The Reluctant Fiancée (The Taylor Triplets Book 3) Read online

A broad-shouldered and wide-girthed fellow who looked like a retired linebacker from the NFL approached from the grand house. “Gentlemen, I’m Ben,” he said in an unexpectedly high voice. “Which one is Zack Gardner?”

  Zack, with Emma tagging along, stepped away with the man after a quick introductory handshake, presumably to handle the business part of the RV-share deal. Instead of worrying about whether he could drive this rig—which he was surprisingly eager to find out under the current circumstances—Paul took the time to grill Joe over the thing foremost on his mind.

  “May I ask you something?”

  “Of course.”

  They stood side by side, the comfortable way for guys to talk, staring at the RV instead of each other, which also helped Paul bring up what he needed.

  “With you being the mayor and Eva running a nonprofit, plus two kids under three, well, how the hell do you do it?”

  Joe flashed him a quick look and grinned, showing almost all his straight white teeth. His olive-toned skin plus the late-afternoon golden sun made everything more pronounced. Paul went back to assessing the RV.

  “It’s a circus, but a great circus. We just work it out. It’s not easy, but at the end of the day I know I get to go home to the most beautiful woman in the world and two of the greatest kids a guy could ever want.” Joe flashed that smile again. Paul caught it in his peripheral vision. “Eva can work from home, and often I walk into chaos. House a mess, dirty diapers, kids crying, Eva with every hair out of place.”

  “Not Eva!” Paul turned to Joe briefly for verification, though half teasing.

  “Oh yes. That’s the down and dirty of it. But I still love it.”

  “But she works from home and that helps, right?”

  “Theoretically. She has a lot of responsibility with Dreams Come True. She also has help come in to watch the kids when she does interviews online or takes appointments with her clients. Can’t depend on the kids napping at the same time.” Joe stroked the two-day growth on his jaw, thinking. “But when I come home and those kids look at me like I’m Santa Claus, every day, and Eva lets me know how glad she is to see me with a kiss hello? There’s nothing like it. All worth it. Then I’m on duty, which is probably why I get that welcome kiss. She gets a break. Like I said, a nonstop circus.”

  That was how Paul had always imagined his life would be with Brynne—beautiful chaos—but he wondered what Eva’s side of the story would be. Still, from what he’d seen of Eva and Joe, they were obviously in love and extremely happy together. Something they worked hard at. That was the key to a solid marriage. Compromise and hard work. His parents had done it, though his mother had made most of the concessions by working part-time as a Realtor. Brynne was happiest as a nurse, not a bookstore owner. She knew it now. And it was up to her to figure out what the right job was, not up to him to presume to know better. If he could have a redo of lunch, he’d just keep his mouth shut and be happy for her.

  They spent the next few moments kicking tires and pressing on the frame of the motor home, opening things, looking under others. Their talk was over.

  Brynne wanted what she wanted, with the opportunity at the hospital, and he wanted his old dream—marriage and a family. At what cost? They both needed to give up something for the greater good, and so far he hadn’t budged. If running the L&D department made Brynne happy, he didn’t want to be the guy holding her back.

  Having figured out his end, he reached into his pocket for his cell phone to call and tell her. After the tense afternoon he’d spent, he needed immediate gratification. But he’d probably be a jerk and say something stupid, like, “You can do any job you want as long as I get to marry you. We’ll work the rest out as we go along.”

  Fortunately, he didn’t get the chance to foul up again. Zack and the RV guy came back to where the rig was parked, having finished quickly with the devil in the details part. Zack dangled the keys and fob with a victorious grin. “Now that I’ve signed my life away, let’s try this sucker out.”

  “Let me show you a few things first,” the linebacker, Ben, said. “As I said, it can sleep up to eight.”

  They unlocked the door, and one by one each person stepped inside, where they found a small but upscale apartment. Whitewashed wood floors, a mounted TV above an electric fireplace. Crafted woodwork and cabinetry throughout, overstuffed leather sofa and dining nook on one side, two oversize loungers in the same upholstery on the other, which sat next to a mini kitchen with stainless steel appliances, trendy gray backsplash and white quartz countertop. Man, oh man.

