A Jolly Rancher Holiday (Magnolia Creek)

Chapter 1

CATHIA

CAMI & VAUGHAN’S WEDDING REHEARSAL

Cami stands at the head of the table with Vaughan, thanking all of our friends and family for being here tonight to celebrate their upcoming nuptials.

The large room overlooks the grassy field of the Wranglers baseball team.

The team our friend Luca Amato owns. He insisted we use it instead of a restaurant that we originally planned to use to host their dinner.

The we consists of her bridesmaids -Vivian, CeCe and myself– as well as the groomsmen –Hayes, Phoenix and Bishop– who offered to help.

Everyone wanted to be sure that they got what they deserved, which is the best.

After spending twelve years apart, both going through some pretty tragic losses, they were able to find their way back together. They were always meant to be, and it was important to us that they knew we supported their rekindled love.

“Oo! Can I say something?” Dagen, Vaughan’s daughter from his previous marriage, jumps from her seat with her hand raised high.

“Of course, sweetheart. C’mere.” Cami motions for Dagen to join her and Vaughan, and my soon-to-be niece hops over to them.

She comes to stand right in front of Cami and my sister places her hands on Dagen’s shoulders.

The love in her eyes for this young lady is so apparent to everyone.

You’d think that they were mother and daughter and not just so by marriage.

The bond these two have formed is one of pure envy, and each of them is pretty lucky to have the other in their life.

“I just want to say that I’m really excited to have a new family. Abuelita Alma and Abuelo Juan, and now Uncle Dre and Auntie Cat…I’m just really lucky.” She sniffles and I do the same.

And when I see Cami start crying and wrap her arms around Dagen, I lose it with the rest of the guests.

I swipe away at the tear falling from the corner of my eye and sigh.

As happy as I am that my sister will get her happily ever after with the boy who she first gave her heart to, I can’t help but be a little sad.

I thought by now I’d at least have a man in my life.

But all I have is a string of horrible ex-boyfriends that had no ambitions and zero sense of how to treat a woman they were dating.

I guess I can’t really find my Prince Charming sitting at home or being the “third wheel” with my friends as they have all coupled up. Well, everyone except Bishop and Hayes. But I’m sure they have plenty of women waiting in the wings.

Cami and Dagen loosen their hold on each other and smiles grace their faces. “Oh I forgot,” Dagen adds. “Aunt Viv and Aunt CeCe and Uncle Nix and Zio Luca. They’re my new family, too.”

And the crying starts all over. Viv and CeCe cry happy tears and while Luca and Phoenix don’t let actual tears fall, we can all tell how touched they are.

Everyone holds their glasses up in a toast and soft music begins playing over the speakers as people go about conversing with other guests.

Mama and Daddy laugh with Cami’s soon-to-be in-laws, Maxine and Jim, and the men all begin talking about logistics of tomorrow’s ceremony.

All but Hayes. He looks equally as bummed out as me.

Maybe it’s just the emotion of the event that has everyone a little out of sorts.

I throw my glass of champagne back only to realize it’s empty…again. I should probably stop drinking but I am in no mood for facing reality. I stand and walk over to the bar set up in the corner –courtesy of Luca– and smile at the bartender.

“Another champagne, young lady?” The bartender asks.

“I’d love another, but I wouldn’t consider myself a young lady.” I hand over my glass and he sets it on the counter behind to retrieve a fresh glass.

“Oh gorgeous. I’m an old man, so anyone under the age of thirty is young.” I look him over and take in all his features.

He has dark hair with just a hint of grey at the sides and faint creases at his eyes. The kind you get from too much laughing and smiling. He has a sexy scruff that covers his jaw and beneath his uniform, he looks to be pretty fit. He’s the pure definition of a zaddy, if you ask me.

“Old man? You must be in your late thirties, at most.”

He laughs a glorious sound and throws his head back. “Late thirties ten years ago, maybe.” My jaw drops because I can’t imagine this man being close to fifty. “I just turned forty-eight years old.”

