by K. M. Scott
There isn’t a happier person in the world than me right now.
Chapter Sixteen
Cade
After celebrating Hailey’s successful debut as a podcast star with her parents at Comfort Food, I have to drag myself away to get to work. Standing behind the main bar at Club X is the last place I want to be tonight. I don’t have a choice, though. That’s the worst part of it. No choice.
I intentionally miss my father’s overly enthusiastic team meeting to start off the night, unable to stomach that much gung-ho tonight. Slipping in as he busies himself with some drama on the upper floor, I take my position at the front bar and get to work making sure all the liquor we may need is available and the glasses necessary for the night are ready.
When I finish, I look around wondering where the rest of the staff is for the front bar tonight. He surely didn’t schedule only me to run the main bar on a Friday. My father is a better businessman than that.
As I look around for anyone to find out who’s supposed to be up here with me, the man himself walks down the stairs and sees me. “I wish you’d get here for the staff meetings. I had important things to tell everyone and you missed it all.”
“Sorry. My cheerleading uniform is at the dry cleaners. I’m here, so you can tell me what I missed right now.”
That snide crack gets me one of Stefan March’s patented grimaces, sure to make any delicate person wither. Since I’m not sensitive and I’ve been on the receiving end of that look at least a million times in my life, I just shrug.
“You know I hate repeating myself. I swear you push my buttons intentionally, even though you know what the end result will be, Cade.”
This is how our usual dance goes, but tonight, I’m not in the mood to fight with him. Today was great with Hailey, especially seeing her do so well with the podcast. I don’t want to ruin that feeling by having yet another argument with my father.
So I do something I rarely try with him.
“I’m sorry, Dad. Today was a big day for my girlfriend, and I got caught up in that and ended up running late. What did I miss at the staff meeting?”
He takes a step back and stares at me like I’ve grown a second head out of my shoulder. At first, he doesn’t seem to know what to say and looks around as if he needs someone to tell him that really just happened. I actually apologized.
Flustered, he takes a few moments to get his thoughts together since I’m sure he had this entire fight planned out in his head. Old habits die hard with us.
“Well, I decided I wanted to try something different tonight. The second floor ladies’ room needs some repairs, but the plumber can’t come until Monday. That means I need people to spend their time down here instead of upstairs. So I’ve rearranged some of the usual assignments. You’ll be here with three people, not two. I put the twins at the back bar and brought Maya back up here. I know that isn’t what you want, but I need you to give it your best, okay?”
Still expecting an argument from me, when he finishes talking, he takes a deep breath and lets it out on a heavy sigh. “It’s only for one or two nights, but if you’d rather me put you somewhere else, I can do that.”
“It’s okay, Dad. Maya and I will do fine. Who’s our third and fourth since you moved the twins to the back?”
“Antonio and Chelsea. They’re getting fruit right now, so they’ll be out soon.”
“Okay. We’ll be a little crowded, but we’ll get the job done. Don’t worry. I promise I won’t douse Maya with the soda sprayer tonight,” I say with a chuckle, remembering the time I shot her straight in the face with water after she dumped a beer over my head.
My agreeing with him throws my father off a little, and for a few seconds, he stands in front of the bar like he doesn’t know what to do now. Not fighting with me appears to have sent his world off its axis.
“So, something happened with your girlfriend that was good? What was her big day about?” he asks in a low voice as he steps forward toward the bar.
Happy to tell this story for the second time today after I gave Alex all the details on my way over here, I explain, “She’s a baker. She makes desserts for her family’s restaurant, a little place called Comfort Food across town. A big food blogger heard about her after other bloggers began writing about the desserts, and today she had Hailey on her podcast to talk about what she makes. She did fantastic. I’m so proud of her. She’s a little self-conscious about things because she didn’t go to school for cooking like Alex. She actually went to school for psychology and was going for her master’s, but things happened and that couldn’t continue. So she started baking for her parents’ restaurant and now this happened.”
I suddenly cut my story short when I realize I’ve ventured into parts of Hailey’s life I know she wouldn’t want me talking about with anyone. My father smiles as I finish, giving me a nod like he approves.
“That sounds great. From what your uncles and Alex tell me, she must have a natural talent for baking if she didn’t go to school because they rave about her desserts. I’m going to have to get myself over to that restaurant and try some so I’m not the only member of our family who hasn’t sampled these delicious treats.”
“She makes a Boston Cream Whoopee thing I hear is pretty incredible. I haven’t gotten to try it yet, but the food lady raved about it.”
“Sounds good. So you guys are doing okay?” he asks, hesitating as the words come out of his mouth.
I think about that and try to come up with the right way to describe how great things are between Hailey and me. We’re more than okay. She makes me smile and happier than I’ve ever been in my life. That’s a hell of a lot better than just okay.
But I still don’t want to share her with my entire family yet, so I give him a noncommittal shrug and a vague answer. “We’re good. It’s still early, though. I guess I could fuck it up any time now.”
He nods, like he agrees and turns to walk away. “Don’t be so hard on yourself, Cade. You’re a good man. I’m sure your girlfriend knows that.”
