(Devlin)
Devlin sat in the art storage room at his estate staring at all of Paulo’s pieces spread out in front of him. Each of them was leaning against the wall facing him. His feelings hadn’t changed. These were still the most beautiful paintings he had ever seen in his life. But how had everything gone so wrong?
For so long he felt that he had a full grasp on things. Paulo was exceptionally talented but his work lacked depth. Devlin’s decision to do what he had was his way of helping Paulo live up to his potential. It had worked. Paulo’s work took an incredible leap forward in the years that followed. Where was his mistake?
Devlin thought back to the first time he met Paulo and saw his work. Paulo was a young man working at the gallery on Paradise Island. He was so enthusiastic about the job. He had just begun working there and he had gotten the job because his work had just gotten accepted into the gallery.
Devlin was blown away as Paulo showed him his pieces. He was so young and talented. Devlin knew what he was looking at when he saw both the artwork and the artist. He was a great master in the making. And when Devlin returned to New York at the end of his vacation, he couldn’t get Paulo’s art out of his mind.
Devlin knew that the deal he was working on at that time was the last deal he would ever have to make. He had invested heavily in the biotech market and now, not one, but two of his companies were being acquired by a major conglomerate. With the cash and stock options that he was going to earn from it, he would be set for multiple lifetimes.
His life would no longer be about acquiring money. His bank account was now so large a few million here and there wouldn’t make a difference. Instead, he was going to have to figure out some other big challenge. And after his deals were finalized, his first thought was of Paulo and his art.
With nothing to keep him in New York, Devlin decided to explore another of his passions. The reason why he had visited the Bahamas to begin with, was his fascination with the pirate era. And considering that Nassau was the heart of piracy during its golden age in the 1700s, the Bahamas was the only place for him to retire to.
With his new found fortune, Devlin flew to Turkey to purchase a sailboat. Gulets had been his favorite for a while. Not overladen with technology, it was reminiscent of the sailboats they sailed during pirate time. Still with enough luxury to make the sailboat livable, he decided that this would be the way that he would see the islands that held such a special place in his fantasies.
What Devlin wasn’t prepared for, though, was how hard it would be for him to keep Paulo out of his mind. He had to admit that his interest in him wasn’t just about the art. The man was beautiful. His shaggy sun-bleached hair, light eyes, and surfer body were mesmerizing. Devlin had long admitted to himself that he had an attraction towards men. But Devlin wanted to think that his attraction for Paulo was more than just physical.
As the years went on and their paths crossed more and more, even Devlin could see that he was losing his objectivity about Paulo. When the young guy had gotten his first artist residency and was bragging to him about it at the restaurant, Devlin felt uneasy about Paulo taking it.
With the right guidance, Paulo was going to be a great artist. Devlin had no doubt about that. But the New York residency program that Paulo had been accepted for would do nothing but distract Paulo from his art.
Devlin had run into artists involved with the program during his years in the New York party scene. They had explained to him that the New York residency wasn’t about creating great art, it was about seeing the world and having fun. Well, that might have been an experience that broadened Paulo’s horizon, but Devlin couldn’t believe that it was going to make him a better artist.
Now feeling invested in Paulo’s life, Devlin felt the need to keep Paulo focused on his art. Devlin had done a lot of soul-searching before he got the program to rescind their offer. But it was only hard the first time. Each subsequent residency got easier and easier. By the time Joanna had caught him on the phone, Devlin had forgotten that he might be doing something wrong.
He had explained himself to Joanna as if what he was doing was commonplace. It was no wonder that she reacted as she did. He had actually crossed the line with Paulo and in his delusional bubble, he hadn’t even seen it.
But why, though? Why had he gone so far? How had he missed the immorality of his actions for as long as he had?
Staring at the paintings, he got his answer. It was because of how much he loved Paulo’s art. To say that they were hypnotic would make them sound crude. A better way to describe them would be to say that ‘if you could take a soul and attach it to a canvas, Paulo’s art would be that’.
Devlin loved them so much. He loved them and he loved the artist for painting them. He loved Paulo.
Devlin thought it without really hearing what he was saying to himself. Paulo and his art were hard to separate. Where did Devlin’s love for one end and the other begin? Devlin couldn’t tell. But as he thought about the idea that Paulo would never speak to him again and that his only contact with Paulo would be through purchased pieces of art, the truth began to sink in.
Devlin loved Paulo more than just as an artist. He loved Paulo as a man. It had to be true. Thinking about a life without him made his heart ache. Devlin had spent weeks perfecting the artist space in his house. Standing in the middle of it picturing Paulo there, he would often touch himself. Devlin wanted to believe that his arousal came from being a part of something transcendent, but now he had to admit that it was about something more.
He loved him. He had loved him for a long time and the time he had spent with him and Joanna on his sailboat, had been the best time of his life.
“What have I done?” He asked himself feeling the finality of it all. For a brief moment, he had had everything he had ever wanted. And instead of letting Paulo go with the hopes that he would come back to him, Devlin had tipped the scales.
If he was being honest with himself, he had to admit that that was what he was doing all along. Instead of protecting Paulo from residencies that would waste his time, he was keeping Paulo from leaving him. What he was doing wasn’t about Paulo’s development. It was about his fear of losing the man he loved.
Devlin fell back hit by the realization. How could he have not seen it all along? He was in love with Paulo. It was his fear that Paulo would leave him that had made him make such horrible mistakes.
What was he supposed to do now? What do you do when you realize that you have destroyed the life of the man you love?
Devlin did not sleep easy that night. Throughout he was wrenched with alternating guilt and heartache. He needed to find Paulo and make it up to him somehow. But how could he do that? There was no way that Paulo would ever talk to him again.
The next morning Devlin decided that it was time to head back to Paradise Island. He didn’t know what he could do about Paulo, but he was sure that he couldn’t do it from there.
The trip back was smooth and uneventful. Docking the boat, he headed up to the restaurant. He hoped that he might run into Paulo there. He didn’t. There was someone there who might have seen Paulo, though. Jimmy, the bartender, was a friend of Paulo’s. If there was anyone who had insight on what Paulo was doing, it would be him.
