No Weddings (No Weddings #1)(49)

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.