Authors: Dakota Cassidy
What Not to Were (16 page)
Daphne blew her a kiss and grinned. “Welcome to the coven. Wanna borrow my cauldron?”
Everyone laughed, clapping each other on the back and setting their feet back in motion again, and as they plowed through the dark, Calla’s heart settled back in her chest, the easy beat of it peaceful.
And she knew. She was exactly where she belonged. With the seniors at the center…with her grandfather…with her friends—and with Nash.
Forever Cowboy Nash.
“Hey, Calla?” Gus called over his shoulder.
“Yes, Gus?”
“Next time we do a daytime excursion, could we maybe just do the zoo?”
She threw her head back and laughed. “You bet, buddy. Monkey’s for everyone.”
Three months later
Calla held up the ring so Daphne and Winnie could see it under the lights of the rec room. “Wow—how do you hold your hand up with that big ol’ thing on your finger? It’s a wonder you can even move it,” Daphne teased, giving her a hug. “So stinkin’ happy for you!”
“Congratulations, Calla. No hard feelings, I hope?” Fate asked, his handsome face wreathed once again in a smile.
“You mean because you spewed some cryptic life-or-death message about my entire existance falling apart then passed out like a drunk after a fifth of whiskey? Never!” she joked with a grin.
He leaned in and kissed her cheek. “You look beautiful tonight. I hope you and Nash have a long, healthy life together. And now, I’m going to take my wife for a spin around the dance floor.” He held out his arm to Daphne. “Beloved?”
Daphne giggled and let Fate sweep her off to the middle of the rec room, where the seniors had set up a dance floor for her surprise engagement party, her long gold dress gracefully sweeping out as she moved her feet.
“Where’s Marlboro Man?” Flora asked, her eyes twinkling, her smile bright.
Calla smiled and squeezed Flora’s hand. “You look beautiful tonight, Miss Flora. I can’t believe you guys pulled this off without me finding out.”
Clive stuck his head between them. “We’re like ninja party planners.”
Flora wrinkled her nose. “There’s nothing like a little tapioca pudding to inspire some motivation round these golden-oldies parts. I promised Clive a week’s worth if he’d help me hang the lanterns.”
The rec room looked incredible—they’d gone all out. White lantern lights hung from one end of the room to the other, an ice sculpture sat in the middle of a long buffet table full of food from everyone in town. Snowflakes glittered from all the windows and champagne flowed from a fountain in golden, bubbly waves.
When she’d first arrived, totally believing they were meeting Ben and Winnie to go to dinner at the fanciest restaurant in Paris, she’d been flabbergasted.
And Nash had been in the middle of it all, on bended knee, his hat in one hand and a small gold box in the other. When he’d rumbled the words, “Wanna make cupcakes with me forever, Cupcake Lady?” she’d burst into tears and could only manage a nod.
He’d scooped her up to the sound of cheering, and laughter, and glasses clinking together, and had kissed her senseless.
The last three months had been some of the best of her life, and every day they worked to move past what happened that night with Kirby. They’d discovered Kirby had stolen the appropriation box from one of the witches she’d done time with in prison and it was now safely in the hands of Baba Yaga.
Denny left town shortly after he found out exactly why the Council didn’t give a tinker’s damn about who she mated with—proving to her that he was as superficial on the inside as he was on the outside.
And then there was Nash.
Calla had finally confided what made her leave Boston while Nash held her and reminded her that if Reed hadn’t been such a scumbag, she wouldn’t be in his arms now, and that made them luckier than most.
And she had to agree; Reed’s cruelty had led her to some of the best things to ever happen to her. Nash. Paris, Texas. Winnie and the girls. And the center—her pride and joy.
Just when she thought her heart was as full as it could get, it managed to hold just a little bit more. “You guys are amazing, Flora. Everything is so beautiful. Thank you.”
“Ya look real purty tonight there, Calla. You sure you wanna marry a roughneck like our Cowboy?” Gus asked, tugging on his polka dot bowtie.
“Hey, you hornin’ in on my woman, Gus?” Nash asked from behind her, winding his arms around her waist and pulling her to the shelter of his chest.
“I’m just givin’ her options, big guy. A girl should always have options.”
Calla reached forward and straightened Gus’ tie. “I’ll keep that in mind. But until then, why don’t you go see if Greta wants to dance? I hear she does a mean Charleston.”
“Oh my God!” Winnie yelled from across the room, moving through the crowd of people, her husband Ben behind her. She latched onto Calla and jumped up and down. Look who’s getting married!” She grabbed her hand and inspected the ring, the sparkle of it almost a glare. “I’m blind from the glow. Nice job, Nash.”
