Anything But Sweet (15 page)

He needed to use his military skills and stay in neutral territory to save his skin.
And his sanity. Not to mention his heart.

No time seemed better than now as he sat on horseback and rode out to check fence
lines with Jesse at his side.

“Heard Goody’s was having a candy sale today after the big reveal,” Jesse said in
his discreetly meddlesome manner. “Thought maybe you’d want to go over there and pick
up something for Izzy.”

Reno tipped his hat farther down on his forehead to avoid the sun’s glare. “Maybe
you
could go get her something.”

A grin tilted Jesse’s mouth. “You know I’m a chips and salsa guy. I’d have no idea
what to pick out.”

“Just buy something pink, and I guarantee it will be a hit.”

“What if I buy the wrong shade of pink?”

“She’s a two-year-old, for crying out loud.” Reno shook his head. “You think she
has a preference over light or dark?”

“I think you’re the one with the sweet tooth, and you’d do a better job.”

Reno pulled Cisco to a stop and glared at his brother. “Are we really arguing over
what kind of candy to buy our niece? Or are you just butting your nose in where it
doesn’t belong?”

“Nose is exactly where it’s supposed to be. In
your
business.” Jesse tugged the reins on Ranger, the big bay he preferred to ride even
though the horse had a stubborn streak. “Shelly Dworshak brought her schnauzer in
yesterday for a rabies vaccine. She said she saw you and Ms. Brooks sharing barbecue,
and you looked mighty cozy.”

Reno felt his eyes roll and hit the back of his head. “Shelly Dworshak is a nosy woman
who wears Coke-bottle glasses and wouldn’t know a possum from a raccoon.”

“No need to be so insulting. Or get so defensive.” Jesse leaned back in the saddle.
“Unless you got something to hide.”

“Nothing to hide, little brother.” He kicked Cisco into gear, and the buckskin took
off at a gallop. Damn. Reno needed to watch his responses. His brothers were pros
at yanking out information, then making of it what they wanted. Any kind of defensive
tone with them was like confirmation.

Jesse caught up, turned his horse, who did a sidestep while his rider pried deeper.
“Thought you’d want to know that Mom invited the delightful Ms. Brooks and her crew
to the barbecue.”

“Well, that was nice of Mom.”

“Those parties can get out of hand once in a while, you know.”

“Stop going around the block, brother. Say what you mean.”

“Not often you go home alone afterward.”

“And what makes you think I’d go home with Ms. Brooks?”

“She’s hot?”

“Then why wouldn’t you or Jackson try to go home with her?” Aside from the fact that
he’d have to kill them.

“Because we weren’t seen eating barbecue with her. Because we didn’t spend three days
painting a mural for her even after we swore we were pissed off that she and her TV
show were here to rape and pillage our town. Because—”

“Jesus, Jess. You’ve got an imagination on you.”

“Jesus, Reno. You’ve been throwing out “Back the fuck off” signals since the minute
she moved into Jack’s apartment.”

He had?

Oops. Time to detour. “How old are you?”

Jesse’s blue-eyed glare made him want to laugh. “Thirty-two.”

“No shit? I could have sworn you were still in high school.”

“Funny.”

Before he urged the horse into high speed, Reno did a quick spin on the conversation.
“So how’s it working out with your new vet assistant?”

Jesse threw out an arm to stop him, grasping Reno by the shirtsleeve and almost yanking
him from his mount.

“What the hell are you doing?” he asked, but he knew. Damn it. He knew.

“We love you, bro.” A rare look of concern pushed down on Jesse’s brows. “And there
isn’t a single one of us that doesn’t want to see you happy. Diana was a wonderful
girl, but she’s gone. It’s time for you to open yourself up to the great big world
out there. Dad and Jared may be gone, but do you think for one minute they’d want
you to mourn them forever?”

“I—”

“Hell no they wouldn’t. Dad would kick your ass if he knew you’d practically quit
breathing the day he died. Jared would call in the noogie patrol until your head burned.”
Jesse let go of his shirt and clamped his hand over Reno’s shoulder. “You busted your
ass your entire life to prove you were one of us. But, Reno, you’re the
best
of us.”

His throat went dry.

“Do you remember when you first came to live with us, and you’d have those nightmares
and wake up screaming?”

“Hard to forget.”

“Do you remember how we’d all lie down on the floor together to protect you from whatever
haunted you in the night?”

