Candis Terry - [Sweet, Texas 01]

by Anything But Sweet

  Charli noticed Jana on the veranda taking it all in. Judging by the smile on her face, she was enjoying every moment.

  That smile made Charli happy. Anyone who’d suffered the losses she had, who worked hard at being a good mother, and who outdid herself for the community deserved to smile. She was quite the woman, Charli thought, watching her go inside the house on the arm of a handsome silver-haired man. Charli thought her own mother would be very much like Jana Wilder.

  When a pang of loss hit her heart, she took a deep breath and turned to Sarah. “There’s so much going on, I don’t know where to start,” she said. “Are you hungry?”

  Sarah bit her lip, as if trying to decide.

  From out of nowhere a spectacular-looking young man popped up in front of them. He looked to be in his midtwenties, wore a plaid shirt that fit snug over bulging biceps and Wranglers stacked perfectly just above his boots. His straw hat was a bit worn but sat perfect over his short brown hair and shaded his bright green eyes.

  “Hi,” he said in a deep voice. “I’m Zack.”

  Charli nearly laughed when she realized that he hadn’t even noticed she was standing there. Those green eyes were set only on Sarah. And wasn’t that just about as perfect as things could get.

  Her assistant returned his smile in a more timid version. He told her how pretty she looked, and the conversation was off to a running start. Neither noticed when Charli slipped away and crossed the yard toward the house.

  “Hey. I’ve been looking for you.”

  Charli turned at the sound of Paige’s voice. “Uh-oh. What’d I do this time?”

  Paige laughed, tucked her arm through Charli’s, and, together, they walked toward the big, ranch-style home.

  “Jana sent me to find you. She wanted you to see the progress she’s made on redecorating her bedroom.”

  “Wow. She works fast.”

  “I think she’s just finally ready to move on. In Texas, when we move, we do it in a big way.”

  “Sometimes it’s easier to move fast. Doesn’t give you the time to overthink what you’re doing.”

  “Tell me about it.” Paige chuckled. “When Aiden came home from the war, I knew I had to hook him with lightning speed before he let the dumb idea that he was no good for me stick in his head forever.”

  “No good for you? You two are perfect together.”

  “We are. But he lost so much in Afghanistan, and he blamed himself. The big dummy had convinced himself that he didn’t deserve to be happy.”

  Sounded familiar.

  Paige could have easily been talking about Reno.

  “So how’d you get him to change his mind?”

  “Well, I helped him find a missing piece of his puzzle; and then I didn’t give him much time to think. Aaaaaand I also kind of told him that I wasn’t going anywhere, so unless he wanted a full-time stalker, he’d better hook up with me.”

  Charli liked Paige. And she was sure that if she were to stay in Sweet, they’d become good friends. “Sounds like Aiden made a very smart decision.”

  They stepped up onto the wide veranda, and Paige opened the front door. “Ah, you know, we’ve loved each other since we were kids. He just got a little lost along the way. It was my duty as the person who loved him most to show him the way home.”

  Charli’s chest lifted on a sigh. “That kind of love doesn’t come around often.”

  “Happens more often than you think. Come on, let’s go find Jana.”

  Charli followed Paige through the entry and took a quick glance at the gallery of photos lining the walls. When she came to a framed eight-by-ten of Reno and a beautiful blonde holding each other close and grinning like there was no tomorrow, she stopped. “I don’t remember seeing this one the last time I was here.”

  “You were probably just looking at the other side and missed these,” Paige said. “That’s Reno and Diana at their engagement party.”

  Diana?

  “When was this taken?” Charli asked.

  “About two and a half years ago.” Paige rubbed away a smudge on the glass.

  “Did they get married?”

  Paige sighed. “They didn’t have time.”

  Charli’s heart stuttered. “What happened?”

  “I wouldn’t feel comfortable telling you, but it’s common knowledge, so it’s not like I’m gossiping.”

  “I would never think that about you.”

  “Reno and Diana had been a couple for a long time. Everyone knew they’d get married. It was just a matter of when. Still, when he proposed, Diana said it was like something from a storybook. He loved her so much he planned it out to perfection.”

