Sisters in White (Love in Bloom: Snow Sisters #3) Contemporary Romance (9 page)

Chaz looked bewildered, so Danica chimed in before Marie got started on the characters and their backstories from
Greys
. “Sally, Gage, the kids,
and
our dresses should be here within the hour, depending on the immigration lines, and Blake’s dad is arriving around the same time.” Danica slid beneath Blake’s arm, listening to her mother and Madeline talking about women they knew in high school and wondering why she felt like she was in an episode of
As the World Turns
.

The twins needed naps, and everyone was a bit harried from all of the excitement, so the group went their separate ways with a plan to meet in the lobby for a late lunch when the others arrived.

A gentle, warm breeze sifted through the large branches of the palm trees that shaded the porch where Danica and Blake relaxed on a wooden swing built for two.

“I love how the water is so clear. Isn’t it beautiful?” Danica rested her head on Blake’s shoulder, finally feeling like the confusion was beginning to settle down.

“Gorgeous,” Blake said. “What do you make of your mom and dad?”

Danica sat up. “It’s weird, isn’t it? I thought it was all in my head.”

“There was definitely something going on. I know men, and I think I know women pretty well, and I definitely smelled smoke.”

She groaned. “Me too. That’s all I need. Kaylie won’t even talk to my father, and she called Madeline the evil mistress.”

“Hm. Evil mistress. I like that.”

She punched his arm.

“Babe, I’m not sure what you think is going to happen over the next twenty-four hours, but you’ve gotta know that Kaylie may never come around, and that’s gotta be okay.”

He was right. She knew he was, but the last thing she wanted was for Kaylie’s wedding day to be even more stressful. She could deal with stress at her own wedding. Hell, she expected it. It was a wedding. But Kaylie had come so far, and now, with her turnaround with Lacy, she had such high hopes that Kaylie would step up to the plate and find some cordial ground with their father.

“Whatever Kaylie does is okay. This is her life.”

“Yeah, but it’s yours, too.” He kissed her forehead. “It’s ours.”

Kaylie’s voice carried outside to the veranda. “Max!”

Another swarm of activity brought Danica and Blake back into the lobby. Sally and Rusty, Sally’s teenage son, and Chase, Rusty’s half brother, stood beside Nancy and her daughter, Michelle, while they checked in at the front desk. Max, Chaz’s assistant, had her nose in her day planner. She looked up over her red eyeglasses and held up a finger to the woman behind the desk.

“It’s all under control. I’ve got the dresses. They were delivered earlier today, and Treat’s assistant has them safely put away. The bridesmaids gowns, too. The flowers—”

Danica cut Max short. “I’m sure you have it all under control.” She embraced Chaz’s assistant and sponsorship coordinator. In essence, Max kept Chaz organized and kept a constant stream of funding coming into the festival. Efficient and organized, Max was the perfect person to coordinate their wedding. “What’s up with your new title? Work wife?”

“Kaylie calls me that. She’s so weird.” Max laughed.

“I’m anything but weird. You take care of him at work, and I take care of him at home. It all works out.” Kaylie shrugged with a smile.

“See?” Max shook her head, and her long dark ponytail swung from side to side.

“How’re you holding up?” Sally was glowing. Her flawless fair skin and her new chic layered bob gave her tall, slim figure an even more regal appearance. The linen shorts and top she wore only added to her aura of refined beauty. Sally had been working at No Limitz, the youth center that Danica owned, for almost three years, and her calm demeanor never failed to soothe Danica.

“I’m good. Really. It’s been...a lot to deal with, with my parents and all, but we’re managing.” Danica embraced her, spotting Michelle, Rusty, and Chase looking out the enormous front windows. Michelle Parce had been Danica’s Little Sister in the Big Sister program during a time when her mother, Nancy, had been in rehab for alcohol abuse. Nancy had been sober for almost three years, and though Michelle was no longer in the Big Sister program, she and Danica were still close. Before graduation, both she and Sally’s son, Rusty, had also been working part-time at No Limitz.

 “How was the trip? How’s the gang?” Danica nodded toward the excited teens.

Sally smiled. “Moody, happy, horny. You know, everything you’d expect from recent high school grads. It’s like they’ve been sprung from jail or something.”

“And you and Gage? Where is he?”

“He was talking to some guy we met on the airplane. He’ll be in soon.”

“And?” Danica bit her lower lip with a mischievous smile.