  From where Paul stood, the first bedroom was on the other side of the TV/fireplace partition, keeping an open concept by forgoing a bedroom door. At the end was a surprising-sized bathroom. This was nuts!

  “Look, Dad, I can make lunch for you and Lacy while you’re driving!” Emma practically danced in front of the kitchen area. “And I can watch movies? Can I?”

  Zack nodded patiently at his daughter while checking everything he could think of, turning things on and off, testing the sliding panels that increased the indoor width enough to dance in or host a small cocktail party. Paul had never seen anything like it. And he was supposed to drive this rig home from Little River Valley to Cedars in the City? Preferably with Brynne by his side. Hey, they could have a mini vacation on the way back. Spend a few days at a place he’d heard about near the Hearst Castle called Cambria, then take their time going home from there. Of course he’d pay for the extra days, miles and gas on his end. That was, if he could talk Brynne into coming along this weekend. Maybe he’d even get the nerve to pop the question again.

  There he went, making plans without Brynne’s input. Would he ever learn?

  “Paul?” Zack broke into his deep thoughts.

  He shook his head. “Oh, sorry?”

  “I said, what do you think? Will you be able to handle this?”

  “Do I need a special license?”

  “No special class driver’s license needed for personal-use RVs,” the linebacker owner recited in textbook form.

  “I could live here!” Emma piped up, making everyone smile.

  Paul probably could, too. But only if Brynne was by his side. “I could, too.” He needed to be positive about something first.

  They filed out one by one. An idea popped into Paul’s head about checking out the driver’s seat, and he turned to go back up the stairs, forgetting he was second to last. Ben was right in front of him. When he quickly about-faced, the man had just finished adjusting his ball cap, and his elbow came down hard directly into Paul’s right eye socket.

  Pain shot through his eye and nose, and soon there was blood.

  “Oh, so sorry,” Ben said, looking horrified.

  “My fault.” Paul held up his free hand while holding back the bloody nose with the other.

  Joe was quick to hand him a handkerchief. Who even carried those anymore? He gratefully took it and, concentrating on his nose, he pinched below the bridge above the bleeding nostril.

  “Oh man, you’re gonna have a shiner,” Zack warned. “Is there ice in that refrigerator?”

  Continuing with the horrified expression, Ben nodded and pointed. Zack flew up the stairs and came back with a baggie full of ice. Paul gratefully took it and placed it over his nose and right eye, aware the lid seemed swollen already.

  Fifteen minutes later, looking like the guy called Mayhem on that TV commercial, Paul took the wheel of the RV. Zack had taken pity on him and given him first dibs on trial driving around the block. With a wad of tissue up one nostril, he quickly forgot his black eye. Because this baby drove smooth!

  Chapter Twelve

  Only because it was Eva and Lacy did Brynne agree to the girls night out. Because she had no intention of going to Las Vegas and they’d be leaving soon. She was still mad as hell at Paul for his “I don’t think that’s what you really want” attitude about her n
ew job offer, so maybe it would help her mood, too.

  She brought the special wedding shoes as instructed. They would’ve hounded her unmercifully if she hadn’t, since they had the dress she’d forgotten in a snit the other night. They’d probably expect her to try it on again tonight at some point. Shoes and all.

  She’d just play along, because after tomorrow they’d be gone, and who knew when she’d see them again?

  “First off,” Lacy said the instant Brynne walked through the door, “we’re sorry with all our hearts we upset you last night. We got carried away and didn’t consider your feelings.”

  “Look, I’ve been a PIA the whole time you’ve been here. I’m sorry, too. It’s just a crazy time right now.”

  “Tell us about it!” Eva said, not letting Brynne wallow in her situation for even a second. “Everyone’s lives have changed. There’s no going back.”

  Oh, but there was for the on-again, off-again wedding plans. Which were currently off. For good. For the sake of her sisters and their fun night out, she wouldn’t bore them with the details.

  “Okay, let’s get this over with,” Lacy said. “All forgiven? Group hug.”