“Jimmy!” Devlin said greeting him with forced cheer.
“Hey, what’s up?” Jimmy said offering him his hand to shake.
“Not too much. Just got back.”
“Then what can I get for you?”
“How about one of your famous rum punches.”
“Coming right up.”
Devlin watched Jimmy make the drink. He didn’t want to be too obvious about what his intentions were. If Jimmy and Paulo had spoken, it was possible that Jimmy knew what he had done to Paulo. He had to bring up the topic carefully.
“So what’s good today?” Devlin asked.
“The grouper’s fresh,” Jimmy offered helpfully.
“Then how about an order of grouper fingers and peas and rice.”
“You got it.”
Now seated at the bar, Devlin watched as Jimmy headed back to the kitchen to deliver his order. As he returned, Devlin decided he had waited long enough.
“Hey, so has Paulo been around?”
“Paulo?” He repeated it as if he should have remembered something. “No. I haven’t seen him in a few weeks. But, you know what? Someone called asking me to give you a message.”
“Someone called me here?” Devlin asked confused.
“Yeah. I think she was friends with Paulo. What was her name again?” Jimmy asked himself.
“Joanna?”
“Yeah, that’s it. I wrote the message down here somewhere. But that was a few days ago.”
Devlin watched Jimmy not sure how he should feel. He had come to understand why Joanna had done what she had but he was still having a hard time working past the fact that she had done it.
“Here it is,” Jimmy said pushing the slip of paper in front of Devlin.
The note read, ‘Joanna thinks that she found the gold at the end of his honey. Give her a call’ followed by her phone number.
Devlin stared at the note not sure what to make of it. What was she talking about and where was she?
“Is this it?” Devlin asked the hovering man.
“Yeah. That’s what she told me to write.”
“Okay, thanks,” Devlin said indicating that he needed a little privacy.
Having brought his cell phone with him, he withdrew it and made a call. “Stacy, can you track down the address attached to a phone number, please?”
“No problem, Mr. Picard,” Devlin’s rarely used secretary said.
“Text me the address when you find out.”
“Yes, sir. Is there anything else I can do for you?”
Devlin, seeing Jimmy in earshot, got up, weaved past the tables and stepped from under the cabana. “Actually there is. I would like you to speed up our usual purchases of Paulo’s work.”
“Would you like me to use the same channels?”
“Sure. There’s no reason to let him know that I’m the one buying them. Also, I want you to offer twice as much as being asked.”
“Twice as much?” The woman asked confused.
“Please. There is no need to keep pretending that there worth any less.”
“Yes, sir. I will get them purchased as soon as possible.”
“Thanks, Stacy. Text me when you have that address.”
Devlin ended the call and returned to the bar thinking about what Joanna might have wanted. He couldn’t imagine what it was. No doubt that it was something bold. If there was one thing that was true about Joanna, it was that she was fearless. He loved that about her. Although he hadn’t given her much thought since her betrayal, the more he did, the more he missed her too.
It wasn’t just about being with Paulo that had made those two weeks the best of his life. It was also that Joanna felt like the female version of himself. If he were to put it in strictly business terms, Joanna was a person worth investing in.
Jimmy brought over Devlin’s dinner just as a text came through on Devlin’s phone.
“Thanks, Jimmy,” he said distracted by the address.
Apparently, it was a North Carolina phone number. Should he call it? He wondered. What good would come if he did? There was no denying that he wanted to speak to her again. But could he really get past the thought that she was responsible for him losing Paulo?
It was Devlin’s business side that won out in the end. She had mentioned his honey. Along with Paulo, his honey had been his pet project. He had been working on it for years.
What if she really had discovered something about the honey? Would that be enough of a reason to forgive her? Reminding himself that it was him and not Joanna that had ruined everything, he decided that it was.
Devlin looked at his phone as he considered what he was about to do. Would he want to be with Joanna without being with Paulo? He didn’t know. But the more he thought about the time they had spent alone together, the more he realized how much she had added to his life.
In spite of everything, Devlin had feelings for her too. He missed her. He wanted to again bath in her wonderfully enthusiastic spirit. He wanted to hear her voice.
Devlin called Joanna’s number and then leaned back and waited.
“Hello?” The familiar voice said on the other end.
“Hello, Joanna. This is Devlin. You asked me to give you a call.”
Although Joanna tried to hide it, Devlin could hear her excitement. It almost made him smile.
“Yes, Devlin. I asked you to call me because I had a business proposal for you.”
This did make Devlin smile. “And what proposal is that?”
“You might have noticed that when I left I took the jars of tamarind honey that you promised me.”
“I did notice that.”
“Yes. Well when I got back to North Carolina, my mother reminded me of a family recipe for candy.”
Hearing the mention of candy, Devlin immediately sat up. Making it into candy had been something that he had considered, but he had made no progress in finding the ideal candy recipe.
“I took the recipe and inserted the honey into the center of it and it has to be the most incredible tasting candy in the world. My business proposal is that we add my family’s candy recipe to your tamarind honey and then we sell the candy for a fortune.”
Devlin sat quietly as he considered it. “The success of a venture like that would depend on how good the candy tastes. So, how good is the candy?”
“Well, not to overstate the point, but we gave it to someone who was in hospice care. In a few days, she looked like a new woman.”
Devlin thought about what Joanna had said. Her suggestion was a little over the top, but it did get her point across.
Certainly, Joanna was speaking in hyperboles, but what mattered was how good the candy tasted and how much honey was in each candy. If she had somehow stumbled across the perfect combination of those two, she really might have found the gold at the end of his honey rainbow.
“How can I taste it?” Devlin asked starting to get excited.
“I can send you some. I can FedEx it to you overnight.”
“Or, even better than that, you can bring it to me.”
Joanna fell silent. “Actually, I can’t. I need to stay here to be with my mother. But, if you were in the neighborhood, I could definitely give you a piece.”
Devlin smiled at Joanna’s offer. ‘A piece of what?’ Devlin wondered.
