Fated for Love (33 page)

Wes took her trembling hand in his. “You don’t have to answer now. Take your time. Think it over.”

“Take my time? Yes, Wes. Yes, with every piece of my heart. Yes, yes, yes.” She threw her arms around his neck, and he felt as though he could finally breathe again.

“THIS IS TOTALLY unfair, you know,” Callie said to Wes as he pulled into his brother Luke’s driveway with a big grin on his face. “I’m going to look like a fool. I can’t stop smiling.” She was still holding the velvet bag that contained a key to his house.

“Good.” Wes parked behind Ross’s truck. “They’ll think we just did something naughty.” He slid his eyes to hers and she knew he’d said it just to see her blush, which she did. “Come here.” He kissed her, and Sweets pushed her snout against their chins and licked them. “I swear she’s jealous.”

“No, not jealous. She just wants to get in on the love.” She kissed Sweets’s head. “Don’t you, baby?”

“Your brother’s property is gorgeous.” A wide front porch graced the front of the cedar and stone two-story house that sat at the end of the long driveway. They stepped from the truck, and Callie turned at the sound of horses whinnying in a pasture off to their right, where several horses stood by the fence. They were gorgeous, with thick feathering covering their hooves and lush, full manes and tails.

“Are those Clydesdales?” she asked.

“Gypsy horses. Luke breeds them for a living. The mares in that pasture are his
girls
. I swear he spoils them like they’re his kids.” Wes led her up toward the house.

“Like you and Sweets?” she asked.

“No,” he said sarcastically. “Okay, maybe it runs in the family a little.”

They followed the sounds of voices around to a patio in the backyard. Callie tightened her grip on Wes’s hand. She’d met Ross, of course, and over the last week Wes had filled her in on all of his siblings, but the knowledge didn’t quell the butterflies that gathered in her stomach over meeting his family for the first time.

“They’re here!” A slim, dark-haired woman wearing a short sundress and flats ran across the patio with her arms open wide. “Wes!” She hugged him, then turned that welcoming enthusiasm on Callie and threw her arms around her. “Callie! I’m so glad to finally meet you.” She stepped back and looked between them, then rolled her eyes. “My brother stinks at introductions. I’m Emily.”

Emily!
She swallowed a wave of shame leftover from having been jealous after overhearing their conversation. “Hi. I’ve heard a lot about you.”

“I bet,” Emily said as she took Callie’s hand. “You don’t mind if I bend her ear, do you, Wes?”

Sweets ran from person to person, licking them as they crouched to greet her.

“Who are you kidding? He has no choice.” All of Wes’s brothers were tall, dark, and handsome men. Wes had shown her pictures of them, and she knew that Luke and Ross could be twins, save for the five-year age difference. This brother had straighter, shinier hair than the others, and Callie knew he was Pierce, Wes’s oldest brother.

“I’m Pierce. Nice to meet you.” He wrenched her from Emily’s grasp and embraced her. “Saved you from the clutches of my little sister.”

“Your only sister, genius,” Emily teased.

Callie thought of how Wes had described Pierce.
Imagine an eagle-eyed brother who would let me have fun until he thought I’d get in trouble; then he’d yank me back in and lecture me until I understood whatever lesson he thought I needed to learn.
Wes had said it with a thoughtful gaze, each word thick with emotion. Looking at Pierce’s serious eyes, she could envision him doing those things.

Pierce wrapped Wes in his arms. “Good to see you, bro.”

Callie recognized Daisy Honey as she crossed the patio carrying a large salad bowl. She was one of those women who made a person take a second look, with white-blond hair and a figure to die for. Ross was walking by, and he took the bowl from her and carried it to the table. Behind Daisy, a woman who could only be Wes’s mother came out of the house.

Wes had a funny way of describing his family. He didn’t describe how they looked. He focused on who they were as people, their mannerisms, and the things they’d done over the years. He’d said his mother was the rock of the family. She’d raised them alone, and he had very few memories of her ever being anything other than
a bright light
. The description had made her wonder, and now, seeing the way she smiled at the sight of her children, and the pride and warmth that radiated from her almond-shaped eyes, Callie understood his description. She also realized that she’d seen her in the library several times.

