."

His mom smiled and took his hand in hers. "You're a good man, Greg Hughes."

"He gets that from me," his dad said with a smile.

Marion rolled her eyes at her husband and then looked excitedly at her son. "Oh! I also heard the nurses calling Candace a hero. They found out that she was the one who called 911, and she bandaged her stepmother's injury, saving her life!"

Greg smiled as he recalled how Candace would smile at him from the doorway on her hospital rounds. She'd made him feel a little better in what otherwise felt like captivity. He'd begun to look forward to it. He wondered if he could return the favor on his way out today.

A young and pretty nurse appeared behind his parents and got their attention. "Mr. Hughes is scheduled for a sponge bath, then breakfast."

"That sounds wonderful! Where should I lie down?" George said with a flirty grin.

"Ugh! George Hughes! You're an incorrigible tease!" Marion growled at her husband as she flashed an apologetic smile at the confused nurse. She looked back at Greg. "We'll come back when she's done. In the meantime, I'll see when you'll be released."

"I believe he's scheduled to be released just before lunch, if the doctor can find time to make his last assessment and sign the discharge papers," the nurse offered.

"That's great! Thank you!" Greg's mom said as she pushed her husband toward the door.

The nurse smiled at Greg, who was shaking his head at his dad's antics. "It's nice that your parents came to see you."

Greg's smile widened. "Dad flew back from Germany!" he gushed, then immediately felt silly for his outburst. He glanced up at the nurse and saw she was grinning at him. She showed him an impressed expression and began prepping him for his sponge bath.

"I guess he must love you," she teased.

Greg snorted but couldn't suppress his smile. He glanced at the woman, who looked pleased with his response.

She bathed him with practiced ease and an economy of motion, so there was nothing sexy about it. Greg's mind wandered, wondering if hospital food was mandated to be so bland that patients wanted to leave as soon as possible.

"Really, Mr. Hughes!" the nurse suddenly scolded him quietly as she paused her work.

He returned to the present, glanced at her face, and saw frustration. "What?"

She pressed her lips together and tipped her head to make him look down. He did and saw she'd reached his groin. He looked back at her in question. "Sorry, what's wrong?"

Her expression clouded even more. "I pride myself on being able to bathe patients without stimulating them. Yet you're... hard?" she whispered to him.

"What? No, I'm not," he insisted.

She stared him in the eye. "There's no point in lying. I can see—"

In frustration, Greg reached down and lifted his cock and let it flop back to his legs. "It's not stiff. If it was, it would be standing at attention!" he whispered back.

Her cheeks flushed a deep red in embarrassment. "My apologies! I thought... I mean, I've never seen one like yours."

"And now you have. Maybe you could finish?" he asked as his face flushed, too.

She returned to her task, but her attentions were not quite as mechanical as they'd been earlier, and her touches were waking what had previously been resting peacefully against his legs.

He cleared his throat to get her attention. "Are you done?" he asked as she ran the sponge around his testicles once more while she held his cock up between her fingers. He was definitely stiffening now.

"Sorry," she said but gave his cock a solid squeeze nonetheless.

She moved on, but the damage was done. By the time she was finished, he was sporting a full-on woody. He looked out the window, controlling his breathing, trying to will his erection away, but every subtle touch the nurse did from that point on just caused it to throb insistently.

The nurse closed his hospital gown over him and gently pressed on the tent to tie the covering closed. He barely stifled a moan and caught her grin as she turned to leave.

"Another nurse will bring you breakfast shortly," the woman said happily. "Have a nice day!"

Greg adjusted his sheets to hide the effects of his sponge bath, so the next nurse was denied the show when she arrived. He caught a slight pout as she rolled his table over to him. Too bad.

"Would you like me to adjust the bed?" she asked, and he shook his head.

"Thanks, I got it," he mumbled, and she left.

After his first mouthful, he got the answer to the question he pondered earlier.

Bleh! He couldn't leave soon enough!

-=-

It was noon when his parents managed to spring him. The doctor had come and gone and must have signed the required paperwork as his mom came into his room with some clothes. As the lower half of his left leg was sealed in a cast, she'd cut off the left leg of his track pants. They were his favorite pair, so he wasn't too happy. An orderly joined them with crutches, which he handed to George. The man then lowered Greg's leg from the harness that kept it elevated. He pulled the curtain around them and helped Greg dress. He took the crutches back from the father, adjusted them for Greg, and explained their use. Once Greg understood, the orderly got Greg seated in the wheelchair and handed the crutches back to George, who passed them along to Marion as George intended to push the chair. He got behind it, and they left the room.

When they got into the hall, Greg stopped them. He glanced at the doorway across the hall, but Crystal was silent now. They'd probably medicated her. Then he looked at his mom. "Could we look in on Candace? I-I want to thank her for visiting."

"Sure, honey," Marion said with a sweet smile and led them next door. "Give me a second," she said and ducked inside. Moments later, she returned and waved for them to enter.

When Greg was wheeled into the room, he got his first glance at Candace. She was hiding her facial scars once more with her lovely pink hair, which she seemed to be trying to brush with her fingers. He looked into her blue eye and noticed she appeared nervous. He resolved to do this quickly.

"Hi, Candace! I just wanted to stop by to thank you for your visits. They really lifted my spirits," Greg said.

She nodded, and her eye glanced to his parents.

"This is my mom and my dad, Marion and George," he said.

Candace nodded to them with a trembling smile.

"Dear, we'll just be outside when you're done. It was nice to meet you again, Candace," Marion said as she nodded to the girl and guided her confused husband from the room.

Greg watched them go with his mouth open and the same look of confusion as his dad. He'd said what he came to say. He turned back to Candace and saw her smile was wider now as she seemed to be enjoying his bewilderment. He struggled to find something to say and something his mother told him this morning popped into his head. "I heard what you did last night. I'm really impressed that you called 911 and saved your stepmom. I'm also really sorry you got hurt."

"Thank you," she said, and he nodded.

"I'm also sorry Crystal got hurt and your stepmom. That's awful!" He was quiet for a moment as he gathered his thoughts. "I-I don't... like Crystal at the moment, but I'd never wish her harm." He felt another pang of the heartbreak. He sighed, then looked up to see two lovely blue eyes watching him intensely. She'd tucked her hair back, and he'd never seen her like this. His heart did a little jump in his chest, and his eyes widened as he thought she was so lovely. He dropped his eyes and swallowed with difficulty as he realized how raw he still was after Crystal's betrayal.

"You're not her boyfriend?" Candace asked cautiously.

He looked into her eyes once again in surprise, then shook his head. "No. Not anymore. I don't have a girlfriend."

"You could be mine!" she suddenly blurted.

Greg was so surprised he almost laughed. He caught himself before he did as he saw the hope in her eyes. Instead, he smiled at her. "I've just been rejected by your sister. My heart is still hurting from that. Just like I have to wait for my leg to heal, I need to give my heart time to heal as well. Besides, I'd never want to be accused of dating you just to get revenge on her. You deserve better than that."

"You wouldn't do that!" she insisted.

He couldn't stop his chuckle at her earnest defense of his character. "Thank you. You're right, I wouldn't." He sighed as he admired her lovely features. "Unfortunately, I don't think the adults would allow us to be boyfriend and girlfriend." He gave her a regretful look, then quickly glanced back to the doorway. "We can talk about this another day once I've had time to heal from both injuries. I should go with my parents now. My dad flew back from Germany to take care of me. He must be tired. Thanks again for checking on me. It meant a lot."

Candace nodded to him. Greg thought she looked sad but also frustrated. He wondered what that was about.

He did his best to maneuver the wheelchair backward until he got stuck. Looking back at Candace in embarrassment, he saw she was giving him the oddest look. She looked like a different person for a moment. Confused, he looked over his shoulder to the hall. "Dad?"

The man entered the room and got the chair unstuck. They waved at Candace, and George pulled Greg out into the hall.

His mom moved to stand before him and looked him in the eye. "Would you like to see how Crystal and her mom are doing?"

He shook his head. "Neither of us is in any state to speak. Let's go home. Dad must be tired, and I'm starved for real food!"

Marion snorted and brushed his hair back from his face. Marion then looked at her husband. "Let's go home poppa-bear!"

George grinned. "Sure thing, honey-bunny!"

Greg grimaced. "Eww! Pet names? I did not need to hear that!"

His parents chuckled as they wheeled their boy out of the hospital.

Chapter 9

Candace leaned back against her pillow, trembling at how close she'd been to almost blowing two years of effort. Her reaction to Greg caught her by surprise. There was no question she was attracted to him. So much so that she'd tried to get him to be her boyfriend.

She rubbed her face with her hands. She felt the scar running down her face, and her mind flashed to the memory of Greg's eyes as he gazed upon her uncovered face.

What wasn't there was revulsion or even the slightest hint of discomfort.

There was no sign of pity.

What she did see in his eyes might have been a product of her own need. She saw longing. She saw desire, but it seemed to be tempered with sadness.

He was right. It was too soon after his breakup with Crystal.

Then his comment about the adults forbidding them to be together. That's when she fully realized the extent of her mistake. In her desire for him, she'd forgotten herself. She was pretending to be a brain-damaged woman, regressed to an almost childlike simplicity. There was no way for him to be with her. Not as she wanted him.

Not until she was ready to disclose the truth.

And then? Would Greg understand the necessity? Would he forgive her?

Could he... love her? Would anyone?

Her cheeks felt wet, and she realized she was crying. Her sobs tore free from her chest, which felt so tight.

The room was a blur through her tears, and she couldn't catch her breath. She felt like she was dying.

"Easy, girl. Easy now."

Warm arms wrapped around her, and she was pulled against the soft breast of a woman. The fabric beneath her cheek had the stiffness of a uniform, and her panic began to wane. She was being gently rocked and whispered to, the voice cutting through the wails in her head.

"You'll be all right. Everything will be fine."

The voice finally registered with Candace. It was Margaret Stewart. She clung to her like a lifeline and tried to control her breathing as her sobbing continued.

She was so alone. She had been for so long.

When these good people learned of her deception, they would hate her, and she'd be alone again. That thought was almost unbearable. She'd come to love their kindness and compassion and needed them so much.

"Candace, dear. Slow your breathing, girl. Take slow, even breaths. Here you go. Good, girl."

Margaret rubbed her back and held her in her arms. Her voice was almost hypnotic, and Candace felt her panic begin to recede. Soon, she was able to control her breathing once more and began to follow the Head Nurse's instructions. She took deep breaths, and her head spun slightly as the tension started to slip away.

Once she was breathing easier and the trembling began to fade, Margaret leaned back and took Candace's face between her hands. Brown eyes looked into blue, and she smiled.

"You're feeling better now?"

Candace nodded, still not trusting herself to speak. She shuddered with reaction.

"Can you tell me why you were crying? What made you upset?" the nurse asked gently.

It took a few tries as her lips were still trembling too much to speak properly, but she got one word out. It was enough, as it was the truth.

"Lonely."

Margaret's eyes showed her compassion for the younger woman. "You're having a time of it at home, aren't you."

Candace nodded stiffly as she gasped a few times, her chest tightening once more.

"Shhh, easy. Breathe slowly," Margaret instructed, and she did as asked. She closed her eyes and concentrated on her breathing until she felt herself get control back. Tremors swept through her body as she reacted to the easing of the tension that had gripped her.

"I'm going to see if we can keep you here for another night. While your father isn't home, I don't think you should be alone tonight," the woman said to her.

Candace looked at Margaret in confusion.

"Where is he?" she asked.

Margaret huffed a frustrated breath. "He should be in jail for what he did to you three. Instead, the sheriff took him to his lawyer's office. The three of them have been holed up there." She looked into Candace's eyes. She nodded as she saw Candace wouldn't slip back into her panic attack. "Let me go see what I can do."

Candace took her hand. "Thank you."

The woman watched her to see if she'd be okay, then nodded as she turned and left the room.

Candace's mind was reeling from the news that her father was still free after beating the three of them. She wasn't surprised, but the injustice of it took her breath away.

She also knew his plan for abandoning his family, company, and the town and when it was scheduled to happen.

She'd hacked his computer months ago to search for something she could punish him with. She'd read his messages and discovered his plot. He was going to embezzle the employee's pension fund by redirecting the money during its transfer to the new plan at their investment house. The last-minute switch of the account numbers had been hidden from the company's view but not hers. This update was implemented just two days ago.

She'd set up an online archive to store every email and text related to her father's plot, and she'd even tapped his home office phone to record any calls that involved it. Taking another huge risk, Candace had snuck into his home office and scanned some critical paperwork. This was where she learned of the offshore accounts. Having the account numbers and the access codes allowed her to make an adjustment to the plot.

Candace added to this repository every document she could find implicating the sheriff and her father's lawyer, who were assisting him with the embezzlement for a percentage. Her latest inclusion to this was the hospital records proving her father had the police suppress Kal's blood alcohol level from the accident that left her scarred.

Today, her greatest fear was that her father would kill her or otherwise silence her before she could expose his evil. He was growing more erratic as the deadline got closer. If he discovered her activities, there wasn't a safe place for her in the county.

While Kal was also being cut loose by their father, Candace couldn't rely on him. He was every bit as cruel as his father but without the crafty intelligence behind it.

She was alone.

Her father's plan was a day away from implementing, and he'd just lost his shit and almost ruined it. Candace was sure the sheriff and the lawyer sequestered him just to protect their share of the imminent windfall.

Candace didn't have much time left to spring her trap. She realized she couldn't do it from the hospital. She needed to return to the house and her bedroom to get her laptop. She'd have brought it with her if she had been able to think clearly.

Once she had that, she needed someplace safe to hide from her father and the sheriff. She'd cross that bridge once she got to it.

She sat up, and her head throbbed but not as badly as the night before. She needed to get dressed and leave before the nurses returned.

Getting to her feet was an achievement, and she found her clothes from the night before in the closet. She dressed quickly but left her hair tucked into her blouse to hide its color. Standing next to the door, she listened for a lull in the sounds outside, slipped out and across to the stairwell, and took them to the ground floor. Leaving the hospital unnoticed was simple then.

Getting home was going to be harder.

Then she remembered the old man who lived a block from the hospital who fixed discarded bicycles in his garage and sold them. She walked in that direction and spotted the gentleman rolling his wares onto his driveway.

She spotted a pink bicycle with white streamers dangling from the handlebars and smiled to herself. It wouldn't surprise anyone to see her on that.

"Hello, Candy!" the man said with a wide smile.

She looked closer at him and suddenly recognized him as one of the patients she'd met in the hospital. A gall bladder issue, she recalled. "Mr. Nash! How are you?"