It was then that he remembered how incredibly sexy she was. He really had enjoyed his time with her. Perhaps it wouldn’t be a bad idea if he flew up to North Carolina to get a piece of whatever she was offering. Certainly, it would be business first. But if somehow, business turned into pleasure, that wouldn’t be a bad either.
“It just so happens that I will be in North Carolina tomorrow,” Devlin told her.
“Really?” Joanna said no longer able to contain her excitement.
Devlin smiled. “Yes. Where should we meet?”
Joanna gave him an address and with nothing to write it down, he committed it to memory.
“I have it. Then it looks like I will be seeing you tomorrow. I’ll see you then.”
“Yeah, I’ll see you then. I’m looking forward to it,” Joanna added hesitantly.
Devlin was slow to reply. “Yes, me too,” he said softly.
Ending the call, Devlin couldn’t shake how right all of it felt. Joanna was supposed to be in his life. He had no doubt about that now. Whatever she had done regarding Paulo, she had done because she was a good person. It was him who was being an asshole. She helped him see that. And now, if there was a way to help her make him a little richer, then who could ask for more than that?
Scoffing through his grouper fingers, he gave his assistant another call. Surprised to hear from her boss twice on the same day, she made a flight reservation to North Carolina as he requested.
After packing, Devlin took a shower and headed out. The flight got him in past midnight and he booked himself into the only five-star hotel in the area. It was minutes away from the address that Joanna had given him. So the next morning after a late brunch, he hired a limousine to take him. Before he knew it, he was there.
Or was he? He hadn’t written the address down an hour after she had told him, so he could have gotten it wrong. He didn’t think so. But why would she ask him to meet her at a hospice center? She had told a story about someone recovering after eating the candy. Had that been true? If it wasn’t, this was one hell of a stunt.
As Devlin stared at the front of the building, he saw a familiar face step out. It was Joanna. The sight of her made him feel warm inside.
“I guess this is the right place,” Devlin said to his driver. “I don’t know how long I’ll be.”
Devlin got out of the limousine and headed towards Joanna. She looked good. If it wasn’t for where they were, he knew he would be very turned on right now.
“Thank you so much for agreeing to meet with me,” Joanna said obviously trying to contain herself.
Her enthusiasm did the same thing to him that it always had. He tried to contain his smile and failed. “Well, I was in the neighborhood, so I figured, why not?”
Joanna looked at him trying to figure out whether or not he was joking.
“I was confused, however, when I saw the address,” Devlin added.
“Oh, yeah. I told you about the person in hospice care that’s recovered once they ate the candy.”
“You did.”
“I thought that I would introduce you to her so that you knew I was telling the truth.”
This was a sales tactic that Devlin had never seen in all of his years of business. Either this was an elaborate hoax, or she really had stumbled across something with the candy recipe.
“Then I’m excited to meet this amazing person.”
Joanna’s smile broadened. “She is an amazing person. The person I’m going to introduce you to is my mother.”
Devlin froze when he heard who it was. Everything suddenly got more serious. First of all, what she was telling him was that her mother was in hospice care. The second thing she was telling him was that she was about to introduce him to her mother. Everything had suddenly gotten very intense. Devlin tried to shake the feeling. This was still just a business meeting, after all. He could still choose to leave at any time. There was no way he was going to leave, though.
“I would love to meet her,” Devlin said graciously.
“Then, follow me.”
Devlin followed Joanna inside. After a quick nod to the woman behind the desk, they turned right and snaked down the hallway. Standing in front of the door, Joanna paused.
“Her name is Beth, by the way. But if you want, you can call her mom. Everyone does.”
Devlin was taken aback by her suggestion but smiled and continued in. Inside were two women. One stood on the far side of the room and the other lay in the bed. On the near side of the bed was an elegantly decorated table holding a silver tray. On the silver tray was a small stack of log-shaped candy.
“Devlin, I would like you to meet Molly, my sister, and my mother,” Joanna said pointing each of them out.
“It’s nice to meet you both. I’m sorry, Joanna didn’t tell me that I would be meeting her mother. If I had known, I would have brought flowers,” Devlin said charmingly.
“Don’t be silly, this is a business meeting,” Joanna’s mother said completely charmed. “But, thank you. If you had, I would have appreciated it,” she said showing Devlin where Joanna had gotten her impish smile. “But, having said that, I think my girls wanted to show you something that we think you might like.”
Beth pointed to Joanna who picked it up from there.
“You might remember how much I enjoyed the tamarind honey when you first introduced me to it,” Joanna said stating the obvious.
“I think I recall that,” Devlin joked.
“When you showed me the stockpile you had, you told me that it’s worth its weight in gold. I think you’re right. And let me show you how. Or even better, why don’t you taste how.”
Joanna picked up the tray offering Devlin one of the pieces. Devlin, impressed by their little presentation, took a piece off of the silver tray and popped it into his mouth. It was like an explosion of flavor had gone off.
Suddenly, his brain felt more alive. For a moment, the colors of the room seemed brighter and the scents became more intense. He had always enjoyed the taste of the honey, but wrapped in Joanna’s candy recipe, it was transcendent.
“Wow!” Devlin said overwhelmed.
The three women in the room giggled.
“We thought you would say that,” Joanna said.
“No, seriously. This is incredible.”
“Do you understand now why I called you?” Joanna asked vulnerably.
“I do. And I’m so glad you did.”
“The three of us thought that you might be interested in opening up a candy store. Maybe we could open up a small shop and start from there?” Joanna suggested.
“I think we can do a little better than that,” Devlin said beginning to engage. “What I see is an online store with a series of pop-up shops. We could introduce it to the public with temporary stores that appear in different locations. We can turn the whole thing into a must-see event.”
Joanna could no longer contain her excitement. Jumping up and down and clapping her hands, she giggled. “I knew you would love it. You can ask them. I told them that you would think that this was a great idea.”
“Then, you were right.”
Joanna stepped toward Devlin and threw her arms around him. He hadn’t expected it but it was very welcome. The longer she held him, the more he wanted to hold her back. Feeling her body against his, he realized just how much he had missed it. He could feel himself falling for her again. And he felt like there was nothing he was going to be able to do to stop it.
