All Consuming (Brotherhood by Fire #3) -Jaci Burton Page 0,6
Not too long ago.”
Veronica put her arm around Hannah. “She’s getting settled in. She already has a new salon, and she’s hired two stylists. She’s doing great, aren’t you, Hannah?”
Hannah managed a smile. “Yes. Great.”
Kal could tell Hannah was uncomfortable, which was probably his fault.
“I think I’ll wander and visit with some people,” Kal said. “Good to see you, Hannah.”
She nodded. “You, too, Kal.”
“Hey, you’ll be back, won’t you?” Eddie asked.
“Sure.”
But he wouldn’t, because Hannah had the right to have some fun tonight, and it was obvious she couldn’t do that with him there.
So he’d go find some of his other friends and leave Hannah alone.
CATCHING UP WITH HER FRIENDS AND SEEING PEOPLE SHE hadn’t seen in years had been more fun than Hannah had anticipated. She was glad she’d come to the reunion.
Except for the part when she’d seen Kal. She figured she’d have at least a glass of wine or two in her first, maybe mellow out a little before they ran into each other. Being blindsided right out of the gate had been unexpected, and she hadn’t been prepared to see him. Her throat had gone dry, and she’d fumbled for something to say. So, instead, she’d said nothing. He probably thought she hated him, when in fact she’d been dumbfounded at how utterly gorgeous he looked in his white button-down shirt and his black slacks and wow, had he gotten even taller since high school? The sharp edges of his cheekbones seemed even sharper, and he’d gained a lot of muscle.
She’d barely been able to breathe when she’d seen him, let alone form a coherent sentence. Kal Donovan had turned into one incredible specimen of the male species.
“Are you even listening to anything I’m saying?”
She blinked and turned her attention back to Veronica. “What? I’m sorry. It was a long day at the salon today, and I’m a little tired.”
Veronica rubbed her arm. “I’m sorry, honey. It must be rough having to work on a Saturday.”
“It’s okay. It’s our busiest day at the salon. And I have the next two days off.”
“Good. In the meantime, let’s perk you up and get you on the dance floor.”
Hannah shook her head. “Oh, I don’t think—”
Before she could finish her sentence, Veronica had dragged her out of the chair and onto the dance floor. Suddenly, their entire group was there, swaying and rocking their hips to a hot Rihanna song. Hannah felt her body get into the music and finally let herself relax. The dance floor was crowded with people, all laughing and having a good time.
She spotted Kal standing over by himself at the bar.
“I’ll be back,” she hollered at Veronica, who nodded and turned away to dance with the other women. Hannah wriggled free of the crowd and made her way toward the bar—toward Kal.
“Hey,” he said, offering up an easy smile.
“Hey, yourself.”
“Want a beer or some wine?” he asked.
“I’ll take a pinot grigio.”
He ordered one from the bartender, then handed it to her.
“Thanks,” she said, taking a sip to let the liquid cool her body down. “Why aren’t you out there dancing?”
“I was enjoying watching all of you.”
“So, you’re a voyeur now, huh?”
He laughed, and the sound of it sent her straight back to high school, to the two of them sitting on the bleachers after Kal finished basketball practice. They’d talk, make out and laugh. It had been so easy back then. The look he gave her now was just as easy, so maybe it was her that needed to relax.
“Or maybe it’s that you’re a bad dancer.”
He gave her a look. “Please. You know that’s not the case. I took you to two proms, and we danced our asses off.”
“This is true. So why hasn’t one of the single women here dragged you out there?”
He shrugged. “Not interested.”
Interesting. “I see. So if I ask you to dance you’ll turn me down, too?”
“I’d never turn you down, Hannah.”
Ten years hadn’t eradicated that flutter in her stomach whenever he said something sweet to her. But he was just being polite, and she shouldn’t read anything into that.
“Okay, then,” she said, laying her glass of wine on the bar top. “Let’s dance.”
He put his beer next to her glass. “Sure.”
The music was still hopping, and Kal was right about having moves. How could she have forgotten that? Eddie jumped onto the dance floor and twirled Veronica around, and then the whole group danced together, and she forgot all about being awkward around Kal. It was just like