“Well then, you are aging like fine wine.” I give him another once over, gandering at what could be a one night of fun. “I wonder if you taste as good as wine.”

He hands me my glass of champagne and I take a small sip, giving him my best sexy look. He cracks a smile and looks somewhat embarrassed.

“I guess you would have to talk to my wife to know if that’s true, but I don’t think she’d take too kindly to it.”

Welp. There goes my night.

“Sorry. I think the alcohol is getting to my head. Thank you.” I lift my glass and pull out a ten dollar bill from my purse, then drop it in his tip jar.

I’m mortified and just want to run and hide until the night is over or I die of humiliation. I spin around and smack right into a hard body.

“Woah darlin’. You okay?” Champagne splashes on my soft pink dress, probably ruining it, and Hayes grips my arms.

“Oh geez. I’m sorry.” I notice the liquid has also spilled on his shirt and immediately work to soak it up with my…hand?

“It’s okay. It’s just a shirt. Are you feelin’ alright, Cat?” He leans over me, putting his chest right in front of my nose, and grabs a few napkins from the bar.

I close my eyes for a split second and inhale his scent. It’s woodsy with a hint of sweet. He smells like a glass of fine bourbon that you sip while sitting next to a fire on a cool crisp night.

“Cat?” My eyes fly open and I see him staring right at me.

My cheeks flush –or maybe it’s the alcohol– and I say, “Hmm?”

Hayes gives me a crooked smile and boy does that not help my current situation.

“You look a little shaken up. Are you feeling okay? I heard there was some kind of summer cold goin’ ‘round.” He dabs at his shirt but doesn’t peel his eyes from their hold on mine.

“I’m fine, not sick. I just can’t believe they’re finally getting married. It certainly brings to light how very single I am.” I give him a self deprecating laugh and take the proffered napkin he holds out to me.

“Oh, you hush it now. I’m sure you have a line of men just waiting for you to smile in their direction. I know I’d stand in that line.” He winks and my body feels like it’s full of the little champagne bubbles that swirl in my glass.

“You’re funny, Hayes.” His hand freezes and he looks at me very confused.

“Why do you find that funny? You’re gorgeous, Cat. Not only that, you’re intelligent and witty and I know you have a huge heart. I’d be a lucky sonuvagun to have a woman like you.”

I blink my eyes, trying to fan away the building tears, and tell myself that I must be getting ready to start my period because why the hell is that making me cry. It could be the fact that my bed hasn’t been occupied by a warm body in months, and my poor little vibe is begging for a break.

“You’re so sweet, Hayes. Cami’s lucky to have such a great little brother-in-law.” I playfully pat his chest and he puts his hand over his heart.

“Ouch. Little brother? I’m only a few years younger than her, and only two years younger than you. I’m not a kid, Cat. I could definitely prove it.” He bites his lip and eyes me up and down.

I feel naked standing in front of all these people as he looks at me like a juicy steak. I fidget, growing a little uncomfortable but a lot hot and bothered. Lifting my glass to my lips I throw the last of my champagne back, the bubbles tickling my nose, and watch Hayes as he watches me.

Fuck it. What’s the worst that could happen? He says no and I go about my night, sad and lonely.

Gathering up all of my courage, I step closer to him and whisper, “Then prove it.”

A crooked grin crawls its way across his handsome face and he takes the glass right out of my hand. His chest grows with a deep inhale and his eyes turn to a panty dropping smolder.

“You’ve got thirty minutes to say goodnight to the guests.

I’ll tell Cami and Vaughan you’ve had too much to drink and I’m taking you home.

” I open my mouth to object and he leans in, his deep voice rumbling in my ear.

“I hope you don’t mind not sleeping because I plan to prove it to you all night long. ”

I gulp as his words travel through my body, hitting me right in the freaking hoohaa. And wouldn’t you know that greedy bitch starts weeping, thanking me for giving her some much needed action.

I spin away from him to find the girls and feel a quick sharp smack on my ass. I look over my shoulder to see Hayes watching me walk away, one eyebrow cocked and a sexy smirk on his face.

Oh, this is going to be fun.