Sweets for My Sweet

Excerpt

Eric dropped his duffle bag on the hard wood floor just inside the front door and looked around at the house that he grew up until he was nineteen. His mother’s friend, Ruby, had aired the house out and he had sent her money to stock the fridge before she left to go see her children in Arizona. The silence was almost deafening and when he walked into the kitchen he could almost see his mother’s smiling face turning to him to welcome him home.

He changed into civilian clothes, then roamed the three bedroom house for a little bit, looking at the knick knacks and pictures his mom had collected over the years, before he went outside to sit on the front porch and take in the town. He saw Mr. Pickard’s fence that he hurtled over at sixteen, running from Suzie Milson’s father when he caught them in her garage making out. He looked over to Johnny Levin’s roof he had jumped off and broke his wrist. Then he looked up to the big house on the hill where Nate used to live and recalled them sliding down the hill to the pond on plywood. Life was simpler then. He used to laugh easily and joke with the best of them. No one knew what was inside him since those years had gone by. He had so much inside him he wished he could reveal.

Sapphire Payton was an unexpected surprise. Her soft brown eyes and the sweet smile on her full sexy mouth was a welcome sight. As tired as he was, he thought about reaching over and kissing those glossy lips. But just as easily as he recalled her in braces and pigtails. He could remember her temper. She would literally be ready to fight guys twice her size for her older brother, much to their amusement. He had no doubt if he had tried to kiss her she would have decked him. Maybe they could… Eric put that thought out of his mind. He could never put her through being with him and all the stuff he was dealing with.

“You look like you have the weight of the world on our shoulders.”

Eric looked at Sapphire, who stood at the bottom of the steps, and smiled. “Nah, I’m just a tired man home from a country of rocks and sand.”

“Where were you this time—Iraq or Afghanistan?”

“A little bit of both and some other places.”

She came up a few more steps and sat down. Eric couldn’t help but look at her long smooth legs the color of milk chocolate in a pair of blue jean shorts. He could see the curve of her breasts through the pink knit top and her cleavage peaked from the low neckline, beckoning him to touch her skin. He hoped he wasn’t drooling but lord she looked delectable.

“I figured since it’s your first day home, you might not want to cook or go out or anything so I brought you something to eat.” Sapphire lifted the wire metal holder that held a covered dish. She set it on the steps. “It’s nothing much. Just a taco casserole with sour cream and guacamole.”

Eric put his hand over his stomach. “Nothing much, huh? Gimme the dish, woman, and come inside before I steal it and make a fool of myself.”

Sapphire laughed. “Come on, I’ll dish it out and you can eat to your heart’s content.”

“I officially love you.” Eric stood up and helped her to her feet.

She winked at him. “You should have told me that when I was eleven.”

“This place brings back memories. I don’t think I have been here since I was a kid,” she said looking around, following him to the kitchen. “You okay staying here after…well…you know?”

“I thought it would be harder,” Eric admitted. “But I feel them here. I know they’re together and happy and that gives me peace. You know what I mean?”

“I understand.” Sapphire put the dish on the kitchen counter. “Grab me some plates and we can eat.”

Eric took down two plates from the cupboard and grabbed some glasses. From the drawer next to the stove he took out forks and the napkins his mother used to always keep folded there. He put them on the table and offered Sapphire a big spoon to dish out the delicious smelling dinner she had brought over. After serving up two plates of the steamy hot food, she sat down across from him. He could smell her light floral scent coming across the table. “Dig in,” she encouraged and he didn’t need a second invitation. Flavor burst in his mouth, reminding him that military food had nothing on home cooking. Eric found himself eating ravenously while she got them drinks from the fridge. Two helping later and great conversation with a girl he knew from childhood. Eric had never felt more alive.

Afterwards, they sat on the porch and looked out to the edge of town. The neighborhood kids built a ramp and were yelling in triumph as they tried to jump their bikes. Couples were walking to the ice cream shop to share a scoop or two and cars were heading to the drive in on the outskirts of town. Everything around him was serene but inside he was restless.

“So Sarge, are you enjoying your first night back?” Sapphire asked.

He leaned closer and gave her a gentle shove with his shoulder. “Yes, I am. Thank you for asking, Sapphie.”

She gave a low growl of frustration. “I seriously hate that name. Why must you torment and after I fed you?”

“Why? It’s so cute,” he teased and earned a slap on the shoulder.

“Tell me something, Eric. What did you do over in those countries?” she asked. He could hear the hesitation in her voice. “You smile and you tease but I can see something in your eyes.” She reached up and caressed his face. Eric closed his eyes at her touch, relishing in the feel of her warm hands against his skin. “If you need to talk I’m here.”

Eric nodded solemnly. “Thanks, Sapphire. I was in Special Recon and I-I did things that—” Unable to go on he cut his words off. “—I don’t need to talk. I’m a big boy.”

“Everyone needs to talk sometimes,” she pointed out gently.

“I know what you can do for me,” Eric said. “Well, two things, actually.”

“Hmmm, I shall ponder these requests?” She leaned against her hand and tapped her chin with the tip of her fingers.

“First, let me take you to the drive in tomorrow.”

“That sounds like a good idea. I haven’t been to the drive-in a long time.” Sapphire winked. “What’s your second request?”

“A kiss.” Eric’s tone was serious. “A soldier coming home should have a kiss from the prettiest woman in town.”

The smile she wore melted away and Eric thought she was ready to slap his face and walk back up the street. But since she picked him up, her mouth and how it would taste was on his mind. It couldn’t hurt to ask the woman who owned those delectable lips for a sample. She nodded slowly as if unsure and Eric swooped in for a hungry kiss. He made a gruff sound of gratification when she opened under his onslaught and he drove his tongue into her mouth. She tasted sweet, like caramel. Eric vaguely recalled her candy shop and wondered if she had sampled the sugary confections she’d brought along for after dinner. He pulled her onto this lap pressing her upper body to his and devouring her mouth with an intense kiss.

He forced himself to pull away and let her go. His head swam with the intensity of the kiss. He expected it to be good but damn, he never would have thought he would want to pull her under him and take her right on the steps of his house from just one kiss.