The old man seemed very pleased she recalled his name. "Please, call me Burt. I'm doing much better! It's nice of you to visit!" He looked closer and suddenly saw the bruising on her face. "Oh my! What happened?"

She was about to say she fell to avoid a lengthy discussion, but she couldn't bring herself to lie to the man. "Daddy punched me."

The gentleman's jaw dropped. "Why did he do that?"

Candace took a deep breath as her chest was tightening up from remembering. "He hurt Missy and Crystal. I was helping Missy."

Burt took her into his arms and hugged her, and she clung to him as she got control over herself again.

He released her and smiled. "You're not too hurt? Should you be in the hospital?"

She shook her head lightly as quick motions still hurt. "I'm okay."

Candace turned her head toward the bicycles lined up in a row and pointed to the pink one. "I'd like to buy that one!"

He looked at the pink bicycle and grinned. "It's like it was made just for you!" he teased. She smiled as she nodded.

"Tell you what I'm going to do. Because you were so patient with me and listened to this old man's whining, I'd like you to have it for free," he said with a smile as he wheeled the bicycle closer.

Candace gave him a surprised look. "I-I can pay—"

"No, I'd like you to have it. Please," Burt insisted gently. She looked into his eyes and finally nodded.

She gave him another hug. "Thank you."

Burt's face was a little pink from being squeezed against her tall, curvy body, but he remained a gentleman.

"You're welcome," he responded.

She admired the bicycle, which had wider tires, an upright seating position as the handlebars curved back, and an easy step-through frame so she didn't need to swing her leg over the seat.

"It has seven speeds controlled by turning the right-side grip. Gear one is for climbing hills, and seven is for going fast on flat roads. These are the hand brakes. The right side is the rear brake. The left side is the front brake. Use the right more than the left. Hang on a minute, I think I have a helmet that will fit you."

Burt walked back into his garage while Candace familiarized herself with the bicycle's controls. She raised the seat a little to make it more comfortable.

"It's not pink, but yellow is a nice color, too," Burt remarked as he carried out a bright yellow helmet. He put it on her head, and she bent forward to let him adjust the straps.

He stood back and smiled at her. "Don't you look pretty!" he said with a smile.

She dipped her face in embarrassment. She knew she wasn't. The scars ruined that. "Thank you, and thank you for the bicycle."

He nodded, so she got on the cruiser and rode down his driveway onto the sidewalk. She'd ridden a bike when she was younger, but it had been years since she'd been on one, so she was a little shaky at first. The old adage was true enough, though, and she quickly got comfortable with riding. The seat on the bike was wide and springy, so that didn't hurt, at least. She couldn't pedal too hard as a faster heartbeat made her head hurt.

Candace rode through the neighborhood leading back to her home, keeping her eyes open for signs of her father's car or a police car. The most nerve-wracking section was the long stretch through her treed neighborhood, which was sprinkled with mansions. Luckily, she met no one as she finally reached her driveway. Riding toward the house, she only spotted her brother's car by the front door.

She rode around the side of the home and leaned her bike up against the side of the building. She rested the helmet on the seat and snuck around to the back. Peeking in the windows, she saw no sign of Kal, so she unlocked the backdoor and let herself inside. She listened carefully, but the house was silent.

She padded up the stairs to the second floor and eased herself past Kal's closed door to enter her bedroom. She loaded a backpack with her computer, power cables, and the journals she'd secretly kept. Then she packed some clothes into the bag.

She didn't hear Kal's quiet footsteps on the carpet, so she wasn't aware of him until he roughly shoved against her back, sending her flying over the mattress of her bed to crash against the wall and fall into the gap between it and the bed.

She moaned from the back pain where he'd hit and her shoulder where it struck the wall. One of her legs was still on the bed, but she was sliding down into the narrow gap.

Kal growled as he yanked on the bedpost, the bed sliding a little further from the wall, causing her to fall further in.

As she struggled to get herself back onto the bed, Candace's hand landed on something. It felt smooth, and once she had a grip on it, she realized it was a neoprene-coated dumbbell she'd dropped down the side a week ago.

Rough hands grabbed her ankle and pulled her back onto the bed as she twisted to get onto her back.

"You stupid fucken' bitch! Fucked up everyfing!" Kal slurred as he growled at her, yanking her further onto the mattress. Her hands were both above her head, hidden from Kal, but the stench of alcohol on his breath made her gag.

He moved to straddle her body when she slammed the five-pound fitness weight against his nose with both hands, using all her strength. He screamed and fell backward off the bed to crash to the floor, blood gushing from his destroyed nose.

She staggered to her feet, then kicked him as hard as she could in the balls. His scream rose three octaves, and he curled over onto his side.

Candace dropped the weight, picked up her backpack, and slipped a few more items inside. Then she stood over him.

"You're a foul excuse for a brother, and you'll always be a loser."

He blinked up at her in surprise, seeing her disgust and scorn. She turned and left the room as he tried to yell something at her through his nausea. She heard him retching instead.

She got outside and onto her bike, snugging her helmet down before riding back down their drive to pedal away as quickly as possible. She figured out the gears and began to go faster. She wanted to be out of this neighborhood now!

Before she reached the end of their lane, she heard a yell from behind her.

"Gonna fucken' kill you!"

She glanced back and saw Kal stagger into his car then the engine roared to life.

Fear shot through her body as she pedaled harder.

There was very little in the way of cover all the way out of the estate neighborhood. The road wound its way between the huge, manicured properties showing off their wealth with expanses of lawns, tennis courts, and inground pools. These were mostly closed for the winter, but the Gordon family had a heated dome over their tennis court, and their pool was inside a glassed-in building for four-season swimming.

She pedaled as hard as she could, but she could hear the deep rumble of Kal's Mustang getting much louder. She knew she'd have to get off the road as she was too exposed here.

Candace was desperately looking for a way off the road when the Mustang slid out of the driveway and squealed its tires on the road as it shot forward, swerving erratically from side to side.

She felt Kal rapidly closing, so she turned off onto the front lawn of the Gordon's property, which had a series of terraced gardens running parallel to the road. The armor stone rows forming the levels kept Kal from following her onto the lawn, but he raced beside her to scream out his window. She couldn't hear his words above the noise from the engine. His tires hit the curb, and he yanked the wheel and spun out of control until he slammed on the brakes. She shot ahead of him, but the roar of his engine told her he was quickly catching up again. She saw she was going to run out of protection soon as the terraces were replaced by a rolling green expanse of lawn, so she pedaled harder and turned from the road to ride further into the grounds of the property. There was a small creek with a bridge over it just ahead. Beyond that was the glassed-in pool at the top of a small rise. She pedaled hard for the bridge.

The Mustang's engine raced as Kal took his car over the curb and chased his sister over the rolling property. The bike was having less trouble navigating the bumps as the car began to emulate the behavior of its namesake, bucking and jumping. Kal struggled to keep the wheels on the ground, and the nose pointed at his target as he was thrown forward and back in his seat. This made him stomp and ease off the gas, which worsened the erratic jostling.

He almost caught her back wheel, but the nose of the car planted against the soft soil, suddenly bouncing the vehicle to the right.

Candace was riding with her heart in her throat as she felt him directly behind her. Then, the bridge was under her wheels. She veered left on the other side to follow the gravel path back as it wound its way toward the road. She heard the Mustang's engine suddenly scream a higher note as it went airborne over the creek. She couldn't prevent looking back as the car hit the ground and launched up the slope at full speed to crash through the glass wall.

Her bicycle pitched forward as it fell off the path, throwing her over the handlebars into the bushes lining the route. Behind her, she could hear screaming and shouting. She was too dazed to move for a moment. Her head was pounding in perfect synchronicity with her pulse. She was hurting from the fall, but it was her head that kept her on the ground.

When she finally managed to get the will to sit up and extract herself from the hedge, she was dirty, scratched, and covered in leaves and twigs. She looked back at the pool house and heard glass breaking as additional panes fell from the broken structure. Shouting and panicked voices could be heard from inside the building, but no one seemed to have noticed her. She cautiously picked up her bicycle and walked away down the gravel path, limping from the scratches.

When she reached the road, she got back on the bike and slowly pedaled away until she exited her neighborhood. She breathed a sigh of relief that she hadn't damaged her bicycle. She immediately took random lefts and rights to work deeper into the suburban maze, always moving away from her neighborhood toward the other side of town.

When she crossed the train tracks at Prentice Street, the idiotic words of Crystal's friend returned to her about Greg living on this side of town. How that girl was making it through high school was a mystery.

No! She reined in the negative attitude as she didn't want to regress to her old and bitter ways.

Finally, she stopped at a small park and shivered as the clouds were beginning to roll in. Glancing up in worry, she thought it might even snow. That gave her pause. She needed a place to hide where she could get an internet connection. She needed to act quickly but didn't know where to go or what to do.

The hospital had free WiFi in some areas, but she would be too conspicuous there and at the library, too. She couldn't rent a hotel room as everyone thought she was simple-minded.

Candace had no friends, no one to turn to for help. She struggled to hold back her tears.

The first raindrop landed on her nose and made her blink in surprise. She looked up, and a second drop hit her on her forehead. She got moving again as she had to get under some cover. Five minutes later, she stood astride her bike in a torrential downpour, crying. She didn't know where she was, but she was surrounded by cozy homes in a nice neighborhood filled with happy families.

She never felt more alone.

"Candy! My god, girl! What are you doing out in this? Come inside before you catch your death of cold!"

Candace jumped at the sudden voice next to her and looked down into the compassionate eyes of Greg's mother. His father rushed up beside them with a big golf umbrella. She stared at them in shock. How could they be here?

"Marion, get her inside. I'll get her bicycle," the man said gently, handing her the umbrella.

The woman took Candace's hand and pulled her gently from the bike as George held it steady.

As Marion put an arm around her, she walked them past two homes to go up a driveway to reach the front door of a lovely ranch style home. George followed and pushed the bicycle into the garage to tuck it away.

Then Candace was inside one of the coziest homes she'd seen, and Marion was helping her take her helmet off as her own hands were shaking too much. Her teeth began to chatter from the cold.

"You're freezing! George, get the bathtub filling, hot!" the mother called out as she eased Candace's backpack off. The man rushed away.

"How did you get so dirty?" Marion asked quietly, plucking the twigs and leaves from her pink hair. Eyes lifted to look into Candace's. "Did you fall off your bicycle?"

The warmth and concern in the woman's voice knocked Candace's emotional stability from her, and she began to cry as the stress of fleeing for her life suddenly escaped.

Marion wrapped her arms around her, and Candace clung to her desperately as the tears flowed and she shook.

"Mom? What happened?"

Candace squeaked and jolted as she heard Greg's voice from the other side of the room.

"Go back to bed, Greg. Your friend had a little accident on her bicycle and got caught in the rain. I'll come see you in a moment," Marion said to her son.

Candace wiped at her blurry eyes to clear them, but she managed to catch Greg's expression of concern before he awkwardly turned in the doorway with his crutches. The moment he was gone, his father appeared in his place. "The bathtub is filling."

"Dear, put your dressing gown on the hook behind the door for after her bath," Marion said, and he disappeared again.

The mother undid Candace's shoelaces and tugged her sneakers off. Then she walked her across the room and into the hall where the bathroom was. Marion led her inside the small room, accepted her husband's dressing gown, gave him a little push to leave, and closed the door.

"Let's get you out of these wet clothes and see if you have any injuries worse than scratches," the mother said gently.

They peeled her wet clothes off, and Marion tut-tutted about the number of scratches they found, but none were serious. Candace was surprised at how at ease she felt with the woman, even naked.

Then she had Candace ease herself into the hot water. The bathtub was smaller than the one in her bathroom in the mansion, but the heat was welcome, and the company felt like maternal care, something she hadn't experienced for a very long time.

Candace suddenly realized this was the last night she would play her role. Tomorrow everyone would know she was a big fake. She'd be alone and hated, and that felt worse. Her tears started again.

"Hey, it's okay. You're going to be okay," Marion said.

"N-no, it's never going to be o-okay again," Candace gasped, and her sobs tore at her chest.

"Shhh, easy now. You're not alone," Marion said, and Candace shook her head as she sobbed.

"I'm so alone, and tomorrow... everyone will hate me!"

Marion knelt next to the tub and stroked Candace's hair as she made gentle sounds to calm her. "What's going to happen?" she asked softly.

Candace turned bleary eyes to the mother and tried to control her breathing. "A-all the p-people will know I-I've been f-faking." Her tears fell down her cheeks steadily as she gasped for breath.

Marion looked at her carefully but continued to hold her hand as she stroked her head. "What have you been faking, dear?"

"T-the b-b-brain damage!" Candace confessed and tried to hide her face from Marion.

Marion blinked in shock and paused for the briefest moment, but she remained calm. "Can you tell me why you did?"

Candace managed to turn her face back to Marion and wiped at her tears. "The nuh-night of the a-accident. I heard Daddy tell the doctor to leave the scars. He's always hated me. He wanted me out of his house." She looked into Marion's eyes. "I didn't know then what it was, but I already knew he was planning something... bad. He knew I was smart and was suspicious of me, so I had to go." She looked down at the water. "Faking the injury was all I could think of to ensure he couldn't send me away." She sucked in a breath and exhaled slowly to calm herself before continuing.

"Daddy still hates me, but now I just disgust him. He ignores me otherwise." Her eyes widened in awe. "It was the reaction of other people that surprised me. They were so kind. I wasn't expecting that." She looked at Marion again. "Before, I had no friends, I couldn't talk with people, and everyone treated me so coldly because I was a Tafferty. I was awkward and became defensive and hostile, but mostly, I was so lonely. Now, people open up to me and smile at me. I learned how to listen and how to communicate. I made friends." Her expression fell into despair. "No one will want to be friends now. No one will trust me."

Marion touched her arm. "I don't understand. Why did you want to stay in that home if he hated you?"

Candace wiped her face with the hot water in her hands. Then she looked at Marion.

"It took time, but I learned what Daddy's plan is. The employee pension fund. He's going to steal it. The plan is being migrated tomorrow, but he changed the numbers to make the money transfer to his offshore account instead. He's also going to transfer the company's liquid assets simultaneously to another offshore account of his as he's fleeing to French Polynesia. His lawyer and the sheriff are working with him for a cut." She locked eyes with Marion. "I have to stop him!"

"How?" Marion asked in surprise.

"I have proof. I'm going to make sure he gets caught. I'm going to protect the workers and the company. Only I can do it." Her expression fell. "But once I do, everyone will know I was lying about being mentally disabled."

