The receptionist motioned they take a seat in the lounge. At Indulgent, guests were immediately led to a luxurious changing room and given robes and soft slippers. Cups of water with lemon and delicious snacks resided in the room. Having to wait in a lobby wasn’t a real issue for her, but it made her happy for one reason. When she opened her spa, this owner would have a lot more to worry about than overbookings.
* * * *
Candy and the girls made it out of the spa with less than an hour to spare. She was pleased with the added blonde highlights, but the pedicurist had rushed. Now, however, wasn’t the time to nitpick or ask for the work to be redone. She had a dinner to attend, and she couldn’t wait to bask in Mandy’s happiness.
Both Beth and Lisa looked stunning with their new styles. Beth had red highlights put in, which went well with her light complexion, and Lisa had her auburn hair straightened. She always complained how it frizzed when the weather turned nasty, but Candy thought her friend looked beautiful both ways. If Lisa ever quit her high-stress job, Candy bet she’d have a much easier time losing the pounds she anguished over all the time. Maybe then she’d believe she was a bombshell to be reckoned with.
Candy drove back to the hotel so they could change into their rehearsal dinner dresses. They helped each other with jewelry selection then hurried to the car, not wanting the wind to ruin their creations.
“I can’t believe just three short months ago, we witnessed Vince and Cam proposing and now Mandy’s getting married.” Beth sighed.
Was the rush for a good reason? Candy couldn’t wait to find out.
The rehearsal dinner was being held at Vince Callen’s parents’ house. Mandy’s family lived in North Carolina, but agreed that given the size of the Callen family, it made more sense to have the wedding and reception in Wyoming.
After a fifteen-minute drive down a long and dark desolate road, Candy arrived at the Callen ranch.
Beth whistled. “This is some place.”
“I’ve been to some really nice homes in Denver,” Lisa said, “but nothing compares to this.”
The one-story sprawling home was made from logs. Lights bordered the base of the house, giving it a warm, homey feel. “Mandy told me Vince has four brothers and one sister. Apparently, large families are the norm for the Callens. That might explain the need for such a big home.”
Once they parked, the cold buried its way up her bare legs, and they hightailed it inside. A distinguished gentleman in a tux was there to take their coats. “Everyone is in the living room, ladies. It’s to your left.”
They rounded the corner and Lisa clasped a hand on Candy’s wrist and halted. “Holy shit.” Her friend leaned closer. “They’re all tall and beautiful.”
Candy said nothing. At her lofty height, she was often the one looking down at the men, especially when she wore heels. “That they are.”
She didn’t spot a man under six feet. Except for the people who appeared to belong to the older generation, every male was cover-model perfect.
Mandy rushed toward them and give all three of them hugs. “You guys look great!”
Her friend beamed, and her skin glowed. “So do you. Wyoming seems to agree with you.”
Mandy’s face heated. “Except for my parents, everyone else already knows. I’m pregnant.”
Squealing in such a fine home was probably uncouth, but Candy couldn’t help it. “I’m so happy for you. I know you’ve wanted this forever.” Mandy would make the perfect mother. She was such a caring and wonderful person.
“I have. Both Vince and Cam are thrilled, too.”
Candy glanced at her flat belly. “You can’t be that far along.” She’d only met them three months ago.
“About six weeks.”
Even though she’d dreamed of a slew of kids someday, Candy couldn’t imagine having a child right now. Her spa needed to be her main focus, not falling in love. “Why didn’t you call me?” She was sure there was a good reason.
“I didn’t want you to feel bad. I’ve been so blessed and you, well—”
Candy laughed and finished her sentence. “Have a life that sucks? You didn’t want to make me feel worse, right?”
Her eyes widened. “No. I wasn’t going to say that exactly.”
Candy smiled. “It’s all right. It’s absolutely true, but now that I’m here, that’s all about to change.” Though she would have been thrilled for her friend no matter the timing of the news.
