"Oh, no," I whispered. Daddy was going to hurt that man. He didn't like anyone messing with me. He'd always threatened that if someone ever hurt me, physically or mentally, he would make the person pay for it.
Dad had his hand wrapped around the gun the entire time, even as he looked through the peephole. But when he peered out, a soft chuckle escaped him, and he immediately lowered his guard.
Wait. What?
"Jesus, Kandy." Dad looked back at me, letting out a heavy sigh.
"Who is it?" Mom asked, still worried.
Dad reached for the doorknob and pulled the door open. And there he stood, the strange, tan man with the tattoos and cigarette.
"Cane!" Dad let out a hard, coarse laugh. "What the hell, man? I almost pulled my gun on you, thinking you were some stranger messing with my daughter!"
Cane?
The stranger, Cane, laughed. "Did I scare her, really?" He stepped into the house, and I held Mom tighter. "I was only kidding, Kandy. I know who you are. I know all about you. We’ve actually met before, but you probably don’t remember."
“Yep, she was about six, right?” Dad said, smiling. “It was brief though. Dropped something off for him after picking you up from school. You waved at him and everything when he said hey.”
“I don’t remember,” I mumbled. My eyebrows were pinched. I was still mad at him.
Cane held up a bottle of wine in his hand, looking at Dad. "I brought you guys something to go along with dinner."
“Oh, Cane, that was sweet, but you didn't have to," Mom said, pulling away and walking over to grab it. She smiled at him, and he returned it.
No, Mom! What are you doing? Stay away from him!
"Please. It's not like me to show up for an occasion empty-handed. It was the least I could do. That's our number one selling label, too. You'll love it. Not too sweet, not too bitter. Derek has told me all about your love for wine."
Mom blushed. Seriously, she blushed. Why was everyone falling for his charm but me?
Cane dropped his gaze to me again. "I even brought something for you, little one."
"I don't want it," I muttered back, crossing my arms.
"Kandy—" Mom started to scold me, but Cane shook his head, smiling softly.
"It's okay. I scared her. She just has to warm up to my twisted sense of humor."
He walked my way with slow, measured steps, and when he was about an inch away, he knelt down on one knee, digging into his pocket and pulling out a red bag with a sticker that said Tempt. There were tattoos on his hands as well, the same word RISE on his knuckles.
"Can you guess what it is?" he asked softly.
I blinked down at the bag. I was more curious than angry at that moment. "No. What?"
"Chocolate." He handed me the bag. I gladly took it, but still stared down at it like it was puke in my palm. "Your father told me you love chocolate. There's lots more where that came from, Bits."
"Bits?" I questioned, nose scrunching as I met his eyes. I noticed they were a mixed shade. Gray and green. Pretty. They reminded me of the marbles I collected with the colors inside, clear all around with the color in the middle.
"Your name is Kandy, but all I'm getting is bitterness. Bits for bitterness," he said.
Dad laughed behind him, and I felt my face turn hot.
"What do you say, Kandy?" Mom asked, tucking loose strands of blonde hair behind her ears.
"I don't know his name, Mom," I groaned.
"Mr. Cane," she replied.
I sighed, trying hard not to roll my eyes. Yes, I was glad about the chocolate, but I was still upset with him. "Thank you, Mr. Cane," I mumbled.
Mr. Cane stood up straight, and Mom and Dad walked around him, Mom announcing, "The steak is still grilling but should be done soon! I'll put the wine in the fridge to get cool!"
"Get settled in and meet me out back for a few beers," Dad said to him, pointing toward the deck.
"All right." Mr. Cane walked past me, tossing a wink my way. "Don't worry. You'll warm up to me soon enough. Enjoy those chocolates, Bits."
I smashed my lips together, my face burning hot again.
My heart fluttered in my chest.
My palms were sweaty.
I was afraid for my life out there, the stranger-danger bell chiming in my head, but not anymore. No, now it was just a weird, bubbly sensation running through me. One I couldn't fully describe or comprehend.
I'd never known what having a crush felt like before that day. I didn't understand the tingle in my chest, or the tumbling in my belly. I couldn't understand why I was constantly struggling for words, or why my face suddenly felt so hot. I didn't know what the hell I was feeling, and that freaked me out.