Her tears returned as she imagined how cold her life would become. She put her hands over her face as going back to how it was before wasn't something she could accept.

"It's true. People will be surprised and disappointed. Some may react badly to being fooled. But most will come around if you can protect the people and the company. Especially if you sincerely apologize for the necessity," Marion said gently.

Candace looked at Marion through her fingers.

"I don't hate you, and you told me," Marion said with a smile.

Candace shook her head. "I've barely spoken to you. Others, I've been lying to for two years," she said glumly.

"It won't be easy. Apologize. Be patient. Understand their hurt feelings, and some will surprise you. Treasure those and accept that some may not be strong enough to get past it," Marion said.

There was a gentle knock on the door.

Marion frowned at the interruption and faced the door. "Do not open that door unless you are ready to meet your maker," she said sternly.

"Sorry, dear, but the news is reporting that our guest is missing from the hospital, and there's been some very disturbing news about her... otherbray."

Marion rolled her eyes and glanced back at Candace, who was watching her with worried eyes. "We'll keep you here tonight. We won't tell anyone where you are." Candace relaxed. "We should find out what this news is about your brother."

"He tried to run me over with his car. He crashed into the neighbor's pool house, but I managed to get away after I fell off my bike. He was drunk, but the sheriff won't charge him, just like the night I was hurt. Kal doesn't have to take responsibility for anything he does," Candace said bitterly.

"Why would he try to kill you?" Marion asked in shock.

Candace turned glassy eyes toward the woman. "He blames me for our mother's death, just like Daddy does."

Marion rocked back. "That wasn't your fault!" she exclaimed. "How could anyone be so stupid and cruel as to blame the baby for birth complications?"

Candace's emotions were overwhelmed once more by Marion's outpouring of compassion, and she burst into tears. She squeaked when the woman kissed her forehead, then they hugged over the lip of the tub, Candace's head cradled against the mother's chest.

"I'm sorry you had these troubles. Please know you are amongst friends now," Marion said kindly, and Candace clung a little tighter as she sniffed.

The voice came through the door once more. "Should I be calling someone?"

"George Hughes! You will do nothing of the sort! Just wait until I come out!" Marion scolded.

"Oh, okay."

Marion took Candace's face in her hands and gently moved back so she could look into her eyes. "You relax and warm up in the tub, and when you're ready, there's a towel there to dry off. I don't have any clothes for you—"

"My backpack," Candace said.

"Ah. I'll get that for you. There's also a robe you can wear." She pointed to the towel and robe. "Take the time you need. I'll wash and dry your wet clothes."

Marion gathered the wet items of clothing on the floor, stood up, and looked back at Candace with a warm smile before she slipped out of the bathroom. Seconds later, the door opened enough to set the backpack on the floor. Then Candace was alone in the warm room.

She felt herself truly relaxing for the first time since she could remember.

Her eyes moved to take in the pictures on the walls and the homey touches. The warmth of the décor and the heat of the water soon had her relaxed, and her eyes grew heavy. She was in no danger of slipping under the water as the tub was too small for her long frame, so she rested her head back and closed her eyes.

She felt... safe.

Chapter 10

Greg was sitting on the edge of the couch with his leg stretched out before him as he watched his parents discussing something quietly.

"You know, I'm an adult now. I can be included in adult conversations," he said with a little frustration.

They gave him a guilty look then his mother nodded and came over to sit next to him as his father sat on the edge of his favorite chair.

"Candace needs our help," his mother began.

"Didn't the news say she's missing from the hospital?" Greg asked.

His mom nodded. "She needed to slip out as she has something important she needs to do tomorrow."

Greg was confused as he couldn't think of anything Candy might do that would make his mother act like this.

"I'm going to tell you something, and I need you to remain calm and thoughtful," she said.

Greg's eyebrows were rising as the situation just got weirder.

"Candace isn't mentally challenged."

He frowned at his mom as that made no sense. "What?"

"She's been acting since the night of the accident," his mom explained.

Greg shook his head, and his mind immediately went to Crystal's betrayal, his rage surging. "Like her sister!" he snarled.

"No! Not anything like that!" his mother snapped, and he looked at her in surprise. He hadn't expected anger.

"Candace didn't do it out of selfish reasons. She did it because of something her father was doing. She needed to prevent him from kicking her out of the house, so she made herself a legal dependant. It doesn't sound like she had a very happy home life with her father and brother hating her. She must be a very strong person to willingly stay in that environment," she insisted.

"Shouldn't we contact the hospital?" George asked.

"No! No one tells anyone about Candace being here. Tonight, we're giving her sanctuary in our home. Tomorrow will be a day of reckoning," the mother said fiercely and locked eyes with her husband until he nodded. Then she looked at Greg, and he had to agree as well. He couldn't remember seeing his mother this passionate about something before.

"Do you trust me?" she asked Greg point blank.

"Yes!" he said immediately. His mother never lied to him, and she had much better instincts about people than he did. Now, he wished he'd convinced Crystal to spend time around her so his mom could have warned him about her selfishness.

Granted, he'd been willfully blind around the beautiful woman.

He was still confused by Candy's—Candace's behavior, but his mom's bullshit radar was legendary. He could trust in that. He sighed. "Where is she going to sleep?" he asked.

His mom smiled proudly at him, and that felt good.

"Could she sleep in your bed?" she asked, and he gaped at her in surprise. "Not with you! You'd sleep out here on your father's recliner, of course!" she finished quickly.

His dad chuckled like he knew what he was thinking. Greg flashed him an annoyed glance, which made his dad smile wider.

"George set another place setting for dinner."

"That's Greg's job!" the father grumbled.

"Not while he's using crutches," Marion smirked.

"In my day, we worked through broken bones! Milked the cows, brought in the crops, mended the fences, all while hobbling around without a good leg to stand on," George lamented dramatically.

His wife rolled her eyes. "You've never broken a bone in your life! And the closest you came to cows in your city-boy childhood were the ones printed on your milk cartons, and the only crops were the Wheaties in your cereal bowl. You know I was the one who grew up on a farm, George Winston Hughes."

"Oh, oh. Mom's using your full name, Dad. You'd better give in now and save yourself," Greg said with a grin.

George huffed and ruffled Greg's hair on his way to the kitchen to get a set of flatware for their guest.

His mother fixed her eye on Greg. "I changed your sheets this morning. You haven't made a mess of your room since you got home, have you?"

Greg pretended to be hurt by the accusation. "How could I have done such a thing in the two hours we've been home?"

She snorted. "You've made messes in less time."

Feigning upset, Greg sighed. "You've cut me to the quick, Mother! Now, if you don't mind, I will take my leave to return to my bed chamber to ensure I've hidden all my girly magazines." His acting was rewarded with an amused snort from his mom, and his pretend indignant expression slipped into a smile.

Greg carefully eased himself up on his right leg and got his crutches into position. His mom hovered nearby to ensure he didn't fall.

He glanced over at her. "I'm being really careful. Once I get the hang of these things, I'll pick up my pace and race around the house on them."

Marion rolled her eyes but continued to smile. She placed a hand on his arm. "I know how you need to be active, but you also need to heal. It will be frustrating for you to be restricted like this."

"Yeah, I'm already feeling it," he agreed with a frown.

"Patience. I know you can endure this," his mom said, looking into his eyes. He just nodded.

She continued. "Also, do your best to keep an open mind for Candace. What she's endured in that home was terrible. We're going to be supportive as she's going to need friends more than ever once people learn she's been pretending to be mentally disabled."

Greg nodded. "That still blows my mind," he said quietly but nodded to his mother before awkwardly going down the hall to his bedroom. He glanced at the bathroom door on his way by, and his mind flashed to the moment he met Candy outside the washroom at her home. He wasn't sure how much of that encounter was real now, which didn't feel good.

He entered his room and looked around. He'd only been kidding about the girly magazines, as that's what the Internet was for, right? He was a little anxious about having the woman in his room. The first time Crystal visited, she made a comment about a sock she spotted under his bed being his sex sock. She'd had to explain what that was to him, which made him a little ill and dimmed their excitement that day. He ensured he picked up his discarded clothing from that day onwards.

Thinking about his ex-girlfriend fouled his mood, so he pushed her from his mind only to have Candace take her place. He remembered what she'd said to him the last time they met in the hospital. She'd wanted him to be her boyfriend. Was that real, or was it more Tafferty manipulation?

He closed his eyes and took some deep breaths. He'd been right about one thing. He needed time to get over Crystal's betrayal. It still felt too raw.

But now Crystal's older sister would be sleeping in his bed. He was a little uneasy about that but trusted his mother's intuition.

He opened his eyes and turned to the doorway.

Blue eyes watched him nervously, hopefully, and maybe a little desperately.

Candace's pink hair was still damp, and she was wrapped up in his dad's dressing gown, which was just a little disturbing.

One thing he couldn't ignore was how truly lovely she was. The scars faded from his sight as he drank in her beauty. How could anyone want to hurt her? Still, his heart reminded him he'd been fooled by a pretty face before. He looked away as his chest tightened up at the memory.

"I'm sorry."

Greg almost didn't hear Candace's apology, as it was so quiet.

He looked at her again and saw the shame on her downturned face. He moved closer, and her face tipped further down.

Before he could stop himself, he reached out and touched her chin, gently lifting her face until he looked into her eyes again. A hint of hope was showing in them again. "I-I'm not upset with you. I was just remembering Crystal's betrayal. Mom tells me you've been pretending to be something you're not ever since your accident. She tells me you had a good, non-selfish reason which justified it. I-I haven't had an excellent record when it comes to believing Tafferty women, but I do trust mom's judgment, and she's in your corner. So... I am as well."

Candace burst into a wide smile as a tear rolled down her cheek.

He automatically cupped her cheek and wiped the tear away. Then his eyes widened as he realized what he'd just done. He pulled his hand back as his face got hot.

"Sorry! I-I think dinner's ready. You'll join us?" he said, looking everywhere but at Candace. His face felt hot.

"Yes."

He glanced at her and noticed she had a backpack. "You can put your bag in here as you'll be in my bed tonight—I-I mean, I'll be sleeping on the recliner!" Greg blurted as his face got closer to igniting.

Candace giggled as she watched him with twinkling eyes.

He moved back slightly to let her enter.

"I need to get dressed," she said quietly.

Greg nodded and gestured to the hall. "We'll be in the dining room." Then he made a hasty exit, hearing the door close behind him only when he was almost to the washroom.

His mom looked up when he appeared at the entrance, raising her eyebrows as she took in his blush.

"She's too pretty," Greg mumbled before he could think.

Marion smiled at her son. "I don't know about too pretty, but she is quite lovely."

Greg felt his leg ache and winced slightly, but his mom caught it.

"Take your seat. Dinner is ready," she said as she gently patted his arm.

He nodded and eased himself down onto his chair. He immediately felt better.

"Is it time for your next pill?" Marion asked.

"I'll hold off until after dinner. I don't know how long I'll be able to stay awake," Greg admitted, feeling his fatigue creeping up on him.

His mom ran her fingers through his hair affectionately, then returned to the kitchen.

His dad entered the dining room and took his seat as he grinned at Greg. "Quite the pretty houseguest we have. I'm sure you'll be a gentleman while she's with us," he teased quietly with a grin.

Greg glanced toward the doorway before sending a glare at his father. "Of course."

"Stop teasing Greg," Marion said as she entered carrying their plates. She set them down and gave her husband a stern look before returning to the kitchen.

Candace appeared in the doorway with a timid expression. Greg turned his head, and his face froze as she looked sexy in the tight pink t-shirt and mid-thigh skirt she was now wearing. His mouth worked, but no sound came from it until he cleared his throat and gave himself a mental shake.

"P-please table a seat—I mean, take a seat," Greg said, gesturing to the chair across from him.

She smiled at him and moved to sit down. Greg glanced at his father, whose face was also a little red from how her breasts stretched the shirt and her amazingly long legs.

His mom entered carrying the remaining plates, and her eyes quickly drank in the expressions on the men's faces and the reason for it settling into the chair across from Greg. She set a plate before Candace, then put her own plate down before addressing their guest.

"Is the home warm enough for you, Candace?" she asked, noting how the girl's nipples were showing against the fabric of her tee.

Candace looked into Marion's observant eyes and nodded slightly. "I was rushing when I packed, so I didn't get the warmest clothes," she said softly.

Marion looked at George and Greg. "Start eating." She stood and gestured for Candace to join her. They left the room, and Greg shared a look with his dad, who struggled not to grin.

"That's in your bed. You poor kid," George finally said quietly, giving in to his need to tease his son.

"Dad!" Greg snapped incredulously and turned to eat his meal to hide her effect on him.

Minutes later, his mom returned with Candace following.

Greg's eyes widened once more as he took in the familiar black tights with flames dancing around her calves. She still had on the tight t-shirt, but she was wearing his black running jacket partially zipped up. It wouldn't close over her breasts, but it hid her nipples from their view. She looked... warmer.

Who was he kidding? She looked fantastic!

His mom took his frozen expression as a protest. "You won't be using your running outfit for a while, and it's nice and warm," Marion insisted.

He jolted slightly as he looked at his mom. "No, it's fantas—it's fine!"

Candace's nervous smile changed to happiness as she watched him.

They took their seats, and Greg did his best to return to his meal. He was overly aware of how good Candace looked in his favorite tights. Now, he wished he'd worn tighter underwear as he was seriously beginning to tent his loose track pants.

The conversation was kept light, but Greg's mind couldn't concentrate with the increasing pain in his leg, his growing fatigue, and the sight of Candace sitting so close.

He winced as a throb went through his leg, and his mother stood up.

"I think you're ready for a pill, then it's off to the recliner with you," she said.

He nodded wearily and pushed back from the table. He looked up to see the concern in Candace's eyes. He forced a smile onto his lips and carefully maneuvered himself away from the table and over to the bathroom, where he brushed his teeth. Then he went back to the living room. As his mother hovered nearby, he eased himself down onto the recliner and sighed with relief.

Marion gave him the pill and a glass of water to wash it down. He took it obediently, then eased the chair back to make it stretch out. His mom put a blanket over him and kissed his forehead.

"Thanks, mom," he said sleepily.

"Sleep well, Greg."

She watched him close his eyes then she walked back into the dining room. Candace was also looking sleepy, but Marion had some questions.

"Who are you going to report this to?" she asked.

Candace looked into Marion's eyes. "I've identified an agent in the FBI who works on these cases. I'll give him full access to all the evidence files I've collected and let him know when it will go down. The transfer is scheduled for ten AM tomorrow, but the money won't be staying in the accounts Daddy created. I've arranged for the funds to immediately move into new accounts I set up to return the money to the pension fund and the company. Daddy has no access to the new accounts. I'll notify the investment firm of the new accounts once the transfer is complete."

