Hearts on Fire 4: Kisses Sweeter Than Pie(31)

“You don’t have to say anything. When the time is right, when you feel it and know it’s true and you mean it, say it then.”

She wrapped her arms around his neck and squeezed him tight as tears fell from her eyes. Trent smiled at Buddy and Johnny.

They were all in love with her already. Nina was going to be theirs forever.





Chapter 9




Rico stood by the bar on the top floor of the club. It was a private area he used for business meetings and entertaining important clients. As the music blared and people drank, danced, and enjoyed the nightlife, he stood there anticipating the meeting with trepidation and anger.

Miguel and Martino had expressed their upset over Nina’s disappearance. Martino found out what actually happened to get Nina to leave, and now he was taking over and minimizing Rico’s role in the club business. It didn’t help matters to find out that the feds were investigating Rico on over a dozen accusations of murder, attempted murder, grand larceny, illegal gambling, and a list of other shit that would put him behind bars for life.

Rico lifted the shot glass to his lips and drank the contents. He would need more than a buzz to get through this meeting with Martino and Miguel. He would need a goddamn miracle and for Nina to be found. He was paying those investigators good money to track her. Where the fuck did she go? How was she making money? The thought of her prostituting flashed through his mind.

Not my Nina.

Part of her appeal to Miguel and Martino was her virginity. They knew he’d had her first and took that, but even when they eventually would take her together, he had insisted that he be her first. She had become a bonus to the deal they were going into together that included a new line of clubs in Puerto Rico.

He knew he was going to have to do some smooth talking. Hell, he might have to still allow Miguel and Martino to share Nina with him to save face. It would suck, but who the fuck knew where the bitch had hidden out all these months and who she’d fucked. The thought enraged him even more.

She had become an asset and maybe even a liability. It all depended on where she was, who she had been with, and what trouble it could cause for Rico. She was very appealing, to the point of being unable to blend in. Her eyes alone were mesmerizing. It was ironic that once again Nina would be a grand prize to a sweet deal.

The door to the room opened and Cougar was there.

“Boss, their car pulled up outside.”

“Start the music, get the women ready, and bring them up, Cougar. Remember, we need to appease their every demand or it could fuck up a multimillion-dollar deal.”

“You got it. Good luck.”

I’m going to need a hell of a lot more than that. I’m going to need Nina.



* * * *



Nina didn’t know what was going on, but Cindy had blindfolded her and then helped her get into Michaela’s SUV. Tasha, Serefina, Florence, Cindy, Tasha’s cousin Melanie, and their friends Catalina and Mel were all in the SUV. They were giggling and talking about going to the Station tomorrow night and about some guy band. Mel was describing one of the members, a firefighter and a guitarist.

“He is gorgeous and has a kick-ass body. He plays the guitar like a pro and, most importantly, he is single.”

They laughed and cheered, encouraging Mel to make a move Friday night, and Nina just sat there feeling foolish with her blindfold.

“How come I’m the only one wearing a blindfold?” she asked.

“Because this is your surprise,” Serefina said and then the SUV slowed down. Nina realized that they weren’t very far from the boardwalk, and if she weren’t mistaken, they were in the business district that had small shops and little places to eat, have drinks, buy specialty gifts and things. She liked it down here, and it was not as noisy and crowded as the boardwalk a couple of blocks up.

Michaela parked the truck and Nina could hear the women getting all excited as they climbed out and then Nina’s door opened. Cindy helped her out, then walked a few steps.

“Okay. Now, we’re going to take off the blindfold and I want you to not focus instantly on first impressions but more so on potential.”

She didn’t know what that meant, but then the blindfold was undone. As her eyes adjusted to the sunlight, she saw the small old-fashioned house. It looked like it was about to fall down. Around it were nicer stores, but this one was bigger and needed a lot of work.

She looked at all their expectant faces, not quite understanding what was happening.

“She doesn’t get it,” Florence said.

“She hasn’t a clue,” Tasha added, crossing her arms and smiling.

“What is it? What am I supposed to see?” Nina asked.

