How to Switch a Groom Read online

  “We are just that hot, my friend,” Kaimbrey said.

  The little boy cocked his head up to stare at her. “Yes, you are, pretty lady.”

  Kaimbrey laughed low and throaty. Brody rushed off the dock and extended his hand. “I need to apologize.”

  “You shore do,” Kaimbrey threw at him. She bent down and kissed their escort’s cheek. “Thank you, little man.”

  “Shore thing.” He grinned.

  Brody took Kaimbrey’s hand, and they walked off down the beach. Cally thought Kaimbrey had a ninety-nine percent chance of getting the million dollars. She focused on Tate who was standing on the dock staring at her but not making a move her direction. She thought she had a less than one percent chance.

  “My job is done here,” the little boy piped up. He released her hand and gave her a little shove toward Tate. “This is where you go kiss on my uncle.”

  Cally caught Tate’s gaze and laughed, but then suspicion and jealousy filled her. Especially since Tate was shifting awkwardly from foot to foot.

  “Do you bring women to your uncles on a recurring basis, little buddy?”

  “Recurring?” he repeated, his brow squiggling in confusion.

  “Do you always bring women to your Uncle Tate?”

  He nodded, his blue eyes brightening. “Uncle Brody more but Uncle Tate uses me as his wingman a lot too. I get the favorite ladies for Uncle Tate. He likes the yellow hairs like me.”

  Cally’s gut churned. So, the handsome, grown-up Tate Jepson was a big-time player. She should’ve seen that coming, just based on his looks, charm, and success, but she’d innocently assumed he was still the sweet, devoted, little boy who followed her around, not the type to flit from woman to woman.

  Tate pushed a hand through his hair. “Cally, it’s not like …” His voice trailed off, and he looked miserable and embarrassed.

  “Bye!” The little guy piped up dashing away from the water and back to the party. It was getting darker, and all the tiki torches and soft lighting looked appealing, safe.

  Cally wanted to follow the nephew and not face her past, but she wanted to confront Tate before she lost her nerve. She squished through the sand in her heels and onto the dock. Tate hadn’t moved. He stared at her, and the lights from the party highlighted the strong planes of his face. Why did all the handsome ones have to be jerks? Colt truly was the only good man left, and he wasn’t even left at all. He would soon be happily married and was more than over her.

  Tate’s gaze was a navy blue and so uncertain. She would’ve felt bad for him, if she hadn’t been so keyed up.

  “So, you trick your cute nephew into being your wingman and bringing you yellow-haired girls who just swoon when they see that handsome Dr. Tate Jepson is the one waiting on the dock for them?”

  Tate held his hands up. “Cally. He’s just a cute little boy.”

  “Well, you’re not.” She shoved at his chest. He stuttered off balance, and his arms wind-milled. Cally’s eyes widened. Tate grabbed at her arm for stability, but his momentum was still going backward. Cally teetered on her high heels and couldn’t right herself. She cried out in surprise as they plunged off the dock into the cool water.

  The water covered her head, and she flailed her arms to rise up out of it. Tate’s arms came around her and lifted her up. He was tall enough he could easily touch the bottom of the lake, but the water was just over her head. She clung to his broad shoulders; they were every bit as firm as she’d envisioned. Despite the cool water, heat filled her chest. Being held by Tate Jepson was different than anything she’d ever experienced. He was solid and tantalizing at the same time. It felt amazing to have his arms wrapped tightly around her.

  “You all right?” he asked.

  “I shouldn’t have pushed you, I’m sorry,” Cally said. The cool water had calmed her down, yet the heat of his touch revved her up.

  Tate chuckled. “It’s okay. Reminded me of the Cally I used to know.” He squeezed her waist and a thrill rushed through her.

  “What do you mean, ‘the Cally you used to know’?”

  “You know.” Tate’s gaze swept over her. “The Cally who didn’t have her hair perfectly done and was spontaneous and fun. The Cally who wouldn’t spend thousands of dollars on the perfect dress and three-inch heels to try to intimidate and impress the crowd.”

  Thousands of dollars on a dress? How did he know? “Oh no!” Cally cried out. “Please. Help me out of here.”

  Tate’s eyes registered confusion, but he easily lifted her out of the water. Her dress snagged on the edge of the dock with a horrible, sickening rip.

