Simple Arrangement (2 page)

“I’m just telling the truth. You both are beautiful women and kissing either of you was never a hardship.” Chandler grinned, a devilish look on his face.

“You are not helping, Chandler.” Deyon slapped him on the chest again.

Chandler caught her hand and lifted it to his lips, staring at Leonardo as he did.

Leonardo growled and stepped forward, fist clenched.

Iona slid between them and glanced up at Leonardo. “Quit it. You know Deyon would never cheat on you. Just like she knows you would never cheat on her.” Iona glanced at Deyon, studying her steadily. “If either of you ever even contemplated it, I would kick both of your asses myself. Now, Leo”—she met Leonardo’s gaze again—“play nice with Chandler, who will behave.” She turned her attention to the man in question and his smile widened. “Or I will kick his ass instead.” Iona pulled Deyon from between Chandler and Kendrix, putting her with Leonardo. “Now apologize, Leo, unless you like the idea of
not
sleeping with your new wife tonight. Because knowing Deyon as we all do, she will make you suffer for not trusting her.”

“I trust her. I love the damn, pain-in-the-ass woman.” Leonardo glared at Deyon then Chandler. “It’s him. He likes to mess with me to make me get angry.”

“And you let him.” Iona clucked her tongue. “What happened to the contained sheriff who protects our town?”

“He gets stupid when it comes to me,” Deyon muttered.

“Exactly. And Chandler knows that.” Iona smacked Leonardo on the chest. “He wants Deyon as much as he would want me.
Not
. So now you two go and make friends so Deyon won’t have to Tase you then lock you up to become friendly.” Iona scowled at Leonardo and Chandler. “You both know she would do it too. I’m surprised she hasn’t already.”

“I’ve thought of it. But Rissa and Kendrix wouldn’t help me lure Chandler or Leonardo someplace so I could.” Deyon pouted then smiled at Iona. “Maybe I should have asked you instead.”

“Yeah. I would have helped.” Iona grinned. “We could have wired the room for sound and video. Ate popcorn while they blustered about killing you for it then eventually made nice with each other.”

“Hey,” Leonardo and Chandler said.

“Tell me more.” Deyon ignored them and led Iona away to stand a few steps from the men. Kendrix joined them, chuckling.

“Men are so silly. I married the oaf.” Deyon frowned. “God knows why.”

“You love him,” Kendrix said.

“I do, but I swear I want to kill him too.” Deyon rolled her eyes.

“That’s all part of it. You love him one moment then want to strangle him the next. He taps into your deeper emotions.” Iona patted her shoulder. “You poor thing.”

“That’s Miss You Are One Lucky Poor Thing. Since I have the man that I love, even if he makes me nutty as a fruitcake.” Deyon shrugged her off then grinned. “I can’t wait for when you find the man who is the one for you. I’m going to enjoy watching him drive you crazy.”

“Not going to happen.” Iona shook her head. “No man would do that to me. I’m too controlled for that.”

Deyon blinked slowly then laughed in her face. “Oh my God, you really believe that. When you fall it will be hard, Iona, and I am so going to enjoy reminding you of this conversation.”

“Love is overrated. Just give me a man who I’m at least attracted to and can hold a decent conversation with without being a babbling idiot, and I’d be glad. Love not needed,” Kendrix said then looked at Iona.

They nodded at each other then focused on Deyon.

“Ladies, you don’t know better
now
but someday you will know how you both are lying to yourself.” Deyon shook her head.

“This wasn’t about me or Kendrix,” Iona pointed out. “It’s about the stupidity of men.”

“I think it’s time to get out of hearing distance before they insult us anymore,” Leonardo said, as he came over. He grabbed Deyon and kissed her hungrily then patted her ass before he headed away. “Let’s get a drink, Chandler. I might even make it through it without wanting to punch you.”

Chandler moved closer, standing by Iona. She glanced up and his expression made her pause.

“What?” She lifted an eyebrow.

“You said something earlier that was false.”

“Really? What was it?”

“That I would want you as much as I want Deyon. Not at all.” Chandler leaned closer. “You are wrong about that. Deyon is like my sister but
you are not
. You would be someone I would want.” He lifted her hand and kissed the back of it. “Everything about you, I find fascinating.” He looked past her. “But I don’t poach.” He released her before walking away.

Confused, Iona turned her head and her eyes widened as she met Jackson’s impassive face.