Deciding to move forward with a business idea, Devlin moved fast. Establishing an agreement between them giving him a 50% share, he set the girls to work making candy. As they did that, Devlin took care of all the business arrangements. He set up a website and a distribution house, while also locating a building for their first pop-up shop and thinking up the name.
“How about Tamarind Tubes,” Devlin suggested to Joanna as they ate dinner alone.
“Actually, my mother came up with an idea that Molly and I both liked. What do you think about Island Candy?”
Devlin turned the name over in his mind. It was good. “I like it. That’s what we’ll call it.”
Joanna bounced with excitement. “My mother’s going to be so happy.”
“And how is your mother doing?”
“Amazingly. The people that run the center are asking why she’s still there,” Joanna said proudly.
“Why is she still there?”
“Well, it’s either there or in the hospital. And since the hospice center is so much more comfortable, we figured, why not stay for now?”
“That makes sense.” Devlin furrowed his brow about to bring up another topic. “I’ve been thinking about something else.”
“What’s that?”
“We’re gonna have to figure out how to bring some attention to our new business.”
“I agree,” Joanna said. “Do you have any suggestions?”
“I do.” Devlin paused. “What do you think about commissioning a brilliant artist to do a painting, but instead of using paint, they used our candy?”
Joanna froze. She knew immediately what he was implying. “Do you think that he would do it?”
Devlin liked that she wasn’t going to force him to be coy about this. “I think he might if we approach it in the right way.”
“And how is that?”
“First, are we in agreement? We want to hire Paulo to do a candy painting as publicity for our opening?”
“Molly and my mother don’t know Paulo’s work. But I’m sure that they would trust us to make the right decision
“Okay, then.”
With that, Devlin took out his phone and called his assistant.
“Stacy, I need you to contact our favorite artist and offer him a commission. Arrange for a ticket for him to fly to North Carolina and tell him that his favorite buyer will offer him a $5000 advance just to have the meeting.”
“Yes, sir. I’ll do it right away,” Stacy said before Devlin ended the call.
Devlin looked up at Joanna. She looked nervous. He couldn’t blame her. Neither one of them had seen Paulo since that day and neither could guess how he would respond when he saw them.
It took less than a day for Stacy to confirm the meeting. Paulo had a ticket scheduled for the next day. With all of the important business meetings that Devlin had ever had, he was sure that this was the most nervous he’d ever been. Time had done nothing to diminish his feelings for Paulo. He was still very in love with him. He couldn’t show any of it to Paulo or Joanna, though. This meeting had to be all about business.
Arranging for Devlin’s limousine to pick Paulo up, Devlin and Joanna waited at an abandoned coffee shop which Devlin had chosen for their pop-up shop. Looking at his business partner, he could see that she was as nervous as he was.
“We can get through this,” Devlin reassured her. “Remember, as long as we keep this about business and not about what happened between us, there’s a good chance that he’ll do it.”
“But is this just about business?” Joanna asked insightfully.
Devlin thought about her question. “Maybe it isn’t. But I’m not sure that any of us is ready to talk about what happened.”
Joanna dropped the topic knowing that Devlin was right.
Receiving a text message from the driver, Devlin read it aloud. “Five minutes away.” The words sent a shiver through both of them. It was going to take everything inside of Devlin to hold it together.
When the limousine pulled up out front, Devlin’s chest clenched. Trying to appear as calm as he could, his hands were sweating and his legs wobbled like spaghetti. He was amazed how Paulo was able to do this to him. But Devlin no longer had any illusion about his feelings. He was head over heels for Paulo. Just the opportunity to see him again after everything that had happened, was a gift.
Devlin watched as Paulo hesitantly approached the front door and then entered. Devlin and Joanna stood in front of him. Paulo froze staring at them. Devlin, watching him closely, didn’t see him make a move to retreat. He was going to be willing to hear them out. Realizing that, Devlin was able to take a breath, but there were so many more things that had to go exactly right.
“You two?” Paulo asked caught off guard. “You two have been my secret benefactors?”
Joanna spoke up. “Actually, it’s Devlin. It has always been Devlin.”
“You’re the one who has been buying my work for twice as much as I’ve been asking?”
“I have been an avid collector of your paintings for years.”
“It’s true. I’ve seen his collection. There had to be more than 20 pieces there. He’s a big admirer of your work.”
For some reason, Joanna’s statements didn’t sit well with Paulo. He crossed his arms and looked away as if to say that he was willing to stay put but he wasn’t going to step an inch closer. “Look, I was told that I would be paid $5000 to meet about some commission. Is that real?”
“It is 100% real,” Devlin explained. “Joanna and her family and I have entered a business venture.”
On the mention of Joanna’s family involvement, Paulo looked at the two. His mouth slowly dropped open as he listened.
“I’m sure you remember the tamarind honey that Joanna was so taken by during our trip.”
“Yeah,” Paulo acknowledged.
“Apparently, her family has a candy recipe and Joanna came up with the brilliant idea of inserting the honey into the center of it. It’s amazing. We would like you to try it.”
Paulo was intrigued. If he had been given a thousand guesses, he would not have guessed that that was why he was there. Needing to understand what could have driven Devlin and Joanna’s family together, Paulo agreed.
Enticing him to them, Devlin uncovered the silver tray that sat next to them on the counter. It lured Paulo forward. Watching Paulo take a piece and pop it into his mouth, Devlin saw his friend’s face make the same contortions his had.
“This is amazing,” Paulo admitted almost needing to catch his breath.
“Our plan is to open a candy store pop-up shop. But we need a way to capture the public’s attention and let the world know that we’re here. So our plan was to hire an artist and ask them to paint a masterpiece using the candy as paint.”
“Paint a masterpiece?” Paulo clarified.
Devlin chuckled. “It’s not like we want to commission an artist to paint a pile of crap.”
Joanna interjected. “And everything you paint is a masterpiece. So for you, it should be easy.”
Paulo stared at the two considering it. The offer had him intrigued. Still sucking on the piece in his mouth, he picked up another of the candies and stared at it. Although it was the color of amber, it was as clear as a diamond.