“Yeah.”

Jesse’s grasp on his shoulder tightened. “We’re still there, man. And we all want
to see you move past what’s holding you back. Your life started out rough. We want
to see you live the rest with a smile on your face.”

Reno took in his brother’s words—let them sink deep down into his soul. Without warning,
emotion sprang up into his eyes and misted his view of the brother who’d seemed to
grow wiser when he hadn’t been looking.

“Give yourself permission to exist, big brother,” Jesse said. “You deserve to live.
Even if others can’t.”

Like Charli had said about her mother, he felt lucky to have had Diana in his life.
He glanced across the field and could picture her riding her horse at breakneck speed,
lasso overhead, smiling as she chased down a wayward calf at branding time. She’d
been the quiet one at family dinners. The thoughtful one on special occasions. His
confidant. His friend. His lover.

And when she’d died just a few months after his father, he’d wanted to die too.

Living was one thing. But Reno knew a woman like Charli deserved better than him.

Nobody wanted—or needed—damaged goods.

Chapter 12

T
he grass in Town Square tickled the bare bottoms of Charli’s feet as she walked over
to the gazebo area and approached the man who stood with one booted foot propped up
on a picnic bench. Overhead, the grackles gathered in the trees, fluttered their wings,
and bombarded her with squeaks and whistles.

“I know we’re on a mouse-sized budget, Sam, but I want elephant-sized results.”

Sam, the landscape manager, bent his head over the plans and rubbed his brow with
a free hand. “I can’t—”

“No. No. No. I don’t want to hear ‘I can’t.’ I want to hear”—she lowered her tone
to sound like a man—“wow, Charli, this is a really astronomically impossible feat,
but I’ll make damned sure you get what you need.”

He chuckled. “Does anyone ever tell you no?”

“Well, they try.” She grinned. “But the results can be really ugly, and I’d rather
not discuss the messy details.”

“Fine.” Sam gave a huge man sigh. “Then you’ll have exactly what you want—providing
that elaborate gazebo you ordered gets done on time.”

“This morning I brought the workers donuts. Later, I’m hitting up the bakery for cupcakes,”
she admitted. “If I see a weak link, I have a stash of energy drinks in the cooler.”

“You are one determined young lady.”

“I know you’ve only been here for a couple of days, Sam, and you haven’t gotten to
know the community yet, but there’s more than just a park here. It’s more than just
a place where people picnic or sit beneath the stars to listen to a band. This is
the conduit for keeping the community connected. It’s the place where couples are
united. Where lives are celebrated.”

“Sounds like an old-fashioned movie.”

“Maybe it is. But I’m quickly learning that sometimes keeping tradition alive is what
keeps people going—even when they want to give up.”

He shrugged. “Makes sense I guess.”

She could tell he wasn’t fully convinced, so she told him Paige and Aiden’s story
and how they would have their wedding there in just a few weeks. Sam, being a vet
who’d done time in Desert Storm, quietly nodded. “I get it now. You’ll have your vision.
I promise.”

When Sam went back to his projects, Charli took a slow look around the square. With
all the activity going on and progress being made in each project area, she nearly
cried with relief. When it all came together, it would be a spectacular place for
the residents of Sweet to enjoy for years to come. One day, she hoped to come back
and see it all for herself. Maybe she could even make it back during the Sweet Apple
Butter Festival. She heard that was quite the party.

“There you are.”

Charli turned toward the friendly voice. Jana Wilder—hair and makeup perfectly groomed—walked
toward her, lugging a large plastic beverage cooler and a bag of red Solo cups. Beside
her on a sparkly leash, Miss Giddy displayed a perky blue satin ribbon around her
neck.

“Hi. What are you doing here?”

Reno’s mother smiled. “I was on my way over to the assisted living center. I take
Miss Giddy there to visit once a week—animals being a good source of therapy and
all. I just couldn’t think of y’all being out here in this hot sunshine without some
sweet tea to cool you down. So here I am.”

“That’s so nice of you.” Charli’s thirst went into overdrive. “And hello to you, Miss
Giddy.”

The goat said
“Meh-eh-eh”
in return, and Charli laughed.

“How about we go over there to that table under the tree and call everyone over.”
Charli relieved Jana of the cumbersome, heavy cooler.

“That’ll do,” Jana said. “It’ll give me the chance to invite them all for the barbecue
this weekend.”

