Sisters in White Read online

  Lacy’s hand shot up, and Kaylie ran on her tiptoes to the front of the group. “I’ll do it!” she called out.

  The instructors exchanged a glance and laughed, their shoulders lifting with matching shrugs, obviously used to gorgeous women fawning all over them.

  “Okay, then,” the sandy-haired one said. “You can both do it.” His wide smile reached all the way up to his interested dark eyes.

  The older instructor pushed his black hair back with a big, thick hand. A muscle in his biceps pulsated with the quick movement, and Danica thought Lacy might fall to the ground with weak knees. Kaylie caught Lacy’s interest, and she sidled up to the sexy, dark-haired man.

  “I’m Kaylie,” she said in her best sultry voice.

  Oh no. No, no, no.

  The instructor’s eyes were locked on Lacy, and Danica watched as he maneuvered his way to Lacy’s side. Kaylie’s eyes narrowed.

  “I’m Justin,” the fairer of the two said to Kaylie.

  The darker man reached for Lacy’s hand. “Dane,” he said in a deep, husky voice.

  Danica shot a glance at her father and Madeline, who appeared to be watching without much concern at all.

  “Poor Chaz,” Blake whispered, nodding at Chaz, who seemed to take his wife’s flirting as some kind of joke.

  Is that a laugh on his lips? “I’m going.” Danica moved to Chaz’s side, trying to figure out if Chaz was really okay with Kaylie’s behavior. Lacy and Kaylie put on the masks and snorkels and slipped into waist-high water with their gorgeous instructors. “Hey, you okay with...this?”

  This time she was certain Chaz laughed. “Are you kidding? This is Kaylie at her finest.”

  Danica didn’t think before she reacted. “Um, yeah, it is. Isn’t it?” She snapped around to find Chaz still smiling, his muscular arms crossed, his own hard muscles an easy match for the older, bigger of the two instructors. “Sorry, I didn’t mean—”

  “Danica, this is all fun and games to Kaylie. When we were in our hotel room, she said she’d be damned if she’d be outdone by”—he lowered his voice—“that little trollop.”

  Danica couldn’t stifle her laugh. That’s my sister, all right. “Trollop? Really? Lacy is anything but that.”

  “I know. That’s what makes it so funny. Kaylie is so wrapped up in some warped competition that she can’t see Lacy for who she really is.”

  “Doesn’t that worry you?” Danica watched her sister in action, holding on to the instructor’s thick arm, flipping her hair as she threw her head back with a laugh when she removed the mask, and all the while, keeping one eye trained on Lacy, whose every move contradicted the term trollop. Lacy moved uneasily, with a naturally nervous and heartfelt smile. She used her hands to move her hair from her face when she breached the water. The instructor’s hand moved swiftly and comfortably to the small of her back as she stumbled backward.

  “Not in the least. I knew who Kaylie was in the first five seconds after we met. I adore her just as she is.”

  Danica swallowed the lump that was quickly forming in her throat. Was she going to cry her way through the weekend? That was all she needed. Between elation and worry, she just might run out of tears. Chaz loved Kaylie. He really, truly loved her for who she was, not for who he wanted her to be, or who she might one day become. He didn’t love her for her looks or the party-girl attitude she still flaunted from time to time. He loved her for the spunky, somewhat unorthodox, competitive vixen that she was, and for that Danica was more than thankful.

  They spent time getting used to breathing through the snorkels in shallow water, and Danica was surprised at how difficult she found it to inhale while her face was underwater. It was one of the most unnatural things she’d ever done. They’d been told to first practice with the snorkel on while their faces were out of the water and then, once comfortable with the apparatus, to try it with their faces submerged. That helped, though it still incited a little shock of fear with each submerged breath.

  Once they all had mastered using the apparatus, they took a boat toward a nearby island they’d seen from the shore. A small plane flew in patterns across the cloudless sky, and Dane followed Lacy’s gaze toward it.

  “It’s beautiful, isn’t it? Weather changes here in an instant. Sometimes a storm hits so fast that it blindsides you. It doesn’t happen often, but when it does, you’ll think you’ve stepped into another world.” Dane pointed far out into the middle of the clear blue bay. “But there’s nothing more beautiful than the water.”