“I suppose it hardens pretty quickly?” Paulo asked.
“You can see for yourself,” Devlin explained. “We have a melted batch back here waiting for you to give it a try.”
“Let me see it.”
Devlin and Joanna led Paulo back into the kitchen. Bubbling on the stove were pots full of candy. Beside the stove were tubes of paint. Next to that were a selection of brushes. And leaning against the opposite wall were pulled canvases. Devlin had paid an artist to set things up just the way an artist might need them. Paulo looked on impressed.
Without another word, Paulo picked up two paint tubes and squirted its contents into each of the pots of candy. Using a wooden stirrer, he blended them thoroughly. When he was happy with the color, he dipped a paintbrush into the brown concoction.
Transporting it to the canvas, it dripped. But when he spread it on the taut material, it stuck.
“And how much will you pay me for this?” Paulo asked getting to business.
“For this piece? $20,000,” Devlin explained.
“And how long do I have?”
“How long do you need?”
Paulo looked around at the supplies. “Is this where I’ll be working?”
“If you want, yes,” Devlin conceded.
“I’m going to need an assistant to make the candy.”
“I can do that,” Joanna said volunteering. “I mean, if you’re okay with that.”
Paulo looked back at Joanna. His face softened. “That’ll be fine.”
“So, does that mean that you’ll do it?” Devlin asked.
“I will accept this commission. But you need to know that for me, this is all business.”
Devlin felt a rush of excitement which he suppressed. “Agreed. This is all just business. How about if I leave you two to it?”
“That would be best,” Paulo said coldly.
For the next week, Devlin busied himself with all the details of starting a new business. There was endless paperwork. On top of that, he needed to rent furniture for the pop-up shop, and equipment to make the candy in large quantities. They were on track to open up the shop in two weeks. And as long as there were no hiccups, it looked like they were going to meet their deadline.
Meeting with Joanna for dinner, she kept him abreast on Paulo’s progress.
“It looks amazing,” she told him.
“When does he think it’ll be done?”
“It is kind of already done. He keeps adding little things to it. But, honestly, I don’t see any difference after he does.”
“That’s great. When can I see it?”
“I have to say, he’s still pretty upset with you. And I don’t know if I can blame him. You might have thought that you did what you did for the right reasons, but to him, all you did was kill his dreams.”
Devlin couldn’t argue against what Joanna was saying. She was right. As much as he wanted it, he didn’t deserve Paulo’s trust. In fact, it surprised Devlin that he was even talking to Joanna about it.
“So, you two are good again?”
Joanna blushed tellingly. “Yeah, we’re good.”
Jealousy washed through Devlin. He wasn’t sure who he was more envious of. Devlin accepted that he had done this to himself, though. Sure, he had the best of intentions. But the reality was what it was. And in the end, he was simply the man who had destroyed a brilliant artist’s dreams.
“But, I think you will be proud of me for something,” Joanna began.
“What’s that?”
“I got him to do more than one piece?”
“Really?”
“Uh huh. He seems to really like working with the candy. So I made a deal with him that we would give him as much candy as he wants as long as we could use the finished paintings opening-night as an advertisement for the candy store.”
“That’s brilliant!” Devlin replied amazed. “But, I don’t know why am surprised. You are simply an amazing woman,” he said suddenly feeling very aroused.
“I agree,” Joanna joked drawing a laugh out of Devlin.
“So, when does he think he’ll have the pieces done?”
“In a week. That should be in time for our opening.”
“In a week?”
“Yeah. He’s already been working on it for a few days. He has a few small pieces that are complete and about six more that he wants to get done.”
“Six pieces in a week?”
“Yeah. He says he’s been very inspired,” she said with a telling smile.
As the time approached for the store’s opening, Devlin was feeling like the outsider. Joanna would tell him stories about them laughing and going out together at night, and all Devlin could do was listen and regret his behavior.
Still moving forward with the business, though, Devlin arranged for one of the top art critics from New York to fly down for a private screening of the pieces. If he liked them, he would write an article about it in the New York Times. Not only would it catapult Paulo into the New York art scene, but such an article had the chance of going viral since the pieces were all painted using melted candy.
“What do you mean that I can’t accompany the critic?” Devlin asked Joanna over the phone.
“I told you, he’s still very upset with you.”
“But I’m hosting the critic. It would be impolite for me not to join him.”
“You’re going to have to figure something out. He’s not budging on this. He said that if you force your way in, the deal’s off. And since we never signed a contract, he’ll take his pieces and go home.”
“Well, that’s not the way verbal agreements work, but I’ll respect his request. I’m going to have to see them soon, though.”
“You don’t have to worry. They’re good. I think they’re his best work yet and he agrees.”
It was killing Devlin not to be able to see Paulo’s work. This was what all of what he had done had been leading up to. Soon, Paulo would be entrenched into the art world thanks to him, and he wouldn’t even be able to witness it. If this was his punishment, it was working. Because whenever Devlin thought about it all, his heart hurt.
Escorting the critic to their shop, Devlin waited outside while the critic went in to take a look at Paulo’s work. The pretentious little man was in there for over an hour. When he came out, he was bubbling with excitement.
“Thank you so much! Thank you so much!” The man said shaking Devlin’s hand with both of his.” Someone like me waits a lifetime to discover someone like him. You will have to wait to read the article, but I don’t mind telling you that my review will be good.”
Devlin looked back at the large windows in front of the store. As soon as Paulo had started working there, he covered them so that no one could see inside. Devlin was dying with curiosity. What could they be like?
Two days before their opening, Joanna met Devlin for dinner and to tell him that the pieces were done.
“So, I can see them?” Devlin said more as a statement.
“I wouldn’t push this if I were you. Maybe you can see them on opening night.”
For Devlin, this was the last straw. “This is ridiculous. I’m the one paying for all this. I get that he’s upset. But if I hadn’t done what I did, there’s no telling if he would have become the artist that he has. I’m tired of being treated like I’m the devil.”
Joanna reached across the table and put her hand on Devlin’s. Her touch calmed him. He wanted so much to hold her again.