  A second later, Lacy reached behind her and produced a silver plastic tiara with huge pink glass jewels.

  “You have to wear this tonight. It’s Emma’s, and apparently she doesn’t travel without it. She said you could borrow it.”

  Brynne screwed up her face at the suggestion and winced when Lacy poked the tiara through her hair. “That’s sweet of her?”

  “You may think this is dumb,” Eva said, “but Lacy and I have gone back and celebrated every single birthday we missed together, and now it’s your turn to do some hyperspeed catching up.”

  Brynne might be in the dumps, but she wasn’t a total dud. Her sisters didn’t have anything to do with her current state of affairs, and they didn’t deserve her sour mood on their last night together. She’d seen the huge recreational vehicle parked in the driveway on her way in. They were checking out tomorrow by noon and planned to drive home. All of them!

  It could be months before she saw them again.

  Her heart ached at the thought, surprising her, but she couldn’t deny it. Two bright-eyed sisters stared at her, waiting for her to shape up. Brynne owed it to them not to wallow. “Then let’s do this thing,” she said, adjusting Emma’s tiara.

  Eva and Lacy grabbed their purses after saying goodbye to Zack and Joe.

  “I’ve reserved the small private banquet room at a place called Madeline’s Wine Bar and High Tea Room. Nice pairing,” Eva said on the way out, obviously impressed with the colloquial way things were done in Cedars in the City. “By the way, they serve more than wine if you ask nicely.” She winked before they met the Lyft waiting at the curb and got inside.

  Brynne had conveniently left the wedding shoes back at the house, and she was relieved to see they’d both forgotten the dress. They wouldn’t have expected her to try it on again, this time with the shoes and tiara, at the wine bar, would they? Didn’t matter anyway, because she had zero plans of ever wearing that dress.

  “Here,” Lacy said, after they were safely ensconced in the cozy banquet room at the wine bar, the tables set for high tea and spirits. The historical British wallpaper and decorations added to the atmosphere. She handed Brynne a red sash, obviously makeshift, with glittered wording—Bad Influence, but Hot.

  As if! Brynne couldn’t help but guffaw at the accusation. “I think Lacy’s the one who should wear this.”

  “Nope,” Eva said, giving Lacy her own sash, which said, Hot Nursing Mama.

  Brynne shook her head, grateful to have her sisters to pull her out of the funk. But when Eva donned her sash—which stated, Hot Mess—she wanted to trade.

  If that wasn’t the truth, nothing was. This was never the way Brynne’s life went. Ever!

  Her annoying tiny voice piped up—High drama is kind of fun sometimes.

  It’d certainly gotten her a lot of extra time in the sack with Paul this week, though she was still mad as hell at him.

  With tiny appetizers lined up on the usual tea cake and sandwich stands, and chilled wine ready to pour, the sisters got right to the business of indulging and enjoying themselves. Truth was, Brynne couldn’t think of two people she’d rather have a going away party with.

  “Mmm,” Lacy said, licking her fingers. “Try those little salsa and cheese tortilla cups.”

  “The gouda cheese on cucumber slices is good, too,” Eva said, loading more onto her traditional British-patterned bone-china appetizer plate.

  Brynne went directly to the mini quiches wrapped in bacon and wasn’t disappointed. And everything seemed to go great with the white wine. “This is the best wine I’ve ever tasted,” Brynne said, half a glass in.

  “California’s finest,” Eva said.

  “You two can plan my parties any day,” Brynne said, immediately sensing the irony coming from a person who had never once thrown a party. Except for her mom on her fiftieth, only three short years ago. The usual grieving thoughts forced their way in, and if she didn’t consciously work to push them out of her head, they could ruin the fun. Fortunately, tonight, dressed in the armor of a tiara and party sash, she was able to scoot the downers right out of the room. “Hand me one of those canapé thingies, please,” she asked Lacy, who quickly obliged.

  Taylor Swift played through the banquet room speakers, and it was no shock when Eva got up and danced like a diva. Why wasn’t that on her sash? Brynne got up and joined her. Though much clunkier. And it still felt good.

