Anything But Sweet (17 page)

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.”

“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.

W
hile 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.

W
hat 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.

“There’s my princess!” Jackson swept her into his arms.

“Fiona’s looking for you,” Reno said, handing Izzy over. “Past someone’s bedtime apparently.”

“Ah. Duty calls.” Jackson gave a bow to Charli. “Thank you for the dance, my lady.”

Charli smiled, obviously charmed by Jack’s gallantry. But more than likely by the
cherub who held out her arms to Charli—a perfect stranger—for a good-bye hug. His
niece was an affectionate little thing, and Reno was glad to see Charli respond without
hesitation.

Reno stood side by side with Charli, watching Jackson waltz Izzy off the dance floor.

“He’s so good with her,” Charli commented above the music.

“He adores her. It’s just too bad things didn’t work out with her mother.”

“What happened?”