“We are so close, Devlin. Just a little while longer. I think that finishing his work has caused him to look at things a little differently. I think there’s a possibility that you two may be able to work things out. You just have to be patient. I swear I’m doing everything I can to make things better.”
Devlin relented knowing that there was nothing that he could do even if he wanted to.
“Okay. I’ll trust you,” Devlin said softly.
Joanna looked across the table into Devlin’s eyes. “Thank you,” she said squeezing his hand.
The two gazed into each other’s eyes a while longer. There was no question, she was starting to feel about him the way he felt about her. He was considering inviting her back to his room when she received a text and pulled away.
After she had stared at it for a moment too long, Devlin asked, “Who is it?”
“It’s Molly. She wants me to come down to the hospice center.”
“Is something wrong?”
“She didn’t say. It’s probably just some insurance stuff that we’ve been dealing with.”
“You want me to come with you?” Devlin offered.
“No, that’s fine. I’m sure it’s nothing. I should go,” she said crossing her utensils and gathering his stuff.
Getting up she faced Devlin offering a conciliatory gesture. “I’ll talk to Paulo tomorrow. Maybe I can convince him to sit down with you to talk about everything. It’s time you two did. And I think he might be open to it.”
“I appreciate that.”
Joanna approached Devlin and leaned down. Offering him a kiss, she didn’t aim for his cheek. Touching their two lips, Devlin got a taste of what could be. It was enough to make him hard. As she pulled her lips away, he held onto her hand. Joanna let him hold her for a second but was quickly off.
Devlin finished dinner, hopped into his rental car, and headed back to his hotel. He thought about what Joanna had said. He liked the idea that Paulo was softening to reconciliation. It made him feel hopeful.
It was while he was thinking about that that he fell asleep. It was only a few hours after that that he was awakened by a phone call.
“Hello?” He said not recognizing the number.
“Devlin, this is Molly. Is Joanna there?”
Devlin drew himself awake hearing the concern in Molly’s voice. “No. Why do you ask? Is something wrong?”
“Devlin, our mother died.”
“Beth died? But I don’t understand. Joanna said that she was getting better.”
“We thought she was, but maybe she was just feeling better. The doctors said that the cancer never stopped growing. I was sitting with her this evening when she said that she wasn’t feeling well. And then, before I could do anything about it, she closed her eyes and was gone,” Molly said no longer able to hold back her tears.
“I’m so sorry, Molly. How is Joanna dealing with it?”
“That’s just it. I told her to come to the hospice center so I could tell her in person. But as soon as I told her, she ran out. She hasn’t come back.
“Devlin, I’m worried about her. She comes across as a strong girl, but she doesn’t handle loss well. It was when she found out that mom was going into hospice care that she disappeared to the Bahamas. I don’t know what she’ll do now.”
“Did you call Paulo to see if she’s there?”
“I don’t have his number. Can you call him?”
Devlin was too embarrassed to admit that he didn’t have his number either. “I’ll head over to his place and see. Don’t worry, Molly, we’ll find her. And Molly, I’m so sorry for your loss.”
Fighting through a torrent of tears, Molly thanked him. Ending the call, Devlin sprung out of bed and got dressed. And jogging to his car, he rushed over to Paulo’s hotel.
Although he didn’t have his number, he knew exactly which room Paulo was staying in. Heading up and knocking on the door, he didn’t know which one would upset him more, finding Joanna there in his arms or finding out Paulo didn’t know where she was.
When the door swung open, Devlin found a familiar face staring back at him. Paulo was standing there shirtless. It rocked Devlin to remember how beautiful he was.
Not as surprised as Devlin was, Paulo stared sternly at his one-time friend.
“What are you doing here?” Paulo demanded.
“Is Joanna here?”
“Why? Did something happen?”
“Her mother died.”
“Beth is dead?” Paulo asked stunned. “I don’t understand. We went to see her yesterday. She looked great.”
“The doctor said that her cancer never stopped growing. Did you know her well?”
“Joanna and I went to see her almost every night. We couldn’t go tonight because she said that she was going to dinner with you. Is that how you found out? Were you two with her when she died?”
Devlin couldn’t be sure but he sensed jealousy in Paulo’s voice. “Not quite. We were having dinner and she left because Molly had told her to come to the hospice center. It had already happened, but I guess she wanted to tell her in person because she was worried how Joanna would respond.
“She didn’t handle the news well. She ran out and never came back. Molly called me to find out if either of us knew where she was.”
“I haven’t spoken to her since she left for dinner with you. Should we be worried?”
“Apparently she has a history of not handling bad news well,” Devlin said as he retrieved his phone and called Molly back.
“Hey, Molly. I’m with Paulo. She’s not here.”
“I’m so worried. She’s not at home and she’s not answering her phone. I’m scared she’s taken off again. What if she doesn’t come back this time?”
“Is that possible?” Devlin asked feeling a knot in his stomach.
“Anything’s possible when it comes to Joanna.”
“Do you have any idea where she could be?” Devlin pressed.
“I don’t know. Maybe she’s at the shop? If she’s not there, then I don’t know.”
“Well, do what you need to do concerning your mother. I’ll find Joanna. I promise.”
“Thank you, Devlin. I don’t want her to miss our mother’s funeral.”
“Do you think that could happen?”
“With Joanna, anything’s possible,” Molly concluded before ending the call.
“What’s going on? Has anyone found her?” Paulo asked concerned.
“Molly said that she isn’t home but it’s possible that she’s at the shop. I’m heading there now.”
“Then I’m coming with you.”
Devlin looked at Paulo unsure of what to say. Of course Paulo wanted to join him. They were both very concerned about Joanna. But even in this moment, Devlin couldn’t help but wish that Paulo had wanted to come just to be with him.
Devlin brushed away his thoughts knowing that there were more important things at hand.
“Of course,” Devlin conceded before Paulo returned to his room to put on some clothes.
The two men drove to the shop in silence. As concerned as Devlin was about Joanna, he couldn’t help but imagined what Paulo was thinking about. Did he hate Devlin? Was being in the same car with him killing him? And once they got to the shop, Devlin was going to see his artwork. How did Paulo feel about that?