  “Wait!” Lacy said, taking a picture of them, then pulling a large cardboard sign from her oversize tote. “This is for your mug shot.” She handed the black card with white print to Brynne, who read it quickly before agreeing to hold it up and frown for a picture. Bridezilla. Crime: Cold Feet. And underneath, a long line of inmate numbers, which looked suspiciously like her birthday and Sunday’s date? Wait a second, was this a girls’ night out party or a bachelorette thing? She’d never been to one but had seen movies about them.

  Trying to be a good sport, Brynne let Lacy snap several pictures, thinking, If the mug shot fits...

  “Perfect,” Eva said, closing the door so they could have more privacy. The room provided several comfortable chairs to recline in while they drank, chatted and ate more.

  As they relaxed, certain questions came to Brynne’s mind. “You’re not planning to bring a stripper in here, are you?”

  “No!” Lacy ricocheted her answer.

  “Do they even have strippers in Utah?” Eva couldn’t help herself.

  “Okay, good, because I’m starting to enjoy myself.”

  They ate and drank more. “How’d you guys meet Zack and Joe?” She’d been meaning to ask them all week but hadn’t had a chance until now.

  Eva shot Lacy a look. “You go first.”

  Lacy took a sip of wine and stared off in the distance. “I actually first met Zack when I was twelve. He was a construction guy on his first job, and I’d had to go to work with my dad and his food truck because Mom had died earlier that year.” Briefly, Lacy’s eyes glistened, but she put a quick stop to it. Brynne wasn’t the only one who’d lost a mother. “Anyway, I knew he was the one for me even then.” She laughed easily. “You can only imagine the daydreams I used to have about him. Thing was, I never saw him again until the day I drove my own food truck onto his construction site nearly twenty years later.”

  “And Emma wanted cooking lessons,” Eva said. “That was how you got in his door, remember?”

  Lacy grinned and nodded. “How could I ever forget. Sweet little Emma changed our lives.”

  They ate more appetizers and had another glass of wine, listening to Darius Rucker—“Only want to be with you”—and tapping their feet, smiling and drinking. “What about you?” Brynne asked Eva.

&nbs
p; “Joe and I met on a date. I set him up with another woman, and I had to tag along.”

  Brynne wrinkled her nose, trying to make sense of Eva’s bold lead-in.

  “Quit trying to make it sound so intriguing,” Lacy teased. “The other woman was eighty years old.” Lacy gave Brynne a deadpan stare, which made her blurt a laugh.

  “True,” Eva said, standing to dramatize her story. “But she had great taste, and her only wish was to have a date with a handsome man before she lost all of her memory. She’d chosen Joe because, as a young politician, he reminded her of Jack Kennedy.”

  They all chuckled over her wild story.

  “Savannah had a great date, and after we dropped her home, Joe and I went at it like rabbits in the back of the stretch limo.”

  “No!” Brynne couldn’t imagine sophisticated and proper Eva doing such a crazy thing.

  “That’s how we named Estrella. We’d opened the moon roof and got it on under the stars. First date flat on my back.”

  “She’s our slutty sister,” Lacy stated proudly.

  “Right,” Eva retorted dryly.

  “You mean, one time and you got pregnant?”

  Eva took a long inhale. “One crazy date.”

  “Talk about a life changer,” Brynne said, trying to imagine the stress it would’ve caused to find out she was pregnant so soon after meeting a man.

  Eva smiled wide. “We worked it out.”

  “I’ll say.”

  Eva stood and headed for the door. “I need the ladies’ room. Be back soon.”

  “See,” Lacy said, after the door closed. “Sometimes life works out just the way it was meant to.”

  Except for her. Brynne wanted to wallow again, but she quaffed more wine instead and straightened the tiara. “How’s my hair look?”

  “Never better.”

  She suspected Lacy was feeding her a line of bull.

  A few minutes later, Eva returned with another large tote bag. “Let’s play It’s a Wonderful Life,” she said, producing three shot glasses, one for each of them.