No Weddings (21 page)

I snorted. “Not even once. Not my thing.”

Had the opportunity presented itself? Sure. But I’d declined. I’m too dominant in bed for that shit. I take control, making certain every shudder and moan comes from what
I’ve
done to her, for her.

Two girls and a guy? Poor Y-chromosome sucker never stood a chance.

“Good. I like a guy whose full attention is on me.”

I sighed. Sainthood had its trials. My breakfast had suddenly lost its appeal in favor of the woman on the other end of the phone. With a scrape of my chair, I abandoned the table to take the conversation private.

“Whipped!” Mase shouted at my back.

Yep. Totally whipped, but they were only harassing, guessing. They truly had no idea.

I entered my bedroom, growling, “You have my full attention now,” to the pleased murmurs of a girl who I now needed to mainline daily.

With a wide grin on my face, I closed the door.

T
he dinner vibe at my place was like the best poker night and game day all rolled into one, with Hannah being one of the guys right along with us. Dinner with Hannah and my sisters at Kristen’s? The exact opposite.

It was hell.

The dynamic of one brother and three sisters had always been evened out by my level of antics, attitude, and absolutely no filter whatsoever. But the skill had been balanced and fine-tuned over a lifetime of noogies, swirlies, pink bellies, and drool-monster wrestling. I particularly prided myself on their teenage years, embarrassment taking on a whole new level when both popularity with other girls and attracting crush-of-the-month boys were at stake.

Tonight, I sat as a quiet observer at the table, realizing the scales had been tipped into the X chromosomes’ favor. Perhaps irrevocably.

Silence evolved from a need for self-preservation. But the way this group bonded together, I wondered if I’d finally met my match.

And yet, seeing the smile on Hannah’s face, how she thrived among a newfound sisterhood she’d never had, I couldn’t bring myself to ruin it for her with even one snarky remark. At my place, she’d found in my friends the brothers she’d never had. And now she had sisters too.

Kendall came over and took my face in her hands, pinching my cheeks together. She laughed as I narrowed my eyes. “Awww, why so glum, Cade? You don’t have to lift a finger. You should be happy.”

I arched my brows. “True. I don’t think I’ve ever been waited on hand and foot before.”

Laughter burst out from the kitchen, and Kristen leaned over the counter. “Please. It’s like a regular beer-delivery service around here.”

“Beers don’t count. When you’re getting up anyway, bringing one back for a guest is only common courtesy.”

Kiki snorted. “Funny how you never ‘get up anyway.’”

I shrugged, crossing my feet up onto the couch. “Hey, I can’t help it if I perfectly time my beer drinking to your bladder emptying.”

Kristen arched a brow. “You’ve honed that skill quite well.”

I chuckled, closing my eyes. “Got it down to a science.”

By the time we gathered around Kristen’s dining table for dinner, I’d calmed down about being outnumbered, deciding to go with it. Hannah’s presence didn’t throw things as far out of balance as I’d imagined. My sisters seemed to be on their best behavior tonight.

In fact, if I didn’t know better, after the club prank Friday night and now tonight, I’d swear the Michaelson Three were actually pushing me and Hannah together. I didn’t know what to make of that. At first, instinct made me want to rebel, as anything those three wanted for me, I definitely did not. But for once, even if their motives were likely just to fuck with me, I agreed with them. I wanted Hannah, twinges of guilt be damned.

Unsure about the whole sisters–Hannah situation, I kept a close eye on everyone, waiting for some catch I’d missed to reveal itself.

Tonight’s meal was actually a group effort, as Kristen also prided herself on her cooking. I’d been kicked out of the kitchen at the onset, but heard laughter and cooperation. They’d shared preparation tips and “reducing” techniques.

I glanced at the spread on the table, impressed. “What is all this?”

Kristen grinned. “Melon, stewed tomato, and prosciutto gazpacho; braised vegetable roots; and chicken two ways, stuffed and pan fried with shallots, haricots verts, and wild mushrooms.”