Stunned those words came out of my father’s mouth, I watch him walk away, surprised at how all that went with him. For one of the few times in my life, I didn’t jump into a fight with him, and that ended up pretty good.
To hear him say he thinks I’m a good man makes this day for me. After seeing Hailey succeed with that food lady, this puts a cherry on top of a hell of a great afternoon.
For the next four hours, I feel like I’m walking on air. The club is packed with people, the music is pumping, and my fellow bartenders and I are making a killing on tips. Even Maya, the person who hates me most at Club X, seems in a good mood, so working with her turns out to be okay tonight.
Standing down at the far end of the bar closest to the door, I’ve got a few newly legal drinkers and their friends partying and paying more than usual customers do, so I give them some extra attention. I may not like this job, but I know how to do it damn well. Every tip I get I think about what gift I can buy Hailey to congratulate her on what she accomplished today.
Maybe a necklace or a bracelet? She doesn’t seem to wear jewelry much, but that doesn’t mean she wouldn’t like some. Maybe a nice dinner out? That could be fun. Maybe we could go for a few nights down the coast to a secluded hotel that won’t involve my cousin busting in with his idiot friends.
Someone tapping on my shoulder rips me out of my daydreams about Hailey’s gift, and I turn my head to see Antonio in my face. Dark haired and literally the guy women come to see here at Club X, especially since he has a habit of sleeping with customers, sometimes two or three in a night, he points over his shoulder and smiles.
“Pretty lady down at the other end of the bar wants to talk to you,” he says with a smile. “She asked for you by name.”
Feeling like busting his ass, I say, “Not you? You must be losing your touch, man.”
He screws his expression into one of disgust at my joking. “Don’t you worry about my touch. It’s all it’s ever
been.”
I look down the bar to see a familiar face staring back at me—the food blogger woman. Brooke. Brooke what, though?
She waves me down to where she’s standing, and as I slowly walk toward her, I try to remember her last name. Damnit. This is what I get for calling her the food lady so many times. Maybe it won’t matter. It’s not like we have to be formal and use last names in a bar.
“Cade March, boyfriend of the girl who makes those incredible desserts!” she squeals above the music.
Fuck. She remembers my last name. Great.
“You’re a sight for sore eyes. Tabitha and I are spending our last night in Tampa and figured we should go out for a few drinks. I had no idea when I heard about Club X that it would be this crowded. We barely got in before security stopped the line,” she says, thankfully moving on from names.
Glancing over her shoulder, I see her friend with the giraffe neck and smile. She’s too far away to hear anything I might say, so I turn my focus back to Brooke standing at the bar.
“It’s good to see you again. That was interesting today. The whole podcast thing, I mean. I know Hailey had a great time. She talked about how much fun talking to you was all the way home.”
Brooke excitedly waves her hand in between us, showing off some serious purple painted claws before she drops them to my forearm. I look down, unsure we’re already at the touching one another stage, but I don’t want to say anything and ruin things for Hailey. If this woman can help the woman I love, then I can handle her putting her hand on me. It’s not like hundreds of other Club X customers won’t do the same in the next few hours.
“It was so much fun! I hope it helps her. I’d love to help her in other ways too.”
Seeing my chance to do something to make that happen, I lean forward and try to encourage her. “That would be great. I know if more people got to taste what she can make, they’d be lined up outside her parents’ restaurant. You tried them, so you know what I mean.”
She points at her ear and shakes her head before leaning toward me. “This music is really loud. Is there any place quieter we can talk? Do you get a break?”
I quickly scan the crowd in front of the bar and wave Antonio down to me. “It’s not too busy, so I’m going to take ten. I’ll be right in the office if things get hairy and you need me back ASAP.”
My fellow bartender seems unfazed by my leaving and simply nods, so I come around the bar and point toward my father’s office. “Come with me. It’s quieter in there.”
She smiles and latches onto my arm as I weave through the crowd of people drinking and dancing. When we reach the office door, I open it and see my father isn’t anywhere around.
Good. I don’t want to talk to Brooke in front of him.
I guide her inside and shut the door, immediately drowning out all the noise from outside. Brooke takes a deep breath and looks around. It’s not as impressive as her hotel room, but it will have to do.
“That’s better,” she says with a smile. “It really is loud out there. I don’t know how you work in that night after night.”
“Tonight’s not even really bad,” I say as I move her toward the couch over against the wall. “Sometimes it’s loud enough that you wish you could wear earplugs, but then I’d never hear what anyone wants to drink. That would kill my tips, I think.”
She laughs at my lame attempt at a joke, probably just being polite. I don’t mind her thinking I’m stupid for that remark. I just want her to help Hailey.
“Whose office is this? Yours?”
“No. It’s my father’s. He owns the club. I merely work the bar.”
The smile I get for that seems forced. “That’s nice. You and your girlfriend work for your families’ businesses.”
Time to get her focused on how she can help Hailey.
“It’s not really the same. I just bartend. Hailey actually creates things that her customers love. The first time I had her chocolate lace cookies, I knew they were special. Nothing I’ve ever mixed up tasted that good. I’d love it if more people could try them. They look like those little lace things grandmothers have around their houses and you think they’re going to be light as air, but they’re really creamy and very chocolatey.”