Mandy grabbed her hand. “Come on in and enjoy the party. I hope you don’t mind, but I paired each of you with a member of the wedding party.” She leaned close. “They’re all eligible.” She winked.
She didn’t want to spoil Mandy’s excitement by telling her Mr. Right was not in her near future.
Vince and Cam approached and shook hands with the ladies. Mandy turned to Vince. “Why don’t you introduce Candy to Daniel? Cam, will you bring Lisa over to Trevor, and I’ll escort Beth to Winston?”
The group dispersed, and Vince held out his arm. “May I?”
Candy slipped her arm through his. The living room was so large, pockets of people assembled in different areas. She’d met Mandy’s parents one time and recognized them speaking with another older couple. “How many people are here?”
“About fifty. I know, I know. My mom really tried to cut it down to just the wedding party, but she could never say no to family. Sam, Mandy’s boss, brought one of her husbands, even though he’s not in the wedding party. Her other husband, Heath, is with their daughter and new son.”
“I see.”
Four men stood facing the fireplace. Vince tapped one on the shoulder. “Daniel?”
Both he and the man next to him spun around. The first one smiled and the other one had a mouthful of something. The second his eyes met hers, the liquid went flying as if he’d been in the middle of laughing or was in shock.
Beer splattered all down her white blouse, and her breath caught.
His eyes widened and his jaw dropped. “Christ. I’m so sorry.” He pulled a bandana from his back pocket and swiped it down her chest. His face turned so red she almost felt sorry for him.
He kept dragging it over her breasts, applying a lot of pressure, as if the bandana would absorb the liquid faster the harder he pressed. Finally, she clasped his wrist and swallowed a smile. “It’s okay. Things like this happen.” It wouldn’t be the first time someone spilled beer on her.
She was surprised any words came out of her mouth. Even in her heels, this man was a good two inches taller. His dark hair had slipped over his forehead, accentuating his beautifully intriguing hazel eyes that drew her in. But his classic straight nose and high cheekbones weren’t the only attractive features. This man had shoulders wider than the Grand Canyon.
The dampness from his drink seeped lower and chilled her belly, drawing her out of her reverie.
He wiped the splatter off his own shirt, too, and she couldn’t help but notice how the muscles bulged underneath. After he stuffed the cloth in his back pocket, he held out his hand. “I’m an embarrassed Bladen McGrath.”
“We call him Blade,” Vince said.
“Blade. Nice to meet you.”
Vince nodded. “And this goofball is my brother Daniel.”
The brother nodded to her chest. “The powder room is down the hall. You might want to clean up so the beer doesn’t stain your blouse.”
Not looking her best for tonight would be a bummer. “I’ll do that.”
He held out his hand, and her heart jumped from his strong grip, a smile that reached his eyes, and lips so soft she bet he’d be a killer in bed.
Stop thinking about sex. This is Mandy’s wedding.
Where Blade was powerfully built, Daniel was more sinewy and taut, ready for action. His blue eyes were equally as vibrant as Blade’s but his seemed to have a calming effect on her. Blade’s did not.
They finally let go of each other’s hand.
“I should go clean up.”
Daniel smiled. “Hurry back.”
She inwardly moaned. Those two words tumbled in her chest and made her heart skip a beat.
Vince squeezed her shoulder. “I need to get back to my soon-to-be wife, too.”
She recovered enough to answer. “Keep her safe.” The danger to Mandy’s life appeared to be over. Her friend had been such a trouper through all the turmoil. If someone ever came after Candy like that, it would be a very long time before she let down her guard.
“Always.”
She rushed down the hallway and found the powder room with no trouble. The damage wasn’t as extensive as it had first appeared. She ran a wet hand towel over her blouse, but that only seemed to make things worse. Oh, well. What was done was done. At least she had on a nice bra.
As soon as Candy returned to Daniel and Blade, the men stopped talking. It was as if they’d been conversing about her. They looked at her, as if they were waiting for her to say something. Criminy. She hated small talk, but at the moment any esoteric topic that might have once resided in her brain disappeared. Darn. She’d even taken the time to study before she came here so she’d be more familiar with the ranch verbiage. All that entered her brain was how hot these two men were.