The soup was already in individual bowls, but we helped ourselves to the rest from big platters in the center of the table. I held myself back from digging in until Hannah had taken what she wanted. She gave me a quick glance and held my gaze for a beat longer than necessary before handing me the serving spoons.

Kendall poured everyone white wine, then raised her glass. “I want to give a toast.”

We all raised our glasses.

“To our new business tightening the bonds of family and friends.” Kendall glanced at Hannah. “I know I speak for all of us in saying we’re glad Invitation Only brought you into the fold, Hannah. We were great as a foursome, but having another girl in the mix (and helping us give Cade shit) makes us grateful we’re now a fivesome.”

I coughed hard, somehow forgetting how to breathe for a moment.

But the way Hannah beamed beside me made me sober up and be grateful too.

“I second that!” Kiki shouted.

“Hear, hear,” I agreed. “I would just like to say, if anyone else has to give me shit, I’m cool with it being Hannah.” I tipped my head toward Hannah before taking a swallow of the dry wine.

Kiki put her glass down. “So, tell us about the bakery, Hannah. You just opened it, right?”

Hannah nodded. “Two months ago. Sweet Dreams is doing well, I think. New customers come in every week from word of mouth. My two employees, Daniel and Chloe, are amazing. Daniel had an idea to solicit corporate businesses in the area for their office functions. Our latest big orders have come from financial firms, title companies, and real estate offices.”

Kristen wiped her mouth with her napkin. “That’s great. I’m happy things are going so well outside of the events with us. Makes me feel less guilty for demanding you be exclusive.”

“Me too.” I nodded. “Since we insisted on your exclusivity and
compromised
on no weddings, I’m glad your business is booming.”

Hannah took a sip of wine, then put her glass down. “Don’t kid yourself. The Invitation Only contract was to my benefit. Why work my ass off when I can charge top dollar to your clients?”

Kendall snorted. “Cade, have you been training her?”

Unwilling to share details about our dinner–study arrangement for fear my sisters would read into it, I kept my reply brief and shrugged. “I’ve given her a few valuable business tips.”

The dinner conversation died down into small talk while we ate the incredible meal they’d cooked. And for dessert, they’d made some kind of gelato.

They made a big production out of giving me a bowlful. The three of them stared at me.

I furrowed my brows and looked down. “What flavor is it?”

Kristen crossed her arms, shaking her head. “You have to take a bite before we tell you.”

I stared at the three pale green scoops in my bowl with suspicion. “Kiki, did you sneak ganja into the gelato?”

She snorted. “No. And I don’t know where to get weed.” Her eyes sparkled with mirth.

Uh-huh.

Under the scrutiny of the girls, feeling like a lab rat under a microscope, I lifted my spoon, scooped up a brave amount, and shoved it into my mouth, closing my eyes, hoping for the best.

A creamy, mild flavor filled my mouth. I moaned. “Damn. That’s delicious. What is it?”

“Avocado!” The chorus shouted their secret with excitement.

The only one with a bowl at the moment, I tucked it close into my chest, guarding it with my free arm as I ladled another hefty bite onto my spoon. “Go get your own.”

Laughter ensued as they doled out the rest of their gelato into bowls. By the time they sat down, I’d taken my last bite. Then I proceeded to lick the bowl clean.

“Ugh. Animal.” Kristen tossed her spoon at me, and it ricocheted off the back of my chair when I ducked, clattering onto the floor. She threw her arms up in the air. “Great. Now I need a spoon.”

I grinned. “Use your tongue.”

She did, sticking it out at me. Then she stole Kendall’s spoon, which had been buried upright into the top of her gelato mountain.

“Hey, give that back!”

A tug-of-war ensued. Hannah scooted her chair up next to me as we watched. “Wow. They’re really serious about that spoon.” She took a first small spoonful from her own bowl and stuck it in her mouth. Her eyes closed on a moan.

I smiled, glancing at her. “Right? That stuff’s amazing. And, yep. My money’s on Kendall.”