"When your father realizes the money isn't in his accounts, he'll react badly. As you said, the sheriff is part of this, so he might be looking for you. I think we need to take some precautions," Marion said, and George's eyes widened in concern.

"We call in the State Police," he suggested, and Marion nodded.

Candace smiled at them and fought back a yawn.

"And that's the sign its time for you to get some rest, young lady," Marion said with a kind smile.

Candace smiled at them. "I'm sorry for dragging you into this. I-I just don't have anyone else..." Tears began to pool in her lashes.

Marion moved to her and gave her a hug. She gently shushed her and gave her a kiss on the temple, which brought a smile to Candace's face.

"Come on, you. Get some rest, and we'll take care of things in the morning," Marion said firmly but kindly.

Candace stood and let herself be guided down the hall to Greg's room again.

"We'll see you in the morning. Sweet dreams," Marion said, and Candace gave her a trembling smile and nodded to her, her throat too tight to let her speak.

With the door closed behind her and the room lit only by a small desk lamp beside the bed, Candace let her eyes roam. This was the first boy's room she'd ever spent any time in. She inhaled and picked up Greg's warm scent. That sent a tingle down her spine.

Fighting back another yawn, she moved to the bed and tugged the bedspread back to ease herself onto the mattress. She was a little sore from her tumble off the bike, though the hot bath had helped.

Tucking herself under the covers, she inhaled again. The sheets were freshly washed and soft, but the comforter still had Greg's masculine scent.

If she wasn't so exhausted, she might have touched herself, but the risk of messing his sheets was too great.

Instead, she closed her eyes and let the feeling of warmth and security draw her down into a deep sleep.

Chapter 11

After a poor night's sleep, Byron's mood was getting darker by the minute. Doubt wasn't something he was used to feeling, but as the deadline for the funds transfer was minutes away, his mind dragged him through the mire of second-guessing.

It was too late to make any adjustments to the transfer process, and even logging in to review the accounts might raise suspicions, so he had to remain hands-off until it was done. He'd been very careful and left nothing to chance, but this was the first time a Tafferty had embezzled from their own company. That brought a scowl to his face.

"Byron, for God's sake, lighten up! You're making me nervous, and it's already tense enough!" Byron's lawyer, Preston Mathers, said in frustration.

Sheriff Todd Winslow entered the room with a scowl on his face as well. Preston looked at him in exasperation. "What's wrong with you?"

The sheriff ignored the lawyer and looked at Byron. "Your son's dead."

"What?" Byron exclaimed.

Todd glared at him. "The drunken fool lost control of his car and drove it across the lawn of the Gordon estate, through the wall of the pool house, and into the pool. He never made it out of the car and drowned. To make matters worse, he hit Hal Gordon's wife, Belinda, as he drove through the wall. She's in the hospital with some broken bones. She was lucky she wasn't killed. Hal is on the warpath!"

Byron's mind was spinning as this was too coincidental. The timing was so poor. He'd be expected to stick around for the funeral, and he was leaving today! His mind went back to wondering what had gotten into his son to make him drive so recklessly. He knew Kal was a drunk, but this was over the top.

The sheriff went on. "There is still no sign of your retard of a daughter. She left the hospital yesterday afternoon and disappeared. Where would she go?"

Byron turned on the man. "Like I know what the fuck goes on in the mind of a simpleton!"

"It's time."

Byron and Todd looked to Preston, who was pointing to his chunky gold watch.

Tossing another condescending look at the sheriff, Byron turned on his laptop, and once it was on the desktop, he opened the website for his offshore accounts. He entered his credentials and clicked on the Account Summary link. The two accounts he'd set up appeared, and the balances sent a wave of relief through his body. One held the pension balance, and the other the corporate working capital. A slow smile spread across his lips. He was an extremely wealthy man. He smiled at his co-conspirators, who looked relieved as well.

"Now it doesn't matter what the little shit did in the Gordon's pool, does it," Byron smirked, and Todd chuckled as he nodded.

Preston was watching the screen with concern. "Byron! The money!"

Byron frowned as he glanced at the lawyer's shocked expression, then directed his gaze to the webpage again. He froze as the balances now read zero.

"WHAT?"

He refreshed the page, and a login prompt appeared. He stared at it stupidly for a moment, then entered his credentials again, but the interface said his password was incorrect. He tried again, typing slowly to ensure he entered it correctly but once more got access denied.

"What's this bullshit?" Todd barked at Byron, whose face was becoming beet red.

"I've been locked out of my account," Byron said roughly through tight throat as his mind scrambled to understand how this could have happened.

"I didn't put up with your crap for the past two decades to be stiffed on the day I was to be rewarded! I want my money!" the sheriff snapped belligerently.

Bryon turned on him. "THE MONEY IS GONE! SOMEONE STOLE IT!" he bellowed angrily.

Todd laughed harshly. "I call bullshit on your trickery. You've orchestrated this to keep it all for yourself!" he snapped, then pulled his service revolver, pointing it at Byron. "You're going to give me my money, now!"

"I can't log into the account, moron!" Byron said caustically.

"You have other accounts, personal accounts, and the cost for my participation just went up to five million. Connect to your bank and transfer the funds!" Todd said grimly.

Curling his lip in hate, Byron logged in to the bank website and discovered he was being redirected to a page stating his accounts had been frozen and would need to come to the branch to resolve it. Byron's expression changed to shock. "Fuckers," he gasped quietly.

"Don't you fucking tell me there's no money!" Todd barked.

"Geezus, Todd! Get a grip!" Preston said with his hands raised to calm the man.

The moment Preston stepped between him and the sheriff, Byron shoved the lawyer into Todd. The gun went off then Byron slammed his fist into Todd's temple, stunning the man. Byron followed up his punch with a kick, and the weapon fell from Todd's grip.

Todd grabbed a glass table lamp and smashed it against the side of Byron's face, knocking him back. Blood splashed from the gash that opened on his forehead.

Preston fell to the floor, clutching his gut, but he fell on the gun as Todd dropped to his knees to pick it up. He heaved the injured lawyer off as Byron ran from the room.

"Call... ambulance," the lawyer gasped to Todd.

The sheriff contemplated putting another bullet in him. "Call them yourself!" He raced out of the room after Byron. There was no way he'd let the bastard cheat him out of what he was owed.

Preston lay gasping for breath on the floor of his study. The pain in his gut was excruciating, but his anger at those bastards gave him the strength to pull himself to his desk. He pulled the phone down and dialed 911.

"Hampstead Hills Emergency Services. Please state the nature of your emergency," the voice said.

"I've been... shot. Send... ambulance... Preston Mathers... Seventeen Oak Lane... Sheriff shot me..." he managed to gasp out.

"Hang in there, Mr. Mathers. An ambulance is on the way. Is Sheriff Winslow still there?"

Preston was losing his strength. "No... chasing Byron... tried to kill... he's mad..."

"Stay with me, Preston. Help will be there shortly... Preston?"

-=-

In the bright and warm kitchen nook of the Hughes residence, Candace sat between George and Marion as they watched the funds move into Byron's offshore accounts, then transfer over to the accounts Candace had set up. She then reset her father's password to lock him out.

As this happened, George was on the line with the FBI agent Candace found to assist with taking him down. The man seemed stunned to have a complete case dropped into his lap. He got the bank to lock Byron's assets as these personal bank details were included in the data dump Candace provided.

Marion was speaking with the State Police, reporting the involvement of the local sheriff in a plot to embezzle funds from the mining company. Candace had already sent them a link to her evidence repository. They were sending some units to Hampstead Hills to investigate and to take Sheriff Winslow into custody for questioning.

Candace looked across the table at Greg, who was watching her with a funny little smile. She knew he was on pain killers as his eyes were a little glassy. He'd woken in a fair amount of pain as sleeping on the chair didn't help his leg. She felt bad about that.

"What?" she asked.

"I'm just so happy your brilliant mind wasn't hurt," he sighed.

Candace's face flushed with heat as he continued to look at her in awe.

Marion caught his words and gave him a closer look. "Papa, our boy is high on pain medication."

George glanced over and sighed. "Yup. He's also more than a little smitten."

Candace's eyes went to the father, who was smiling fondly at his son, whose blush was beginning to match hers.

Marion glanced at her husband. "Don't tease Greg."

Candace looked to Marion. "I-I need to call Mr. Bagley at the investment house which manages the employee pension fund. By now, he's probably panicking as the funds haven't rolled over into the new pension plan."

Marion nodded, so Candace dialed the number. She let it ring six times, then heard a fumbling as the man dropped the phone.

"Hello?" the man said tersely.

"Mr. Bagley, this is Candace Tafferty."

"Candace? Oh, Candy! Listen dear, this isn't a really good time to talk—"

"Daddy embezzled the employee pension fund, so you didn't receive the money for the new package."

There was silence on the other end of the line. Then, some gasping noises, so she rushed ahead.

"It's okay. I blocked him from taking the money. It's ready to be deposited into the new account. May I confirm the account number with you?" Candace asked.

"Who is this?" he said.

"It's really me, Mr. Bagley. Can I read you the account details?" she said.

"I thought... they said..."

"I know. I'm so sorry. I had to pretend so I could find out what Daddy was going to do. So I could stop him."

"My god. You really have the pension funds?" he asked hopefully.

"Yes, sir. Can I confirm the account?" she asked again.

"Yes! Yes, please!" he said in a rush.

Candace slowly read out the characters and digits, and once she was done, she heard him sigh.

"That's correct, Candy—I mean, Candace."

"Transferring the funds now," she said and began the account-to-account transfer. Her screen soon indicated the balance in her pension fund account was zero. "It's done."

She heard silence for a moment then she heard several people gasp in relief. "Thank you, Candace! I don't know how you did it, but thank you! Today began as one of the worst days in my life, and now it's been saved!" Bagley gushed.

"I'm glad to hear it. I need to contact Mr. Stephens now as Daddy also stole the working capital from the company. That needs to be transferred back, too."

"How could he do this?" the man raged.

"He was going to run away to an island in French Polynesia. I canceled his flight tickets, too. He can't leave as the FBI wants to talk to him."

Mr. Bagley burst into laughter. "You are a wonder, Candace! Thank you again!"

"You're welcome. Goodbye," Candace said and hung up. She smiled widely at Marion.

"That feels good, doesn't it," the mother said.

"So good! I'll make the next call."

She had a little more trouble getting Mr. Stephens to listen. He was somewhat hysterical when he discovered they had no cash in the bank.

She slowly explained what happened and transferred the money back into the account. The man was much friendlier after he saw the correct balance. She sighed.

"The company needs a new corporate policy and process for managing these transactions. Even a Tafferty shouldn't be able to withdraw that much capital without appropriate approvals," Candace suggested.

"It-it's Byron's company!" Mr. Stephens exclaimed.

"Not for long," Candace said. "Good day."

Candace sat back and relaxed. George was speaking quietly to their FBI contact. He hung up and smiled at the others. "A team of investigators will be here later this afternoon."

"What's left to do?" Marion asked.

"I'd like to go to the hospital to check on Missy and Crystal," Candace said as she looked at Marion.

"I think we'd better wait until the authorities have collected the sheriff, your father, and his lawyer to be safe. They don't know where you are at the moment, and we should keep it that way until its safe. Missy and Crystal are protected at the hospital, and I'll call for an update on their condition. Does that sound okay?" Marion asked.

Candace nodded with a smile. "Ask for the head nurse, Margaret Stewart," she suggested.

Marion put her cell on speaker phone, dialed the hospital, and asked for Margaret. The switchboard forwarded the call to the nurse's station, and Marion heard the voice of the head nurse. She sounded distracted.

"Nurse Stewart speaking."

"Hello. This is Marion Hughes. We brought our son Greg home yesterday?" Marion began.

"Ah yes, Mrs. Hughes. Is everything all right with Greg?" the nurse asked in concern.

Marion smiled at her tone. "Yes... well, he had a difficult night, and we gave him one of his pills this morning. He seems to be high as a kite now," Marion confessed.

"If they are too strong, you can split them," the nurse suggested. "Pharmacies carry devices to safely cut pills."

"Thank you. We'll give that a try," Marion said.

"Was there anything else?" the nurse asked as she went back to sounding distracted.

"I was wondering how Missy and Crystal are doing?" Marion asked, and Candace moved closer to hear the answer.

Margaret sighed. "I'm afraid I can't give out any details to anyone but family—"

"Oh! Please tell me!" Candace said into the phone. Marion gave her a cautious stare.

"Candy? Is that you, girl?" Margaret asked urgently.

"Yes! I'm safe, but you can't tell anyone where I am," Candace said as she gave Marion an apologetic look.

"Why? What's happened?" the head nurse insisted.

"Daddy embezzled the company's employee pension fund and the working capital. I blocked him from taking the money, put it back, and informed the FBI. You need to protect Missy and Crystal from him and the sheriff. They're going to be really angry," she said nervously.

"You... sound different," Margaret said uncomfortably.

"I'm so sorry I had to pretend to be mentally disabled, but it was the only way I could stay close to him to find out what he was up to. I'm truly sorry. You were always so wonderful to me," Candace's voice wobbled as tears filled her eyes.

"Easy, girl," she said kindly, then sighed. "When this is over, you and I need to sit down and have a long talk."

"Yes, I would like that," Candace said through her sniffles.

There was a pause. "I'll ask one of our security people to watch over your mum and sister. They're both healing and will be with us for a few more days."

"Thank you!" Candace said.

"I need to make my rounds. I'll speak to you later," Margaret said, then hung up.

Marion hung up and looked into Candace's eyes. "No more calls until the conspirators are caught."

Candace nodded obediently. She hoped they were arrested today.

She really wanted to speak with Margaret.

-=-

Byron rushed in the front door of his family home. He looked up at the portraits on the entranceway walls of past Tafferty patriarchs. They all looked down at him disapprovingly. Fuck them!

He ran for his office as he didn't have much time. The knife he'd stuck in the sheriff's tire would slow him down, but he knew Winslow would be here shortly. He had to grab the cash in his safe and travel bag, then get out of town quickly. Something had seriously gone wrong with his plan, but he'd figure it out later. He opened the safe and froze. He knew he put twenty thousand in there a week ago. Then he recalled Kal had been in his office when the safe was open. He'd come in to argue for an increase in his allowance. The useless shit must have grabbed the cash while his back was turned! He took his handgun from the safe with the box of bullets, which both went into a jacket pocket.