  “Stop,” she begged.

  Tate held her half in, half out of the water, his strong hands surrounding her waist. Cally tugged the fabric free then scrambled onto the dock, Tate pushing her up from behind. She stood shakily on the dock, water dripping from her hair and dress. Luckily, her strappy heels had stayed on. She blinked water out of her eyes and wanted to cry. It was only a dress, and it was her fault they’d gone in the water, but … she’d saved and saved for this stupid dress, and Tate was wrong, she hadn’t spent so much money on a dress to intimidate anyone but to try to be confident in a high-roller crowd or situations like tonight.

  Tate easily launched himself onto the dock. He gave her a teasing smile and pulled his suit coat off, wringing the water from it. His white shirt clung to his well-formed chest.

  “Well that’s one way to get reacquainted.” He winked. “Is your dress okay?”

  Her dress. She shook her head. Even if it hadn’t ripped, it was dry clean only, and the murky lake water would for sure have ruined it. She kept trying to remind herself it was only a stupid dress, but it seemed to symbolize everything she’d lost: her career, her future husband, her pride.

  “I’m sorry about the dress.” Tate tilted his head, and his blue eyes glinted. “But now that it’s wet, why don’t we go for a swim for old time’s sake?”

  “I can’t just go for a swim like I’m some teenager,” she said, exasperated and sick about not only ruining the dress but the mess she and her life seemed to be in right now. “This dress did cost over three thousand dollars,” she pushed out. Everything had gone wrong for her lately, and the dress was only a minor thing, but it was a sickening minor thing.

  “Wow.” Tate’s brow squiggled. “That’s exactly what I’m talking about. What happened to the Cally I used to know and love?” His eyes widened and he said, “Love like a sister.”

  She should’ve been his sister, or sister-in-law. Cally shook her head and backed away.

  “I asked my nephew to bring you down here because I thought there was a spark of that Cally left. I guess I was wrong.”

  She blinked back hot tears, whirled, and stomped off the dock. Tate thought she was a snotty, horrific person. The worst part was she felt like he was right. Her charity was the only good part of her right now, and she was going to fail at starting it. She’d never win Tate over and get that million dollars.

  She stormed up the sloping grass, overwhelming frustration clouding everything around her.

  “Oh, hey, Cally, are you okay?” Brikelle, the sweet, beautiful bride-to-be was in her path and staring up at her.

  Cally stopped short and blinked quickly to clear her vision. She hadn’t even realized she was back at the party. Luckily, they were at the edge of the party and everyone around them was engaged in conversation. Hopefully, they wouldn’t notice what a mess Cally was.

  “I’m fine,” Cally said. “Congratulations. The party is beautiful. You look beautiful.”

  “Aw, thank you, you’re so sweet.” Bri looked like she wanted to hug her but didn’t quite dare. “Why are you all … wet?”

  “Well, um …”

  “Cally?” Colt’s voice came from the side. He walked up with a glass of water for Bri. “Here you go, love.”

  “Thank you.” Bri went on tiptoes to kiss him quickly, and then took the glass and downed it. “Talking to everyone made my throat dry
.”

  “Looking at you makes my throat dry,” Colt murmured in a husky, sexy tone.

  Bri grinned and snuggled into his side.

  Cally had never felt so out of place. “Have a great night.”

  She made it two steps before Colt’s voice stopped her. “Cally, are you all right?”

  Cally swung back and plastered on a smile. It was even harder to do as Colt’s arm was around Bri’s waist, and she was cuddled up against him. They looked like the perfect couple. They were the perfect couple. Seeing him with someone else hurt, but surprisingly, it was mostly the embarrassment of looking like a drowned rat, rather than the ache of wanting to be the one in Colt’s arms like she’d imagined.

  “Fine.” She waved a hand. “Thanks so much for inviting me. See you soon.”

  She rushed away before they could stop her again. The image of them together was seared into her mind, but the image that kept coming back was Tate with his dress shirt plastered to that perfect chest, his hair wet, and a charming smile on his face. Then him telling her she wasn’t the Cally he used to know and love.

  Tears dribbled down her cheeks, surprising her. She wasn’t a crier. She furiously pushed the wetness away and kept on moving. If she never saw Tate Jepson again, it would be too soon.

