No Weddings (No Weddings #1)(10)
We were up against gastronomic brilliance, and we risked alienating a neighbor business, but we could do this. The best marketing spin turned any challenge into a business opportunity. And if we handled it with a delicate touch, the restaurateur would be all the better for it.
I pressed a firm hand into the small of her back for reassurance but looped a finger through her apron tie, slowing us down. We strolled down the sidewalk until we hit the beginning of the line.
“Follow my lead,” I whispered, tilting my head down for her ears only. I turned to the first customer in line. “Would you like an exclusive first tasting of a cupcake sent from heaven?”
The woman wore a smart business suit. She shook her head but looked the platter over anyway.
I gently put pressure on Hannah’s back, urging her forward. She leaned in, holding the tempting tray within scenting distance.
The woman licked her lips. “Well, maybe just one.” She picked up the most extravagantly iced one on the platter. She peeled back a portion of the wrapper and took a small bite with bared teeth. A second and a half later, her moan caught the attention of three people behind her, and they all leaned to the side, trying to see what we were about.
I winked down at Hannah and urged her on to the next victim. And while her first instant, loyal customer took a second, much larger bite, she held out a hand to take the business card I offered. Hannah had done a tasteful job with the business cards. Ivory stationery. Black script. Nothing more on it than I’d suggested. Simple. Impactful. Perfect.
Next was a graying man who stood with a folded Wall Street Journal under his arm. Definitely not the cupcake type.
Only a few seconds ticked by before Hannah jumped right in, assessing the cool customer and seizing on the best angle to gain his interest. She leaned forward ever so slightly, making maximum use of the two stunning assets God had given her.
Smart girl.
“Would you mind trying one of my cupcakes?” She made it sound like a plea for his help.
“Of course.” He cleared his throat after his voice cracked. And seconds later, after he made his choice, he sounded his approval. Even stuffy old men were not immune to her charms, or her cupcakes.
And so it went. Not one of Curio’s customers passed on the rare opportunity we offered to have an initial taste for free. And all of them made sounds of ecstasy, like they’d been marooned in a cupcake-free world their entire lives and had been given their very first morsel.
With an empty platter tucked under her arm, and enough cupcakes passed out to feed the entire line plus three passersby, Hannah smiled wide, nearly vibrating with excitement.
I grinned—couldn’t help it. Her happiness was contagious. “Well, what do you think?”
In a startling flash of movement, she grabbed my hand and lunged down the sidewalk toward her shop, yanking me alongside her at a jogging pace.
Unable to stop myself, I laughed, letting her drag me along. She’d discovered what good marketing could accomplish, and she’d become addicted with her very first hit.
When we reached her door, she slammed into it, and with my hand attached to her death grip, I crashed into her. Breaking free of her hold, I tempered my impact by shooting my arms up onto the doorframe.
She stilled, her key halfway into the lock.
We were pressed against each other in a compromising position, and it struck us both.
I dropped my head down, resting my head against the windowpane, unable to move—only able to breathe. And her delicate scent wafted up. Tropical. Enticing. I closed my eyes, fighting the urge to stay. And losing.
She swallowed. I heard it.
I felt her turn around and drop the platter to her side as it brushed my hip. I opened my eyes to find hers closed as she pressed her soft body up against me.
She inhaled deeply, and her body shuddered.
“Cade, I…” She opened her greenish eyes with those little flecks of gold in them. Uncertainty washed across her expression.
I exhaled but didn’t move. This was so off-limits. But the fact that I couldn’t have her suddenly made me want her all the more. “Fuck.” I pulled away. Shook my head.
Cold air flooded between us, breaking the spell we’d both fallen under when we hadn’t been paying attention. Hannah looked surprised, like she couldn’t believe I’d rejected her like that.
“I can’t, Hannah.”
She nodded furiously, like she agreed. But I could tell as her expression hardened and she turned to slide the key into the lock with a shaking hand that she struggled with her emotions.
I put my hands on her shoulders, stopping her from pushing in through the now-open door. “Hannah, it’s not you. Trust me, it’s not. I’m…”
Fighting my attraction had been difficult enough. Knowing she also felt the pull made our working together dangerous. I needed her help to keep our dealings purely professional.
Her voice trembled. “You want me? You feel it too? I…”
Ah, f*ck. Hearing her repeat my thoughts made this excruciating. Figures. The first girl who challenged my mind, in addition to physically attracting me, would be the one I couldn’t pursue. Damned “no doing the help” rule.
I exhaled, counting to five. “Yeah, but I…we…can’t. Not only would it be a really bad idea, based on past experience, I promised my sisters. It’s as good as a sworn blood oath.” I ground out the words, shocked I could form coherent sentences with my blood flooding much farther south from my brain cells.