Kal may have stashed the stolen money in his room. The boy was an idiot, after all. Well, had been an idiot.

He grabbed his travel bag and charged into the hall and up the stairs. He saw something on the steps and realized it was blood. Kal was bleeding when he left the house? Before the crash?

As Byron moved down the hall toward Kal's room, he spotted a splash of red on the carpet next to Candace's bed. He stepped inside, hoping to see her dead body, but instead, he saw the mattress was partially hanging off the bed like someone pulled it, then a large blood spot and vomit. Nearby was one of those girly barbells with blood splattered over one end.

She'd been here!

Candace had gotten into a fight with Kal... and won!

A picture was forming in his mind of the sneaky bitch, but he didn't have time to deal with that now. He left her room and quickly tossed Kal's, searching for his money. He finally had to give up when all he found were a bunch of crumpled twenties. He stuffed them in his pocket, then ran down the hall and descended the stairs.

"BYRON!"

He pulled the gun from his pocket and fired wildly toward the front entrance as he turned and ran for the back door. Winslow yelled in rage and fired back, but the bullet struck the door frame as Byron ducked through. He fired back one more time before surging through the patio door. He ran around the side of the house expecting Todd to suddenly appear, but he didn't.

Just before Byron reached his car door, the sheriff appeared at the home's front entrance, and Byron took another shot at him. Todd yelped and threw himself back inside as the bullet scored a groove against the outer edge of his left thigh.

Byron leaped into his car and got it started. He fired another shot at the door as Winslow ducked his head out to try to take aim.

Sirens could be heard approaching, so Byron drove over the curb onto his lawn and headed for the fence on the far side of his property. There was a lane behind it, which he'd use to get out of the neighborhood.

A bullet took out his rear window when the sheriff hit it with a lucky shot. Then Byron aimed his car at a fence panel between two posts and was through it with a deafening crash. He spun the wheel to straighten out on the narrow lane and accelerated away. He'd have to change cars as his was now too conspicuous.

He was on the run with no funds to begin his new life.

FUCK!

-=-

Todd roared in frustration, then hobbled toward his cruiser when three state trooper vehicles raced into the driveway. In his rage, he fired at the first one without thinking, and all three spread out and skidded to a stop, blocking the lane.

Panicking now, he got to his car and reached in for his shotgun, but the moment he pulled it out, a bullet caught him on the shoulder and spun him around. His weapon went flying.

The next thing he knew, he had three state troopers pinning him to the ground as they removed his remaining weapons. He was flipped over and cuffed.

"Suspect taken into custody. Medical attention required," one said into his mic.

"Byron... Tafferty... getting away..." he gasped against the rough driveway as pain shot from his shoulder.

"You let us worry about that, fuck nuts. You're in the shit now," a younger officer said with a grin.

The sheriff slumped to the ground. It wasn't fair. Years of dealing with Byron's messes as the man kept him on a leash by guaranteeing his re-election every year. The last few had been the worst, and this was how he was rewarded?

Fuck.

Chapter 12

As ten PM rolled around, the FBI agents finally began packing up and returning to their cars. They'd spent the afternoon interviewing Candace in the Hughes living room, reviewing every detail she'd recorded of her father's embezzling plan and how she'd thwarted it.

The fact that the funds moved from the company's accounts into personal ones belonging to Byron completed his crime. The fact that Candace moved the funds back into the proper accounts had no bearing on the case against Byron, as the man hadn't been aware of her activities. The correspondence she'd collected between Byron and his lawyer outlined the plan, which ended with the funds in his offshore accounts. It was assumed he would manually transfer the sheriff's and lawyer's shares into their offshore accounts, but the funds were gone before that could happen.

Agent Lewis Jefferson was the FBI investigator Candace chose and was the last one still in the house. The other agents had taken down the lights and cameras they used to record her statement and packed away all their equipment.

"On behalf of the FBI, thank you for your exceptional efforts recording your father's criminal activity. I'm terribly sorry for what you had to endure, but it proves what a remarkable young lady you are," Lewis said as he shook her hand. Candace smiled at him in thanks.

"I understand that Sheriff Winslow is in custody, and your father's lawyer, Preston Mathers, died in his home after being shot by Winslow. Your father remains at large, but there's a statewide APB out and a warrant for his arrest. We understand he's armed, as he and the sheriff exchanged gunfire at your home. We'd like to take you into protective custody until he's captured. You're our star witness," the agent said earnestly.

Candace looked to Marion and George, and they both nodded.

"I think that may be for the best," Marion added. "Just until it's safe."

Candace moved forward and pulled Marion into a hug. She moved her mouth to the woman's ear to speak softly.

"Thank you for believing me when you had every reason to doubt." Her voice wobbled with emotion.

Marion gave her another squeeze, then pulled back to smile at the younger woman. Her eyes were a little glassy, too. "My instincts have never failed me before. I knew you were worthy of my trust. You come back the moment it's safe to do so. Greg will be pining for you."

Candace hiccupped in surprise as her face flushed. She smiled shyly at Marion. "May I say goodbye to him?"

Marion had sent Greg to rest in his bedroom when she spotted him nodding off after lunch.

"Yes. Just don't get too enthusiastic with your goodbyes, as he's still injured," Marion said as she locked eyes with Candace.

Fighting back a wide smile, Candace nodded, then turned to Jefferson. "I'll come with you, but I need to say goodbye to Greg first. Also, will it be possible for me to stop by my house to properly pack a suitcase?"

"That's fine. I'll just be outside making arrangements." He turned to the parents. "Thank you very much for protecting Ms. Tafferty."

"It was our pleasure. After all, she's practically family!" George said boldly with a grin. Marion slapped his arm, and he looked at her in exaggerated surprise. "What? The writing's on the wall!"

Marion rolled her eyes at her husband's teasing as Candace rushed away down the hall, her face burning with the thrill of the idea. She took some calming breaths and knocked gently on Greg's closed door. She heard a noise, so she opened the door and stepped inside. She moved closer to the bed and saw Greg was asleep. She frowned as she was sure she'd heard him say something.

The blinds were closed, but the light next to the bed was on. In the dim light, she could see his eyes were closed. She could also see he was tenting the sheets.

"Candace..."

Greg was dreaming of her? He was dreaming of her and was erect?

She didn't know what to do. She didn't want to embarrass him but really wanted to say goodbye.

It was too risky. She didn't want him to think she couldn't be trusted. That would be the absolute worst thing. She turned and went back to the door. Then the handle squeaked.

"Hmmaa? What?"

She turned back and saw him looking in her direction and blinking the sleep from his eyes.

"Candace? What are you doing?" he asked.

"The FBI is going to put me in protective custody. I wanted to say goodbye—"

"What? Wait! You're leaving?" he said, sitting up quickly.

She moved to his side to calm him. "Just until they catch Daddy. I'll be back!"

He slowed his breathing. "Oh! Ah, good. I... I'd like that."

"Me too," she said with a smile, and his eyes were watching her mouth.

She wanted to kiss him so badly, but she was terrified she'd frighten him off.

Then he leaned in and brushed her lips with his, and she felt like she might melt. The first touch had been gentle and uncertain, but the second one took her breath away. He worshipped her lips with his, and she made a little needful sound.

He pulled back, and his eyes looked into hers. "You aren't just playing with me, are you?"

She could see the pain Crystal caused him, haunting his eyes.

"No! I want you to be my boyfriend! I want to be with you! I want to learn everything about you. I want to do everything with you," she gushed as her hand settled atop the bulge in the sheets. His breath gusted out in surprise as his eyes widened. "I won't hurt you! I would never—MMmph!"

Greg kissed her deeply, and she pressed herself against his hard muscles as tingles raced through her body. He wanted her, too!

There was a distinct knock on the door. Greg pulled back from the kiss so they could catch their breath. He looked into her beautiful blue eyes.

"You're my girlfriend. I'm your boyfriend. I will wait for you," he said, holding her gaze.

"It's all I've ever wanted," she said with a wide smile. "I should go. Your mom told me not to be too enthusiastic, but that's proving impossible."

Greg smiled with a shaky nod. "The feeling is mutual."

Candace quickly stood and walked to the door before she looked back. Greg was still tenting his sheets, and she bit her lip in desire. Dammit! She wanted that!

"Come back to me soon, Candace," he said, his voice a little rough with emotion.

That caught her by surprise, and she nodded, unable to speak from the tightness in her throat.

She stepped outside and saw Marion leaning against the opposite wall with a compassionate but knowing smile on her lips.

Candace nodded to the mother then they walked to the front door, where she gave her and George a quick hug. She stepped outside and followed Agent Jefferson to the SUV.

As she settled into the rear seat, she looked at the agent sitting up front. "They'd better find Daddy quick."

Chapter 13

For Greg, winter crept by at a snail's pace as he healed. He attended his classes remotely as his buddy Tim carried a tablet PC for him to participate over the webcam.

Spring arrived with the promise of warmer weather but instead delivered cool temps, rain, and cloudy days. He was healed enough to go back to school, though it was exhausting. He was grateful when the cast came off, though Tim teased him unmercifully about the cane he was using. It was pink and a present from Candace. He used it with a smile.

She was still somewhere out there in protective custody. There'd been no sign of Byron, and the legal case against him dragged through the court system so Candace couldn't come home. They had weekly video calls and were learning about each other, but instead of making them feel better, the calls just seemed to make their need for each other sharper.

Over the next two months, Greg gradually rebuilt his strength and endurance. When summer arrived, the sun reappeared, days became warmer, and Greg was healed well enough to return to his favorite activity, running. Shorter distances only, at first.

Tim joined him on these runs as graduation rapidly approached.

"Pete said Valerie's playing hard to get. He asked her to the prom, but she hasn't told him if she'll attend with him."

Greg snorted. "You asked Heather, of course."

"The day they announced the date," Tim said with a grin, and Greg returned the smile.

Tim gave him a curious look. "Any word from Candace?"

Greg frowned and shook his head. "I asked her during our last call, and she said she'd see what arrangements she could make... but I've heard nothing since."

Tim gave him a sly grin. "I heard Crystal doesn't have a date."

"Hell no, and fuck you for mentioning it," Greg said and picked up the pace.

Tim laughed, then struggled to keep up. "Hey! I was kidding!"

They ran without speaking for a while then Tim broke the silence.

"Heather feels really bad about her part of your breakup. She's sorry."

Greg glanced over and saw the awkward expression on his friend's face. He knew Heather probably asked him to say it, but he also knew Tim genuinely loved Heather and didn't want there to be bad blood between them. He sighed and nodded.

"Please tell Heather it's cool. I'm not mad at her," he said, then glanced at his buddy, "but I do expect to be asked to be best man at your wedding!"

Tim stumbled slightly in surprise, so Greg slowed to a walk and took a break. Tim was still concerned. "What—I haven't told anyone I was going to ask her!"

Greg snorted and grinned. "Oh please, it's written all over your faces. You two are so much in love. You're destined for wedding bells."

Tim watched Greg's smiling face and relaxed. "Does anyone else know?" he asked, obviously worried about Heather hearing it before he could propose.

"I doubt it. Most people in this town are oblivious to the people around them. I'm just a romantic at heart, so I recognized the signs."

"Mister Romance," Tim said with a grin.

"When are you going to ask her?" Greg responded.

Tim paused as he thought about that. "I-I was thinking after graduation. We planned on going camping and...." He stopped when he saw Greg's disapproving stare.

"Is there anything preventing you from doing it earlier?" Greg asked.

"Uh, no. I have the ring—"

"Don't you think Heather might enjoy being able to share this news with all her friends at Prom and before graduation when everyone heads off on their own journeys?" Greg asked.

Tim blinked as he realized Greg was right. Heather would enjoy that! "Shit, I didn't think of that! Hey, you are Mister Romance!"

Greg shrugged with a smug little smile on his face.

They turned and headed back.

After Tim returned from his thoughts about how he'd propose that evening, he noticed Greg wasn't smiling. He suddenly realized Greg's comment about people being oblivious to others also applied to him. He felt ashamed for not being aware of his buddy's pain.

"I really hope Candace can join us at Prom."

Greg was pulled from his thoughts and glanced at Tim in surprise. He saw the concern on his friend's face and smiled. "Thanks, Tim. So do I."

-=-

Everling's Banquet Hall was decorated beautifully for the evening's festivities. The graduating class wore beautiful party dresses and sharp suits, and the music was already inspiring some guests to venture onto the dancefloor.

For most attendees, this was the time to show off how good they looked and how ready they were for the future, regardless of how young they still were.

Many would be moving on to college, some in other states, so tonight was also a time to begin their goodbyes.

Tim and Heather had a crowd of their friends surrounding them. Heather glowed with joy as she showed off her lovely engagement ring. No one was surprised, but everyone was very pleased to see it actually happen.

The football team members were there, some looking a little awkward in their rented suits, but their dates made up for them by looking amazing in their dresses. One might even say against their backdrop of ill-fitting black suits, the ladies shone extra bright.

When Crystal Tafferty arrived, no one could deny she was a vision of beauty. Wrapped in a clingy green dress that shimmered in the spotlights, she drew eyes.

Unfortunately, not all of those who were watching were smiling. The Tafferty name had taken a beating since everyone was aware of Byron's embezzlement attempt. So many people would have lost their futures in that one move. Parents would have lost their jobs and pensions, and their kids might have seen their ability to attend college in jeopardy.

Crystal was tainted by association, even though she played no part in Byron's plans and had taken a beating at his hands.

Then, there was her treatment of Greg. The school population was too aware of that. It had become the stuff of legends. Much to Greg's embarrassment.

Tim spotted the redhead a short distance inside the entrance and saw how intimidated she was becoming with the scowls aimed her way. He sighed as he prepared to go to her rescue, then froze.

Standing in the entrance was a vision in pink. Tim heard Heather gasp softly as she spotted Candace Tafferty as well. The tall woman's dress clung to her curves and presented a daring amount of cleavage, though some was hidden by her soft locks of pink hair.

Tim smiled as Greg entered the hall to stand next to Candace. He put his arm around her back possessively, and she smiled shyly at him. They kissed sweetly, declaring their couplehood before the witnesses.

Greg was wearing a very stylish suit that seemed far more tailored than the ones his teammates were wearing. It fit his physique perfectly. Tim knew from their running that Greg's leg was fully healed, and he was well on his way to peak fitness once more.

The couple stepped further into the hall, and everyone watched in surprise as they stopped next to Crystal and smiled at her. When Greg offered his other elbow to her, some gasped in shock. Crystal seemed equally surprised but timidly accepted his arm. The three stopped to have their photo taken with Greg between the two women, then walked over to join Tim, Heather, and the others.

