How to Switch a Groom Read online

  “Did you find my brother Brody and Kaimbrey?”

  “Not yet, sir.”

  Tate’s mouth drew into a thin line. “What about the men who kidnapped Cally and Kaimbrey?”

  “They arrested one man who was tied up at the tents, and I just got word they found one other man tied up with his own shirt out in the forest.”

  So maybe Brody had bested one of the men.

  “So, there’s still one on the loose?”

  “I guess so.”

  “How far do we need to walk?” Tate asked. “She doesn’t have shoes.”

  “Base camp is less than a mile.”

  Tate turned to her. “I’ll go with you there. Then I’m going to help them search.”

  She nodded and started to walk toward the men. Tate stopped her with a hand on her arm. “I can’t stand for you to go any longer without shoes.”

  She shrugged. “Not sure we have much choice.”

  While the men watched on, he stared down at her, his gaze full of protection. He took the backpack and turned her slightly, lifting it onto her back. His warm hands brushing her bare shoulders sent tingles through her. Then he put one hand on her back and one under her legs and swooped her off her feet.

  “Tate,” she cried out, her arms sliding around his neck. “You can’t carry me that far,” she protested.

  “Try and stop me.” He gave her his overconfident grin and she smiled back.

  She heard one of the men chuckle. He started walking toward the men and their rescuers turned. Tate slowly followed them through the dark forest.

  Cally cuddled against his strong chest. She was thrilled to be rescued but not so thrilled to have her time alone with Tate at an end, and now she was even more worried about Kaimbrey and Brody. She’d held out hope that they’d be found. It was hard to know the truth, know they were still in danger.

  Chapter Thirteen

  Tate sloshed along the muddy trail in the pre-morning light. He’d returned to the camp with Cally. The FBI, police, and search and rescue had set up at the clearing where the kidnappers had held Cally and Kaimbrey. He ate some food, restocked his backpack, and accepted a dry shirt, socks, and a walkie-talkie before heading back out again. There hadn’t been time to talk with Cally more, and he hadn’t liked leaving her. The most positive news was two of the the rain finally seemed to be letting up.

  His thoughts ran as he pushed on. He’d kissed Cally. It had been incredible.

  And … she’d thought he was Colt. He shoved a hand through his hair. He loved his older brother and had fought against jealous feelings of him and Cally for years. Now when Colt had finally moved on, and Cally was free, she wasn’t really free. Deep down she was still pining for Colt: guilty over the way she’d treated him, wishing they could be together, and thinking he was one of the best men she’d ever known. Colt was one of the best men out there, but Tate hated that Cally still wanted his brother, not him. He especially hated that he had no clue what to do about it. This wasn’t a bone spur he could simply cut out. How did you cut love out of someone’s heart?

  His radio crackled to life. He reached for it and heard the message, “Found multiple tracks. My location is south-east thirty degrees from base camp. I’m heading due east right now.”

  Tate wasn’t sure of his own bearing as he’d been aimlessly following a trail that he’d hoped was made by his brother and Kaimbrey, but it may have just been a deer track. The rain was clearing, and the sun was cresting slowly above the mountains to the east, burning pink through the clouds. He decided to head straight toward the east. The going was rough through the thick forest, but he kept plowing through.

  Maybe half a mile later, he saw a jagged rock wall in front of him. As he approached, he saw two people not far to the south, entangled in each other’s arms. He yelped, “Brody!”

  Brody jumped and whirled to face him, putting himself in front of Kaimbrey. When he saw Tate, he lifted a hand and grinned. “Oh, hey, bro,” he said as casually as if they’d walked into Momma’s kitchen for breakfast.

  “Brody, Kaimbrey!” Tate pushed through the thick undergrowth and launched himself at his brother. Brody didn’t seem nearly as relieved to see him as he was to see his brother. “You’re both okay?” he rushed out.

  Kaimbrey nodded up at him. Her beautiful face was dusty and tear-stained, and she looked exhausted and rumpled, but still, she looked unharmed.