“And...happy, horny, moody. Everything you’d expect from a guy who’s too chicken to make a move on the girl who’s just as scared.” Sally turned and watched Gage come through the doors. “Here he comes.”

Gage’s eyes never left Sally. He also worked at No Limitz, and in recent months had increased his hours to full-time to manage their ever-growing sports programs.

“God, he’s gorgeous,” Sally whispered.

“Tell him, not me.” Danica turned her back so Gage couldn’t possibly hear what she had to say. “It’s been almost three years since Dave died. You’ve known Gage more than two. Isn’t it time to make a move?” Sally’s husband had died in a skiing accident shortly before Sally started working for Danica, and Sally had yet to go on a single date. Danica spun around just in time to be pulled into Gage’s strong arms.

“Hey, boss, how’s it going so far?” He stepped back and surveyed Danica. “You’re tan. That’s a sign of relaxation.”

“Not really,” Danica said under her breath.

“Hey, I was thinking, if you girls are going to do dress and wedding stuff, how about if Blake and I take the big kids out somewhere? No sense in them hanging out at the hotel.”

Danica wrapped her arms around his middle. “You’re the best sports program manager ever! Can you check on Chaz, too? Room three ten. Oh, and don’t forget Jeff.” She hadn’t noticed Blake’s absence until just that second. She looked around and didn’t see him anywhere.

The elevator doors opened, and Blake and Chaz stepped out, each with an armful of groggy toddler.

“Chelle!” Lexi yelled as soon as she spotted Michelle.

Michelle ran over with her arms spread wide and an enormous smile on her lips. “Lexi Lady! How’s my girl?” Lexi climbed into her arms, and Trevor kicked himself free from Chaz’s grip.

“Wusty!” Trevor said as Rusty lifted him into his arms.

“What’s up Trevmeister?”

Trevor giggled.

“What’s the plan?” Kaylie asked.

Max shut her planner with a loud clap. “If you’re okay with it, and Chaz said you probably were, but if you’re not, it’s okay. I lined up a kids’ day for Trev and Lex, so we can do a final fitting with the hotel’s seamstress and go over the details. The rehearsal dinner is tonight at seven.”

Kaylie put her arm around Max’s shoulder. “Now you see why she’s the work wife? This woman rocks my world.”

“I’m gonna help Max get organized while you get the kids prepared for their big day,” Danica said to Kaylie.

“And we’ll get settled in,” Sally said, gathering the teens.

“Chaz, we’re going to go over wedding stuff, and Gage said you and Blake could hang with him and the teens. Is that okay?” Kaylie asked.

“Of course.”

“Everyone was meeting for lunch first. I just remembered.” Kaylie looked frantically at Danica.

“No worries,” Chaz said. “I’ll go let them know that you need to do wedding things. We’ll feed the kids with them, snag Jeff, and then we’ll take off.”

“My future husband to the rescue,” Kaylie said. She stood on her tiptoes and kissed him. “Be back in time for the rehearsal dinner and, Chaz, thank you.”

Danica and Max inspected the bridal gowns and bridesmaid dresses with Treat’s assistant, Scarlet, a pleasant, attractive woman with skin as dark as night and a sexy island accent.

“The dresses are so gorgeous. I can hardly believe we’re getting married. Me and Kaylie. I never would have dreamed that we’d get married at the same time, much less in the same wedding,” Danica said.

“Kaylie thinks the world of you. I think she’s honored that you’re sharing your special day.” Max looked carefully through each dress.

“Really? Gosh, I’m not sure about that.”

“Perfect. Every dress is perfect.” Max smiled at Scarlet. “You are a lifesaver, Scarlet. Thank you.”

“It is my pleasure. Danica and Kaylie’s special day is special to us, too.”

The door to the large office opened. “Hey there,” Treat said as he stepped into the room. “Everything okay in here?”

Max’s eyes were locked on Treat. She didn’t just look. She didn’t leer. She flat-out stared at the big, handsome man with the deep, soothing voice. It took Danica a minute to realize that she’d better step in.

“Treat, hi. This is Max, Chaz’s wor—uh, assistant, and our friend. Max”—she turned her back to Treat and opened her eyes wide, mouthing,
Say hello—
“Max, this is Treat Braden, Blake’s cousin.”

Treat reached for Max’s hand while his eyes consumed her from head to toe. “We’ve met, a few times over the telephone.”