"Good evening, people!" Greg said with a wide smile and received mumbled responses from the stunned group. He pressed on. "I'd like to introduce you to my girlfriend, Candace."

The hellos were more energetic as she nodded and smiled happily but bashfully to them.

Greg turned his face to Crystal, who looked up at him with nervous blue eyes.

"Everyone knows my friend, Crystal. If I can move forward, I'm sure none of you will have any lingering issues?" Greg said as he looked into the eyes of his teammates and their dates. He looked back at Crystal and saw she was getting teary-eyed.

"Hey! No tears! This is Prom, so only smiles!" he said with a grin.

Crystal nodded shakily and gave him a smile. He nodded and turned back to Candace, who took his face in her hands and kissed him firmly. Greg felt his head spinning when she pulled back, so he grinned at her.

"I missed you too!" he said quietly.

This broke the ice with his friends, and they hooted in approval. They were blocking the corridor, so they moved into the main hall and looked for their tables. The decorations were beautiful, and the dancefloor looked inviting, so Greg looked forward to the evening.

-=-

When Candace arrived at Greg's home late in the afternoon, he was waiting by the door. He immediately pulled her into his arms and kissed her. That went on for a few eternities and when they pulled back, they were both grinning like fools. That's when he noticed she was carrying two garment bags. One was for her prom dress, and the other was a suit she brought for him.

She recalled how handsome he looked when he stepped into the living room wearing the suit. Marion was standing beside her and rushed forward to hug her son, who looked so grown up. She'd taken some pictures to send to George, who was on another business trip in Belgium.

Candace borrowed his room to put her dress on, and then Marion fussed over her and took pictures of them together. Candace could see Greg's need for her in his eyes, sending tingles through her.

They kissed Marion goodnight then jumped into the limo waiting outside. It took them to her house, where they picked up Crystal.

Candace was a little nervous about this part of her plan as Greg and Crystal had history. During their calls, Greg acknowledged that Crystal was important to her, so he could find it in his heart to forgive her, but a heartfelt apology would be welcome. Candace promised to ensure her little sister took responsibility for her actions and apologized properly. This was good enough for him.

Her own prom had been a disaster for her, but Candace thoroughly enjoyed Greg's. They danced and hung out with Greg's friends, and the night was filled with laughter and anticipation.

As the party wound down, Candace and Greg told his friends the party would continue at Candace's place if anyone was interested.

Tim and Heather were in, as were Valerie and Pete. The others had plans.

Greg, Candace, and Crystal returned to the limo, and the others followed in their cars. They parked before the mansion, and Candace brought them all inside.

Tim looked up at all the portraits of the former Tafferty patriarchs with wide eyes. "Well, that isn't intimidating at all!"

Crystal chuckled. "Yes, Momma's going to donate them to the local museum."

Pete noted an absence. "No painting of your father."

Crystal shook her head. "Thankfully."

Missy appeared in the doorway with a smile. "I heard my name, so I thought I'd say good night before heading up," she said as she walked toward the foot of the long curving staircase to the second floor.

"Good evening, Mrs. Tafferty. We'll try not to make too much noise," Tim said with a polite smile.

"Oh, please. Call me Missy. Don't worry about the noise. This big mausoleum needs a little noise to remind it what it's like to be alive!" she said, then waved a hand at their concerned looks. "I'm sorry! Don't mind me. Congratulations and enjoy yourselves!" She forced a smile onto her lips and headed upstairs.

Candace watched her go with a sad expression, and Greg squeezed her hand. This drew her attention back to him, and she hugged his arm.

Crystal noted that some of the group seemed to be fascinated by the décor of the mansion, so she decided to give them a tour. Greg and Candace followed along at the back of the group.

The lounge, or the trophy room as it was known, contained dozens of pictures of the family's happy moments so they could remember the good times. There was a football in a glass case that Tim noticed right away.

Crystal noted his attention and smiled. "That's the winning ball from Kal's championship game."

Eyes turned to Candace as the story of how Kal tried to kill her had leaked out, and everyone knew there was no love lost between them.

Candace smiled sadly and approached the case. She lifted the glass box cover and picked up the ball. It was partially deflated.

She looked over at Tim. "This represents the peak of my brother's life. When he had the most potential for making something of himself. He was already on his way to having a drinking problem, but it hadn't defined his life yet. He was also nowhere near as smart as you," she said with a small grin as she tossed the ball to him.

Tim caught it and smiled back at Candace. Then he frowned as he realized how deflated it was.

"Poor thing needs air," he said.

Candace smiled in return. "There's a ball pump in the garage, hanging on the back wall."

Pete grinned and rushed off as Candace pointed him to the last door in the hallway.

They looked at the photos on display as Crystal read the captions.

Many were shots of the opening of new mines.

Crystal smiled as she pointed to an ol' timey black and white photo of some men standing before a mine entrance. "This one was the first mine the Tafferty family ever opened, which started the empire it became today. It closed decades ago, but I remember visiting the museum before it closed, too."

"Who's running the company now that your dad is... on the run?" Valerie asked awkwardly.

Crystal looked over at Candace, who smiled self-consciously. "The board of directors manages the corporation, and the administrative officers run the day-to-day operations, but I'm now the majority shareholder. It should have been Missy, but their prenup was brutal and iron-clad. We couldn't find a way around it. Daddy lost his right to the shares due to his embezzling. The shareholder's agreement protected against any criminal activity that threatened the business. Ownership of the shares passes to his next of kin, which would have been Kal but came to me as next in line."

"You're also CEO!" Crystal asserted with a proud smile as she held her sister's eye. "She's too modest to admit the board voted for her to take over Daddy's role in the company after she demanded they change the operating procedures to limit the CEO's rights to protect against this ever happening again."

Greg looked at Candace in surprise. She smiled at him timidly and bit her lip.

"That's amazing!" he gushed. "Is this something you wanted to do?"

Her smile widened, and she nodded. "There is a lot of good we can do for the community that the company used to do but stopped after my mother died. Daddy lost interest in helping others after that."

Pete returned with the pump and helped Tim inflate the game ball until it had returned to its former glory.

They continued the tour and ended up on the deck behind the building. Beyond was the pool, the garden, and an expansive lawn.

"That's a lot of lawn to mow," Tim said.

"Yeah, it's almost big enough for a football field," Pete exclaimed, then rushed off into the darkness.

Tim shared an amused look with Greg, then shook his head.

They heard a gunshot, and seconds later, Byron surprised them when he stepped out of the shadows of the pool house and approached them quickly. He held a gun on them as he got closer.

He didn't look good.

His hair and beard had grown during his time on the run. His clothes were also disgustingly soiled, and even from a distance, he smelled foul.

His eyes held an almost manic look of rage as he faced Candace.

"I knew it would be just a matter of time before you'd show up, cunt!" he said with a grin as his fingers flexed on his gun.

"You've been living in the pool house?" Greg asked. He was scrambling to think of a way to talk Byron out of shooting Candace.

"What? NO! I got word she showed up at Everling's Banquet Hall, so I came here to settle things up," Byron snapped but ended with a vicious grin.

"I'm amazed you still have people in town spying for you, considering you almost robbed everyone!" Greg asserted as he eased himself between Byron and Candace, which made the old man start to growl.

Tim pulled his arm back and launched the football directly at Byron's head. It struck his temple with an almost musical "Doink!"

Byron staggered as his head jolted severely to the right, stunning him.

Unfortunately, he stayed on his feet and didn't drop his gun.

After deflecting off the side of Byron's head, the football flew toward Greg, who reacted automatically, snatching it from the air and pulling it to his chest.

Seeing the old man's bleary glare begin to turn toward Tim, Greg moved away from Candace and Crystal, drawing Byron's attention back to him.

Over the dazed man's shoulder, he could see Pete miraculously appearing from the darkness, running full speed to tackle him. Greg knew he had to keep Byron's focus until Pete could reach him.

"HA!" Greg barked loudly. "I catch everything the quarterback throws, even when it bounces off a crusty old piece of shit!" he crowed as he tossed the ball up and down on his palm.

Giving his head a shake to clear his double vision, Byron snarled and swung his gun in Greg's direction just as Pete slammed into his back.

The gun went off with a boom, and the football exploded.

Pete crushed Byron to the ground, and the older man cracked his forehead against the stone patio.

Tim rushed forward and stomped on Byron's wrist, making the gun finally roll free from his fingers. He checked on the fallen man but saw he was unconscious. He pushed the gun further away with his foot and saw Greg was still on his feet, so he looked at Pete.

"Fuck, doing that is a lot less painful when I'm wearing pads," Pete moaned. His shoulder was covered in blood, and there was a small nick on his ear from where Byron shot him. Valerie rushed to his side to check on him.

Heather was on the phone calling the police.

Quickly moving to Greg, he saw his friend examining a tear in the left sleeve of his jacket with wide eyes. Greg took it off, and his dress shirt had a little bloody tear on it where the bullet nicked his skin. Candace helped Greg remove his shirt; the graze was just an inch long and surface level.

Greg looked at Tim with a shaky smile. "Tis but a flesh wound."

Sirens raced up to the front of the mansion, and Missy followed the State Troopers through the house to the back patio door, where they took control of the scene. The Sherrif's entire team had been investigated and eventually fired, so the town relied on a squad of troopers in the interim.

"I heard a gunshot!" Missy exclaimed as she stared in shock at Byron on the ground. She squeaked in dismay as she saw Greg's injury and rushed over to him. Her eyes were wide with surprise as her eyes roamed his naked torso.

Candace smiled at her embarrassed glance and the guilt on her face for ogling Candace's boyfriend.

Medics arrived and did a quick examination of the injured. Byron's wrist was broken, and he was still unconscious from striking his head. They quickly wrapped Greg's arm, told Pete to follow them to the hospital, then left with Byron strapped to a stretcher and with a trooper escort.

"Good show! You really rattled his marbles with that throw," Greg said to Tim with a raised eyebrow, falling into the speech patterns they used on the game field.

The tall blonde grinned, then nodded gently. "Yes. It was a good throw. Your catch was most excellent as well."

Greg tipped his head to his friend. "Thank you."

They turned their heads to Pete, who, between winces due to his ear, was wearing a wide, happy grin at being included in their game banter ritual. "Lovely tackle, Pete," Tim said calmly. "Quite so," Greg added.

Pete chuckled, then quickly got control as he nodded. "Thank you, kind sirs," he replied, mimicking their gentlemanly words.

The ladies were looking at them with confused and stunned expressions.

Tim reached out a hand to Heather, and she quickly joined him. "I think we'll head home now that the excitement is over. It was a wonderful evening!"

Greg nodded with a smile as he reached out for Candace's hand. She moved to his side then he looked at his friends. "So good of you to join us!"

Valerie picked up the game rules and nodded to Pete as he smiled at his friends. "It was a night to remember," he said.

Everyone burst into laughter as the tension finally broke.

Grinning, they walked back inside and returned to the front door.

After hugs and handshakes, Greg's friends headed home, though Pete and Val would go to the hospital first.

"Can you tell us what that was about at the end?" Candace asked.

Greg smiled and nodded. "It's something Tim and I came up with when playing football. If the game became too brutal and vicious, we'd revert to speaking like gentlemen after each play to bring our minds back to civil behavior. It relieved the stress and helped put things in perspective. It also calmed our minds and let us think strategically."

He gestured with a thumb, pointing toward the backyard. "That was brutal and violent. It seemed the perfect time to use it."

Candace threw her arms around Greg and kissed him soundly. When she pulled back, he smiled at her, his head spinning.

"You saved my life tonight!" Candace insisted.

Greg shook his head gently. "It was a group effort. Tim knocked him silly, and it was Pete who put him down. I just distracted him."

Candace took his face between her hands. "You put yourself between Daddy and us when he was going to shoot us. Then you drew his attention away from us, making yourself the target."

Greg smiled. "When you put it that way, it sounds terrifying!"

He suddenly found himself wrapped up in the arms of three women, Candace, Crystal, and Missy, who looked overwhelmed.

When they pulled back, Greg was the one feeling overwhelmed.

"I'll bid you good night. Greg, thank you again for protecting my family," Missy said.

He bowed to her slightly. "It was my honor."

She gave him a distracted smile as her eyes dipped to look at his bare chest once more then she climbed the stairs.

Crystal moved to stand before Greg. "Thank you for accepting my apology. I was really selfish and abused your good nature. I'm sorry my anxieties made me such a headcase. I wish I'd been a better girlfriend for you."

"You're forgiven. I'm glad to see you taking responsibility for your actions," he said with a smile.

She nodded with a sad smile. "Good night!" she said as she headed upstairs.

Then, it was just Candace and Greg. She reached out and took his hands in hers. "I've been dreaming of this night for so long!" she said with a trembling voice.

Greg was equally nervous. "Are you sure it's okay for us to be together upstairs? Won't they hear us?"

Candace grinned excitedly. "Are we going to be noisy?"

He smiled in return. "I hope so."

She headed up the stairs, pulling Greg behind her.

When they reached her door, she glanced back at him nervously and led him inside.

He took a few steps into the room as she closed the door. A desk lamp threw a soft, warm light over the space, but it was bright enough to see the large room was well furnished, feminine, and had a large canopy bed.

Greg admired the décor and saw it was just a little untidy as a skirt was on the floor. He wouldn't judge her for that! He turned to face her and smiled. "It's you. So lovely!" he sighed happily.

Candace flowed into his arms, and their lips met for a deep and passionate kiss, leaving them both gasping when she finally pulled back. She guided him gently toward the bed, and his foot tangled with the skirt.

He glanced down and saw a stain on the carpet.

She looked down as well and made a squeak of dismay as she looked back into his eyes nervously.

"What is it?" he asked.

"No one cleaned the carpet after Kal attacked me, so it stained. I-I broke his nose, and he fell there," she said timidly.

Greg touched her chin to make her look into his eyes. "I'm sorry you had to deal with his shitty behavior, but I'm glad you got away from him. He defined his own ending. I'm so grateful you came to us," he said sincerely.

Candace pulled Greg to the bed, dropped onto the plush surface in each other's arms, and rolled to the center.

Greg ended up on top and smiled down at the beauty smiling up at him. Unlike her smaller sister, she felt more substantial under him, which felt really good! He glanced between them at her larger breasts and grinned at her.

"Boobs!" he teased.

She burst into giggles as she saw the delight in his eyes. She knew Crystal was much smaller up top and could see he appreciated her abundance.

"I think we're wearing too many clothes!" he added, and her eyes widened with excitement as she nodded with a grin.