“Are you sure you want
everyone
there? That adds a lot of people to your list.”

“Oh, sugarplum, don’t you worry. The whole town’s invited.”

“The
entire
town?” As they walked across the lawn, Charli’s eyes widened at the prospect.

“You bet. Joe started the tradition to celebrate Jared’s first birthday.”

“But—”

“I know what you’re thinking,” Jana said with a wistful smile, as Charli set down
the cooler. “But after that first gathering, the party took on a meaning other than
just a birthday party. When each boy was born after that it became a celebration of
life. When Joe and Jared died, nobody wanted to have the party anymore. I insisted.
I wasn’t about to quit celebrating how much they meant to me, or how much they’d given
me in the years I had with them. There will always be loss. And there will always
be new life—like my granddaughter Isabella. So the party goes on—in their memory
and for the memories yet to be made.”

Charli felt the warmth of the woman’s smile and sincerity all the way into her heart.
“You have an amazing outlook on life.”

“Not always. I won’t lie and say I don’t get lonely. Or mad as hell that those I love
have been taken away from me.” She shook her head. “But each day I wake up, and I
make myself find something new to be thankful for. And that gets me through. Now,
if I could just get my son to feel that way.”

“Which one?”

“Reno.”

“Ah. He’s a tough one.” Charli hesitated, knowing most things about people’s lives
were private and meant to stay that way, but more than just a little something about
that man drew her in and made her care. “I hate to pry, but—”

“What happened to him?” Jana finished.

Charli nodded. “He briefly mentioned that another woman gave birth to him.”

“Well now.” Jana’s head went back, and her eyebrows lifted. “Isn’t that interesting.”

“What is?”

“My boy doesn’t share that information with many people outside of those who already
know him. He must feel comfortable around you.”

“Oh no. Far from it, I’m afraid.”

“He doesn’t trust easy.” Jana’s bright eyes darkened. “If he knew I was telling you
any of this, he’d skin me alive.”

“I promise I won’t say a word.”

“I know you won’t. I told my boys what a good girl you were from the moment I laid
eyes on you.”

Jana softly patted her cheek, and Charli felt honored that someone who didn’t even
know her could see that she always tried to do the right thing. Even if sometimes
she took the long way around.

“Reno’s birth mother was Joe’s youngest sister,” Jana said. “She’d always been a wild
child and let anyone who’d listen know how, as soon as she got old enough, she planned
to escape anything to do with cattle or small towns or the family who’d raised her.”
Sunlight danced through the leaves overhead and across Jana’s turquoise blouse as
she opened the bag of cups and pulled out a stack. “No one heard from her for a few
years. When her parents finally got a call, it was from the Las Vegas police. They’d
arrested her on drug charges and prostitution.”

Charli’s heart sank right into the pit of her stomach.

“She did two years behind bars. Everyone hoped that would give her time to think.
But the minute she was released, she disappeared again. Six years later, Joe and I
received a call. Seems Angela had gone on a binge and taken off with some guy. Until
that moment, we didn’t even know Reno existed.”

Jana paused, bit her lip as though remembering the emotion she’d felt that day.

“She left Reno all alone in her apartment. When neighbors didn’t see her around for
a few days, they called the police.”

“Oh my God. How old was he?”

“Just five.” Her eyes watered. “Makes me want to cry just remembering what he went
through.” She waved her hand in front of her face a few times to dry the tears.

“He’d been alone in that filthy apartment for four days with only a half-empty jar
of peanut butter and tap water to drink. He was such a smart, brave little boy. He
kept himself clean. Made sure he ate small amounts in case she didn’t come back for
a while. And he stayed inside where he considered it safe. When the police came, it
took them hours to convince him it was okay to open the door and let them in.”

Jana paused again and gathered up the emotions obviously tearing through her at the
memory. “Two hours after Joe and I got the call, we headed to the airport to go get
him. He was such a sweet little thing. So grateful to finally have someone to look
after him. But also so scared he would lose us and end up right back where he’d been.
He feared Angela would come get him and drag him back to that mess.”

“What about his father?”

“No one knows who he was. Angela never told. I’m not sure she even knew. Or cared.”

“Poor baby.” Charli felt sick inside. All this time, she’d been complaining that her
father hadn’t given her any attention when Reno had literally been abandoned.