Max lifted her hand and managed, “Yes.”

He kissed the back of her hand. “It’s a pleasure to finally meet you in person, Max.”

Max blinked several times, then pushed her glasses up onto their perch again. “Treat. Hi. I’m sorry. It was a long flight. I must have jet lag or something.”

Something like you’re hungry for a tasty Treat
.

A second later, Max pulled herself together with finesse. It was no wonder Kaylie trusted her to be in charge. “Thank you for everything you’ve done. Scarlet has been a dream come true.”

Scarlet stood demurely by the rack of dresses.

“Scarlet is a dream. I’d be lost without her.”

Danica felt Max deflate beside her.
This ought to be interesting
.

Kaylie burst into the room, looking at the rack of dresses. “Sorry it took so long. Geez, you’d think—” She was so busy looking at the dresses that she bumped right into Treat. “Oh, sorry.”

Their eyes locked.

Kaylie looked away.

What the hell is going on?

Treat pointed at Kaylie, and for the first time ever, Danica watched her sister shrink toward the wall, like she wished she could become a part of it and disappear altogether.

“I know where I’ve seen you before,” he said.

“No, we’ve never met,” Kaylie said quickly.

“You went to UC Davis, right?”

“Um...Yeah.”

Oh shit. Please tell me you didn’t fool around with him!
Danica couldn’t help but notice that Max was hanging on to every word that passed between the two, just as she was.

“There was a party, though I have no recollection whose party it was, and you were there.”

Oh God
.

“I went to a lot of parties,” Kaylie said with a spec of arrogance.

“Didn’t we all?” He laughed. “I was looking for my sister. Yes, I’m sure that’s where I saw you.”

Kaylie feigned a laugh. “I don’t remember, but yeah, probably.”

My ass, you don’t remember
.

Kaylie leafed through the dresses and changed the subject. “These are gorgeous, aren’t they, Max?”

Max looked from Treat to Kaylie, clearly processing the odd interaction. “Yes. They’re perfect,” she said.

“Well, I just wanted to make sure you had everything you needed. I’ll be off, then. Max, it has been a pleasure working with you, and I hope we find more occasions to get together.”

Kaylie stilled.

Max blushed.

Danica cursed under her breath.

“Do you mind telling me what the hell that was all about?” Danica and Kaylie were in the ladies’ room washing their hands. Max and the other girls were waiting for them with the seamstress.

“What?”

“Kaylie? All that tension between you and Blake’s cousin? Treat?”

“Nothing. I saw him at a party at college; that’s all there is to it.” Kaylie fluffed her hair in the mirror. She straightened her white tank top and looked at herself from the side. “I can’t believe I was as big as a house two years ago.”

“You were pregnant with twins,” Danica said with a sigh. “Did you sleep with him?”

“Who?”

“Kaylie!”

“Are we still on Treat? Geez, Danica.” She leaned against the sink and looked dreamily up toward the ceiling. “I saw him at a party and we had...a moment. We never even spoke to each other.” She looked down her nose at Danica. “We didn’t kiss; we didn’t touch; we didn’t do a-ny-thing.”

“Thank God for little favors. Then why were you so uncomfortable?”

“I didn’t say I never wanted to do anything.”

“Kaylie!”

“Not now! Then! I crushed on him for a few weeks. So what? I was in college. I was supposed to be crushing on guys, and you have to admit, he’s pretty crushworthy.”

“So, why are you uncomfortable around him
now
? Please tell me you’re not still attracted to him. You’re about to get married to an incredible man. The father of your children.”

“Don’t you know me better than that by now? A few years ago? Maybe. Before Chaz, not after. Now? No way. I was just shocked, that’s all. I had no idea if he felt the same
moment
as I did, and I still don’t. But he did remember me.”

“Why do you sound so proud of that?”

“I don’t know. Maybe because I’ve been wondering ever since Marie mentioned his brother two years ago.” She touched Danica’s arm. “Come on, Danica. You know the feeling. You see a hot guy across the room, and he’s looking at you; then he leaves, and you’re left with only a mental image to play with and manipulate as much as your horny little mind desires.”

“You’re going to be the death of me.”

“I doubt it. If anything, it will be that crazy wild sex you’re having with your man.”

Danica glared at her. “What?”

“I happened to pass by your room the other night, getting ice or something, I can’t remember. Anyway, there were some loud moans coming from behind that door.”

