One Funeral (No Weddings Book 2) (15 page)

T
hat Friday night, Kiki and I sat at a new organic fusion restaurant, The Hoppin’ Bean, which easily could’ve described the energy buzzing through the dining room. Modern, minimalistic furniture in black microfiber fabrics set a darker tone. Walls in a soft white held vivid, abstract paintings with bold black strokes in a variety of patterns, splattered with a touch of crimson and navy. The glow of indigo recessed lighting underneath the bar cast a cool vibe into the room.

Kiki sipped on her green iced tea. “Thanks for meeting me here. I’ve been dying to try this place.” She’d pulled her dark brown hair up into a messy twist, with loose tendrils hanging down, and wore a flirty dress in a pale blue color that almost matched her eyes.

I took another bite of my barbeque meatballs. “No problem. I’ve been looking forward to hanging out with you.”

Kiki stared at my plate and nodded toward it. “How is that?”

“Amazing. Want to try?”

She nodded. “Here. You need to taste mine.”

We exchanged plates, and the moment I took a bite of her coconut shrimp lettuce wrap, I groaned at the rich flavor explosion in my mouth. “Oh my God. That’s incredible.”

“Right? Here. I’m never gonna eat all that.” She moved our dishes side-by-side so we each had equal access. “Have as much as you want.”

I dipped the unbitten end of my wrap into the light honey sauce. “So tell me about the art thing. I know you’d planned to get into galleries when we were in class together. How’s it going?”

“Really great. Three galleries have shown interest in carrying my pieces, but one of them wants to hold a large show this winter. So I’m working on an entire collection for them.”

“What’s the collection like?”

She leaned forward, forearms resting on the table. “They’re botanical metalwork sculptures. Some are smaller, like a single flower. One is a massive arbor with vines. Each one has only the raw steel, either polished or with a texture, and a single color, like on the flower or one leaf.”

“Wow. Sounds beautiful. I can’t wait to see them.”

“It’ll be just before Christmas. I’ll be sure to invite you to the showing.” She tilted her head. “So spill it, Hannah. What’s up with you and Cade?”

What?
I blinked, holding the meatball I’d stabbed with my fork in midair, frozen halfway between the plate and my mouth.

She arched a brow. “Oh, come on. Cade can deny it all he wants, but I’ve caught glimpses of how he looks at you and how you look at him. Whatever is going on between the two of you isn’t just physical.”

My appetite lost, I put the meatball down on the plate and looked hard at her. “Can you keep this just between the two of us?” I didn’t have experience with sharing confidences with a friend, so this felt a lot like baptism by fire. But I couldn’t lie to her. And I didn’t want to.

She nodded. “Whatever is said here, I swear I’ll keep to myself.”

“Does anyone else suspect anything?”

“If Kendall or Kristen suspect more than a physical attraction between you two, they haven’t told me. We haven’t talked about it at all. Cade wiped out our bad sisterly habit of gossiping about him with effective revenge tactics when we were teenagers.”

“Well, there isn’t a whole lot to tell. Not yet.”

Her eyes glittered. “But there will be soon?”

I nodded. “We don’t know what yet, and we’re trying to figure it out and be smart about it so we don’t ruin our friendship or our working relationship, but there is something there, definitely.”

She beamed, grinning. “That’s so awesome. I’m happy for you guys. You make a gorgeous couple.”

I smiled. “Thanks.” I paused, brow furrowing for a second. “Kiki, can I ask you something?”

“Of course. Anything.”

Done with the meal, I folded my black napkin onto the table beside our nearly empty plates. “Should I read anything into the fact that Cade is hiding his feelings for me from you and your sisters?”

She immediately shook her head. “Cade is a great guy. But more than all the things you already know and like about him, he’s honest. He wouldn’t lead you on. If he says he’s interested in a relationship with you, then he is.”

Exhaling slowly, I nodded. “Thanks. I hoped so, but wanted your opinion about it.”

“Don’t doubt him. He’s one of the rare ones.” All of a sudden, Kiki’s entire face lit up. “Do you have any plans now?”

I snorted. “It’s past 9:30 p.m. on a Friday night. I’m all yours.”

