Fated (8 page)

Had she? She supposed she’d
complained about Reece and how he took to his role as Sheriff and didn’t accord
her the respect her family name should inspire. What a spoiled twit she’d
acted, using anything to keep him at bay. She didn’t doubt he’d paddle her ass
if she acted in such a fashion ever again, and the thought was intriguing. She
and Reece were going to explore all those sexual things floating between them,
unspoken, yet very tangible.

“I guess I did.” Filling her friend
in on what had transpired those years ago elicited a very different reaction.

“He didn’t! I mean, your daddy was
always … indifferent, I guess. Who would think he would want to stand in your
way with Reece? I don’t get it.”

“Social standing,
girlfriend.”
Candy couldn’t stand to think about it. “And he was keeping
me at arms’ length because I resemble my mom, punishing me to assuage his
grief.
Some daddy.
I’ve had enough of revelations to
last me a lifetime.”

“Lord. So that means now—”

“I don’t give a rip about what my
father thinks, wants or otherwise. Reece left to protect me and his family, to
prove worthy of me. He kept his promise to Daddy. And when it was obvious I
wasn’t getting over him, my father decided to continue to interfere. He didn’t
hold his end up, that if I was still head over heels, and Reece had measured up
to
his
standards, the jerk, he would
back off.”

“Oh, honey. We both got screwed
over when it came to the parenting stakes. But look at the end game.
Winners.”
Sinclair’s voice took on a sultry tone, and her
cheeks flushed pink.
Definitely cat and cream.

Candy could feel an answering heat
in her own face, and as her eyes met her friends, they both burst out laughing.
“TMI,” she finally gasped out.

“I didn’t say anything,” Sinclair
protested.

“But you thought it.”

“Well, there is that.”

This time they were weak from the
shared humor, and collapsed against the counter top. Sinclair passed her a
napkin, and Candy patted the moisture welling at the corner of her eyes. Happy
tears.

 
“When’s Reece back?”

“After his shift.
Soon.”
She wasn’t pleased at being chauffeured,
primarily because the Sheriff had decreed additional time without wheels as
part of her community service—and a promise of containing her heavy foot from
here on in. The glint in his eye, a promise of actual punishment should she
disobey, made her want to push him, but she wasn’t that irresponsible. Not now
she had a good reason to take care of herself. The thought made her smile, and
Sinclair grinned back.

“I don’t suppose you’d like to stay
for dinner? Craig is grilling.”

Despite the appeal of the offer,
all these happy people under the same roof, she declined. “Reece dealt with
Daddy today, and we need some time together, alone. We’ll have you guys over
soon.”

Nodding solemnly, Sinclair
indicated her understanding.
“Lots of challenges ahead, for
all of us.”

A deep voice from the screen door
alerted them to Reece’s presence, and Candy nearly ran to let him in. He wrapped
her up, and regardless of Sinclair’s presence, kissed her in a masterful and
totally arousing way until her knees weakened.

Pulling away from her lips, he
pressed another brief touch on her forehead while holding her close.
“Hey, Sinclair.
I hear you’re back for good.”

“I am. I invited you both to dinner,
but we’ll do it another time.”

Reece hadn’t blinked when she told
him about Sinclair’s ménage, and gave Candy every reason to believe he’d
support the threesome. Not that he’d share
her
with another man. “For sure we’ll take a rain check. And things are good,” he
addressed the last to Candy. “But I’d like to take the future Mrs. Murdoch home
right now.”

They hadn’t spoken about marriage,
but Candy wasn’t surprised or shocked by Reece’s claim. Oh, he’d have to work
harder on a more private proposal, but she wouldn’t make him wait.

And she couldn’t wait to learn what
had happened with her daddy. Tucking her hand in his, she waited until they
were beside the cruiser. “Tell me how it went with my father.”

Pulling her close, he looped his
free arm around her waist, and she tilted her head to watch his face. “Your
daddy’s an arrogant man, darlin’. He started out trying to run roughshod over
me, but he’s smart, too, and he picks his battles.”

He hesitated, and she tensed for
the bad news. “I reminded him of your feelings about not wanting to have
anything to do with him, and he was noncommittal.”

That shouldn’t have stung, but it
did. Candy knew not to expect anything better from her father, but she supposed
kids never gave up hope where their parents were concerned. “So?”

“Roslyn spoke up, and your daddy
agreed with her.”

No surprise. Her step mother
possessed amazing diplomatic skills. She and Roslyn had never been close, but
there was no real enmity either. “What did she suggest?”

“A meeting of
sorts.
I think she intends for your daddy to explain himself.”

“No. There’s nothing he can say
that will
explain
anything.”

“Candace, I’ll support you in
whatever choice you make, but I want you to think on it. It doesn’t have to
take place right away.”

The love and concern on his beloved
features gave her pause. “I’ll think about it, but I don’t need him. You’re
more than enough for me.”

Reece hugged her tight and she felt
his lips press against her hair.

“I’m riding up front this time,”
she whispered, as he opened up the door of the cruiser, giving Sinclair a
belated wave.

“Breaks the rules, darlin’, but
some of those are meant to be … interpreted differently.” The way he turned
those brilliant green eyes on her, full of love and urgent desire, made her heart
pound.

“Seems there’s any number of
benefits to supporting one’s local Sheriff,” she teased.

A firm smack on her bottom
precipitated a quick leap into the front seat as Reece held the door for her.
She watched him hustle around the hood and slide inside, her heart leaping with
joy and excitement.
Meant to be, fated, whatever.

Good things come to those who wait.

The End

www.allysonyoung.com

Other Books by Allyson Young:

www.evernightpublishing.com/allyson-young

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