  Tate watched Cally push through the sand then up the path to the house. The tiki lights highlighted her gorgeous shape in the form-fitting dress. He was still ticked at her for hurting Colt all those years, but he’d deluded himself into thinking she might want to share with him a logical explanation. He’d imagined they could spend some time together, talk through her decisions and their lives since they’d seen each other, maybe be friends again.

  If only she was the Cally he used to love. Three thousand dollars for a dress? Cally used to hate the way her mother threw money and prestige around, and Cally used to be genuine, happy, and fun to be around. The Cally he loved would’ve laughed about falling in the lake and gone for a late-night swim.

  He shook his head and pushed at the water in his hair. His suit was top of the line and not cheap, but who cared if it got wet? It would be okay. But, he and Cally would definitely not be okay. He wasn’t sure why it mattered so much to him. They had nothing in common anymore, and he’d promised himself as a teenager not to pursue his brother’s girlfriend. Cally wasn’t with Colt anymore, but Tate still couldn’t go after her. It would be too awkward.

  He noticed her skirt around the edge of the party, talk to Colt and Bri briefly, and then head to the front of the house. Would she be embarrassed? He should’ve been the gentleman and escorted her home, but he really doubted she would’ve let him. Cally still had fire in her, at least that hadn’t changed.

  Pushing through the sand, he didn’t want to return to the party either, but it was his brother’s engagement party. He’d go back and joke about falling in the lake. It would be fine. It was a warm night, and he wasn’t cold, even though he was soaked clear through.

  He looked around for Brody but couldn’t see him. At least using their wingman had brought Brody the woman he wanted. Kaimbrey was adorable. If it worked out, they’d be a beautiful and fun couple. If it worked out, Tate would be the last unmarried Jepson sibling. He wanted his siblings to be happy, but it was awful to be alone.

  Chapter Four

  Cally woke up early the next morning, stretching on the luxurious mattress she’d slept on throughout her teenage years. She should’ve headed back to her apartment in North Ogden last night, but she’d been exhausted, and the likelihood of her parents being home was so low she took a chance and stayed at her childhood home. It was deserted, just like old times, but her mom must still be paying to have the house cleaned every week. Everything was fresh and nice, and luckily, the security codes were still the same.

  Standing, she stretched and glanced around her lovely but dark room. The bed frame and furniture were mahogany, and the walls were painted a dark gray. The bedding and throw pillows were white, pink, and teal, but it wasn’t enough to dispel the gloom. She grabbed the remote and pushed the button to open the shades. The views of the lush green valley and mountains surrounding them helped. Her parents’ home was on the north side of the valley, closer to Powder Mountain Ski Resort and the home she’d heard Colt had custom-built for himself. The home she thought she’d be decorating, but Brikelle would have that job. She was pathetic to even let herself think about it.

  Her thoughts quickly swung to Tate. The all grown up, successful, beautiful, and too appealing Tate. She was embarrassed about how she’d acted but also still upset with him. Did he have to say “likewise” when she said she despised him? Then he’d confused her by staring at her half the night and having his nephew escort her to him. It made her hopes rise, as if he were interested in her romantically, but she doubted that was the case.

  She groaned. To top it all off, there was Emma and her insane challenge. A million dollars would go a long way to start and establish her charity. Cally loved decorating million-dollar homes, but she loved even more redoing an existing home and making someone’s dreams come true. She’d grown up watching Extreme Makeover: Home Edition and always envisioned making someone’s dreams come true, without showing the story to the world. She wanted to help people who didn’t want the exposure, people who would be embarrassed by the charity but who definitely needed the help, even if their pride would never let them ask for it. She loved down-to-earth, hard-working people like that who just needed to catch a break.

  Sighing, she used the bathroom, not letting her eyes linger on the ruined dress she’d hung over the shower wall to dry last night. She went to her closet and dug out some old running shoes, a t-shirt, and shorts. It was Saturday, so she didn’t need to worry about work. A run around the lake on the jogging path would be the perfect thing this morning. Maybe she’d stay up here all weekend. The mountain valley was a picturesque spot, and just being here made her feel more at home and not so alone in the world. She’d be alone whether she was here or at her apartment, so what did it matter? She was so tired of being alone, but she’d brought it upon herself. Tate was right about one thing—the old, fun Cally was so far gone she didn’t even know when she’d buried her. The old Cally would’ve either gone swimming in her three-thousand-dollar dress like Tate had asked or peeled it off and really shocked her old friend. She smiled to herself imagining that.

