I Want Candy Read Free Page A

place, strapped securely inside the small travel belt just below the leg opening of her panties. All was well.
    “Have you called Jacinta yet? Does she know you’re in town?”
    Candy stopped in her tracks and Cheri’s arm fell from her shoulder. “I told you. I don’t want to talk to her and she doesn’t want to talk to me. It’s the only thing we’ve ever seen eye to eye on.”
    “But she’s your mother.”
    “I hope you haven’t eaten lunch!” Viv called out, clapping her hands in excitement and looking none too sorry to have butted in on their conversation. “Look at you, Candy! I swear you look more like Marilyn Mon -roe every time I lay eyes on you! Ya’ll come on up here.” Viv ushered them onto the wide, wooden porch.
    “Be strong,” Cheri whispered in her ear.
    “Now, let me just say up front that all we’ve got at the moment is a twin bed, seeing as how Cheri took the big mattress and box spring with her to the lake house when she left without any warning.”
    Candy had to hand it to Vivienne Newberry—she was a passive-aggressive goddess . It didn’t matter to Viv that her grandniece was insanely happy with J.J. Decourcy and had been a spectacular success replacing Garland as publisher of the Bigler Bugle . Viv still couldn’t resist a poke at Cheri for moving out to the family lake house after just a few days of living under her roof.
    As they headed through the front door, Candy grasped at Cheri’s hand and gulped. She wondered how long she’d last at Land of the Lawn Jockey. She hoped to hell she was strong enough for this, because until she found employment, Viv Newberry was surely her last shot at free room and board in this town.
    *   *   *
     
    “’Sup, Sheriff?”
    Turner extended a leg out of the SUV and smiled at his best friend, hanging out in his usual workday spot, holding up the back wall of the Bigler Municipal Complex.
    “Haven’t you got anything better to do? Loitering is against the law in these parts.”
    J.J. Decourcy laughed as he extended his arms wide. “What in the world would be better than this? I’m the managing editor of the freakin’ Bigler Bugle, baby, and I’m out hobnobbing with the powers that be, looking for another award-winning scoop!”
    Turner shut the door of his cruiser and headed up the back steps, the weariness settling in his shoulders and back. “You’re sure as hell chipper today.”
    J.J. fell in step with him. “Yeah? And you look like you been run over.”
    Turner shrugged. “Pulled a double shift. Pauline called in sick for the overnight again.”
    “Ah, man, that’s rough. Sorry to hear it.”
    As they strolled down the hall, Turner and J.J. waved at the usual daytime crowd that inhabited the public safety wing of the municipal building—the 911 call center employees (all two of them), the fire chief, the animal control officer, and the sheriff’s administrative support personnel, including Turner’s secretary, Bitsy, who handed him a hefty stack of paperwork as he passed by her desk.
    “Thanks, Bits.” Turner gestured for J.J. to have a seat in his office. “So what’s up at the Bugle ? How’s the new publisher working out?” Turner glanced up in time to see a wave of ecstasy wash over his friend’s face. He’d become immune to it over the last few weeks. Mostly, anyway. It wasn’t like he wasn’t thrilled for J.J. and Cheri—they’d been in love since middle school, and it had been one hell of a long and convoluted path to happiness for them. He knew that better than anyone.
    But once in a while—okay, like right at that moment—Turner didn’t much care for the lovesick look that had taken up residence on his buddy’s face. It made him slightly irritable, in fact.
    “Cheri is incredible. Simply incredible.” J.J. sighed with contentment as he settled into the simple chrome and vinyl chair across from Turner’s desk. “Damn, Halliday. I’m a happy, happy man.”
    “Uh-huh.”
    J.J. laughed.