“I see what you mean about being blunt.” Jackson touched her waist briefly. “Very well done, saving Leo from himself.” He turned to Kendrix. “You looked very sexy in the wedding.”

“I’m glad Deyon paired us up for you to escort me down the aisle for the wedding.” Kendrix touched his arm. “It was good getting to know you. Chandler has said so much about you, since you all have become good friends. I’m glad I got to finally spend some time with you.”

Iona stared at Kendrix’s hand resting on Jackson’s arm and wanted to rip it off.
How dare she touch him?
A picture of
her punching Kendrix filled Iona’s mind and she blew out a breath as shock filled her.

What the hell is wrong with me? Jackson can touch or, hell, fuck whoever he wants. Damn it, Iona, why did you even think they are fucking?
She didn’t really pay any attention as Jackson finished speaking with Kendrix then spoke with Deyon. He turned to Iona again and winked before he strode away. She stared after him, watching the loose-limbed way he moved. He was all strength and sleek like a cat. Immediately her thoughts went to how he would be in bed. Iona pushed those away before they could fully form.

“Someone has been holding out on us.” Deyon bumped shoulders with her. “Not just one but two men who are vying for the attention of Iona McKingley.”

“I wonder which one she’ll pick?” Kendrix bumped against her other shoulder.

“Hush, both of you. There is no one vying for anything. They are just flirting. Weddings make people stupid. They get all starry-eyed and thinking they want to pair up. Find that love connection.” She used quotation marks. “I’m not looking for or needing that.”

“But sex, it does a body good.” Kendrix moaned deep in her throat. “Someone knock out my curls and make me speak in tongues, sex is good for the soul.”

Iona stared at her in shock. She had never heard her talk like that and hadn’t even known she could.

“What?” Kendrix widened her eyes and blinked, trying to look innocent.

“I think you made Iona mute.” Deyon hooted with laughter. “She didn’t know that there was a little wild child under that cool exterior.”

“Humph. Nothing on me is little.” Kendrix ran her hand over her curves. She and Deyon had been well-known plus-sized models. Deyon had retired a long time ago and Kendrix had recently retired about seven months ago. “Including my inner hoyden
—
she is crazy and larger than life.”

“After all these months of renovating the house you bought, how did I not know this side of you?” Iona laughed in delight. “I love it.”

“When you’re working you are intense, Iona. So focused on what you are creating it can be a little intimidating.” Kendrix shrugged. “That’s what they said about me, too, when I modeled.”

“And now when you are designing clothing for Deyon’s.” Deyon shook her head. “I thought I was a perfectionist, but Kendrix has me beat.”

“Whatever.” Kendrix flipped her off. “Don’t make me beat you.”

“Such violence. This is a wedding,” a woman said, coming up to them.

“Rissa, we all seem to have some violent tendencies in us. This is another in the long line of weddings we’ve been in and had to attend. Including most of yours.” Iona grinned at Leonardo’s sisters and Harmony—who was Leonardo’s brother Jonathon’s wife.

“It does seem like we have been going to wedding every time we even breathe.” Rissa chuckled. “It’s an epidemic of marriage. Or so Dimitri used to grumble about until he met Shannon.”

“I wonder how long it’ll be before he asks her to marry him,” Deyon said. “I’ve already started working on the dress for Shannon’s wedding.”

“When our parents asked I thought Dimitri said even if they get married, it won’t be anything big or fancy. It was for Mom’s benefit. She loves planning weddings. Since Dimitri will be her last one, she wants to go all out for it.”

“The dress is simple to suit Shannon.” Deyon shrugged. “She can wear it or not. If she doesn’t, I will give it to her as a gift.”

“Well, your mother-in-law better not plan for a big one.” Iona shook her head then turned to Rissa. “Shannon won’t have it and she is blunt enough to tell your mom to back off. Your mom will have to be happy with possibly being involved when some of the rest of your cousins find someone and gets married.”

“Or when you or someone in your family gets married.” Deyon smiled.

It made Iona uneasy.

“Which could be soon, since our girl Iona here has two men vying for her attention,” Deyon said slowly. “And she didn’t give either one her ‘Get the hell away from me, I’m not interested’ look.”

“Who?” Katiya, one of her best friends and another of Leonardo’s sisters, asked
. “Wait
, I need to get the others so they can hear this.”