Emily waved her over. “Mom, come over and meet Callie.”

Wes reached for Callie’s hand. “Cal, this is my mom, Catherine. Mom, this is Callie.”

Catherine smiled warmly as she embraced Callie. “How wonderful to finally meet you.”

“It’s a pleasure to meet you, too,” Callie said. “I’ve seen you in the library.”

“Yes. I hear we’re both avid readers,” Catherine said.

“Okay, let me in here.” Daisy gently nudged Catherine and Emily aside. “This family can be a little overwhelming. Just take a deep breath, Callie, and you’ll get through it fine. I’m Daisy, Luke’s girlfriend.” She hugged Callie.

“Nice to meet you, Daisy. I’ve seen you around town.” They welcomed her with genuine smiles and warm embraces, and Callie realized that the butterflies in her stomach had settled down.

“Where is my baby brother?” Wes asked Daisy.

“Don’t let him hear that,” another brother said from across the patio. He had a deep tan and shorter cropped hair a shade lighter than all the others. He, like the others, was easily over six feet tall, with at least two days’ growth on his cheeks. He opened his arms. “Get in here, bro.”

“That’s Jake,” Wes said to Callie as he let go of her hand to greet his brother.

Another brother, who Callie knew had to be Luke because he looked just like Ross, only younger, dove at Jake, and they both tumbled to the ground. Sweets barked and circled their thrashing bodies.

“Oh my gosh.” Callie reached for Wes as he and Pierce eagerly jumped onto the pile.

Emily sighed, like she was used to seeing four grown men wrestling on the ground. “They’re such boys.”

“Shouldn’t we stop them?” Callie watched them roll and tumble. Jake flipped backward, taking Luke along with him.

“They’re fine.” Ross put an arm across Callie’s shoulder and hugged her. “Nice to see you again.”

“Why aren’t you in the…rumble?” Callie’s heart thundered in her chest at the sight of them, in stark contrast to Wes’s sister and mother, who were calmly setting the table, and Ross, who was sipping a beer.

He held up a hand and splayed his fingers. “Can’t do surgery if my hands are messed up.”

Wes broke free of the wrestling match, brushed the dirt from his jeans, and came to Callie’s side. “Ross is just a wimp.”

Ross shook his head. “Hardly.”

“That’s enough, boys,” Catherine called.

“Aw, Mom.” Luke wrinkled his brow.

“Luke,” Daisy chided him. “We have a guest, and now she probably thinks you guys are all nuts.” Daisy and Emily dragged Callie from Wes and brought her over to the table while the men brushed themselves off.

“I swear they’ll never grow up,” Emily said.

“Emily, Wes told me that you helped him coordinate the manicures, the dresses, and all that stuff he did for me and my friends. That was the most incredible day of my life. Thank you.”

“Oh, it was nothing. I had fun with it.” Emily tucked her hair behind her ear. “Did Wes tell you what he surprised me with?”

“Yes, and I nearly fell to my knees,” Callie said.

“Speaking of that, the next time he wants to do something, can you have him call me?” Daisy smiled at Callie.

“I know, right? I tried to tell him that it was too much, but you know Wes. There’s no arguing with him when he gives you something,” Emily said. “Tuscany? How lucky am I?”

“Actually, I think I’m the lucky one,” Callie said, looking across the lawn at Wes, who was talking with Luke and Jake. He shifted his eyes and smiled at Callie.

“I think he’s the lucky one,” Emily said. “I’ve never seen him so happy.”

“Can I join the party?” Catherine asked. She handed Callie a glass of wine. “My boys are falling in love, and for a mother, that’s a wonderful thing to see.”

“Well, I wish some of whatever they’re doing would rub off on me,” Emily said. “I want to feel that wonderful feeling.”

“Oh, you will, Em. Your guy must be very special to remain hidden for this long.” Catherine glanced at the men. “I never thought I’d see the day that they settled down. I thought Ross, maybe, because he’s not quite as rambunctious as the others. Then again, love’s a powerful emotion, and when it hits, there’s no turning away.”