“Why don’t they just get another spoon?” Hannah whispered, opening her eyes.

I scoffed. “What fun would that be?”

She laughed, nudging me.

I nudged back. “You know it’s serious when—”

Kendall yanked the spoon away, swiped her bowl off the table, and stabbed the tip of the spoon into her melting gelato, angling an elbow out for leverage as she took aim.

“—food starts flying.”

“Don’t
make
me do this.” Kendall glared as Kristen bobbed and weaved, preparing to duck from anything launched.

“No.” Kiki stabbed her spoon into Kristen’s gelato. “You cannot waste that awesomeness. I’m stepping in.”

I glanced at Kiki’s empty bowl. “Well played.”

She shook her pig-tailed head, wincing. “I have brain freeze.”

“It was for a worthy cause.” I patted her head.

When everyone settled down, each to her own chair, I settled back in mine, happy all the girls were getting along so well. And look at that, I didn’t even have to lift a finger to cause chaos. Maybe Hannah’s presence, with so much exposure around the guys, tipped the universal scales in my favor after all.

“Let’s talk nuts and bolts about the McGinty’s event.” Kiki grabbed our empty bowls, steering clear of Kendall and Kristen while they finished their dessert.

I slid my laptop from my messenger bag on the counter and opened it to the file. “It’s their first year open, and with our growing reputation, they want us to draw the crowd.”

“Where are they at again?” Kristen made loud scraping noises with her spoon against the sides of her bowl to get every last avocado drop.

I glanced at her. “Couple of blocks down from Loading Zone, right where you turn toward the restaurants on Sixth.”

“Music?” Kristen had her game face on now.

“I compiled a list. Classic Irish pub songs plus new popular favorites.”

Hannah leaned in, spying on my screen at the titles and read one aloud. “‘Fuck You I’m Drunk?’”

The girls burst out laughing.

“What? It’s hilarious.”

Kristen gave me the pointed look. “No.”

“You can’t overrule the music. That’s why you brought me in. Music. Drink. Big-picture planning.”

The other girls, one by one, turned toward me, a united front. “No.”

Undeterred, I shrugged. “We’ll see. Client gets final say. It’s his bar.”

Before they could argue, I moved on. “Cake?”

Hannah propped her elbows on the table and her chin on her hands. “I’m thinking beer mugs. Giant green beer mugs.”

I chuckled and glanced at my sisters. “Thoughts?”

One by one they all nodded, which stood with sound reason. Hannah had outdone herself with every cake project. Why would we doubt her creative talent now?

“Perfect. Let giant green beer mugs be your inspiration.”

When we finally wrapped up the evening, I walked Hannah out to her car. She’d come over to Kristen’s straight from her shop.

She turned and leaned back against her driver’s door.

I planted my arms on either side of her, bending down until our foreheads touched. “I’m glad you agreed to come over here tonight.”

She slid her hands under my jacket and T-shirt and up to my chest, staring into my eyes. “I’m glad you invited me. I like being a part of your world.”

“Yeah?” Intelligent response, I know. But I couldn’t find any real thought with her hands on my bare skin. I’d been reduced to caveman words.

“Yeah. I really love your sisters.” She moved her hands back down my stomach, breaking contact before hitting the waistline of my jeans.

Pulling back before I pushed things too far between us, I took a deep breath. Fuck, I wanted to take us there, but I still sensed she wasn’t ready yet. Even if it killed me, I would wait for her to be ready. To take that next step.

Instead, I smirked. “They seem to have taken to you. Do you know I was strictly forbidden to fuck you?”

She bit her lip and then nodded. “Yep. They told me Friday night.”

My shoulders shook as I laughed. “I
knew
it. They’re fucking with me. I’ve spent all my life with them telling me I can’t have something, only to have them dangle it in front of me in torture.”

A firm hand pushed against my chest. I glanced down, then back up into her eyes. Her expression was fierce.

“
I’m
not theirs to dangle.
I
decide.”

I swallowed, turned on even more by the power behind her words. “I agree. You decide.”