  Charli was curious what perfection meant to a man like Reno, but she didn’t ask.

  “By then, Jared had died and that drew Reno and Diana even closer. An engagement seemed like the next step, and it gave everyone a moment of happiness. But then Joe died, and Reno was just . . . lost. Diana became his whole world. They decided to move up the wedding because it seemed as though everyone needed something to celebrate when all they’d done for so long was mourn.

  “A few days before the wedding, Diana and her sister drove to Austin to pick up her wedding dress. On the way home, she texted Reno to tell him how excited she was to start their new life together and how much she loved him, then . . .”

  Paige’s voice broke off. Charli reached out and clasped her hand.

  “And then,” Paige continued, “she hit a semitruck head-on at sixty-five miles an hour. Diana and her sister were both killed instantly.”

  For a moment, Charli just stood there, not knowing what to say or do. The sorrow that reached down deep into her soul and gave a hard yank brought tears to her eyes. Her throat dried up. “My God,” she finally managed to say. “So in just a few years’ time, he not only tragically lost his brother and father but also the woman he loved?”

  Paige nodded. “Diana died just a few months after Joe.”

  “That explains so much.” Charli could still remember the anguish that tore at her heart the day her mother had died, and that had been over half a lifetime ago. She couldn’t imagine how these tragic losses must still haunt him.

  Paige gripped her hand. “Don’t let his grief swallow him alive. I know you two have only just met, but—”

  “I’m not sure he’s really interested in me.”

  “He is. Anyone who’s known him for any length of time knows he’s definitely interested. When you came into this town, all ready to shake things up and make some changes, he was just as determined to keep them the same. He only wants what’s best for the entire town. In his mind, that’s keeping things the way they were. For him—in happier times.”

  “I see that now,” Charli said.

  “Besides Aiden, Reno is one of the most loyal people I’ve ever known. When we all started seeing him help you make those changes—even against his own wants and desires—we all knew there was a spark.”

  For Charli, there was more than a spark. The attraction between her and Reno crackled like a three-alarm fire.

  Voices came from down the hall, and Paige paused to look over her shoulder. When her blue eyes came back, they were bright with optimism.

  “If you feel anything for him at all, don’t let him push you away,” Paige said, being the second person in as many days to give Charli the same advice. “Take it from someone who knows. He’ll continue living the rest of his life inside that shell that tells him he doesn’t deserve to be happy. But then the rest of the world will miss out on an amazing man. And you—if you’re looking for it—will miss out on an incredible love.”

  Love?

  Charli’s heart stuttered.

  She hadn’t known the man long enough to be in love with him. Had she? Was there any truth to love at first sight? Sure, she’d read stories of married couples who fell in love the moment they’d met and had been happily married for eons. But she’d always just thought those were fairy tales. Like “Cinderella” or “Snow White.�
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  “Come on.” Paige smiled and tugged her down the hall. “Jana went romantic cowgirl on her bedroom makeover, with a pair of Texas Long Horns painted white and bedazzled with pink rhinestones. She even made curtains from the ruffles of wedding gowns. You’re going to love it.”

  Bull horns and rhinestones?

  An unlikely match.

  Just like her and Reno.

  While the band covered the new Jason Aldean tune, Reno took his turn at bartending. He’d traded off an hour ago with Jesse, who’d promptly disappeared with Angel Martinez—not the current veterinary assistant, who was currently chatting up Jackson while he tried to dance with Izzy.

  No one needed to watch reality TV when you lived in a small town. There was enough going on to keep everyone entertained. And with all the whispers and eyeballing going on, apparently he’d become the current topic of gossip. Not that he hadn’t been in that spot once or twice before. Wasn’t his favorite place to be, but without even trying, he’d become a repeat offender.

  The other element in the newest buzz about town was currently dancing on the arm of Chester Banks, who had to look way up into her pretty face. Which meant Chester was at about breast level and enjoying himself immensely. Reno would have intervened, but Charli seemed like she could handle herself well enough with the near ninety-year-old. But Chester had better watch himself if those arthritic hands started to roam.

