One Funeral (No Weddings Book 2) (13 page)

I almost dropped my coffee from the impact. When she released me, I turned to introduce—

“You must be Cade!” She embraced him too.

His brows rose and his mouthed “what” disappeared into wide smile.

I just laughed.

Lila released him, then waved her hands, gesturing us inside. “Come, come. I bet you’re here to show him our surprise.”

Lila hooked her arm through Cade’s as she led him into her quaint dining room. Half a dozen people sat at tables, most halfway through hearty breakfast plates filled with eggs, bacon, and pancakes. One had a giant waffle on it loaded with whipped cream and strawberries. A gentleman in a business suit sat at a table toward the back, his face hidden behind a
Wall Street Journal
. His platter was dominated by one of her giant cinnamon rolls smothered in icing and melting butter.

We took a seat at one of the bistro sets by the front window.

She grabbed two laminated menus and put them on our table. “I put on a new pot of coffee. Let me give you fresh cups.” She winked at me, then disappeared.

Cade scanned down the menu. When he reached the bottom, his smile widened. “Well, look at that, Hannah. You’re famous now.”

I rolled my eyes. “Not famous. It’s a menu. But yeah, how cool is it for a restaurant to offer my cupcakes as dessert?”

He looked up at me, holding my gaze. “Beyond cool. It’s amazing.” His eyes drifted back down to the menu. “I like how she put the name of your business on there. Great branding.”

“I know, right? It was in the contract.” I started bouncing again from excitement. “That same afternoon, after I’d gone out with Chloe, I drafted an agreement to use with businesses we supply to. I even created brochures!”

He leaned forward, smiling behind a finger over his lips. “I love your enthusiasm, but you get louder the more excited you get.”

The businessman folded down his
Wall Street Journal
, staring in our direction. He was much younger than I’d initially pegged him to be.
One shouldn’t judge a businessman by his paper.

I pressed my lips together, stifling a grin as I pulled a folded brochure from inside my jacket pocket, then handed it to Cade. “Pricing and quantity packages, delivery days and times, and how each item should be listed on their menus.”

He looked it over. “Hannah, this is really sharp. Mind if I keep this?”

I shook my head. “It’s yours.”

“This will be a great exhibit to include in my thesis.” He sat back, crossing his arms over his chest. “I’m impressed. Very innovative.”

“Thanks.” I beamed, ridiculously happy about his approval. “Chloe and I canvassed our whole area after that first day. I was nervous about approaching some chain locations, but most were surprisingly open to the idea.”

“And of course, you presented them with free samples as bait.”

“You bet your ass I did. I paid attention during our lessons.” During that specific one, he’d dragged me out to peddle free cupcakes like a drug dealer. But that introductory instruction in the ways of marketing, offering free products to get customers hooked, paid off with grand-opening buzz I wouldn’t have otherwise had.

Lila returned with our coffees. “I’m glad you stopped by today. And I got to meet your Cade. My, he’s a handsome devil.” She fanned herself.

I stood and gave her a half hug. “Of course. Thank you for putting Sweet Dreams on the laminated menu. Let me know how it goes.”

“You know, I’ve sold dozens with them as a daily special. But from the new menu? I’ve already sold one this morning.” She held up her palm to screen a finger and pointed to a couple sharing a cupcake between them in a booth by the wall.

When Cade stood, she gave him another full-body hug. He stumbled back a step, but the stout woman had a solid grip around him.

I pressed my lips together, holding back laughter.

As we walked along the cobblestone path leading back to the parking lot, I nudged into him. “So what do you think of Lila?”

He put his arm around me. “I like her. You’re right. She’s good people. And I also love that she called me
your
Cade.”

I looked up to see amusement dancing in his eyes. “Yeah, so get over it. In a way, you are my Cade.”

He gently squeezed my shoulder and pulled me closer, leaning down to my ear. “I hope to be your Cade in
every
way. And very soon.”