“Tabitha loved the macarons. She said they were…what did she call them?”
When she can’t seem to come up with the right word, I say, “Sweet?”
“Yes! That’s it. I thought she said something else, but that was for that Boston Cream dessert. Tabitha said she thought it was sumptuous. Isn’t that a wonderful word?” Brooke asks as she turns to face me on the couch.
“Sure. Sumptuous is a great word. I’d definitely say many of the desserts Hailey makes are sumptuous. The lighter ones might be better called tasty, but they’re great too.”
“I’m going to have to do a month’s worth of spin classes after today. I couldn’t help it, though. Those desserts seduced me into being bad.”
My senses go on high alert as I listen to her talk and watch her hands move closer and closer to my thigh. Is she doing what I think she’s doing?
“Is that how she got you, Cade? Did she seduce you with those tempting desserts?” Brooke asks as she nudges her leg against mine.
I know what’s going on, and I need to make it very clear I’m with Hailey before this woman gets any ideas. I still hope I can get her to help Hailey more, but most important is she understands I’m all about my girlfriend. Period.
“She definitely did seduce me with them. I’m only human. One taste of her lace cookie and I was lost. What man could say no? That’s why I think there’s a great chance for anyone who wanted to help her get her treats out to the world.”
As the last word leaves my lips, Brooke swings her leg over my lap, and a second later, she’s straddling my hips. Before I can stop her, her lips cover mine in a heavy kiss and she jams her tongue halfway down my throat, moaning into my mouth.
Stunned, I push her away and shake my head. “Brooke, whoa. I’m with Hailey. She’s my girlfriend. I just wanted to get you to help her. You need to get off me. Now.”
I lift her by her waist and set her on her feet, hurrying to stand up before she jumps on my lap again but wondering if I can salvage anything to help Hailey. “It’s okay. I mean, I’m flattered, but I’m with Hailey. Sorry.”
She smooths the front of her pants and smiles like nothing just happened. “Can’t blame a girl for trying. I still want to help her get the word out because I agree that people will like her desserts. No hard feelings?”
“No, no hard feelings,” I say, relieved she didn’t take my rejection and twist it to hurt Hailey.
“Well, time for me to go. Tabitha and I have an early flight tomorrow morning. Have a good night, Cade.”
I watch her walk out as my father comes in and hope I didn’t ruin everything Hailey worked so hard at with her this afternoon. The problem is I don’t think Brooke came here to talk about helping her with anything. What she wanted to do was help herself to me.
Fucking food lady.
My father walks by me on his way to his desk looking confused. “Who was that?”
“That food blogger from the podcast today.”
He sits down and leans back in his chair, folding his arms behind his head. “Oh yeah? What did she want with you?”
“Nothing. I better get back behind the bar. Thanks for letting me use the office.”
When I turn to leave, he laughs and says, “I don’t recall you asking, but whatever. Hope it helped.”
I just hope it didn’t hurt.
Chapter Seventeen
Hailey
My phone vibrates across the dining room table, and I grab it to see who could be trying to talk to me at seven-thirty in the morning. I know it’s not Cade since he didn’t get home from the club until after three. His text telling me he loves me came in a three-eighteen, so it can’t be him.
I vaguely recognize the number, but I answer it to hear Brooke already talking whe
n I say hello. “We don’t fly out until noon, so if you can get over here within the next half hour, I have some ideas for how to get the word out about those delicious treats of yours.”
The next half hour? Thirty minutes? I’m still in the T-shirt and shorts I wore to bed last night, and I look like something the cat dragged in since I didn’t remove my makeup before falling asleep!
But I can’t miss an opportunity like this. Brooke might be able to help me get my desserts into the hands of someone who could write a great article about them and get even more people into the restaurant.
Jumping up from the table, I begin to dash around the house like a chicken with my head cut off. God, I really am my father’s daughter!
“Okay, I’m getting ready right now. I’ll be there in just a few minutes. Thank you so much, Brooke!” I say as I tear up the stairs to my bedroom.
“See you then!”
There’s just enough time to wash my face and brush my teeth before I throw on a pair of capris and my favorite baby blue T-shirt with the word BELIEVE on it. Me without makeup isn’t exactly the best, but when opportunity knocks, you have to answer the door no matter what you look like.
I drive like a maniac the whole way to the Regent Hotel, blowing through a red light a block away. With the sun shining in the bright blue sky, I didn’t see it turn, but I doubt a cop would buy that story. I just hope no one saw me do that.
This time, I run through the hotel’s lobby and barely notice anything as the furniture and decorations go by me in a blur on my way to the elevator. When the doors close and I press the button for five, I can finally catch my breath.
“This is going to be great. Just keep calm and try not to worry about not wearing makeup,” I whisper into the elevator around me.
When I get to her room, I repeat that same idea and add, “You can do this. Remember you can do this.”
“Hailey, it’s so great you were able to come over so early today. Let’s sit down and talk.”