“You’re supposed to see the potential. This is going to be Nina’s Homemade Pies and Bakery, or whatever you want to call it. I bought it cheap, and we’re going to fix it up and get you your own store right here in the center of the busiest businesses in town,” Michaela stated.

Nina felt a lump form in her throat. She had a million questions flying through her head. How was she going to pay for this? What money would she use to fix this up? She couldn’t do something like this alone with no help.

“I think she’s going to pass out,” Melanie said. Michaela grabbed her and held her by her side.

“Nina, you’re not alone in this. Trust me. Trust us, your friends, to help you. We’ve been working it all out and trying to come up with a way to help you establish your business and make your dreams come true.”

“Yes, we’re all chipping in. Cindy and Melanie need jobs and they know how to bake and cook. Florence offered her assistance when needed, and Mel, well, she’s great at customer service and greeting people,” Michaela told her.

“I’m able to redo this whole place,” Michaela told her. “I mean renovate it so it looks welcoming, comfortable, and appealing to the eye. It will stand out more than any other place, and we can put in industrial ovens, all the things you need as a professional baker. I got the place cheap because it really does need a lot of work.”

“Oh, my neighbor Ike Mason is also looking for side work, so he can be our delivery guy. Between all the people we know in Treasure Town, we’ll have this place up and running in months. You’ll be right there helping along the way and designing things like you dreamed of,” Michaela added.

Nina felt the tears fill her eyes and then she lost it.

“I don’t know what to say. No one has ever done anything so amazing for me before. I’ll never be able to pay you all back,” she said.

Cindy pulled her into a hug as a couple of cars pulled up behind Michaela’s SUV. “Sure you will, by being our friend and knowing we’re always here for you, and you can always be here for all of us.”

“How did she take it?” Jake asked as he, Buddy, Trent, and Johnny arrived, smiling. The other vehicle had two men in it Nina didn’t know.

“Meet Billy and Hal, Jake’s brothers and my men,” Michaela said with a wink as the big guy, Billy, pulled her into a hug and smiled at Nina.

“Welcome to Treasure Town, doll,” he said.

Nina felt Trent’s arms move around her waist as he hugged her from behind.

“You’ve made quite the impression on everyone, Nina. Accept all our help and let us make your dreams come true.”

She smiled wide as the tears still flowed. “Thank you. I’ll never forget this day, this moment, and what you’ve all done.”

“We need to get back to work. How about we celebrate at the Station tomorrow night?” Jake suggested. They all cheered.

Nina stood there a moment and stared at the building.

Her very own storefront. She could practically see it now. The large front porch where people could sit and enjoy the goodies she made and even a gourmet coffee from the coffee bar. There would be seats inside, all the pies on display, and a kitchen where she could make at least a dozen pies at a time. She smiled at she looked at Cindy and pulled her next to her. “You’ll really help me? I mean work with me here?”

“If you’ll hire me, boss,” she teased.

“Thank you so much, Cindy. Thank you.” She hugged Cindy and then the girls started talking about all the different possibilities until Trent, Johnny, and Buddy pulled her between them and took turns kissing her.

“We’ll see you later tonight?”

“You betcha,” she said and watched them leave.

She looked around the streets at all the little places so perfectly done up and brand new. Her place was going to look beautiful when they were finished. This was going to be the beginning of a new life, a fresh start, and her future here in Treasure Town.



* * * *



Rye Hawkins sat in Jake’s office waiting for Buddy and Trent to arrive. Jake didn’t like what Rye had told him so far about the men working for Rico who might be looking for her.

“So they’re pretty serious about this woman?” Rye asked Jake.

“I’d say so. I’m happy for them. The three of them deserve to finally meet someone special and settle down.”

“Yeah, I hear she’s easy on the eyes and bakes a mean apple pie.”

Jake chuckled.

Just then Buddy and Trent arrived, entered Jake’s office, then shook hands with Rye. Jake walked over and closed the door.

He then leaned against his desk and crossed his arms in front of his chest. “Okay, Rye, tell us what you found out,” Jake said.