She smirked. “Good. Then let’s go harass Cade.” Meaning: Let’s go to Loading Zone. When I’d told Cade that I was going out with Kiki tonight, he’d called Ben and offered to help out at their bar.

Laughing hard, I shook my head as we stood from the table. “Kiki, you are diabolical.”

Slinging her purse over her arm, she arched a single brow. “I know.”

I wrapped my arm around her shoulders as we left the restaurant. “I’m so glad we’re doing this tonight. I don’t have many friends. Cade is my closest, but I’ve always felt this connection with you too. I’m glad we’re finally acting on it.”

She threw an arm around my waist and squeezed. “Me too.”

I was also
ecstatic
someone besides Cade and me knew about us. And approved.

T
he last time Kiki and I had arrived at Loading Zone with his sisters, the doorman readily identified them and lifted the rope, granting us immediate access. This time, Kiki had to cajole the doorman to let us in. I decided there was some kind of game going on between them, him looking all powerful and skeptical of her club worthiness, her flashing a flirtatious smile while pulling her shoulders back and pushing her chest out.

“Come on, Rafael. You know I’m Cade’s sister.”

He shook his head. “I know nothing of the sort. Cade’s sisters are all beautiful and look like him. You’re breathtaking but look nothing like my boss.”

Kiki blushed, then furrowed her brow. “Rafael, if you don’t let us in right now, I’ll tell Cade you gave us a hard time.”

Rafael shrugged his shoulders. “Do what you feel you need to. Having you out here with me will be worth the reprimand.” He winked at her.

She smirked and crossed her arms, pushing her breasts into some eye-popping cleavage that nearly spilled out of her low-cut dress.

Yeah, Rafael’s eyes popped wide open, all right.

While he stood there stunned frozen, Kiki grabbed my hand, and we strolled right past him into the bar entrance. She winked back at him. “G’night Rafael.”

Music pounded into the air with a low bass vibration that rattled my bones. A barrage of scents hit my nose, from sweet perfumes and the sharp bite of alcohol to the musk of sweat. And at just after 10:00 p.m., the party was only revving up for the night.

As we wound our way through the dancing crowd, I let Kiki lead the way. When I glanced over to the bar area where Cade had worked before, I caught sight of him. He moved in a blur of motion, filling drinks, nodding to customers, loading trays when waitresses placed them on their designated section of counter on the far end.

Kiki tugged me down, shouting. “It’s packed early. Wonder if Darren’s here yet.”

I turned my head, shouting back at her ear. “Who’s Darren?”

“Their
sex on a stick
DJ.” She put her hand on her chest, closed her eyes, and opened her mouth as if she was moaning at the thought of him.

I laughed, my gaze flicking back to Cade. No other man did it for me like he did. His dark features were chiseled into focus while he worked. A black T-shirt stretched over flexing biceps and shoulders. I couldn’t see behind the bar, but I imagined dark-rinse jeans hugging his narrow hips and a tight ass I had often wanted to sink my teeth into.

“Hellooo…” Kiki waved her hand in front of my face. “Earth to Hannah. Want a drink?” She tilted her head toward where I’d been staring.

I blinked hard, wondering what my expression must’ve looked like while I’d imagined Cade’s ass.

“Oh, for fuck’s sake. Let’s go say ‘hi’ before you end up moping around like a puppy dog.” She grabbed my arm, pulling me through the crowd toward Cade’s bar.

I laughed and let her lead me away.

We were practically on top of the bar by the time Cade glanced in our direction, his gaze locking onto mine. His expression froze for an instant, but then his face lit up with a broad smile.

I grinned, my heart jumping that he was happy with our unexpected arrival.

“Maestro! Kiki!” His gaze flicked between me and his sister. “What’re you doing here?”

“Girls’ night!” Kiki shouted. “Hook us up, bro. Whatcha got that you can serve us on the house?”

He gave her a stern look. “The family special: two drinks apiece, not a drop more.”

“Works for me.” She shrugged. “I figure I can get Darren to buy me another. We’ll have to find Hannah a sugar daddy for the night.” Kiki gave him a loaded smirk, only he had no idea she knew. Not yet.