  Blake sat behind Danica, his arms wrapped around her, his chin resting on her shoulder. The wind whipped against their faces, causing Danica to blink, blink, blink.

  “You okay?” Blake whispered.

  “Yeah,” she said.

  “Do you know how much I love you?”

  His voice sent a shiver of memory up her back. She closed her eyes, remembering the ache of the night before, the urgent, sexed-up look in his eyes when he’d whispered, Tell me. She shifted in between his legs and took a deep breath, reminding herself that they were in public, with her father.

  “Tell me,” she said, unable to stifle the urge to make him experience the same racing pulse as she was. She felt his understanding against the small of her back.

  He leaned down, the stubble of his chin brushing against her cheek. “Oh, I’ll tell you, all right.”

  Danica was sure everyone could feel the heat between them. Maybe she shouldn’t play with fire after all. She breathed a sigh of relief when the boat slowed to a stop, and the instructors helped everyone put on their masks, snorkels, and fins. Kaylie held on to Chaz, and Danica studied the way she looked up at him. The love in her eyes when she looked up at her incredibly handsome fiancé was unmistakable. Danica knew that Chaz was right and that what she’d witnessed between Kaylie and the instructor had been nothing more than a competition. Lacy, however, stood shyly next to their father, while Dane helped her into her fins, his hands lingering on Lacy’s slim calf.

  “What’s this scar from?” Dane asked, pointing to the outside of Lacy’s right thigh, where thin white lines covered a long patch of discolored skin, as if someone had taken sandpaper to her leg.

  Lacy blushed and covered her leg with her hand. “Just an accident from when I was younger.” Her voice was thin and tethered.

  Danica had an urge to go to her side, put a protective arm around her, and tell her how beautiful she was despite the scar, but she wouldn’t dare hurt Kaylie that way when she was so obviously entrenched in staking claim as the prettiest of the Snow girls.

  Dane finished helping her into her fins and then stood beside her. “Check this out.” He turned and pulled the waistband of his swim trunks down an inch, revealing a long scar. “Only the best of us get to carry our scars forever.” He winked and Lacy smiled.

  Danica breathed a sigh of relief, thankful for Dane’s tenderness.

  Her father held Madeline’s hand. “You’re sure you’re okay with this?” he asked thoughtfully.

  “More than okay. This is what we always talked about, remember?”

  Remember. There it was again, the acknowledgment that they had a life together. They had history, and Danica wondered how she and Kaylie fit into that history.

  She felt Blake’s presence beside her like a wall of sensuality. She moved to the edge of the boat and stepped off, landing in the cool water with a splash, taking her heated-up desire down a much-needed notch.

  At first, the awkwardness of breathing underwater contradicted the vision of a peaceful undersea experience, and Danica wondered why on earth no one had explained how uncomfortable it would be. Once they’d spent a bit of time underwater, Danica’s discomfort disappeared, and the beauty of the bay came to life.

  Underwater, she reached for Blake’s hand, surprised to realize that he was much farther away than he appeared. She saw a smile behind his mask and she gave him a thumbs-up, then kicked around in search of Kaylie. She spotted her a few feet away from Lacy. Kaylie watch
ed Lacy like her life depended on it.

  Spectacular purple and yellow plants danced from their sandy base like a magical forest. Fish too plentiful to count, with stripes and other markings in reds and blues, yellows and silvers, shone brightly in the clear water.

  Lacy kicked her feet gracefully, moving closer to shore, then dipped beneath the water. She broke through the surface with a large orangish starfish in her hands and wide eyes behind her mask. Dane’s massive, muscular legs propelled him to Lacy’s side.

  Kaylie spotted Danica and dipped beneath the water, watching Lacy and Dane kick their feet to remain upright. Danica submerged and looked through Kaylie’s mask. Her sister’s eyes were filled with determination, competition, and something else Danica couldn’t define, but one thing was clear. Kaylie had gone covert and was in full spy mode.

  Dane turned toward them, and the outline of an impressive bulge in his shorts could not be ignored. Embarrassed, Danica looked away, catching Kaylie’s startled eyes as she whipped her head around. They broke through the surface together and spat their snorkels from between their teeth.