He quickly moved down her body, pausing only momentarily to kiss the tops of her breasts. This made Candace gasp and give him a hungry look when he was finally kneeling on the bed at her feet.

Greg's chest was already bare, so his hands went to his belt to undo his pants.

Candace got her hands under her to unzip her dress and pulled it from her shoulders. She tugged it down her body and wiggled it past the flare of her hips until she was able to remove it completely.

She paused when she saw Greg wasn't moving. His eyes were drinking in the sexy lingerie, the subtle ripple of her stomach muscles, and the generous curves of her breasts and hips.

His pants and underwear were down to his knees, and she finally got her first glimpse of his cock in the flesh. It was standing to attention, and she froze as it was more than she expected.

Greg broke his paralysis first as he passed his clothes under one knee, then the other to pull them clear and drop them on the floor. He was completely naked, and Candace needed a moment to admire his hard and lean muscular body.

"You still have two items to remove," Greg said quietly. Her eyes rose to see his hungry smile. "You look incredible!" he added.

Her joyful smile warmed his heart as she reached back and popped the clasp on her bra. She held the cups in place as she slid the straps down her arms. When she was ready for the reveal, she slid the cups down until her stiff, pink nipples came into view. Greg released a quiet, involuntary moan as he saw her breasts.

"So beautiful," he sighed.

Her face was hot, but she couldn't stop smiling. Her panties were next, and she watched Greg closely as she slid them down. When she stretched out on the mattress once more, he got his first clear look.

"Pink!" he exclaimed in surprise.

Candace giggled happily at his delighted expression. She'd trimmed her pubic hair into a small heart and dyed the blonde hair pink.

He grinned at her as he suddenly dropped his body to the bed, bringing his face close to her decorative trimming.

Her eyes widened in surprise, and she gasped aloud as he pressed his lips to the heart sensually.

Tingles exploded from the area, and Candace's head fell back as she momentarily lost control of her muscles.

"I love your pretty heart," Greg purred as he kissed it again, then moved to kiss the skin around it.

Candace couldn't catch her breath as the sensations flooded through her mind. Crystal's praise for Greg's talented tongue suddenly surfaced.

Then, she could no longer form coherent thoughts. Sensation was all.

Greg tenderly kissed the soft skin of her inner thighs, alternating sides as he moved ever closer to her exposed lower lips. His first stroke across her labia made her hips lift from the bed, and she cried out in bliss. He stroked his fingers across the slick skin as his tongue explored, teased, and worshipped her.

Candace was lost in her pleasure as her thighs trembled, and her fingers were tangled in Greg's hair.

When he slid a finger inside, her hips rose again, and he thrashed her lips with his tongue, sending bursts of tingles through her.

"Oh, Greg! Oh my god, Greg!" she wailed as her pleasure began to surge higher and higher.

A second finger joined the first, and they began to stroke the roof of her inner channel.

"FFFFFUUUUUUHHHHHH!" Candace screamed as his mouth settled over her stiff clit, and his tongue danced with it into bliss. These sensations were amplified by the caressing of her inner surface until the pleasure spiked and exploded through her mind and body.

Greg eased off as Candace arched her body, and tremors rocked her muscles. She was mumbling in her bliss and thrashing her head side to side as the pleasure coursed through her body.

He pulled his fingers from inside her, sucking them clean before moving his kisses to her trembling stomach.

Greg held her tenderly as he let her return from the clouds. He smiled when she eventually opened her eyes and looked at him in wonder.

"That was... incredible!" she sighed as another tremor rushed through her muscles.

"I enjoyed it too. Your little heart is very cute!" he teased.

She grinned. "I'll make it any shape you like or even shave it off completely if you'd prefer."

Greg chuckled wickedly. "Good to know."

"Come here," she said with a sexy smile.

He moved to lie beside her, and she kissed him as she wrapped her fingers around his cock. He gasped, and she smiled.

"It's so hot and hard, but the skin is so soft!" she sighed.

Greg's expression showed some caution. "You don't think it's too big, do you? You're not weirded out by it?"

Candace knew he was recalling her sister's behavior and how she'd hurt him.

"This is the only cock I've ever seen in person. I think it's fascinating!" she said with a grin. "I want to do things with it."

He snorted softly in amusement at her excited expression. "Oh? What kind of things?"

"I... I want to put it in my mouth," she said as she ran her fingers up and down his shaft. She could feel his pulse through her touch. Her eyes looked into his. "Have you ever done that?"

He grinned. "No. I've never put a cock in my mouth."

She gave him a squeeze for teasing her, and he moaned. "You know what I mean!" she insisted.

"Yes! Sorry! Not so tight, please," he pleaded, and she eased her grip. He sighed and shook his head. "I haven't had any girlfriends, aside from Crystal, who've seen me naked."

Candace nodded. "Yes, I spoke with her about that. It seems she really is smaller than normal... down there. I've suggested she speak to her doctor."

Greg watched Candace expectantly, and she suddenly became aware of his gaze. She realized she was becoming mesmerized by touching him. She grinned self-consciously and moved down his body. "You'll have to tell me what feels good and doesn't."

Greg's excitement was ramping up, so he nodded quickly.

"As long as you keep your teeth from catching on it, I imagine everything else will feel incredible," he offered.

Candace's face was right next to his cock, so she stuck her tongue out and dragged it along the underside from the base to the head.

"Oh fuck!" Greg moaned as he gripped the sheets on the bed. He locked eyes with her and nodded. "Yeah, that felt good!"

She smiled and began running her tongue up and down his shaft. She noticed his muscles jumped most energetically when she licked the head. When she kissed the tip, he sucked in a sharp breath, and his eyes went dreamy. That sent a burst of tingles through her body. She was giving him pleasure as he'd just done for her. This was something no one had ever done for him. She was his first.

She remembered what he said about teeth, so she took his cock into her mouth and protected it with her lips and tongue. She began slowly pumping it in and out of her mouth, going a little deeper each time, testing her limits.

Greg moaned in bliss. "Oh fuck, Candace. That feels amazing!"

She couldn't smile with him in her mouth, but he saw it in her eyes. She was enjoying this!

The head bumped into the back of her throat. Without stopping, she adjusted her angle to let him go deeper.

She knew she had all of it when she pressed her face against his stomach. The sensation and the very idea of having all of his cock inside her mouth made her eyes begin to roll back. It was so outrageously sexy that a wave of tingles rushed through her body!

Finally, she needed a breath, so she eased him back out of her throat and mouth until she could kiss the tip once more. She grinned at him as he looked at her in awe.

"Come up here!" he said, his voice deep with need.

She smiled and moved up to cover his body with hers as he took her face in his hands and kissed her passionately. She sighed and ground her mound against his cock, making them both gasp.

Greg pulled back to look into her eyes. "I-I have condoms—"

"I'm on the pill. No need for a condom," she said in a rush as she held his gaze.

He smiled as his hands moved down to squeeze her ass cheeks.

"Oh, fuck!" she gasped at the feel of his strong hands on her.

Candace pulled her legs up to kneel over his body, then reached between them to lift his cock to press against her tingling lower lips. An angle adjustment, and she felt herself parting to let his cock slide inside.

"Ooo! Fuck! You feel big!" she moaned.

Greg was experiencing his own personal nirvana and couldn't speak. His hands were still holding her hips as he pulled her down onto his cock. When she came to rest on his hips, he let out a moan and heard her answering one. They opened their eyes and looked at each other with joyful grins. They obviously agreed about how good it felt.

He was also loving how amazing her breasts looked above him. His hands slid up the sides of her torso to cup and caress her tits, drawing a gasp from her.

Candace loved Greg's hands on her body. It was quickly becoming one of her favorite things, next to his kiss... and his cock. She raised her hips, drawing his cock out to the head, then relaxed her legs and let him sink into her depths again.

"Oh, that feels amazing!" Greg sighed.

She lowered her body to kiss him as she lifted her hips once more and dropped more aggressively.

"Fuck!" she gasped into his mouth as intense bursts of bliss rushed through her.

Greg was in heaven but needed to pick up the pace as it felt too good. When she lifted her hips again, he grabbed her ass and drove his hips upward, slapping them together. He managed three more thrusts like this before Candace's hips dropped to press him to the mattress as she shook through the jolts of pleasure.

"Roll over," Greg said, and Candace looked into his eyes before she clued in on his request. She rolled to the side, and Greg went with her until he was on top. They took a moment to enjoy that sensation then Greg's hips took up the task of drawing his cock out, only to slam it back in.

Candace cried out as the pleasure was so much more intense. Her hands went to his ass to help pull him down on each thrust.

"OH! OH! OH! FUCK! GREG! YES! FUCK! FUCK! FUCK ME!" She managed to cry out a single word between each slap of their bodies.

Greg desperately tried not to come as he listened to the beauty's voice for clues about how close she was.

"THAT'S IT! OH! OH! SOMETHING'S HAPPENING! OH, FUCK!" Candace suddenly cried out, and Greg gasped in relief as his hips moved faster and faster.

He felt her movements under him suddenly become erratic as her pussy squeezed his cock tighter.

"AAAAAHHHHHHHH!!!!!!" she wailed.

He thrust once more but held himself tight against her as he rocked side to side, firing streams of hot cum into her.

Candace's voice failed her as her arms wrapped around him, holding him tight to her voluptuous body as her release flooded through her body in wave after wave. She loved the sensation of his heat pouring into her. It was so sexy!

But what she realized she loved most was the intense feelings of intimacy. After a lifetime of cold indifference, her intense emotional connection with Greg was more than she had expected and more than she could have hoped for. Her eyes opened to see Greg watching her with a gentle smile.

"I love you, Candace," he said, tenderly kissing her.

His confession caught her by surprise, and she burst into tears as she clung to him, burying her face in his neck.

"Hey, hey, what's this? I wasn't expecting tears," he said softly in her ear. "Did I upset you?"

Her throat was so tight with emotion she could only squeak, but she was desperate to tell him how much she loved him in return.

Greg kissed her cheek and nibbled on her earlobe, sending another cascade of tingles through her body. She gasped, and some of the tightness left her throat.

"Happy tears," she managed, and he pulled his face back to look into her glassy blue eyes.

"I'm glad you're happy, but what brought the tears? That was such a strong outburst," he asked gently.

"I've been lonely for so long," he said in a little girl's voice.

Greg recalled how she'd hidden her intelligence from everyone for so long. He knew she wasn't affecting a disguise now. This little girl had been deprived of love for too long.

"I love you, Greg!"

He felt a warmth bloom in his chest as their bodies continued to come down from their shared bliss.

"I know Kal was mean to you, but couldn't you talk with Missy and Crystal?" he asked carefully. He had no idea what went on in this huge home.

She blinked away her tears. "When they tried, Daddy would punish them for showing any friendliness to me, so I stayed away from them to keep them safe."

Greg's eyes widened as he saw the pain in her eyes. "Oh my god! I hadn't realized just how much of a monster he was!"

He kissed her again, expressing his love and admiration for her bravery and selflessness. He took his time to enjoy her soft, plump lips and the tiny gasps she made as she enjoyed his mouth on hers.

After they pulled back to smile at each other, he gently pulled his softening cock from her body, sending tingles through hers. He rolled to lie beside her as she glanced down in interest. He watched her curiously as he saw the delight in her eyes. "What?" he asked.

She looked into his eyes with excitement in hers. "What Crystal said was true! You're still big, even when you're not hard!"

He recalled Heather's accidental slip, which let him know that Crystal had been loose-lipped about their intimacy. The recollection was no longer accompanied by anger or disappointment. He'd come to terms with the idea that some people overshared private moments with their friends. It might be true that he was the odd one for preferring to keep silent about them.

"That doesn't weird you out?" he asked again.

She shook her head, her eyes twinkling excitedly.

"So, you like big cocks?" Greg said boldly and watched her eyes flare as she grinned and nodded.

There was an odd thump against the bedroom door, and they shared a look before Candace rolled out of the bed and rushed to the door to yank it open.

"Cryst—OH!" Candace gasped as she saw it was Missy struggling on the floor to pull her panties back up her long legs, her face flushed with embarrassment. A dildo was on the floor next to her.

Greg joined Candace at the door, holding his boxers against his body to hide himself.

"Missy, why were you outside my door?" Candace asked softly.

"I'm sorry, Candace. I-I-I'm so ashamed," the woman said as she covered her face with her hands and she began to cry.

Candace glanced at Greg, who gestured that he could leave, but she shook her head. He looked at her questioningly as she knelt beside the older woman.

"You've been lonely too, haven't you," she said gently.

Missy looked at Candace over her fingers, and Greg could see the sadness in her eyes. She nodded.

"Daddy was mean to you, too," Candace continued.

This cracked the woman's emotional stability once more, and tears fell from her eyes. "I-I'm s-so sorry Candace! I-I wanted to be a mother to you, but Byron was always so angry when I tried. The last time... he beat me unconscious." A shudder went through her. She looked into Candace's eyes beseechingly. "Can you forgive me? I'm such a coward, and you've been so strong!"

"There's nothing to forgive. I understood what you faced with him. I didn't want you or Crystal to be hurt because of me. He was the one to blame," Candice said gently as she took the woman's hands in hers. "Daddy's gone now, so you can start over. Meet new people."

Missy's lower lip was trembling as her glassy eyes held Candace's. "No one in this county likes me because of him. Byron married me to have something pretty on his arm, and I'm embarrassed to admit that's all I've ever been. My mama had me in beauty pageants since childhood, and I've spent my whole life relying on my looks. I have no other skills or talents, and I'm afraid I've raised Crystal to think the same way!" She sucked in a few sharp breaths as she pushed back her tears. "I don't know how to start over, and I couldn't afford to because I have no savings. Byron made sure to keep me dependent on him."

Candace sighed and kissed her forehead. "Please know you are always welcome here. You're my family, and I love you."

Missy clung to Candace's hands and pressed her forehead to them as tears tracked down her cheeks.

Candace shared a sad look with Greg. He nodded, then tipped his head toward the item on the floor next to Missy and raised an eyebrow in question. He still wanted to know what she'd been doing outside the door.

She smiled and nodded, then paused momentarily as she looked at Missy. She then locked eyes with Greg and glanced down at the boxers he was still holding before his privates. He looked down as well and then quickly looked at her in concern.

"Missy, why don't I help you back to your bedroom. We can talk in the morning," Candace said.

The woman nodded and struggled to her feet, stepping out of her tangled panties with an embarrassed glance at Greg. Her eyes paused as she stared at his undressed state as if she was burning the image into her memory, and then she bent down to pick up the lingerie.

Then she spotted her toy.

