Sugar

Chapter 6

"Not all cats? Then what kind of cats?" Sugar said

"Well, I just started to like cats," Victor said

"Cats like... me?" Sugar hoped she meant him.

"I plead the fifth." Victor covered his mouth to hide the smile creeping onto his face.

"I think I know." Sugar chuckled

"My mom will ask you this. How old are you, and are you f*****g my son?" Victor quickly changes the subject.

"Woah, that was out of the blue. You wanna try again?" Sugar smirked, mock offended.

"Sugar, just answer the question like you normally would," Victor growled

"Okay. Okay. Well, I'm 27, and we are in a more committed relationship that goes beyond just f*****g. We talk and listen to each other because we care deeply for each other." Sugar said, stacking pretzels. "Some crap like that. I think she'll buy it."

Victor was looking at her mouth wide open.

"Yeah, that was perfect. I mean, she'll believe that and think you're too good for me." Victor said, shutting his mouth before she could see him and laugh

"Victor, I think she will think the other way around. She loves you and is your mother so that she won't like me more." Sugar said

"You'd be surprised. My mom is not an average mom." Victor sighed softly. She just... I haven't seen her in years. Three, to be exact. She just comes and goes, each time with a new man, and she never stays more than three months with any man."

"And you might be thinking, why would this one be any different?" Sugar said, looking him in the eye.

"Yeah, I just never hope anymore. I mean, what would be the point?"

"Maybe this time she found someone she wants to keep around for good."

"That would be a surprise. I wish my dad were still in the picture. He would have a lot to say about this." Victor said

"Wow, I'm sorry, is your dad... dead?"

"What, oh no. He's happily married to JoAnn Kyler. They have two daughters, twins. They're wonderful people. The twins just turned 26." Victor said

"Wow, you never talk to your dad about your mom?" Sugar asked, "Tell him what's going on?"

"No. Because he knows sometimes, even before me, he has his ways, and he won't tell me how." Victor said

That made Sugar smile.

"He's probably still protective of her, so he digs into all her beau's."

"I don't like that word, beau. We're not French."

"Would you prefer partner, love interest, or lover?" Sugar purred, and Victor scowled at her.

"That's worse," Victor said

***

"I don't know, I prefer lover. It doesn't sound too serious. If I found a man, he would be my lover until we got emotionally involved." Sugar smiled

"You don't get emotionally involved, Miss Havana. 'You a hit it and quit it' kinda girl." Missy said

"What, that's so not true. I am a long-term kinda girl." Sugar said sweetly

"There's Derek," Missy said

Sugar ducked down under the table. Victor laughed.

"Is that your ex-lover?" Victor asked, shuddering at his use of the word lover.

"No." Victor looked at me. "No, Derek is Jackson's older brother. He was very protective of me even before Jackson died. Treated me like a sister. Still does." Sugar said

"So?" Missy said

"He doesn't trust men around me, especially cops. Because of the ones who didn't listen when we were young."

"And what does that have to do with you hiding?" Victor asked

"Told him I was in London on vacation. I didn't tell him I'm a cop." Sugar said

"What?!" Missy and Victor roared, and everyone turned their way.

"Sugar?" Derek called, walking up to them.

Sugar sat up straight.

"Derek, hi. It's been a minute." Sugar said, hugging him.

"I thought you were in London on vacation. What are you doing here? Who's this?" Derek growled the last question.

"Derek, I... um, we need to talk."

Derek's eyes narrowed.

"About you being a cop or dating this ice cap?" Derek said

"Wha... you knew?" Sugar was baffled

"I'm a PI. Plus, your brother Dante and I are still friends." Derek said

"Alright. I guess that's good now you can help stop people."

"I help find people," Derek said

"Even better." Sugar smiled

"I know that smile. You want something from me." Derek shook his head

"Yes. Could you look up Kyle Hoff? And tell me what you find by tomorrow." Sugar said

"Why? Who's Kyle Hoff?" Victor said

"I may have stalked your mom on f*******:. She has a picture with a man and tagged him @kylehoff. I just want to know what we're working with before dinner."

"That's helpful. Thank you, Sugar." Victor hugged her, then coughed, pulling away. "Sorry."

Sugar rolled her eyes. "Oh please, been there, done that."

***

Victor looked at Sugar but couldn't tell if she was joking or if she didn't want him anymore. His brow furrowed in confusion.

"Don't be so sad. She still totally wants you. The last time I saw her like this, it was over my brother, and that was eleven years ago." Derek said, "That was before he realized he was in love with her and asked her to be his official girlfriend."

"How do you know what she was like before she went out with your brother?" Victor asked

"I was part of her friend group," Derek said

"Makes sense. She seems like she had a lot of friends." Victor thought out loud

"And all of them were guys, and she was afraid any girl would use her to get to her brothers. All except Paris, whom she shouldn't have trusted." Derek scowled

"Yeah, I know. I felt sick about what that woman did to Sugar." Victor said, looking over at a laughing Sugar behind the bar helping Missy serve drinks.

"She told you?"

"She told me about what happened to your brother and how Paris did nothing to help, and I'm on the lookout for a Bobby just in case."

Sugar looked at Victor, smiling, and he smiled back.

I will never let anyone hurt her like Bobby or Paris did ever again.

"You're smitten with her. I can see it from the look in her eyes." Derek said, making Victor frown. "I didn't say it was bad; you just seem to keep her at arm's length, though you don't want to. You want to make sure she doesn't get hurt by..." Derek trailed off

"By me. I don't want to do something that might hurt her again. I enjoy having her as a partner and like to keep it that way." Victor said

"Sounds like a relationship," Derek said

"It's not. It's about trusting my partner to tell me what's happening."

"Look, I love Sugar, and I'll make sure she doesn't get hurt, including you," Derek said

"Is that a threat?" Victor laughed

"If you hurt her, you'll regret it. That's a promise, not a threat." Derek said

Victor stopped laughing with all seriousness. He nodded. "Understood."

"You keep looking at her. But you're trying not to." Derek said

Victor didn't hear what Derek said to him since he had lost sight of Sugar and was searching for her. Then he saw her red leather jacket over her head as she peaked her head over the bar, pulling at Missy to get down. So he followed her line of vision, seeing two big-looking men walking her way. He quickly got up, but Derek pulled him back down, shaking his head.

"They're not a danger to her. They're her brothers. Jacob and Andy." Derek said

"And just how many brothers does she have?"

"Six. All older."

"Sisters?"

"None."

"Damn, that must be rough being the only girl," Victor said