Nash tipped his Stetson at her, leaning in to kiss Winnie’s cheek. “I aim to please, ma’am.”
“Next time you aim, maybe you shouldn’t aim so high,” Ben said. “You’re makin’ us all look cheap, Ryder. Congrats, buddy.” He shook Nash’s hand before pointing to the buffet table with a grin. “I’m out. Rumor has it Agnes made her famous fried chicken, and my cholesterol count’s really low today. Need to keep up my strength.”
Calla laughed and tucked her arm into Nash’s, loving the feel of his hard body beside her own. “This is beautiful, Winnie. I feel like a princess tonight, and I know you had a hand in that.”
She squeezed two fingers together, the soft glow of her blue cocktail dress making her eyes stand out. “Maybe just a little.”
“Hah!” Nash barked a laugh. “How about, if not for her, we’d be eating a foot-long and drinking a six-pack.”
Winnie rolled her eyes and grinned. “Oh, c’mon now. You picked out the flatware and the matching tablecloth and napkins. You earned your keep.”
“I can’t thank you enough for your help. Daphne and Greta, too. You ladies are a force.”
Winnie punched the air with her finger. “And don’t you forget it. Now, you two enjoy this amazing night, because it’s beautiful. I’m going to go hunt down a little witch named Lola-Falola, who I’m sure is eyeball-deep in red velvet cake and will make us all pay with her sugar rush.” Pulling Calla to her, she gave her a tight hug. “I hope tonight is everything you ever hoped for and more. I also hope you know, you’re right where you belong.”
Calla clenched her eyes shut and hugged her friend hard. “Go, before I’m sobbing all over your gorgeous dress.”
Winnie scurried off, only to be replaced by Ezra and Twyla Faye. He set her lizard on a chair, reaching for her to kiss her cheek. “You’re the prettiest girl in the room. And don’t you forget, you’re
my
girl first.”
Calla leaned back and smiled at him. “Always-always-forever-forever.”
“So I suppose you’re part of the family now, too, sugar?” Twyla Faye asked. Although she knew the answer, because Nash hadn’t just asked her grandfather’s permission for her hand, he’d asked her lizard, too, according to Ezra.
Nash nodded, running his hand over Twyla Faye’s spine with a chuckle. “Only if that’s okay with you, ma’am.”
“As long as we’re clear about who gets what side of the bed, it’s fine by me.”
Calla scooped her up and set her on the floor, looking down at her favorite lizard. “I love you, Twyla Faye. You’re as much a part of this family as anyone. And who’da thunk I’d become so attached to you? But you can’t sleep with my cowboy,” she teased.
“The indignities I suffer as your beloved pet. But I wouldn’t want to share a hunk like that with a green goddess like me either. And seriously, y’all, I hope you’re always as happy in the future as you are right now. Now, I’m off to see a Cabbage Patch doll about a gnome.” She scurried away before Calla could catch her.
Ezra pivoted on his heel, preparing to chase after Twyla Faye. “I got this. You two enjoy!” He blew her a kiss and shot out into the crowd of people, leaving she and Nash at the edge of the party.
She turned in his arms and smiled up at him as soft music played and their guests laughed. He was so handsome in his dark sport coat and white shirt. Every muscle in his stomach was enhanced by the tight fit. “Tonight is amazing, Nash. Thank you. I love everything about it.”
Dropping a heart-stopping kiss on her lips, he winked. “Good to know, because I love everything about you. And I do mean
everything
.”
Laying her head on his broad chest, she nodded and sighed a happy sigh.
Because she knew what that word meant to the two of them now.
What it meant to
her
.
It meant completely. Unconditionally.
It meant he loved her heart, her mind.
And her.
Only her.
(For now…)
The End
Author’s Note
I hope enjoyed
What Not to Were
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About Dakota Cassidy
Dakota Cassidy is a
USA Today
bestselling author with over thirty books. She writes laugh-out-loud romantic comedy, grab-some-ice erotic romance, hot and sexy alpha males, paranormal shifters, contemporary kick-ass women, and more.
Invited by Bravo TV, Dakota was the Bravoholic for a week, wherein she snarked the hell out of all the Bravo shows. She received a starred review from Publisher Weekly for
Talk Dirty to Me
, won an RT Reviewers Choice Award for
Kiss and Hell
, along with many review site recommended reads and reviewer top pick awards.
Dakota lives in the gorgeous state of Oregon with her real life hero and her dogs, and she loves hearing from readers!
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Other Titles by Dakota Cassidy
An American Werewolf In Hoboken