Missy grabbed it and squeaked in embarrassment as she stood quickly.

Candace collected her in her arms and walked her down the hall as Greg remained behind.

When she returned, Candace closed the door behind her and hugged Greg.

When she pulled back, Greg looked at her carefully. "What's going on in that brilliant head of yours?"

She smiled, kissed him, and guided him back to bed, tugging his underwear from his fingers to drop it on the floor. They climbed back onto the bed and stretched out on their sides, facing each other.

"You love me?" Candace asked.

"I do," Greg responded immediately.

She smiled. "I love you, too," she said, tenderly kissing him.

"During our calls over the past months while I was away, we didn't finish our talk about your plans after graduation," she said. "I'm going to run the family business, but what are you going to do? You said you were going to the local college?"

Greg nodded as he admired Candace's blue eyes. "Yes, I was accepted into their Computer Sciences program. I'm going for a degree in Data Security."

"Are you going to work for your dad?" she asked.

"No, there's far too much travel involved in his job. I wouldn't want to be away from home that much. It's too hard on Mom," Greg admitted.

She smiled and nodded. "You'll want to stay at home while you attend college, as company for your mother?"

He watched her carefully. "That was my intent... is something wrong?"

"No! I love your mother, and I want her to be happy. I never imagined what it must be like for her with her husband traveling for work," Candace admitted.

Greg saw her brilliant mind working, but he wasn't sure what she was trying to solve.

Her eyes returned to his, and she smiled self-consciously. "There is an abundance of loneliness and only one Greg."

His eyebrows rose in surprise.

"While you were going to college, I was going to ask you to move in with me, but I understand now that wouldn't be fair to your mother," she said with a sad smile. She touched his lips to prevent him from answering as she wasn't finished. "I'd like you to consider an alternate idea. When your father is home from his business trips, you spend your nights here."

Greg considered that and immediately nodded. "I could do that. When I graduate, I wasn't planning to stay at home forever. I have to move out eventually. Dad will have to make arrangements to stay home longer as he can't keep doing this."

Candace smiled happily and kissed him again. They rested back, and Greg gasped slightly as Candace's hand gently wrapped around his cock.

"It feels good in its relaxed state, too!" she giggled.

"It's not going to stay in that state for long," he said with a raised eyebrow.

She glanced down. "There's something else I'd like you to consider." Her eyes met his, and he saw she was nervous.

"I'm not the only one who lives here who's lonely."

Greg heard her words, but his mind wasn't letting him grasp their meaning. He blinked in confusion.

"But... I-I broke up with Crystal," he insisted.

Candace shook her head. "Crystal will attend college and fit in with her peers. She's young, resilient, and will be fine. I'm talking about Missy. She has nobody but us and no prospects for making a life for herself."

Greg pulled back to stare at Candace. "But I'm your boyfriend! Don't you want that?" he exclaimed.

"I do! I want that more than anything! I'm so grateful you opened your heart to me, and I'm so happy I can open mine to you!" she rushed to confirm.

"But you want me to be with Missy?" he argued in confusion.

Candace touched his chest with her palm. "I want to continue loving you and learning all about you. Everything I've seen so far tells me you are an amazing man, full of love and unafraid to express it. Your parent's love for each other is perfectly reflected in you. I want desperately to have your love in my life. I want to explore that in many ways with you! Through intimacy and sex, as well as simply spending time together."

Greg smiled in relief as these were things he wanted as well.

Candace took a deep breath as she held his eyes. "None of that would be threatened by an expression of compassion and intimacy with someone I also care about. I'm not asking you to be Missy's boyfriend. You're mine. But Missy is missing intimate contact in her life. Crystal let it slip that Missy has many of those toys. She can get a physical release, but the toys won't give her intimacy."

Greg held Candace's eyes with his and saw love there. He knew she was serious.

But she was a Tafferty woman, and he'd been used by one once before. "I'm uncomfortable with the idea of being used this way."

"I promise you, I am not using you as Crystal did. I wouldn't dream of jeopardizing our relationship now that I've finally found love. If you don't feel you can do this, I fully understand and accept that as your final answer. But I also believe that your heart has an incredible capacity. I'm so thankful that you've allowed me in. I promise never to betray your trust," Candace said softly.

He watched her and could see she believed in what she was saying. He also saw her love.

He felt an odd pressure build in his mind and suddenly realized he needed her. He moved over her and kissed her deeply as he pressed his body against hers.

They made love once more, but this time, there was a fierceness to their movements as if they were laying claim to each other. Greg was tireless and driven, yet Candace clung to him and accepted the almost punishing strokes.

She came first and cried out her joy. Greg's release was right behind hers, and he held her eyes as he came hard. He could see her acceptance and need as he filled her with his heat.

They kissed again, but now it was tender and soft.

Greg moved to her side, and she moved to cuddle against him.

This was what Greg dreamed of finding. Someone who loved him as much as his mom loved his dad. Candace was right. He was trying to emulate his parents as he'd always admired how much they loved each other. His new relationship wasn't the same as theirs but that didn't mean it was less, just different.

He still wasn't sure if introducing another person into their relationship was a good idea, but he was more confident in Candace's love for him.

That made him feel like anything was possible.

"We'll talk to Missy in the morning," he said to Candace softly.

She lifted her head to look at him. He saw her love for him almost glowing in her eyes. She kissed him tenderly, then cuddled in closer to him.

Candace felt a warmth flushing her body as she realized how much Greg truly loved her. She knew he wasn't someone who just said the words. For him, love was a tangible and integral part of his being. He'd opened this part of himself to her, and he'd just proven he was willing to risk heartache for her. There was no greater sign of trust.

His love and trust pushed back the loneliness she'd felt most of her life.

There was no better feeling.

Epilog

Greg loved to run. Every day for the past four weeks, he ran home from his part-time summer job at the home renovation store. He got the job to earn money to cover some of the costs he'd incur during his college semesters. While his girlfriend was quite well off, he preferred to pay his own way.

Said girlfriend was currently riding her pink bicycle next to him, white streamers flying happily from her handlebars. On nights like tonight, she would meet him at the store and accompany him on the trip home.

Greg's dad was back in town this week, so Greg would be spending his nights with Candace. They entered her neighborhood, following the gently curving road until they passed the Gordon's estate. A new glass enclosure was in place over their pool, and a new row of armor stone blocks protected the structure against runaway cars. Candace waved to Belinda Gordon, who returned the greeting with a smile.

Soon, Greg and Candace pulled into the long lane leading up to the house. The mansion was still excessively large for just three to four people, but it was the Tafferty family home, so they'd continued to live there.

As they reached the front door, Missy opened it with a wide smile.

Her eyes sparkled excitedly as she admired Greg's hard muscles in his running tights. Candace returned from stowing the bicycle in the garage. She'd removed her helmet so Greg could see the lovely yellow-blonde hair on top. She was allowing her normal color to naturally return, but as her hair was so long, he guessed she'd have the pink ends for quite some time to come.

She climbed the steps, and Missy kissed her cheek as she went inside. Greg followed her in, and Missy closed the door.

Greg glanced up at the walls, but the forbidding frowns of the Tafferty patriarchs no longer haunted the entrance. Missy had the portraits delivered to the town museum. Good riddance.

"Crystal left for her European tour this morning," Missy said with a smile.

"She's going to stick with the tour group, right?" Greg asked with a concerned frown.

Missy smiled at his protectiveness. "Yes, she promised to do so and will check in with me every night to let me know she's okay."

Greg nodded and saw Candace watching him with a sweet expression.

"What? I worry!" he sighed.

She stepped close to wrap him in her arms and kissed him sweetly. When she pulled back, she bounced her eyebrows at him. "I think we should get you upstairs, out of these sweaty tights, and into a shower."

Greg's eyes flicked over to see Missy's hungry gaze. He nodded as he looked back at Candace. "That sounds good."

Candace led the way as he followed, admiring her ass in her tight cycling shorts.

Missy was right behind him as they reached the top and the three went into the master bedroom, the room they all shared when Greg stayed overnight. Its bed was the largest in the home, and the master ensuite had a large walk-in shower.

They quickly stripped, and the three stepped into the shower.

With sexy women on both sides of him, Greg's libido insisted an erection was a necessity, and the ladies grinned happily, seeing it rise as Candace got the shower started.

Greg sighed happily as he moved under the spray and rinsed the sweat from his body. Candace and Missy's roaming hands added steel to his erection.

Missy's eyes were locked on this, then she glanced at them both. "May I?" Missy asked, and they nodded.

She quickly knelt before Greg and pressed her lips to the head of his cock, making him gasp. He looked down at the redhead as she parted those plush lips, took him into her mouth, and tried to swallow as much as she could. Unlike Candace, her gag reflex prevented her from throating him, but Missy became very excited as she choked herself on his cock. He wasn't sure why she enjoyed that so much, but it still felt good for him, and she seemed happy, so he wasn't about to complain.

Candace turned his face and kissed Greg deeply, her tongue wrestling with his as she pressed her magnificent tits against his chest. He cupped one and ran his thumb over the stiff nipple as his other hand slid down her back to grab her ass.

She gasped into the kiss as his fingers slid between her cheeks to stroke over her wet lips. Candace was excited as well.

She pulled back and looked into his eyes with an almost feverish intensity. "Fuck her! Hard."

Greg heard Missy squeak when she heard Candace's command. Greg smiled at his girlfriend as he pulled Missy up to her feet and spun her to face the wall. He got behind her, and Candace lined his cock up with Missy's juicy opening. She was very excited as she'd been rubbing herself as she blew him.

He wasted no further time and pushed his cock into her hot channel.

"Oh fuck! Greg!" Missy cried out as he took a firmer grip on her hips and drew his cock out to the head. When he drove himself deep, he slapped her wet ass with his body, and she screamed. He glanced at Candace and saw her watching Missy's face with a grin. She gave him a quick nod, so he repeated the slow withdrawal and hard thrust again, spanking Missy's ass.

He slid a hand around her body and rubbed her clit in circles as he sped up his movements. Missy gasped and trembled in his arms, squeaking with each sharp slap against her ass.

"Yes, oh fuck yes, please! Please fuck me! Fuck me! Oh God!" Missy's voice was becoming strained as her release built quickly. Soon all she could do was make yip sounds as he felt her internal muscles bearing down on his pounding cock.

Candace saw the moment had arrived, so she grabbed Missy's tits and squeezed them hard, pinching and tugging on her nipples almost cruelly.

"AAAAAAAAHHHHHHH!!!" Missy shrieked as she suddenly sprayed against Greg's body. He pinned her back against him, feeling her inner muscles squeezing in pulses as he kept her from falling. Her leg muscles had lost their strength, and the only thing keeping her from collapsing was Greg's arms and his cock throbbing with need inside her. His release wasn't far away.

Once her breathing began to return to normal, Greg lifted Missy from his cock and turned her to face him, rinsing her body in the process.

Her face was red from the effort, her explosive orgasm, and her embarrassment. He smiled and kissed her deeply, drawing another squeak from her. When he pulled back, she smiled again, but he could tell she was done with playtime. He assisted her out of the shower, and Candice was ready with a big fluffy towel. They wrapped it around the woman and rubbed her dry. She nodded when she could take over. She gingerly sat on the toilet to recover.

Greg immediately dropped to his knees before Candace and worshipped her freshly shaven pussy with his talented tongue and lips until she screamed her first release, her fingers tangled in his hair.

When he stood, he lifted her to sit on the leading edge of the countertop, parted her legs, and pressed the throbbing tip of his cock against her puffy lower lips. Candace threw her head back from the sensation of his hot cock opening her pussy and slipping deeper and deeper inside. When she'd taken all of it, he slid his fingers into her hair and pulled her mouth to his. His kiss was rough with passion and need, making Candace gasp silently as her need for him flared, too. He began to thrust into her, gradually increasing his pace. He grabbed her legs behind her knees and lifted them up and back so he could drive himself a little deeper. His body slapped her clit with each thrust, and Candace cried out in bliss.

It was finally too much for Greg, and he ground himself against Candace's body as his cum erupted into her.

"Yes! Greg, that's so hot! You feel so good!" she cooed, then she went silent as her second release struck as she clung to him.

It took some time for them to catch their breath. Missy handed Candace a towel and placed one over Greg's shoulders as he stepped back from the counter. The older woman dropped to her knees before Greg and took his softening cock into her mouth to clean him and catch any left-over cum.

Greg jolted as he was still sensitive, but Missy pulled back from him with a smile as she swallowed.

Missy stood and smiled at the young couple as she gingerly walked toward the door. "Don't be too long. Dinner is almost ready."

Candace grinned at Greg as he watched Missy leave. He turned to face Candace and then moved back between her legs, but this time, he just kissed her pretty mouth.

She sighed happily as she looked into his eyes. "I love you, Mr. Hughes."

Greg's smile widened as joy filled his heart. "I love you, Ms. Tafferty."

They dried themselves as they stole looks at each other's bodies. They knew they'd be having more fun after dinner but also knew they shouldn't keep Missy waiting.

This arrangement was working well for them. Greg was able to keep his mother company while his dad was out of town. Sometimes Candace spent the night with him at his place, but just to sleep. Candace loved his mother, and they got along so well.

He was so happy that Candace now had so many friends. Many in the community had accepted her, though there were always a few who held onto their hurt. They weren't the dangerous type, thankfully.

She'd had a press conference after her father was sent to jail for the rest of his life. She apologized to the town for how she'd pretended to be mentally impaired while she investigated her father's plotting. Most understood. She expressed how behaving that way made her realize how defensive and unfriendly she'd been before and how much better it felt to listen and accept others. It made her a better person. She thanked everyone for their kindness. Greg was sure some were undeserving of that, but he let it go.

The hospital's head nurse, Margaret Stewart, became Candace's chief defender. The woman was tough, but her heart was solid gold.

As CEO, Candace had begun reinstating the public support projects the corporation once sponsored, and the county was benefitting once more from their lead industry. She loved her job.

As he sat across the table from her, Greg looked into Candace's eyes and saw her love for him shining back. That filled him with so much joy he didn't know how to contain it.

He glanced over at Missy, sitting at the head of the table, and saw she was also watching him lovingly. He still wasn't sure how to respond to that but gave her a warm smile as his cheeks warmed up. She giggled quietly.

His eyes returned to Candace and saw she was grinning happily.

She was enjoying his being flustered! The imp!

After dinner, he'd exact his revenge on both ladies until they could take no more!

He shifted uncomfortably as his pants became too tight.

Giggles burst from the ladies.

Yeah, vengeance would be his... but could he call it vengeance if they were looking forward to it?