  “Did those men catch you? Where have you been?” Tate pulled out his walkie-talkie and spoke into it. “I found them!”

  “What’s your location?”

  “I don’t know. I went straight east like the other guy said. I know where base camp is, so we’ll head that direction.” He turned to his brother. “You’re really okay?”

  Brody cracked a smile. “You’ve been worrying about me, I take it?”

  “Both of you, let’s head west to the trail I was on. It’ll take us back to camp, and you can tell me what happened.”

  They started walking, and Kaimbrey launched into an expressive tale of her running from the tent, the men chasing and catching her, Brody protecting her and thumping them both, but the one guy somehow disappearing. Her voice got a little quieter as she explained they’d spent the night cuddled under an overhang. Tate’s eyebrows rose, but he wasn’t about to question them about it. Brody would probably share more of that story with him later. He loved that Brody was an open book.

  Men were racing up to them as they got closer to camp.

  Tate pushed through everyone. Now that he knew his brother was safe, he simply wanted to hold Cally. But what would she want? If he tried to kiss her and she called him Colt again, he was going to explode.

  Cally waited at the camp for some kind of news. They’d given her a dry, warm blanket and clean socks. They tried to get her to eat, but she was too keyed up worrying about Tate, Brody, and Kaimbrey. When news came through that Brody and Kaimbrey were found, she cheered along with everyone. It was much too long of a time before Brody and Kaimbrey made it back to camp. They were holding hands and looked exhausted, but they were all right.

  Tate came in directly behind them. As he cleared the trees, Cally’s breath caught. His tall, muscular frame and handsome face tugged her toward him. She hurried in his direction, but Kaimbrey grabbed her first.

  “Oh, girlie, are you okay?” Kaimbrey hugged her fiercely.

  Cally laughed. Was she okay? She wasn’t sure, honestly. “Traumatized, but otherwise I’m really pretty great. You?”

  “Right as my mama’s pecan pie.” She tilted her head toward Brody and lowered her voice, “And on pretty good kissing terms with the man I’m supposed to catch.” She winked.

  Cally blinked at her. “You’re not still thinking about … Emma’s offer?”

  “Why wouldn’t I be?” Kaimbrey drawled out. “I’ve been trying to start my charity for years, and this is my chance.”

  “But what about Brody?”

  Kaimbrey’s dark eyes softened, but she shrugged her shoulders nonchalantly. “We’ll see what shakes down after the deal plays out. Maybe that handsome man will make the cut, maybe he won’t.” She headed Brody’s direction. He immediately wrapped his arm around her and tucked her into his side. They were a beautiful couple, but Cally wondered if she should warn him. Kaimbrey was definitely a flirt, maybe she was only toying with Brody. She could be hoping to get the million dollars from Emma, and dump him like she’d initially said. The money was for a worthy cause, but it still didn’t feel right. Brody was a great guy who’d been like a little brother to Cally, always teasing her and making her laugh. She didn’t want to see him hurt.

  Turning, she saw Tate standing ten feet away, obviously waiting for her. She hurried his direction and flung herself into his arms. His strength surrounding her felt so right, as if she were in a tropical paradise.

  “Are you okay?” she asked him fiercely.

  He smiled down at her and tenderly brushed her hair from her neck. “Yes. You?”

 
She nodded. “Nothing’s missing.”

  He grinned then glanced down at her feet in dry, thick socks one of the search and rescue guys had given her. “Your feet?”

  “I won’t be running any marathons this week, but they’ll be fine.”

  “You’re more tough and resilient than I gave you credit for.”

  “Hey!” She pulled back slightly but couldn’t force herself to leave his arms completely. “You always knew how tough I was. I kept up with the three Jepson brothers.”

  “Kept up?” He chuckled, but it was uneasy. He was thinking about that kiss and her saying Colt’s name. She knew it. How could she ever make it up to him? “You were our leader who we didn’t dare not to follow,” he said.

  Cally fluttered her eyelashes and tried to tease. “Because you adored me.”

  Tate’s blue eyes were serious. “I did.”