Devlin pulled his car into the parking lot. Retrieving his keys, he walked to the door casually. Although he tried not to seem like it, his full attention was on Paulo as he trailed behind. Devlin half expected Paulo to try and stop him. He didn’t. And when the door was open and he flicked on the lights, it was too late.
Attempting to be considerate, Devlin didn’t immediately scan the room for Paulo’s art. Looking around, Devlin learned that there were a number of other things to focus on. When they had leased the place, the walls were all a dull mustard color. Now they were a purplish white, and all throughout were streaks of color that closely resembled the Island Candy.
That wasn’t the only change. The space no longer looked like a coffee shop. The display cases that Devlin had ordered had been installed. They fit the space perfectly and in them were of creative selection of candy. Their dream of a candy store was real. They truly were ready to open.
“I’ll check the back,” Devlin said leaving Paulo at the door.
Devlin entered the kitchen and scanned the space for Joanna. She wasn’t there. Devlin had no idea where she could be, and he had no idea where they should search next.
“She’s not here,” Devlin said to Paulo when he reentered the storefront.
“Where do we look now?” Paulo asked.
“I don’t know,” he replied taking out his phone to call Molly.
“Hello?” Molly said answering the phone.
“She wasn’t at the shop. Think, do you happen to have any other ideas about where she could be?”
Molly remained quiet for a second. “I don’t. I don’t know if I should be worried about her or not.”
“Don’t worry. We’ll keep looking. And if we don’t find her tonight, I’m sure she’ll turn up in the morning.”
“You don’t know, Joanna. When she disappears, it takes a long time for her to come back.”
For a moment, Devlin considered what it would be like to never see Joanna again. He didn’t like it.
“We’ll keep looking. Get some rest. Do what you have to do. We’ll find her and bring her back. Don’t worry,” Devlin concluded ending the call.
As confident as he sounded talking to Molly, Devlin turned and looked at Paulo with a worried look on his face. “Do you have any idea where we can look next?”
“The only places we’ve gone since I’ve arrived here is here, the hospice center, and a few local restaurants for dinner. We could go to each of the restaurants,” Paulo suggested.
“No. She wouldn’t be there.”
“Then what do you want to do?”
“I don’t know, Paulo.”
The two stood there almost paralyzed as they decided what to do next.
“Did you want some coffee?” Paulo asked Devlin.
“Do you have some?”
“We have a coffee maker in back.”
“Sure,” Devlin said as he followed the artist into the kitchen.
“Hazelnut or regular?” Paulo asked holding up the packages.
“It’s your choice,” Devlin told him.
Paulo put the hazelnut coffee into the filter and poured 2 cups of water into the machine. As it brewed, the two men leaned awkwardly against the counter. The silence continued until Paulo broke it.
“I know that there are more important things going on, but what do you think of everything?”
“The shop? It looks better than I expected.”
Paulo eyed him perturbed. “Not the shop. What do you think of my work?”
“Your work? I didn’t look at it. I figured that you didn’t want me to see it.”
“I didn’t want you to see it before they were done. Now they’re done.”
Devlin looked at Paulo’s nervous face trying to figure out what was going on. Earlier in the night Joanna had told him that Paulo was still angry at him. Devlin didn’t think that Paulo cared about what he thought at all. Had she been mistaken, or had something changed.
“Aren’t you interested in my work anymore?” Paulo asked defensively.
“It’s not that. All I’ve wanted since you started working was to see what you’ve created. The only reason I haven’t snuck in when I knew you all would be here was out of respect for your wishes. That’s also why I haven’t looked at them tonight. Are you saying that you want me to?”
“I mean, you’re here,” Paulo said as if that answered every question.
Devlin stood up and looked at Paulo as he took a step towards the kitchen door. Paulo looked nervous. His eyes were more vulnerable than Devlin had ever seen them. It made Devlin fall more in love with Paulo than he already was.
Turning his focus towards the front of the shop, Devlin allowed his eyes to focus on the paintings on the walls. At first, Devlin didn’t know what he was looking at. The paintings almost looked out of focus from where he stood. The closer he got to them, however, the more he was amazed by what he saw.
Like the individual strokes of a van Gogh painting, Paulo had used the viscosity of the candy to create the impression of rough seas and stormy skies. More than that, he used the transparency of the candy to layer the image in a way that created a 3D effect.
It was phenomenal. And adding to that, the closer you got to the painting, the more incredible it smelled. The smell of it drew Devlin into the image even more.
As Devlin moved from one painting to the next, he saw a theme. On one, he could pick out the image of skull and crossbones in the deepest layer of the candy. In another, there was an image that reminded him of his sailboat.
Those were not the most intriguing, though. The one that almost brought Devlin to tears, was a more abstract painting that looked like three bodies intertwined. The intimacy and lust that poured off the canvas were both heartbreaking and erotic.
Each of the paintings was more surprising than the next. But there was no question. His incredible works were reflections on the time the three of them had spent together. Paulo had made Joanna and him a part of his greatest work of art.
Devlin turned back to Paulo doing everything he could to fight back his tears. “They are your best work yet,” he said understating their brilliance.
Paulo smiled relieved. “And this one is the one that you commissioned,” he said pointing at the large painting on the wall behind the candy display.
Devlin stepped in front of it and stared. It looked like raw emotion. Pain, anger, confusion, all of it was obvious. But also included were streaks of hope.
The painting was Paulo’s spiraling emotions laid flat. Staring at it, Devlin felt like he was looking at Paulo’s soul. It was beautiful and dark. It was everything that Devlin had come to love about Paulo stretched across the three-foot canvas.
It was as Devlin stared at this that the dam broke. Tears streamed down Devlin’s face. He could barely breathe. His heart was beating a mile a minute and he didn’t know what he would do if he looked at Paulo.
“What do you think?” Paulo asked him.
Devlin gathered his thoughts and then turned to look at the beautiful man. Looking at him, it was like he was seeing him for the first time. Paulo’s energy seemed to reach out from him like tentacles of light and grab him dragging him closer.
Rushing towards him, Devlin reached out his arms and grabbed Paulo. His partner reacted immediately. Each reaching for the other, they locked into a strong embrace losing themselves in a kiss.
