Sinful Ever After - Vivian Wood Page 0,264

pockets. I wrinkle my forehead. “Well, yeah. I said I would so… here I am.”

She smiles at me. “I’m glad. I actually just got here too.”

I gesture at the Attic. “Shall we?”

She launches herself at me, surprising me by pressing her lips to mine. She tastes like mint and strawberries, her mouth warm and her lips so soft. I growl and pull her closer, but she pulls away with a shy smile.

“I just wanted to break the touch barrier,” she explains, blushing a little. “Come on.”

She grabs me by the hand and tugs me in the front door. I step into a pretty large space, a stage set up to my left, some tables and a long wooden bar set up to my right. There are quite a few people here, milling around and talking to each other animatedly.

“Luna!” a handsome sandy haired guy yells, fighting his way through the crowd.

“Owen, hi!” she says, hugging him.

Jealousy slithers through me, coming almost out of nowhere.

Luna turns to me. “Owen, this is my friend Gabe. Gabe, this is one of my brother’s best friends. Remember, I told you that Luca owns a bar?”

I extend my hand. Owen does the same, gripping my hand, hard and brief.

“Your brother just asked if you were here, Luna.”

“Well…” she makes a face. “Here I am.”

“Have some punch when you get over by the bar… I made it special.” Owen winks. “If you two will excuse me, I think I just saw Chloe.”

I look over to the woman that Owen is working his way through the crowd toward. “Is Chloe somebody I should know?”

Luna looks up at me, her eyes shining with laughter. “That’s the one that got away, as far as Owen is concerned.”

“Ah.” As I watch, Owen picks Chloe up and bear hugs her. “They seem like a couple.”

She just nods. “Yeah. They’ll figure it out sooner or later…” She shakes her head. “Let’s go to the bar.”

We work our way over to the bar, helping ourselves to a cup of punch. I take a sip, then scrunch up my face as the alcohol burns its way down my gullet.

“This is so…” Luna shudders. “Ugh. This is why Owen is not a bartender.”

“Luna!”

I barely have time to register the call before a red headed young woman barrels into Luna, hugging her hard. “You are not ever allowed to leave again!”

The woman looks familiar but I can’t place her. Trailing after the unknown woman is a dark haired man. He gives me a nod hello.

“Smith,” he says, extending his hand. I shake it. He jerks his chin toward the hugging girls. “I don’t think we’ve met. I come attached to Harper. I mean, not like… attached. Just as friends.”

“Uhh… okay,” I say with a nod. “I’m Gabe. It’s nice to meet you.”

“Oh, thank the lord!” another young woman says, gingerly touching my shoulder to move me out of the way. “You came!”

“Cate!” Luna says, embracing her. “Gabe, this is Cate. This is Harper. Guys, this is Gabe.”

Cate and Harper turn to look at me, both of their gazes appraising. If I were a betting man, I’d wager that they know all about what Luna and I have been getting up to.

Cate touches me gently. “It’s a pleasure.”

Harper grins. “Did you tell Luna yet?”

Cate blushes. Luna cocks a brow. “Tell me what?”

Cate looks unsure. “Have you seen Luca yet? Because maybe he should be the one to tell you…”

Luna’s gaze shifts to me. “Uh… no. Tell me what?”

Cate looks like she would rather crawl under a rock and die than answer Luna’s question. She looks around the bar for a moment, then points. “There he is!”

Harper cups her hands around her mouth and shouts. “Luca!”

A tall, handsome guy looks our way. Then Harper jumps up and down, motioning to Luna. The guy grins and works his way over to us, weaving through the crowd.

“Hey sis,” he says, giving Luna a fist bump. “What’s up? Did you bring me back something good from your trip?”

Luna rolls her eyes good humoredly. “Luca, this is Gabe. Gabe, meet my older brother.”

I lean in for the handshake. Luca surveys me, drawing some conclusion that amuses him. He doesn’t share what he thinks, though.

Harper cuts in. “Luca, tell Luna your good news!”

I look expectantly at Luca. He rubs the back of his neck. “Yeah. Luna, let’s go talk.”

Luna frowns and then looks at me. I’m prepared, though.

“I’ll be fine,” I assure her. “I can talk to Smith about stuff.”

Cate flashes a smile.