to fit an already planned wedding to Caro’s taste was stressful enough. I didn’t know how she did it without throwing her hands in the air and giving up. Her problems might be small compared to mine, but they were still problems nevertheless, and I’d never diminish their importance in her life.
If only finding a wedding dress was my biggest concern.
Chapter Twenty-Two
Hippy Flophouse
~~Kaden~~
For the next week, Lanie and I were joined at the hip, and I wasn’t complaining. We slept together every night. In the morning, I went for a run with the guys, which turned into a long-distance race because, well, hockey players. Can we say competitive? Then we worked out, ate lunch, and had a beer or two. I took a nap and played a video game with Steele, then watched an hour or so of the Food Channel. By then, Lanie was done with work, and we’d hang out or make out or both. In a few days, we’d developed a routine.
I’d never been much for routines except when it came to hockey fitness. I’d considered them to be the tools of the dull and need-to-get-a-lifers. I’d been wrong. I loved our routine. I lived for it. Not that I threw spontaneity out the window, ’cause I did not, but I used it like the perfect spice to liven up an already proven dish.
Most evenings I cooked for the entire gang. I gave Geneva some pointers on the finer points of cooking and traded recipes with Caro. Lanie didn’t seem to care much about cooking, but she loved to eat whatever I prepared.
On Saturday, one week before the big wedding, I was working on dinner, Lanie was chopping veggies for a salad, and Steele was cleaning up after me. The others were doing their own thing, and I wasn’t their keeper, so whatevs. They’d be by later for dinner.
I checked on my marinara sauce. I’d promised Heath I’d make my famous spaghetti—one of my signature meals. The kid loved it, though he often wore more of it than he ate.
I lifted the lid off the pot of sauce slowly simmering on the stove and breathed in the enticing herbs and spices. I put everything in my sauce, including hamburger, sausage, green peppers, onions, and carrots. It was like a stew, Italian style.
Replacing the lid, I heard a knock on the door. Not seeing anyone else dropping what they were doing, I wiped my hands on a dish towel and strode across the room to open it.
A little pixie stood on the doorstep in a tie-dyed sundress, jet-black hair, and full-sleeve tattoos of jungles on her arms. Her heavily made-up eyes were big and wide, adding to that pixie/fairy look she had going on.
“Where should I set up my stuff? I’ll need some help carrying all of it inside, too.” She was all businesslike and pushy. I didn’t know whether to slam the door in her face or what the fuck to do.
“I…uh…uh…” I was rendered speechless.
Lanie rushed forward. “Hyacinth. We’ve been expecting you.”
“We have?” Steele stammered.
“Sorry, I forgot to tell you. Hyacinth is a good friend of Caro’s. She’ll be doing the alterations on the wedding dress. I offered your spare room to her for the duration. Everything else is booked around the time of the wedding, and this way she won’t have to move.”
I didn’t quite know what to say, so I shrugged. Lanie rewarded me with one of her brilliant smiles promising hot sex later this evening. I’d house a dozen people to earn a smile like that.
“Hyacinth, this my boyfriend, Kaden.”
My boyfriend. I liked the sound of that. I also liked how she subtly staked a claim on me.
“Nice to meet you.”
“Call me Cin. Everyone does.”
“Is that Cin with a C or an S?” Steele asked from behind me. I turned, expecting to see him grinning in welcome, but he was scowling as he took in her hair, clothes, and tattoos. She wasn’t exactly Steele’s type, and he liked his privacy.
“Whatever way you want it.” Cin gave Steele a slow once-over, and her smile was sultry. He might not like what he saw, but she didn’t have any such compunction.
“We only have two bedrooms,” Steele grumped.
“You’re welcome to sleep on the couch.” I offered helpfully, ignoring the heat from Steele’s glare.
“I’m good with that. Everyone needs their own space, and this space is just fine.” Cin swept her gaze around the small living area and rested it on Steele. With a wicked grin, she