Devlin’s mind spun as their tongues intertwined and he pulled at the beautiful man. Clutching his shirt and shaggy hair, his heart thumped and his cock sprung hard.
The passion between the two was electric. Pushing Paulo backward, they cleared through the tables and chairs. As they pressed against the wall giving them nowhere else to go, Devlin pushed Paulo onto the makeshift bed tables tearing at his clothes as he did.
Ripping at his shirt, Paulo became bare-chested. Devlin needed to feel him. First gliding his hand over his toned chest and rippling abs, he allowed Paulo to take off his shirt allowing their two manly chests to press against one another. Devlin’s breath hitched at the sensation. And when Devlin couldn’t wait a second longer, he unbuttoned Paulo’s jeans and pulled them off of his lover’s lean body.
Staring at the man he had thought about for so long, he slid between Paulo’s legs and took his cock into his hands. It was hard and pulsing. It was also warm. Rubbing it against his cheek, it smelled like salty fluids. Pressing it against his lips and circling the head with his tongue, it tasted like pure pleasure.
Pushing one hand against Paulo’s strong belly, he inserted Paulo’s cock into his mouth. He had wanted this for so long. Pushing it against his throat, his throat opened and Devlin swallowed it. Devlin’s lips touched Paulo’s balls and the artist’s body froze in delight.
Holding Paulo’s cock in his throat for as long as he could, it was a tap on his head that got him to relent. With his throat clearing and Paulo’s body relaxing, Devlin looked down the toned body and shocked face. Devlin loved everything about it. He loved how helpless Paulo seemed under his touch, and he loved the man he was holding.
Unable to stop himself any longer, Devlin pulled off his pants and climbed onto the tables after Paulo. Crawling towards his lips, he collected Paulo’s thighs as he went. Rolling the hairless man onto his back, he surprised Paulo by propping Paulo up with his folded thigh and touching the tip of his tongue on Paulo’s asshole.
The artist moaned helplessly in Devlin’s grasp. Pushing his tongue against the opening firmly, the muscles opened up and Devlin’s tongue pushed in. Pulling back and spitting on it, Devlin massaged the opening with his thumb. Pressing harder and harder, Devlin’s thumb slipped in and Paulo’s chest heaved.
Returning his tongue to Paulo’s asshole for a moment longer, Devlin then lowered Paulo’s hips preparing to do what he had longed to do again. Placing the dripping tip of his thick cock against Paulo’s loosening hole, Devlin thrust his hips forward. As he pushed in, Paulo thrashed his body around. Devlin wouldn’t let him go. And when his hole had opened up and swallowed it all, Devlin wrapped his arms around the beautiful man and held him until he relaxed into his arms.
It was only then that Devlin started to thrust. Sliding effortlessly back and forth, Devlin felt like he was entering heaven. His mind swirled with emotion. Lust, love, he became lost in it all.
It didn’t take him long to feel the tingling ascend. When his balls ached and his cock throbbed, Devlin held Paulo as tight as he could allowing the pleasure to crest and his body to avalanche into orgasm.
Devlin wasn’t the only one to come. Under a series of breathy yelps, Paulo found his cock pulsing. He hadn’t even touched it. He was coming from Devlin’s thrusts alone. With his eyes rolling back with pleasure, he swam in the orgasm. And when his lover stopped fucking, Paulo’s body relaxed breathing in the smell of sex that engulfed the two.
Devlin collapsed on his lover’s chest catching his breath. He could have laid their forever. He pushed his fingers into Paulo’s curly locks and rubbed his scalp. Laying there he realized that this was all he had ever wanted. And it was in that moment that his mind flashed.
“What if she went looking for us again?” Devlin said breaking the silence.
“Who? Joanna?”
“Yeah. What if she took off to look for us again?” Devlin said sitting up and releasing Paulo’s folded legs.
“You mean like going to our hotels?”
“No. I mean, what if she thought that she could go and find what we had in the Bahamas someplace else?” Devlin said finding confidence in what he was saying.
“I still don’t know what you mean.”
Devlin got off of Paulo and moved to collect his clothes. “Get dressed. I have an idea.”
Paulo did as he was told and then followed Devlin out. Getting into their car, Devlin typed something into his GPS.
“3 miles to Charleston airport. Take a left onto Main Street,” the computerized voice instructed.
“We’re going to the airport?” Paulo asked.
“I have an idea,” Devlin retorted.
Arriving at the airport within minutes, Devlin parked the car and the two ran into the departure terminal. Both of them scanned the many travelers looking for the person who they could never feel complete without. Devlin was the one to spot her. She was seated blank-faced staring at an empty check-in counter.
“Over here,” Devlin yelled drawing Paulo to him.
When Paulo was standing shoulder to shoulder with him, they both looked at Joanna heartbroken. They slowly approached her and it wasn’t until they were within arm’s reach that she turned and noticed them. Her eyes were lost in pain.
“My mother died,” she said flatly.
“We know,” Devlin replied feeling the weight of what she had said.
“She was doing so much better. The candy was helping her. I don’t understand what happened.”
“The candy did help her. It allowed her to spend the last few weeks of her life with her daughters in the way that she would have wanted. There was nothing that could have been done to stop the cancer. But you gave her a gift that I know she was eternally grateful for.
“I’m sorry your mother died, Joanna. But you can’t be sorry about the time that you were able to spend with her thanks to what you created.”
Joanna’s face twisted as she listened to Devlin. “I’m going to miss her so much, Devlin. She was everything to me. She didn’t know that. I don’t think I ever told her. And I always kept running away. She couldn’t have known how much I loved her.”
“Joanna, from the moment that I walked into her hospice room that first day, I could see that she knew. She was so proud of you. And before the end, you were able to fulfill her last great dream, to open a candy shop with her mother’s candy. You did that,” Devlin emphasized. “She knew that you loved her. You never have to question that again.”
It was upon hearing that that Joanna got up and threw her arms around Devlin. Hugging her back, soon they were both being hugged by Paulo. And together they bathed in each other’s warmth and cried.