A shudder ran through me at the heated undertone in his voice. “Why do I have the feeling ‘every way’ means multiple positions?”

He let out a deep, wicked laugh. “Now you’ve got the idea.”

T
hat afternoon, Daniel and I were cleaning out the display case when someone came through the door. Daniel looked up from his position wedged in the front corner as he wiped crumbs and sprinkles onto a dampened cloth. I had just sprayed glass cleaner onto the shelf above him, and as I wiped it dry with a paper towel, black wingtips came into view on the other side of the glass.

When I pulled my head clear of the display, I recognized the man with blondish-brown hair and golden eyes who stood on the other side; it was none other than Mr. Wall Street Journal, himself. I straightened fully and stepped over Daniel’s legs to the other side of the counter.

“Good afternoon. Can I help you?”

The man glanced into our empty but sparkling display case. “I understand you make cupcakes. And cakes?”

I nodded. “You understand right. We’re cleaning at the moment, but if you’ll wait just a few minutes, I can bring some up front for you.”

He shook his head, upturning the corners of his lips in what seemed to be a practiced smile. “That’s not necessary. I asked Lila about you this morning when I overheard your conversation. I tried one of each on her menu.”

Floored, I blinked. “You ate that enormous cinnamon bun
and
my cupcakes?”

He laughed, and it was the first time he seemed less cold businessman and more approachable. Kindness now warmed his eyes. “No. I was there to sample the cinnamon bun. When I realized there were also legendary cupcakes being baked in the same vicinity, I was obligated to try them all.”

I arched a brow, crossing my arms. “Legendary, huh?”

“I’d heard about you from the article in
Gourmet
. When I asked, Lila showed me several news clippings and magazine articles. You’re making quite a splash in a few months’ time.”

I shook my head. “Those articles highlighted a business that I work with, Invitation Only. I’m merely the cake supplier.”

The smile left his face, but a hint of amusement sparkled in his intense gaze. “I have a feeling you’re not
merely
anything.”

My skin flushed hot. His attention was about more than cupcakes.

Daniel cleared his throat, and I glanced up to find him standing beside me, arms crossed over his chest. Torn between allowing an overprotective employee to intimidate a potential, and possibly harmless, customer and wanting to give the man the benefit of the doubt, I hesitated.

The man saved me the decision by reaching into his pocket and pulling out a business card. He slid it across the top of the display case toward Daniel, acknowledging my security and gatekeeper. “I’m Ryan Cole. I own a handful of popular nightclubs and cigar lounges in Pennsylvania and the surrounding states. Our VIP clients often call us to coordinate all the details of their parties. I’ve got great connections for everything they need, except for cakes.”

I stared at the business card that Daniel made no move to take. He also hadn’t budged, remaining an immovable wall by my side. I glanced back up at Ryan. “And so you came to Glenhaven to try a cinnamon bun?”

Ryan laughed. “No. The cinnamon bun was for me. I actually came down here to meet you. That Lila happened to have several of your most popular cupcakes, and you happened to be there while I ate breakfast, was a fortunate accident.”

Daniel grunted.

Yeah, it all seemed too convenient. And yet, even through the stuffy suit and business demeanor, there was something charming about Ryan that made me not dismiss him outright. Besides, I didn’t like confrontation, and Ryan hadn’t said anything to warrant hostility.

“And what is it you’re looking for, Mr. Cole?” I asked.

“Please, call me Ryan. I’m looking for a dependable cake supplier to deliver extraordinary cakes for our more refined clientele. We can discuss the particulars later, but I wanted to stop by, introduce myself, give you my card.”

“VIP parties at nightclubs,” I repeated to make sure I understood.

“And cigar lounges.”

Daniel finally joined in, shrugging. “You wanted to start a trend in cigar lounges.”

Ryan arched his brows at me. “You’ve already considered it?”

Daniel put his hands on the counter, leaning forward. “Already doing it. Poker at Roy’s tomorrow night. You game?”