Daniel polished off his drink. “I hear you’re thinking of relocating to Intrigue.”
Thank you for breaking the silence.
Both men stepped closer and held her gaze as if every word out of her mouth would be important. No pressure here.
“Yes.” Before she’d explained her motivation behind the move, a bell rang. She stilled.
Daniel clasped her elbow. “That means food is served.”
She exhaled. “I’m glad you know.”
He smiled. “I’ve had thirty-three years to learn.”
Duh. If he was Vince’s brother, then this was his house, too. “You don’t still live at home, do you?”
Crap. That came out wrong.
Blade wrapped an arm around her shoulder and tugged her near. “Daniel is a momma’s boy and will never leave home. I’d stay away from him.”
Daniel shot him the finger and slipped a hand around her waist. He tugged hard, and it was the pressure from his grip that led her to the dining room. “Blade and I room together. We live in town and don’t come home very often.” He tossed a mock glare at his roommate.
She swiveled her head toward him. Blade shrugged and grinned. God help her, but these men had already found a place in her heart.
Chapter Two
The rehearsal dinner had been wonderful, mostly due to their dinner companion. Candy’s enthusiasm for starting her life again impressed Daniel so much that he didn’t want the evening to be over. She was different from the usual women he ran into. She was ambitious and focused. But most importantly, she truly listened, a trait most people lacked.
Wanting to be in her company a little longer, he and Blade walked her out to her car just as the affair was wrapping up. She’d driven with her two girlfriends, but his brothers had seen to it that they both would get back to town after a little diversion.
“You want us to follow you back to town?” He didn’t like her driving alone, as the roads didn’t have streetlights.
He would have gone back with her to hang out at the hotel’s bar, but his mom needed help with the cleanup.
She looked up him. “I’ll be fine.”
Even though Blade was standing next to him, he pulled her into an embrace. “I look forward to seeing you tomorrow.”
“Me, too.” She shivered.
Not wanting her to get any colder, he held her tight. Without thinking, he leaned down and kissed her. Whoa. He hadn’t expected heat to sear his body. Her soft lips molded perfectly against his and her height made kissing her a dream. When he opened his mouth to explore more of her, she did the same.
As soon as their tongues touched, his cock turned to steel. He could taste the wine coupled with a hint of chocolate from his mom’s baked cake. He yearned to take his time and savor her completely, but instinct told him to break this kiss now before he lost control.
He stepped aside to allow Blade to taste her sweetness.
Blade took his place. “Let me say good night, too.”
Daniel couldn’t tell if she was taken aback when both wanted to kiss her, but from the way her hips pressed forward and her back arched, he’d say she liked a little variety. Nice.
Blade had the good sense not to prolong the kiss either. “Drive safe now.”
“I will.” Daniel swore he heard her chuckle, but the howling wind blocked most of the sound.
They waited until Candy’s taillights disappeared down the drive before heading back inside. Most of the guests had left, but before he and Blade could go back to their place in town, he needed to see what his mom needed him to do.
They both stepped into the kitchen where he’d seen her disappear. Daniel gave her a hug. “Great party.”
“Didn’t Vince look happy?”
“Happier than a pig in mud.”
She lightly punched his shoulder. “How about that tall blonde you were with?” She raised her brows.
“Candy is very nice. She just moved here.”
“Why haven’t you brought her around before?”
He jerked back his chin. “Today was her first day in town.”
“Oh. Why did she choose Intrigue? Most youngsters prefer a larger town.”
He’d asked Candy that same question. “She’s one of Mandy’s closest friends from Denver. Seems she wants to open a spa in town.”
“A spa? We already have one of those.”
Sometimes his mother wasn’t clued into life. “Intrigue has more than one restaurant, more than one feed store, and more than one rancher supplying beef.”