Danica felt her cheeks flush. She turned her back to Kaylie and crossed her arms, wishing she could shrivel up into a tiny ball and roll away.

“You don’t have to be so embarrassed. Sex is good. It’s healthy. Besides, it’s about time you had some fun.”

Danica spun around. “But you heard us? I mean, really, did you hear us?”

Kaylie smiled. “No. But now I know you are having wild, crazy sex.”

Danica groaned and covered her face.

“Are you really that repressed, sis? Come on. It’s me you’re talking to. I mean, Chaz and I have great sex. There’s nothing I wouldn’t do with him.” She looked up at the lights. “To him. For him. Mm-mm.”

“Kaylie!”

“It’s sex, Danica, not drugs, for God’s sake. You’re telling me that there are do’s and don’ts in your bedroom?”

Danica swallowed hard and remained silent.

Kaylie gasped. “Oh, no, sister sister. Come talk to Mama Kaylie.” She put her arm around Danica as Danica shrank away.

Shut up. Shut up. Shut up.

“Listen, the way I see it, we’ve got one chance to have a little fun, and after tomorrow, we’ll have one man to have that fun with. For the rest of our lives!”

“So?”

“So, you know. Spice it up. Have some fun. Role play. Get some toys. Do all the dirty things you read about in
Fifty Shades of Grey
and all the things the porny girls do in movies.”

“You watch those?”

Kaylie shrugged. “Only sometimes. With Chaz.”

Danica pulled away. “Well, I have no interest in watching porny girl movies.”

“So get porny boy movies.”

“You’re sick.”

“I’m liberated. I own my sexuality.”

“Whatever.”

“All I know is that you have a fine specimen of a man who is soon going to be your husband. He chose you out of all of the other women who you know paw at him all the time. He loves you. He desires you—and God knows he’s always flirting with you, touching you, kissing you. I mean, it’s like,
Get a room already
! The man oozes sensuality. And so do you.”

Danica screwed up her face in protest. “I do not.”

“Oh baby, yes, you do.” She spun Danica around in the mirror.

“Look at yourself.” She dug her fingers under Danica’s mass of curls and clenched fistfuls of her hair, then pulled. “Your hair is the perfect,
Oh baby, yes, more
, hair.” She released her hair and stood behind her, grinding her hips into her sister’s behind. “Look at that ass. Perfect. And your hips.” She splayed her hands on Danica’s hips and pressed her breasts against her back, then moved her hands up toward Danica’s breasts. “Oh baby, yes, more, more, touch me, lick me, fuck me.”

Danica shook out of her sister’s grasp. Embarrassed to admit that the idea of Blake seeing her that way turned her on.

Kaylie laughed. “Really, Dan? I say, go for it. Live out your every fantasy with that man.”

“And what if he leaves me after I’ve done all those dirty things? He’ll say I’m a tramp. He’ll know I’m a slut. He’ll—”

Kaylie’s face stopped her cold. Her sister’s jaw hung open. Kaylie pointed at her, then covered her mouth with her hand.

“What?”

“You’re afraid, too. It’s not just me. You. The ex-therapist. Little Miss Get Over It Already.”

Danica lowered her eyes in shame.

“Oh, you poor girl.” Kaylie’s sweet tone drew Danica’s eyes to Kaylie’s image in the mirror. She was shaking her head, her eyes filled with love and compassion. “That’s the worst feeling in the world, isn’t it? I hate it. I hate Dad.”

“Kaylie, what are we gonna do?”

“I don’t know about you, but I’m gonna get married to the man I love; then I’m gonna have crazy, wild, animalistic sex while Mom watches the kids.”

Danica laughed through a groan. “What are you gonna do about Dad? I mean, you can’t go your whole life hating him.”

“Why not? It’s worked well for me so far.”

“Three reasons. Trevor. Lexi. Lacy.”

“I do love Lacy. She’s so quiet and so not me, but she’s so frisky and funny in her own little demure way.”

“Welcome to life with a little sister.”

“Dan, I’d worry more about your sex life than my issues with Dad. If you’re hung up on Blake leaving, how’s your marriage ever going to work?” Kaylie asked.

How
is
my marriage ever going to work if I’m hung up on the possibility of his leaving? How did Kaylie get so wise?

Kaylie took Danica’s hand and laid it on her own forearm. “Shall we? We have dresses to try on. You taught me well, Yoda.”