Candy Crush by Tami Lund Page A

it. Cleaning the apartment meant she was one step closer
to moving out of Brandon’s house, and for some inexplicable reason,
she wasn’t in much of a hurry to do that.
    Which was crazy, she knew, because putting
space between them, especially at night and when there were beds
involved, was exactly what she ought to do, to keep herself from
doing things with him that her body wanted and her mind knew were
off limits.
    She glanced at the clock on the wall behind
the cash register and realized it was after five o’clock. She
decided the apartment could wait one more day, so she pushed the
mop bucket back to the storage room to dump the dirty water.
    Gabriella took a few minutes to freshen up
in the bathroom, telling herself she was giving the floor time to
dry, even though she knew she wanted to look as good as she could
before she walked across the street to see Brandon. Finally, she
told herself to knock it off, and she walked through the store and
out the front door, holding it open for Butter to trot out, and
then locking it behind her.
    Tomorrow, she would take all the butcher
paper down and begin cleaning the apartment. Her heart began
beating faster as she crossed the street, and she thought: I
have to hurry up and get that apartment in order and get out of his
house, before I do something stupid like throw myself at
him .
    Scrawled across the glass door were the
words Holly Downtown Development Authority . Gabriella pushed
open the door and Butter trotted inside. The dog walked straight
back to what Gabriella could tell was Brandon’s office, since he
was sitting behind his desk, and the desk was, just as he told her,
positioned directly in front of the door.
    There was a small lobby area to the right of
the door, and an empty reception desk was parked in the corner,
facing the street. As Gabriella walked the short distance back to
Brandon’s office, she saw a door to her left that proclaimed Holly Chamber of Commerce in the same scrawling black script
that was on the outer door.
    “You can’t exactly avoid accessibility with
this set up,” Gabriella commented as she walked into his office. It
was comfortable and worn and for some reason, seemed to suit
him.
    Brandon shrugged. “I don’t need to avoid
accessibility. My job is to be accessible. I’m happy to be more
accessible, if you need me to be.”
    She arched an eyebrow, trying for a haughty
look. He grinned, unabashed.
    “I don’t feel like cooking tonight. Let’s go
to the Pizza Parlor for dinner. I want beer and pasta, and Aunt
Korina makes pasta to rival the Italians.”
    Gabriella considered pointing out that he
was assuming she wanted to eat dinner with him, but she decided to
let it slide. What else would she do, after all? She was new in
town, she was living in his home. He probably felt like he needed
to entertain her.
    Plus, to tell the truth, she wanted to eat dinner with him.
    “You’re thinking again. Don’t do that. I
don’t feel like fighting with you tonight.”
    “You believe we fight every time I think?”
She sounded amused.
    “I believe you put too much thought into
things like what the hell you are doing with me, and that’s the
reason we haven’t shared the same bed yet. And I’m not making moves
on you, I’m just pointing out a fact.”
    “I will concede that your fact is correct.
And I don’t think that’s a bad thing.”
    “Really? I think this platonic relationship
business is a load of shit. I’m going to have to start taking cold
showers. I hate cold showers.” He sounded like a child being denied
a Popsicle on a hot summer day. Gabriella couldn’t help but
smile.
    “And that makes you smile why?” He asked
irritably.
    “Did you have a bad day today?” Gabriella
asked, changing the subject and wondering where his bad mood was
coming from. Was he really this upset because they hadn’t slept
together?
    “I did, thanks for asking. Care to hear
about it?” His tone dripped sarcasm.
    “Yes, I would,