Her eyes widened. “Oh. I see. You think the competition will be good for us. Another spa might make Donna lower her prices.”
“That’s right.”
Her glance bounced between the two of them. “Is Candy single?”
Daniel kissed her cheek. “You’ve used up your question allotment for the day.” If he didn’t stop her, she’d spend an hour grilling him.
“Fine, but don’t think I’ll be content with one grandchild.”
He laughed, not sure if he was ready to settle down anytime soon. “What do you need me to do? Take down the chairs, empty the trash?”
“I’m good. I like the after-party clean up. It helps me judge how much food to order for the next affair.”
Well, it wouldn’t be his wedding. He hugged her. “See you tomorrow at the church then.” He said his good-bye to his dad in the living room and left.
They piled into his car, and Blade leaned back. “I like your mom. She gets straight to the point.”
His mom could be difficult at times, especially if he needed her to understand something complicated. “Speaking of straight to the point, what did you think?”
“Of?”
He gunned the engine. “You know. Candy?”
Blade laughed. “Let me see. When I pulled her to my chest to kiss her good night, it was the first time my cock lined up with a woman’s pussy. Not to mention I didn’t have to strain my back to kiss her.”
Daniel laughed. “I had the same thought. She smelled good, too.”
“I noticed.”
Candy kissed like a goddess. “Did she let you explore her mouth?”
“Drive.”
He guessed that was a no. “You know when Candy finds a place to open her spa, she’ll need someone to renovate it. Callen Construction is the perfect choice.” Blade didn’t do the actual work anymore. He was the general contractor for his cousin’s firm, but he bet Blade would be there to supervise quite often.
“Dustin might be willing to cut someone as lovely and needy as Candy a good deal.”
Daniel turned right toward town. “I should offer to install her security system.”
“Sounds like a viable plan. I wonder where she’s going to live while the renovation takes pl
ace.”
He glanced over at Blade. “What are you thinking?”
“What I’d like and what she’d agree to wouldn’t mesh.”
“We need to take it slow with her. You know what happens when we move too fast.” They’d goofed a few times in the past. “Most women have never been with two lovers at once.”
“I am Mr. Slow. You’re the hothead.”
Daniel laughed. “Wrong. Who went after Tara’s ex-boyfriend with a shotgun?”
“He was hassling her.”
“Mmm.”
Fifteen minutes later, he parked on the street behind their building. Callen Security took up the entire bottom floor. They lived on the second and rented out part of the third floor.
The wind was still blowing strong when he got out of the car, and it felt like it might snow tomorrow. He rushed to the entry door. Crime wasn’t prevalent in the town, but he’d installed an eye scanner mostly because he thought it was cool. He leaned over the device and the back door opened. It saved him the effort of having to put a key in the lock at night.
An elevator sat to their left, but he chose to take the stairs. It was faster. Inside he tossed his car keys on the kitchen counter. “I’m beat.”
Blade tugged his shirt out of his waistband. “Do you think Candy would be willing to have two lovers?”
He’d known Blade since freshman year in high school. Daniel was a year older, but Blade has been the one to get him through school when all he wanted to do was play basketball. Studying had been the last thing he’d thought about back then.
“The thought hasn’t left his mind since the moment I met her. According to Mandy, her friend never had a problem with my sister marrying two men.”
“There’s a difference between being accepting of the ménage lifestyle and being willing to live it.”
“Good point. Then I guess we need to see if we can convince her that two is better than one.”
* * * *
Floating on a cloud, Candy swiped the key in the hotel room and entered. Her lips still tingled from those two kisses and she thought back to the delicious dinner and fun conversation. The meal had been buffet style, so the guests could sit anywhere. Some scattered to the living room and others to the den. Daniel suggested she join them in the kitchen, where tall stools bordered a huge island. She totally could picture herself cooking there, preparing meals for three or more.
Craving Candy [The Callens 10] (Siren Publishing Ménage Everlasting) Page 2