Cade’s eyes darkened as he slid his gaze toward me. I shook my head, pointing at her.

His expression softened a fraction. “Okay. I know you like your drinks strong, Kiki. How about our new house margarita? You’ll like this, being such an organic naturalist. It’s made with fresh lime juice and agave nectar.”

Her eyes brightened. “Ooo, that does sound good. Is it blended?”

He scoffed. “No. And I’m not blending it. What a horrendous thing to do to a margarita. Rocks. Salt. Only way to drink it.”

Kiki rubbed her hands together. “Sounds fabulous.” She turned around, propping her elbows onto the bar, hips bouncing back and forth to a new song that came on as she scanned the crowd on the dance floor.

Cade leaned over the bar to me, lowering his head down. I did the same, meeting him in the middle, like we were conspiring together.

“How ’bout I give you a personal special?”

I smirked, knowing his naughty MO. “Oh, what’s that?”

His gaze intensified. “A screaming orgasm.”

I swallowed hard, tension flaring between us. “Sounds amazing. I’ll take two, please.”

“Oh, I wouldn’t let you stop at two. I’d push you to three or four.”

I gasped, a sudden ache flashing between my thighs.

He took a deep breath, pulling back. “But for now, you’ll have to settle for swallowing what I can shoot into this tiny shot glass.”

I burst out laughing.

“Quiet, woman. This’ll take concentration.” He tore his gaze away with a smirk and made our drinks.

After a few minutes of cubes clinking and alcohol pouring, he slid over our two-drink allotment: Kiki’s margaritas and my white frothy shots.

I grinned at Cade, holding one up. “Looks like you did just fine.” I swallowed down the creamy drink, then licked my lips.

Cade bit his, exhaling in what I imagined was a growl but couldn’t hear in the loud room. He leaned over. “I’m sorry, but I gotta hustle tonight. Things are crazy.”

I shooed him away with a wave. “Don’t be sorry. Do your thing. I’ll stick with Kiki, and we’ll go have a good time.”

Cade extended a hand, gripping my forearm. “Be careful, okay. Never let your drink out of sight, and never accept one from anyone other than a waitress.”

I frowned. “Have you had problems?”

He gave me a serious look. “Every bar has predators no matter how many layers of security. Only you can protect yourself everywhere you go.”

I curved both hands around my remaining shot glass, tucking it close to my chest. “Count on it. I’ll be safe.”

He nodded, looking relieved. “Maybe we can meet up later.”

“Sounds great.” I grinned as Cade disappeared toward a chaotic section of the bar.

A rush of waitresses flooded over to their counter section with trays. Two other bartenders worked beside Cade, and still, they barely kept up with the demand. I felt a twinge of guilt for showing up and monopolizing even those short five minutes of his time.

Kiki and I left him to his work, making the rounds through the bar. Up in the VIP section, Kiki knew several groups of people. The first, an even mix of guys and girls, were old friends of hers from her childhood country-club scene. Some of the girls seemed standoffish at first, but the more Kiki’s energy infused the space around us, the more they warmed to me.

A pretty blonde named Claire pulled me closer and began dancing erotically with me. “I love the way you move your body. You’re like a shy stripper.”

I held my shot glass up as she moved behind me and matched her hips to my swaying movements. When I glanced helplessly at Kiki, she doubled over in laughter. Hesitant, I glanced back at Claire with raised brows. “Thanks?”

Claire slid her hands over my hips, settling them onto my waist as her lips brushed over my ear. “It’s a compliment. I’m drawn to you, and I’m as straight as they come. Look out there at everyone watching us. They’re watching
you
.”

I dared a glance at the thirty or so people in our VIP section. She was right. If the men weren’t outright staring at me, they were talking and casting occasional glances. Same with the girls. Even people on the main dance floor below stared up into our exclusive section, watching me and Claire.

I laughed, shaking my head. I hadn’t worn anything risqué—tight jeans with a few small shredded places on the thighs, spaghetti strap tank top that was figure flattering but not too revealing. Capturing the attention of so many people at once made me a little uncomfortable, and I suddenly felt shy, my cheeks heating.