Shocked that Daniel would invite a man we’d just met, I gaped at him, then shut my mouth before Ryan saw.

“That’s nearby on Fifth, right?”

Daniel nodded. “The first hand is dealt at 7:00 p.m.”

“Yeah, I could be there.” He shook Daniel’s hand. “Thanks, man.”

Ryan looked down at me, but with the heated undercurrent of his gaze, I backed up a step. If Daniel wanted to protect me, then I would let him.

Ryan gave me a quick nod. “Give it some thought. We have three private VIP rooms in six clubs and two in four others. Every Friday and Saturday night they’re booked with clients having private parties. That would be a lot of cake orders.”

“I’ll think it over.” Smart business demanded I do nothing less.

“Have a great afternoon.” Ryan tipped his head at us before he stepped back from the counter and headed toward the door.

Then I saw beyond him. Cade stood inside the doorway in an aggressive stance. He glared at Ryan.

Ryan nodded as he passed him and pulled open the door halfway, which was all Cade’s unmoving body would allow. Cade gave a curt nod back.

I blinked at the display of testosterone from Cade. He was like a male buck, looking to lock horns over a territory dispute. And I was the territory.

Cade slid his gaze back toward me and strode over, swiping up the business card. Then he pocketed it.

“Hey!” I pushed Daniel aside and followed Cade over to the couch, where he dropped his messenger bag and began taking off his jacket. “That’s my business card.”

Cade gave me a pointed look edged with warning while he lowered onto the couch. “It’s
our
business card since I’m mentoring you. And there’s no way in hell you’re considering his proposal without a thorough background check on the guy and his businesses.”

Daniel spoke up, voice low. “I don’t like the guy.”

“Me either,” Cade grumbled.

Fuming, I sat beside Cade and shoved my hand into the pocket where he’d stashed the card.

Cade’s eyes nearly popped out of his head. “Why, Maestro, how bold of you. I like where you’re headed, but in front of the kids? Should we get a room?”

Daniel chuckled and turned around, going back to his task. “Ignore me. Pretend I’m not here.” He pulled out the spray bottle and spritzed the front glass.

I growled low, glaring at Cade. “Shut it. Give me that card.”

He leaned forward, trapping my hand in his pocket. “Make me.”

“What are you, three?”

“Five, actually. When we were on the kindergarten playground, I stole Camie Winfield’s picture book.”

“Bully.”

“The exact opposite. Other boys were plotting to steal it, so I got to it first.”

I snorted, touching the corner of the card with a fingertip. I wrestled my hand around in the tight confines of his jeans’ pocket, trying to get another finger around it. “So you were a better bully than the rest. Doesn’t surprise me with your competitive nature.” On a hard shove from my shoulder, I forced my hand deeper. And brushed against something hard.

Cade sucked in a sudden breath, eyes widening.

My attention fell to his chest, which now rose and fell deeply. I swallowed hard, my initial fury dissipating into something more erotic.

His eyes were sparking with heat when I raised my gaze. “No, I was her only protector. They wanted to destroy it—pull apart the pages and scatter them across the playground. I guarded it for her and gave it back later.”

I stilled my hand. A sudden captive audience, because I’d trapped my hand in his clothing, I listened carefully to what he’d explained. He wasn’t being domineering because he could, but because he was looking out for me. Like Daniel had only moments ago from behind the counter.

My heart warmed. Two of the men in my life had stepped up to protect me when hints of danger blew my way, regardless of the actual threat.

A tiny smile curved my lips. “Thank you, Cade. It means a lot to have you looking out for me.”

He raised his eyebrows and glanced at his crotch. “Hey, I only did it so you’d cop a feel. Now I wish I’d worn looser pants.”

I yanked my hand from his pocket, abandoning the card. “You are unreal.”

He chuckled. “And don’t thank me yet. I’m going to that poker game tomorrow night.”

Daniel popped his head out of the display case where apparently sound channeled crystal clear. “So am I.”