Watching Wes with his brothers, and hearing his mother talk about love, Callie was beginning to understand the passion she heard in Wes’s voice on a daily basis. A man couldn’t love others if he himself wasn’t loved, and it was obvious how much his family loved one another. Pierce joined Wes and slung an arm over his shoulder, then leaned in close. A minute later, Wes threw his head back with a hearty laugh.

“Let’s join them before they get crazy again,” Catherine said.

“I hear that you climbed down a mountain to rescue Sweets,” Daisy said. “You’re braver than I could ever be.”

The memory of how scared she’d been sent an icy shiver down Callie’s back. “I wasn’t really brave. I just did what I had to do.”

“No.
Doing what you have to do
is going to work every day, or eating so you don’t starve to death. Climbing down a mountain and carrying a dog back up is brave,” Daisy said. “Trust me on that.”

Emily tapped her on the shoulder. “If you ask me, bravery means being willing to put up with one of these guys for days on end.”

“
Tsk
. You might be right.” Daisy laughed as Luke came up behind her and kissed her on the neck.

“Right about what?” Luke asked.

“That it takes bravery to be with a Braden man,” Daisy answered.

“Hell, yeah, it does. We’re all a pain in the ass.” Luke spun Daisy in his arms and kissed her. “But then again, we’re worth it.”

“Speak for yourself,” Wes said. “I’m not a pain in the ass.”

“Wanna bet?” Jake took a pull of his beer. “All I know is that there’s no way in hell I’m doing the whole monogamous relationship thing. I’m having too much fun.”

Pierce said. “I’m with you. No way, no how.”

“Hear, hear.” Ross lifted his glass.

Emily rolled her eyes. “You guys are so stupid. Look how happy Luke and Daisy are, and Wes and Callie. The heck with fun. I want love.”

Callie wondered if hearing his brothers’ comments gave Wes any regrets about asking her to move in.

As if he’d read her mind, Wes folded her into his arms, pressed his cheek to hers, and whispered, “They have no idea what they’re missing.” He leaned his forehead to hers, as he’d done so many times before, and said, “You’re my happily ever after, Callie, and I hope I’m yours.”

“You always were.”

The End

PIERCE BRADEN NEEDED to relax. He’d had a damn hard day. He’d sat through too many meetings, strategizing over the potential acquisition of the Grand Casino, a local property that he’d been eyeing for three years. Not to mention that he’d forgotten to turn on his phone that morning and missed calls from both his mother and one of his brothers, and when he’d called them back, they’d given him crap about it. The last thing he needed was to be fawned over by his employees, but when you owned most of the happening digs around Reno, and several more around the world, there weren’t many places he could go unnoticed. King’s Bar was a dive on the outskirts of town, and he hoped, a place he could just fucking relax.

He was crossing the dance floor to the bar when the scent of Curious—a perfume he hadn’t smelled in a decade—wafted past, trailing a hot, curvy ass, which was attached to a woman blazing a path toward the door. He didn’t blame her. The place reeked of alcohol and testosterone.

Some drunk guy stopped her, and Pierce watched as she turned on the guy. Holy shit. She was a hell of a lot more than a great ass. She was scorching hot, with dark—and at the moment, angry—eyes, heavy breasts, and a sweet little waist.

Another greasy-haired, sweaty guy grabbed her, and Pierce circled back, fire rushing through his veins. He couldn’t watch drunken assholes manhandle a woman. He took a step toward helping her as the guy leaned in close, his lips about to assail hers.

Through gritted teeth, she said in a low growl, “Let go of me.”

Before Pierce could push through the gathering crowd, the woman kneed the asshole in the groin, and when he doubled over with a loud groan, she grabbed his massive shoulders and slammed his face into her knee. His friend stepped in behind him, and the woman clocked the guy who was doubled over with a right cross to his chin, sending him sprawling backward against his friend. They both stumbled into a group of people. Pierce set a threatening, narrow-eyed stare on the asshole, then grabbed the woman’s arm and dragged her toward the door before the guy decided to retaliate or the manager kicked her out. She flailed and fought against his grip. Her body was trembling, and when the cool night air hit her, she blinked several times, as if she were trying to regain control. After what he’d just witnessed, he knew she could protect herself, but it was the momentary flash of vulnerability in her eyes that kept his hand on her arm.