“Sto—”

Katiya called over the rest of the women and the man who were good friends in their circle. Some they’d known since they were kids and others they’d met in college, but their closeness was the same.

“What are we talking about?” the man asked.

“Sex and Iona.”

“My cue to leave.” He pivoted on his heel and left.

The women laughed.

“I have to remember to use that at work to get him to leave when he is annoying me.” Iona grinned.

“Now back to sex and the possibility of you having some.” Deyon wiggled her eyebrows.

Iona glanced toward the men and licked her lips when she saw Jackson watching her. She turned her head and focused on the women around her.

Jackson Carlyle continued to stare toward Iona, wanting to be near her. He couldn’t even pinpoint when he had recognized that he wanted her. Iona was a captivating woman and stubborn as they came. Although he was attracted, he would not approach her, since he knew of her track record of avoiding any sort of entanglements. Iona was fully focused on her career and her company, Edge Design Group, which she co-owned with five others. She was a premier architect and the demand for her, as well as the others in her business, took them from McKingley to all over the world to work on different projects. Iona tilted her head back and laughed at something someone in the group had said. Even though he was not close enough to hear it, he knew her laughter was a melodious sound that made him grin whenever he heard it.

“Staring at her will make it obvious you want her,” Chandler murmured by his side.

“And so do you.” Jackson elbowed him. “I didn’t know you did until today,” he said, just as low as Chandler had.

They didn’t want the other men who were standing with them in a loose semicircle to hear. Just like he was, Iona was considered family, and the Wright men tended to be overprotective of the females. Although they saw him as family, that wouldn’t stop them from going Big Brother on him if they found out about his attraction to Iona. Chandler was new to the group with his connection to Deyon. He and Jackson had become friends after Leonardo had been injured and Chandler had come to the hospital with Deyon.

“Who wouldn’t be?” Chandler shrugged, an elegant move.

Jackson held back his growl at hearing that. Chandler grinned and Jackson pushed at his shoulder.

“Why are we friends again?”

“My winning personality and awesome movie collection.” Chandler grinned. “Are you coming by for movie night on Saturday?”

“I’m off so I’ll be there. That is, unless I get called in.” Jackson frowned. “You’d better be cooking.”

“You are like a bottomless pit
—
all you think of is your stomach.” Chandler chuckled. “Of course I’m cooking and I’ll have more than enough to feed you.”

“Good.” Jackson glanced toward Iona again.

“Let me know.”

“Know what?” Jackson asked absently.

“If you are going to go for it with Iona or not.”

“Why?” Jackson turned to him.

“Because if you’re not, I will.” Chandler shrugged again. “If you do, I’ll not go there. But if you don’t…”

Chandler didn’t continue but he didn’t need to. Jackson glanced once more at Iona and she was watching him. He looked away, not focusing on either her or Chandler.

“I’m not, so feel free to give it your best shot.” Jackson gulped from his glass of Scotch.

“Stubborn idiot.” Chandler’s tone was fond.

Jackson looked at him sharply. “What do you mean?”

“Maybe you will figure it out soon, before it is too late.” Chandler slapped Jackson on the shoulder then joined the conversation with the other men around them.

Jackson could have pushed but knew from Chandler’s tone that he wouldn’t tell him what he’d meant. Instead, Jackson signaled for the bartender to get him another drink. He faced the front and couldn’t help but look at Iona again. He noticed, as he had before, that she was watching him. Jackson wondered why but he didn’t think he would ask her. Iona McKingley was off limits. He knew getting involved with her would lead to nothing but complications. He was also focused on his career and with his hours, as well as being on call, which meant having to cancel plans… Most women didn’t understand it. At first, they would say it was fine, but eventually it led to hard feelings and fighting he didn’t need or want.

Yep, it is best to steer clear of her.
With his mind made up, Jackson pushed her out of his thoughts, looking away to the men and joining in the discussion.

* * * *

Jackson placed his stethoscope around his neck, holding the edges as he walked out of the curtained area. The last patient was already on their way upstairs to surgery. He stopped a moment to look around the bustling emergency room. Although it would look like it was chaos to someone who didn’t know the inner workings of a trauma center, it actually wasn’t. The emergency room was highly organized madness and when working there, a person got used to knowing instinctively where they needed to be or what was happening. Jackson loved the bustling activity and nothing made him happier than being right here in the thick of things. His job as co-head did come with loads of paperwork but he was still able to keep doing what he loved—helping others.