  “Oh my God!” Kaylie screamed.

  Danica was laughing too hard to tell her to be quiet.

  “Did you see that?”

  “Yes!” Danica said as she came to her sister’s side. “Shh.”

  They couldn’t stifle their giggles, causing so much ruckus that Lacy looked over her shoulder and put her palm up toward the sky. What? she mouthed, causing Kaylie and Danica more fits of laughter.

  They put their masks back on and swam underwater hand in hand. Danica pointed to their father and Madeline, just beneath the water’s surface, both kicking to stay afloat. His hands rested on her ample hips as they gazed into each other’s eyes. She felt Kaylie’s hand slip through her fingers and followed her around to the other side of the boat, where she broke through the water’s surface once again.

  “You okay?” Danica asked, huffing for air.

  “Yeah.”

  There was a softening to Kaylie’s tone, and Danica waited to see if she’d say more. When she didn’t, she moved closer and looked directly through her mask. Kaylie’s eyes glistened.

  “Kay?”

  “I’m fine.” Kaylie shoved her snorkel back into her mouth and swam away.

  Chapter Eight

  On the boat ride back toward shore, Dane recollected his last excursion in Belize, where he was tagging whale sharks. His brown eyes held Lacy’s curious gaze, and it took all of Danica’s will—and she expected Kaylie’s as well—to keep her eyes above his waist. Blake’s warm hand landed on her shoulder, turning off the underwater memory like a light switch.

  Once back on shore, Dane continued. “I spend about half of my time fundraising. You know, it’s easy to ask people to help save starving children, but getting them to contribute to the life of sharks? Not so much. Anyway, I’m just helping out today for fun. I like to teach when I have time, which isn’t often.”

  Kaylie pulled Danica aside as they wrapped towels around themselves. “Do you think she noticed?” she whispered.

  “How could she not?” Danica laughed.

  “What’re you two up to?” Chaz asked.

  The girls laughed, and Blake tapped Chaz on the shoulder. “You get a look at that guy’s junk?” he asked with a raised brow.

  Waves of laughter burst from Danica and Kaylie.

  “Apparently, they did,” Chaz said, thrusting a thumb in their direction.

  “You like that, huh?” Blake teased Danica.

  “I didn’t see any—” She couldn’t even say the lie.

  “What is so funny?” Madeline’s voice came from behind, a sweet tenor to their roaring laughter.

  Kaylie and Danica looked at each other and tried again to stifle their laughter. They looked back at Lacy, gently running her big toe across the sand. Dane said something, and Lacy’s hand moved to cover her smile. He leaned in close and said something else that drew her eyes to his.

  “I see you met my brother.”

  Danica turned toward the smooth, commanding voice, and the word Adonis sailed through her mind. With football-field-wide shoulders and hair as thick and lustrous as Blake’s, the deep voice came from a man even taller than, and every bit as handsome as, Blake.

  Blake shook the man’s hand and gave him a brotherly embrace. “Treat.” Blake winked, then nodded toward Dane. “I didn’t think we’d see you.”

  “This is Treat? Treat Braden?” Blake had told Danica about his handsome, wealthy, and wickedly naughty cousins, but she’d never imagined any man rivaling her handsome prince. Treat had a kind smile and friendly, gentle eyes.

  He took Danica’s hand in his unbelievably large paws. “I cannot tell you what a pleasure it is to meet the woman who tamed the beast.”

  Danica blushed. Blake’s history as a player was just that—history. She smiled back at him and then at Blake. “Someone had to do it,” she joked. She introduced the others.

  “I see you’ve met my younger brother Dane.” He nodded toward Dane. “Just in from Madagascar, or Belize, or somewhere crazy like that. He insisted on taking you out today.”

  Danica shot an embarrassed look at Blake. The look on his face told her what was now obvious. He’d let them all think Dane was a stranger to see what would ensue. That talk about his junk must have been a family joke, and he’d played her like a tune. She narrowed her eyes. “You didn’t say a word.”

  “Let me guess; he sat back and watched Dane in action?” Treat shook his head.