  Cally bit at her cheek and bravely asked, “Do you still?”

  He seemed reluctant to answer. He glanced around, and she noticed there were a bunch of men watching them. Tate focused on her. “When we get back, can I take you to lunch?”

  It wasn’t the answer she’d been hoping for. She wanted him to pledge his adoration of her, but that wasn’t right. She had to explain that she was interested in him and not his older brother. It had been hard for her to let Colt go, simply because of all the time spent together and their goals and dreams, but Tate was like a shining beacon for her now. As if Momma Jepson was praying and trying to show Cally—this is the one for you.

  “I’ll be waiting for you,” Cally told him.

  One of the men approached to tell them they’d have to be separated for questioning. Cally went along with the man, hoping the questioning would be quick. She wanted to go home, shower, and be ready and waiting for her lunch date.

  Chapter Fourteen

  Cally didn’t get home in time for her lunch date. They were finally cleared around four p.m. from interviews with the FBI. The main guy, Jack, hadn’t been caught, so Cally was taken back to her parents’ home with a police escort. She was exhausted, dirty, and hungry. The policeman assured her she could go on the dinner date she and Tate had planned, they’d just follow them. That didn’t bother her nearly so much as being informed that her parents’ home had been cleared, and her parents were there waiting for her.

  She walked slowly up the front steps. If she walked slowly enough maybe she’d never have to face the cold, vindictive woman who had raised her. She cringed at how wimpy she was being. Even as an adult she was uncertain and worried how an interaction with her mother would play out.

  The door sprang open, and her mother rushed out. She looked … messy. Her normally perfect hair hung limply around her makeup-free face. Her blouse and skirt were rumpled. She looked like she’d been crying … hard.

  She ran at Cally but thankfully stopped before she plowed her over, or worse, tried to hug her. They were only a foot apart, and for the first time in Cally’s life it didn’t feel like a mile.

  “Mom,” Cally greeted her, uncertain, surprised at her exuberance and appearance.

  “Oh, Cally,” she burst out. “I was so worried.”

  “You were?” Cally was stunned and had no clue how to respond. She rarely heard from her parents, and that’s how she thought all involved preferred it.

  “When I got that call ...” Her mother pushed a fist against her mouth. “They threatened to cut you up if I called the police, but I prayed, and I knew Tate could help you.”

  “You prayed?” Was she living in an alternate reality? She knew her mother had called Tate, for which she would always be grateful, but she was still in shock right now.

  Her mother nodded and cautiously stepped closer. “Cally.” Her voice was soft like a mother’s voice should be. “I know we’ve never been … close.”

  Close? From Cally’s perspective, they despised each other.

  “But when I got that call …” She shook her head. “I was so terrified. You and I have always clashed, and I didn’t treat you right. I’m terribly sorry I was often short of temper and unkind to you. I’d like to think I’ve learned and paid for my mistakes, that I wouldn’t hurt you like that again. I love you, and I’m proud of you, and I want you to be happy.”

  Cally swallowed hard but couldn’t clear her suddenly tight throat from her mother’s seemingly-heartfelt speech. Emotion pricked at her eyes. She was exhausted and hungry. That was why she was reacting so strongly. But maybe it was something more. Her mom was sorry. She was proud of her? Loved her?

  “Th-thank you,” she stuttered out.

  Her mom reached out a hand and touched her hair. Thankfully she didn’t hug her, or Cally might have either run screaming or done something crazy like hugging her back. Her mother was overwrought because of the kidnapping and threats, but when she came back to herself, she’d most likely be scornful of or deny this entire conversation.

  “Is there any way we could … try to have a relationship?”

  Cally eyed her suspiciously, wondering if this new mother would last. “Why now?”

  “I’ve been so wrong. All that’s mattered to me was appearances, money. When I realized I could lose you physically?” She bit at her lip. “I realized I’ve already lost you emotionally. I’m not asking for much. Maybe just a phone call, a text, a visit once in a while?” Her pale blue eyes bore into Cally’s, and they weren’t full of condescension and annoyance like normal; they were full of begging.