  Annoyed that he hadn’t found time to snag a dance or two with Charli himself, Reno popped the cap off a bottle of Southern Star and poured a shot of Jack Daniel’s for Lila Ridenbaugh. The lifelong Sweet resident had worn her skimpiest tank top and, breasts thrust out to kingdom come, posed herself against the bar in a suggestive manner.

  “So when do you get off work?” Lila asked, slamming the Jack and taking a pull from the longneck. She made a big show of licking a drop from her red-painted lips.

  Once or twice in his younger, dumber days, he might have thought about taking Lila up on her invitations. Luckily, he’d refrained. Lila had a track record a mile long—married three times and had four kids. All with different fathers. Seemed Lila had a little trouble staying in one place for any length of time.

  “I’m not really working. Just giving my mom a hand.”

  “Can’t Jesse or Jackson work the bar? I’d like to show you a new dance step I learned.”

  By the suggestive tone in her voice, Reno knew that any dancing she had on her mind would be of the horizontal type. Lila was a nice person, but he had no intention of being baby daddy number five. Or six. Or whatever.

  “Jack’s busy with Izzy and Jesse”—he glanced around the barn—“seems to have disappeared. So it looks like I’m it for now.”

  “Then maybe you can get me a bottle of whatever that is.”

  Reno’s head turned toward the sultry voice on the opposite side of the bar, and his heart kicked up a notch. Charli stood right beside Lila, leaning into the bar—giving him an eyeful of cleavage and Lila a run for her money.

  “Mike’s Hard Lemonade?” He held up the bottle. She nodded. “Thought you said you weren’t much of a drinker, Fancy Pants. This has a little kick to it.”

  Lila’s nose wrinkled like she smelled something bad. “That’s pansy-ass stuff. Maybe she’d like something with a bigger boot to keep up with the rest of us Texas girls.”

  “Oh, I’m not looking to get drunk,” Charli said with the sweetest smile. “That’s just so . . . distasteful.”

  Lila took the remark for exactly what it was. Then, as if she wanted to make a point, she leaned across the bar, wrapped her fingers in Reno’s shirt, and planted a hard kiss on his mouth. Lucky for him it was a quick look-what-I-can-do show of possession and not a let-me-ram-my-tongue-down-your-throat display of affection.

  “You let me know when you’re done here, handsome. I’ll be waiting.” She lifted her nose in the air, gave Charli the look, and sauntered off. Hopefully in search of someone who might actually take her up on her offer.

  “Hmmm. I don’t think she likes me very much,” Charli said with a smirk on her lips.

  Reno wiped away the remnants of Lila’s lipstick and tossed the napkin in the trash. “Some local girls don’t like outside competition. Lila’s looking for husband number four.” He popped the cap on the lemonade and handed her the bottle. “Or maybe it’s number five. I’ve lost track.”

  “Are you applying for the job?” She lifted the bottle and took a drink.

  Reno watched the way her delicate fingers wrapped around the glass and the way the bottle pressed against her lips. After that, it was impossible to ignore the immediate reaction inside his jeans. “Oh, I’m damned sure there’s a better man than me out there for her.”

  “Not that I think you and baby mama would be a good pair, but why do you always sell yourself short?”

  “When it comes to Lila’s affections, I’ll sell myself short all day long.” He chuckled and handed a wine cooler to Maude Perkins, who then headed in Chester’s direction. “Other than that, didn’t know I did.”

  “Maybe that’s not such a bad thing.” Her dark eyes assessed him, and her lips tipped up in a smile. “I guess it’s better when a man doesn’t feel the need to puff his chest out all the time. Machismo does have its limitations.”

  “Exactly what constitutes too much?”

  “Oh, you know . . .” She turned around and eyed the crowd. “See that guy right there?” She pointed her bottle toward Alec Lightfoot, one of the area’s most notorious players.

  “Yeah.”