  “Well.” Blake splayed his hands.

  “And?” Treat’s eyes grew wide as an inside joke passed between them.

  “How could they not?”

  Treat threw his head back, and a deep, hearty laugh filled the air.

  “Bro, how’s it going?” Dane pulled Treat into a brotherly hug.

  Seeing the two handsome men next to each other, the hereditary connection became clear. While Dane and Blake were evenly matched at just over six feet, Treat towered over both of them.

  Danica must have been staring, because Dane said, “He’s six foot six,” with a shake of his head. He patted his brother on the back and whispered, “And not anywhere near my ten inches,” just loud enough for Treat, and unfortunately Danica, to hear.

  She clenched her jaw to keep her surprise at bay. She shot a look at Kaylie, who had been strangely silent since Treat arrived, looking away every time his eyes moved in her direction.

  “Unfortunately, I’ll miss the wedding, but I wanted to say hello. I’m leaving town tomorrow afternoon to check out another resort. Thailand,” he said with a nod.

  “Thank you for everything,” Danica gushed. “The resort couldn’t be more beautiful, and we really appreciate your invitation to use it for our wedding. Oh, and the island—”

  Treat turned serious eyes to Blake. “They cleared it for you, right?”

  “Yes, they reserved the whole island.” Blake looked at his cousins with pride.

  “I can’t believe you own an island,” Lacy said quietly.

  “It’s not much of an island. I mean, there’s no resort, or even a house, for that matter.” He must have noticed Kaylie lifting her brows at that. “Don’t worry. We do have sufficient bathroom facilities for your event.” He shook his head. “Even I can’t spend time someplace without a proper bathroom.” He turned his eyes to his brother. “Now, this guy. He can live without a house, a toilet, or even solid ground for months on end.”

  “Some of us are just more manly than others,” Dane teased, throwing his shoulders back.

  “And there are how many more of you?” Danica asked.

  “Five brothers altogether, and Savannah, our sister.” Dane put an arm around Blake. “And Blake, of course. He’s just like one of the Bradens.”

  Not anymore, from what I’ve been told about you guys.

  Blake cracked a smile.

  “I wouldn’t want to be the only sister in that testosterone-filled house,” Danica sai
d. She looked at Kaylie and wondered for a split second what it might have been like to grow up with a pack of brothers instead of a competitive sister.

  Kaylie stuck her tongue out at Danica, and Danica knew that given the chance, she’d never change what she had.

  Treat crossed his arms and rubbed his chin, watching Kaylie with a thoughtful eye. “Do I know you from somewhere?”

  Kaylie’s eyes connected with his, and Danica hoped she was the only one who noticed the worry cleverly disguised as disinterest as Kaylie shook her head with a wide smile.

  “I get that all the time.” She flipped her hair with her hand. “It’s the blond. You know, we all look alike.”

  “No, I feel like I’ve seen you before.”

  Kaylie fidgeted under his scrutiny.

  What are you hiding?

  “Look, I’ve gotta run, but if you need anything, just let my assistant, Scarlet, know.” Treat shook the men’s hands and hugged the women. “I’ll try to stop in one more time before I take off.”

  Kaylie brushed him off, and Danica wondered what skeleton she was tucking into her closet now.

  “I’ve gotta run, too. Blake, so great to see you, man.” Dane hugged Blake and gave him a firm pat on the back.

  “Are you still gonna make the wedding?” Blake asked.

  Dane looked right at Lacy. “You can bet I’m gonna try. The rest of the family had to attend an award ceremony for Hugh and can’t make it, so I’ll be our emissary.”

  “Fantastic,” Blake said, embracing him one last time.

  “What kind of award?” Danica asked.

  “Who knows? He’s got a room full of them.”

  Before she could ask any more questions, he bade them farewell and headed down the beach.

  The intrigue in Lacy’s eyes was unmistakable as she practically salivated watching him walk away.

  Kaylie elbowed Danica. “Oh yeah, she definitely noticed.”

  Chapter Nine

  The mood around the dinner table was solemn as the exhaustion of the day settled in. Their sun-kissed faces glistened against the candlelight. Danica was surprised when Kaylie broke the silence.