  Cally despised her mother. She had since she started running around with the Jepson brothers as a child and realized how much love and happiness a mother could bring to children, but her mother was still her mother. If she was willing to try, Cally would do the same. It might not last, but it couldn’t be any worse than the relationship they currently had. “We can try.”

  She gave Cally a tremulous smile. “I bet you’re exhausted. What can I do for you?”

  Cally didn’t want to share her plans. She was so used to being on her own, and she was a grown woman who could do what she wanted, but she wanted to try. “I just need a shower, and then I’m going to dinner with Tate.”

  Her mother’s eyebrows rose. “Oh? That’ll be … nice.”

  Cally cringed. Her mother thought the Jepsons were beneath them, but at least she hadn’t immediately resorted to snide comments.

  “It will be nice.” A genuine smile came as she thought of Tate, but there was also a heap of baggage between them still. “Tate’s a great guy.”

  Her mother didn’t address that. “Can you stay the night? Maybe in the morning you could have breakfast with your father and me.”

  Cally forced a smile and said, “That sounds good.” It was a lie. It didn’t sound good, but she was going to meet her mother’s efforts. At least try to repair a lifetime of pain, misunderstandings, and neglect.

  Her mother stepped back and gestured to Cally. “I’ll let you get ready.”

  Cally walked past her, but she stopped and on an insane impulse gave her mom a quick hug. “Thanks for sending Tate. He rescued me.” She couldn’t stand to imagine the outcome of her kidnapping without Tate and Brody.

  Her mother clasped her tight for almost a full second but released her and stepped out of her reach quickly. She brushed at her cheeks and said, “I’m so glad.”

  Cally hurried inside then. There was no world where she could watch her mother cry.

  She ran up to her room and took a long shower and extra care getting ready.

  Her phone was on her dresser where she’d left it. She was early, so she hurriedly responded to some texts and emails. She noticed Emmaline Jensen had called a few times and there was a text from her, “Call me, please.”

  Cally pushed to call back. Her hand was trembling, which was silly. She wasn’t scared of Emma. She felt so different about Tate, and Emma’s challenge, after what she’d been through. All she needed to do was tell Emma she wasn’t attempting to get a marriage proposal and she wasn’t in the running for the million dollar
s for her charity. It sucked but maybe she could find some way to raise the money. It just didn’t feel right to trick Tate into proposing. She’d only agreed that night because she was mad at him and got excited about her charity starting so easily.

  “Cally,” Emma’s voice piped through the line. “Thanks for calling me back.”

  “Of course.”

  “Are you all right?”

  “Yes, thank you.” Cally paced the room while she talked, wishing Emma would just get to the point.

  “Good, good. Well, dear. Something interesting has come up.”

  Cally was biting at her cheek, trying to decide how to tell Emma she wasn’t going to be tricking Tate into a proposal, but she heard the excited pitch to Emma’s voice and simply asked, “Yes?”

  “I have a good friend who lives in the Chicago area. Forest Glen.” Forest Glen was the wealthiest area in Chicago. “We were chatting this morning, and I told her about my … deal with you girls. She thought it was a hoot, but when she heard your name, she asked me to give you a different proposal.”

  “Oh?”

  “She’s heard of you and your work. Actually, her son has been researching you for a while. You left a hole when you left Chicago.”

  Cally liked hearing that. It had been hard to leave, but she’d felt ready to come home. Why, though, had this lady’s son been researching her?

  “She and her husband own Titanium Homes.”

  Cally swallowed hard. Titanium was the elite homebuilder in not only Chicago but in other major metropolitan areas throughout the nation. They built unique and gorgeous homes only for the extremely wealthy. Cally had worked on a few projects with their company. She’d been intimidated and impressed, working extra hours and praying she’d done a good job. She’d never met the owners but knew they were well-liked and hard-working. “Kamilla Yates?” she guessed.

  “Yes, that’s her. She said Titanium will partner with you on your charity if you’ll meet with her in Chicago tomorrow and commit to being her designer.”