  Lacing up her shoes, she hurried through the silent, perfect upper story of the house. Reaching the balcony that overlooked the grand entryway, she was grateful for more light from the large windows but still had that feeling she didn’t belong in this grandeur, and as her mother had often told her, she’d never measure up. So silly as she now regularly decorated houses every bit as high-end as this one.

  A rap came at the front door, startling her. Who would be knocking at a house that was rarely occupied? She hurried down the sweeping staircase, through the foyer, and undid the deadbolt. Opening the door a few inches, she peeked out. Being home had made her a lot less cautious than she would’ve been in Chicago. Nothing bad ever happened in slow-moving Eden, Utah.

  A man, probably in his early thirties, stood at the door. He had a broad smile, and his shirt and hat both had a logo for Meyer’s Pest Control. “Good morning,” he called out, much too upbeat for this early in the day. “We’re here for the scheduled maintenance spray.”

  “Hi.” Cally opened the door a little wider and glanced at the truck in the circle drive. It had all the trappings of a pest control company. “Thanks.”

  He stood there, grinning at her, obviously waiting for something.

  “Um, you’ll have to bill my parents for payment. This isn’t my house.”

  “Oh, no worries ma’am, payment will be received, I promise you that.” His grin grew.

  A chill ran down her back. This guy was creepy for some reason. Like the Joker from Batman kind of creepy. He needed to stop smiling already.

  “All right. Thank you.” She started to close the door.

&
nbsp; The man’s hand shot out and stopped her. “Just wanted to make sure an exterior entrance will remain unlocked so we can do interior and exterior.”

  Cally’s eyes narrowed. He was pushing her and thought she’d cave. He had no clue who he was messing with. “I think you’d better just do exterior today. I don’t want to be in a house full of pesticide.”

  “My client won’t be happy.”

  “Take that up with her then.” She slammed the door and dead bolted it. She should’ve told the guy that his client, her mother, was never happy.

  Peering through the peephole, she watched as the guy went slowly back to his truck. He climbed in the cab, waited a little bit, and then simply drove away. Weird. She fished out her cell phone and Googled the number for Meyer’s Pest Control. She didn’t much care about this house or what they billed her mother, but she was here alone and wanted to make sure it was on the up and up. Searching through the internet, she found no Meyer’s Pest Control nearby. There was one in Texas and California. Oh, there it was, in Spanish Fork. They had decent reviews, only some complaints that they were far too expensive. Spanish Fork was a bit of a drive, but if they were the most expensive in the state, they’d definitely get her mother’s business.

  Pushing it from her mind, she went out the side door to the garage, that she could lock with a code, and into the crisp summer morning. She felt like she’d escaped from a holding cell. Maybe staying here wasn’t the best idea. She didn’t need to dredge up depressing childhood memories.

  The fresh air embraced her as she walked across the ostentatious driveway. Chicago was hot and muggy in the summer and cold that cut right through you in the winter. Eden got cold in the winter, but it was a dry cold that you could easily dress for and enjoy a day on the slopes at Powder Mountain or Snow Basin. The spring, summer, and fall temps were amazing. This summer morning it was probably high fifties, perfect weather for a run.

  She started out at a jog, taking the route down to Eden and the jogging trail on the north side of the lake. The movement, fresh air, and sunshine felt great. Her legs were strong from the boot camp classes she did five days a week in Chicago, but there was nothing like an outdoor run in a beautiful spot. The mountains framed her hometown and the lake decorated the middle. If she didn’t hate her parents’ house so much she’d stay longer, take a long hike in the mountains, get a pizza from Ogden Valley Pizza, and eat it lakeside. But it wouldn’t be much fun by herself. She wasn’t sure why it bothered her to be alone. She’d had work friends, exercise friends, and church friends in Chicago but quite often had been alone and had never cared, maybe because she was so busy. But, here in Eden, being alone reminded her of the three best friends she’d lost: Colt, Tate, and Brody.