One Funeral (No Weddings #2)(21)

Cade swiped his laptop back from her when she came within range. “If left to your devices, you’d play Michael Bolton. And Michael Bublé.” He winced, shuddering.

We all burst out laughing.

By the time we settled down at the table, the three pizzas they ordered earlier had arrived. When I pulled off a slice of the pepperoni and mushroom, its cheese stretching all the way to my plate, Cade put his hand on my forearm.

His brows drew together. “I forgot that you can’t have dairy. I’ll order another one without cheese.”

My heart warmed at his concern. “No, some kinds of cheese are okay. Mozzarella has almost no lactose compared to milk. I usually have no reaction.”

Narrowing his eyes, he gave me a skeptical look.

“I promise. I’ll be fine.”

He gave me a nod and removed his hand. “Okay.”

Kiki tilted her head. “How do you run a bakery if you can’t eat what you make?”

“When I’m experimenting, I use coconut oil instead of butter. Some of my products are dairy free if they taste better that way.” I glanced at Cade. “And I have very eager taste testers when I use real butter.”

Cade gave a curt nod. “Use me anytime, Maestro.”

As it turned out, the pizza was delicious and harmless. We ate and drank beer while we began hashing out the next event, which was two weeks away.

Cade reopened his laptop and scrolled through a to-do list. “Kristen, you got the location?”

She nodded. “At the country club.”

Cade arched a brow. “You’re kidding. Couldn’t you talk them into using your barn?”

Kendall leaned over toward Cade. “It’s Dwight’s fiftieth birthday. He wants to show off all the young tail he attracts to his club friends.”

“No. We’re not doing this at the club. Invitation Only has a reputation to uphold. We have to direct the clients on what we will and won’t do. No way are we throwing a party that has the potential to go wild in those hallowed, snobbish halls. We’re exclusive. This party is exclusive. We’ll create more buzz by not holding it there.”

Kristen sighed. “Then you talk to Dwight. You’re the only one who might convince him. He needs to see your raunchy vision.”

Kiki nearly choked, coughing.

Kristen stuck her tongue out at her.

I leaned over Cade’s shoulder, watching him scroll the cursor down the list on the screen. “What about the cake?”

Cade took a swig of beer, then glanced at me, raising his eyebrows. “Thoughts?”

I lifted my bottle, placing my lips to the rim and took two slow swallows. I licked my lips as Cade’s eyes dilated, his breaths shortening. On a slow smile, I leaned in closer. “Do you think I might be able to do something with raunchy and wild as my inspiration?”

He swallowed hard.

All the attention in the room centered on me and Cade, the only sounds our breathing and the click of a white ceiling fan overhead.

Cade blew out a breath. “Fuck yeah, you can. Sold.”

Kendall snorted. “Of course you are. Men are so predictable.”

He shrugged. “Not gonna deny it.”

Kendall tossed a cheese puff at him, which he caught in his mouth before giving an extra snap of his teeth at her.

An hour later, the Monopoly board was spread on Kristen’s coffee table. Cade had stretched out on the couch and leaned forward only when it was his turn to move his thoroughly appropriate game piece: the dog.

I sat in the space he’d left for me by scooting his ass back into the couch. Kristen reclined on the other end of the couch. Opposite us, Kiki leaned on an enormous floor pillow that was propped against the front of a pretentious wing chair. And Kendall sat perfectly upright on the floor, her legs folded cross-legged beneath her, like she was meditating in between turns.

I rolled the dice, then groaned. My top hat landed on the dog’s hotel strip. Park Avenue, of course.

He chuckled behind me. “Pay up, woman.”

I groaned. “You are ruthless.”

“I’m only playing by the rules. Pay attention, Maestro. When luck rolls your way, cunning decisions make successful businesses.”

Kiki launched a throw pillow at Cade and nailed him in the face. Without getting up, he lobbed it back at her but missed by two feet.

I counted out bills to the evil landlord, slapping them down. “That’s the last of my money. I’m out.” I stood from the low couch, stretching my legs.

“Hey, while you’re up, beer me?” Cade leaned forward and onto his side, sorting his newly acquired rents in an evenly-spaced line on the edge of the table.

Glancing over my shoulder, I narrowed my eyes at him. “Funny how you time requests to match one of us girls getting up.”

He grinned. “Usually when you have to pee. You girls have tiny bladders.”

Kristen called out as I entered the kitchen. “It’s been his MO since we were little. We’ve catered to his cute mug far too long.”

I opened the fridge and smiled, seeing Kristen’s own version of obsessive compulsive on display with perfectly lined rows of sorted drinks. I decided their neurotic tendencies must be hereditary. “Anyone else want one?”

Kendall and Kristen murmured they were fine. The sound of dice tumbling onto the board followed.