Jana nodded and began pouring sweet tea into the cups. “Six months after he came to
live with us, we started the adoption process. We weren’t about to give Angela any
leeway to come back and snatch him away. We loved him like our own. And from the moment
he walked through our door, our boys accepted him as one of them.”

Charli laid her hand over Jana’s arm. “He was so lucky to have you.”

“
We
were the lucky ones.”

“What happened to Angela?” She refused to call the woman his mother. Dogs treated
their babies better.

“About a year after the adoption was final, she called, looking for him.”

“She didn’t know he was missing for over a year?”

“She didn’t care. Why all of a sudden she had a change of heart we don’t know. And
it didn’t matter. He belonged to us. There was no way in hell we’d give him back.”

Charli had heard the term
Mama Grizzly
before, and when she looked at Jana Wilder, that’s exactly what she saw. Someone
who would defend her family to the death.

“Angela died when Reno was fifteen. When we told him, he just nodded. He never shed
a tear. But inside, I knew he cried. For years, he blamed himself for what had happened.
Thought he wasn’t lovable. Didn’t deserve to be loved.”

“How could he do that?” Charli asked, stunned. “He was just an innocent little boy.”

“Sometimes, the brain has trouble catching up with the heart. No matter how many times
you tell someone it wasn’t their fault or how much you love them, it just takes a
little longer to get the message.”

Jana called out to the team of workers and production crew, who put down their tools
and headed in the direction of a refreshing drink.

Miss Giddy gave a vocal “
Meh-eh-eh”
and began to dance around the closer they came. Obviously, Miss Giddy was a goat
with good knowledge that she’d soon be the center of attention.

Before the crew arrived, Jana took Charli’s hand and held it tight. “I know my boy’s
got eyes for you,” she said.

The statement surprised her. “Oh, I don’t think—”

“He’s my son. I know him better than he knows himself.” She gave Charli’s hand a squeeze.
“Don’t you let him push you away. He’ll try. And he’s damned good at it. But that
wonderful soul of his could use a little breather. And, sugarplum,
you
just might be it.”

Stunned to the toes of her worn sneakers, Charli watched as Jana turned toward the
workers and began to hand out cups of sweet tea. Then she glanced across the expanse
of grass and landscape construction to the hardware store across the street.

At that moment, the man in question came out the door with a huge bag of feed tossed
over his shoulder. He slung it down to the ground and leaned it against the wall by
the front window. As if he could sense her watching him, he looked up. While her heart
played Skip to My Lou, and for what felt like an eternity, they both stood there watching
each other not move. Finally, he broke the spell with a two-finger salute to the
brim of his cowboy hat and went back inside the store.

In that moment, Charli dove headfirst off the man-ban wagon.

She waited until her heartbeat slowed back to normal before she joined her crew for
a quick break. But she could not keep her gaze from straying to that dilapidated-looking
building and thoughts of the man inside.

She wished she knew a little practical magic. Had a little mystical power. But the
only thing that seemed to have any chance of working on a man who seemed to have put
his heart in solitary confinement was pure, undiluted, feminine power. She’d always
been inventive when it came to design; now she needed to put that creativity to good
use.

Reno might need a little breather, but Charli planned to make him breathless.

A
person could call himself ten kinds of stupid and still not listen to reason. As
Reno headed over to Town Square, he figured he might have lost a few more brain cells
between leaving the door of the hardware store and the curb on the other side of the
street.

He had no business leaving the store for even a moment. There were accounts to review.
Orders to place. Customers who wanted to make purchases. Packages to deliver. Which
was what he was about to do, and that was his total lame-ass excuse for walking across
the grass toward the woman he wanted nothing to do with and whom he also couldn’t
get off his mind.

To further prove his stupidity, he fully realized he could have and should have waited
for someone from her crew to come pick up the boxes of landscape lighting. But noooo.
He had to take it upon himself to deliver.

He’d always had a level head. Always been the one to pull his wild brothers out of
scrapes and catastrophes. Always been the brother everyone relied on. Because he had
good common sense.

What a load of bullshit.

At the moment, his common sense was the size of a sunflower seed and stuck so deep
in the ground, it had no chance of growing.

The grass beneath his boots was dry and crunched with every step. Ernie McGreavy must
be having nightmares about his carefully tended carpet of green. There were holes
everywhere, not to mention the craters created by a backhoe currently riding across
the lawn and doing further damage.