  “He has a look in his eye that says he might be able to get the job done. But the smirk on his lips discounts anything he has to offer because he’ll tell everyone in town whom he nailed the night before. When you ask the woman on the other side of the story, she’d probably be reluctant to admit she jumped between the sheets with him because it was an embarrassing waste of her time. In other words, men like that are usually flashy big talkers and—”

  “Lousy in bed.”

  “Yes!” She laughed. “Not that I would know anything about that.”

  He smiled, then stopped himself from wondering who had been the big talker in her life. He didn’t want to travel down that road. Even thinking about her in another man’s arms drove him bat-shit crazy.

  “Personally, I think all guys like that need to wear a thick chain around their neck like a big gold warning sign,” she said.

  Reno laughed. Sometimes, talking with Charli made him spill his guts. Sometimes, it made him think about and wish for things he didn’t deserve. And sometimes, talking with her was just plain fun. “So you’re against hairy chests? You prefer the smooth gym-rat type?”

  “Well.” She took another pull from her lemonade, licked her lips, and smiled. “If I get to play Goldilocks and have my pick, I do have a confession.” She leaned in and whispered. “I’ve seen your chest. And it’s just right.”

  She gave him a wink, then took her lemonade and strutted away in her floaty, attention-grabbing sundress and red boots. With each sexy sway of her hips, her shiny hair swung across her bare back, and all he could think of was threading his fingers through those silky locks and drawing her in for a kiss. As she reached the barn doors, she glanced at him over her naked shoulder and smiled.

  Everything inside him jumped to full alert. The muscles in his neck tightened. His heart pounded. And an erection that literally stole his breath swelled inside his pants.

  He wanted Charlotte Brooks. And he wanted her bad.

  Enough of the wordplay. Enough of letting his imagination contrive what it would be like to make love to her.

  She’d opened the door, and he had every intention of stepping through.

  What seemed like hours later but was probably only a few minutes, Reno finally found someone to replace him at bartending and went in search of the hot woman in the cool dress and red boots.

  As always, the party picked up once the sun went down. Most of the families had taken the little kids and gone
home. Those who remained were looking to have a little fun—big-kid style. He finally spotted his target out on the dance floor on Jackson’s arm doing a two-step to “American Saturday Night.” She’d caught on to the dance fast and appeared to be enjoying herself. Unfortunately, by the grin on his face, it looked like his little brother was enjoying himself as well.

  A bit too much for Reno’s taste.

  Reno eyed Jackson’s ex on the veranda, saying good-bye to his mother. He rushed over to snag Izzy in her pretty sunflower dress.

  “Unca Weeno!” Izzy held out her plump little-baby arms.

  “There’s my girl.” He snatched her up, bussing her chubby little cheek with a noisy kiss. “Looks like you’re about to take off,” he said to Fiona, Izzy’s mother. A tall, beautiful blonde who’d tolerated his brother’s nonsense for far too long.

  “I think it’s about time I got Izzy to bed,” Fiona said. “She didn’t have a nap today.”

  “Noooo!” Izzy wrapped her arms around his neck and pressed her cheek against his. “I wan Unca Weeno!”

  He hugged her tight, thinking of all the dreams he’d once had for a family of his own—happy that at least Izzy had entered his life. Being an uncle wasn’t anything like being a dad, but his love for this little girl made it easier.

  “How about a dance, sugar? Would you like that?”

  She gave a quick succession of nods, and her golden curls bounced like springs.

  “One last dance?” he said to Fiona. “Then I can grab Jackson for you.”

  Fiona smiled, knowing she’d been had. “One more dance. And thank you.”

  Reno held his giggling niece in his arms and joined the others on the dance floor. He made grand dance gestures, which only made Izzy giggle more. As the Brad Paisley song hit the midway point, Reno spotted Jackson and Charli in the center of the floor. The two laughed and leaned in to speak into each other’s ears. And that made Reno’s feet move just a little quicker.

  “Daddy!” Izzy held her arms out when she spotted Jackson, who turned with a big smile.

  Reno knew he could fault his brother for many things but not for the love he had for his daughter, or for trying to do right by her mother. Jackson had given the marriage his best shot, but his problem stemmed from the one woman who’d gotten away and taken his heart with her.