No Weddings (No Weddings #1)
Kat Bastion & Stone Bastion
For those of us who’ve been brokenhearted…
The Last Weekend in June
“...and special thanks for making our bar, Loading Zone, look as awesome as it does goes to my sister Kiki. Our resident artist insisted on keeping all the brick and repurposing the steel. She gave it a name.” I searched the several hundred guests, trying to spot her. “Grunge. Or...”
Kiki cupped her hands around her mouth. “It’s Industrial Grunge, Cade!”
I raised my beer bottle to the spirited one in our family while she kissed her fingertips and blew me kisses from across the crowded room. Several people broke out in laughter, and I glanced down at the guests. “Don’t worry, I’m told the surfaces are sealed. Any actual rust is for effect, not because the warehouse is still decaying. I hope.”
“Quit hogging the mic, man.” With a grin on his face, my best friend and business partner, Ben, grabbed the microphone from me and nudged me off the DJ platform.
I grinned back at him, letting him have his earned moment in the spotlight too.
Our time had come. After almost a year of planning, our dream was now a reality. The idea of opening a bar in Philly’s Old City Arts District had finally been realized.
Ben bowed his head at my sister. “Thanks, Kiki. Your design skills are incomparable. Speaking of design skills, the cake you see up at the bar was custom-made for our grand opening tonight by up-and-coming baker Hannah Martin. Thanks, Hannah. I’m sure it tastes as good as it looks.”
At Ben’s introduction, Kiki gestured her arms to the brunette on her right, who I had yet to officially meet. Then Kiki turned, speaking with a friend of ours from the country club.
I made my way toward my sister and Hannah through the crowd. The last of Ben’s words echoed and twisted in my head while I stared at Hannah. I’m sure she tastes as good as she looks.
As I approached them, my focus remained on Hannah Martin, whose features had been pulled straight out of my fantasies: wavy dark hair, expressive eyes, pouty lips, and mouthwatering curves.
On the edge of my awareness, Ben raised his beer high as he finished his speech. “Enjoy the celebration. Drink, dance, eat cake, and tell all your friends about Loading Zone.”
A thumping bass rhythm began to vibrate through the room as I once again dragged my gaze from Hannah’s high heels, up her shapely legs, to the bottom hem of a black dress that clung to every curve, dip, and gorgeous swell.
My gaze lifted to her face and locked with hers right as I stepped within talking distance. Happily caught in the act, I smirked.
Hannah’s expression hardened, eyes narrowing.
Okayyy. Clearly she didn’t like a man appreciating the assets she’d put on proud display.
I glanced at my sis as she took a sip of a frozen strawberry daiquiri. She was just now turning my way, oblivious to the frosty reception I’d gotten.
“Cade!” Kiki side-lunged into me, giving me a half hug. “Have you guys met yet? Hannah, this is my brother, the one I’ve been telling you about. Cade, this is Hannah, the baker from my art class.”
I reached a hand out toward Hannah, but instead of shaking it, she crossed her arms over her chest and gave me a curt nod.
The one I’ve been telling you about? I wondered what Kiki had said about me.
Setting my jaw, I pulled my hand back.
When one of our waitresses rushed by, I stopped her with a gentle hand on her forearm. “Hey, Jillian, do you have a drink menu?”
“Sure, boss. I mean, Cade.” Jillian smiled and gave me a slim menu from her pocket before continuing on toward the bar.
“Would you like a drink?” I held out the laminated list of specialty drinks to Hannah.
Her gaze drifted down. She glared at the menu like it had teeth and might bite. After a sigh, she unlocked one of her folded arms and took it from me.
Kiki glanced around the room. “You two good? I’m going to find Mom and Dad.”
I nodded behind me. “Try the bar. Everyone was back there a few minutes ago.” Everyone being our parents, our other two sisters, and a few close friends.
I stood alone with Hannah, who now wore glasses balanced low on her nose. The librarian look did nothing to mar her beauty. If anything, it enhanced it.
“See anything you like?” Loaded question. I know.
She shrugged, glancing up from the menu to give me a hard stare. Taking her time, she scanned her gaze down my body, then shot it back up to my face and tilted her head. She handed the menu back to me before crossing her arms once again.
“Not really.”
Oh, so that’s how it is.
Hannah Martin was a contradiction in the flesh. Tempting cleavage swelled over a low neckline, guarded behind crossed arms. Her toned body was held rigid, her full lips pressed in a firm line.
Beautiful, but clearly unattainable.
She was a hotter-than-f*ck…Ice Queen.
Six Months Later
“Thanks for kicking my New Year’s off with a bang.”
Firm breasts were pressed into my chest. She leaned further into me as we stood off to the side of the dwindling crowd, her hands clasped around my neck. Fingers slid through my hair, tugging, gripping.
She didn’t want to let go. I could hardly blame her. That was one hell of a ride.