Chapter One
“I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss the—” Before the officiant could finish his sentence, Zach Dare swept his bride into his arms and dipped her head for a long, nearly-inappropriate-for-an-audience kiss.
Raven Walsh joined the rest of the guests, clapping for the newlyweds as they joined hands and made their way back down the white rose lined aisle.
“I adore a good second-chance love story,” Stevie Palmer, Raven’s friend and waitress at the bar she managed, said. Stevie rose from her seat and Raven followed suit, waiting for everyone in their row to file out and head for the reception.
Raven laughed. “You and your romance novels.” She shook her head at her book-loving friend. “But in this case, I have to say I agree.” Even she, with the lack of a relationship in her life, couldn’t deny these two deserved happiness and a long future together. “If anyone was meant to be together, it’s Zach and Hadley.” They’d lost each other once due to circumstances beyond their control and fought hard upon Hadley’s return. In more ways than one.
The bridal party, consisting of Hadley’s young sister, and all seven of Zach’s brothers, sisters, and sisters-in-law, followed the couple down the aisle. So did the best man, Zach’s best friend and business partner.
He also happened to be Raven’s boss and the star of her fantasies. Wearing a black, double-breasted tuxedo with wide lapels, a white shirt, and black bow tie, Remington Sterling was the epitome of sexy. His brown hair was lightly gelled. Choosing not to shave, he’d kept the beard she loved and imagined scraping along her thighs. Which would not be happening. Bad, Raven. She shouldn’t be having naughty thoughts about her boss.
He might flirt up a storm whenever they were together but as much as she wanted to know him better, and end up between the sheets, Raven had to keep her distance. Her past was always waiting to pop up and destroy anyone she got close to. These days, that past was getting closer than ever. She shuddered and pushed the thought out of her mind.
Remy walked down the aisle and stood parallel to her row. He caught her gaze, treating her to a wink before striding forward, leaving her with a view of his broad shoulders and back, and a tingling feeling low in her belly.
Beside her, Stevie let out a whistle. “That man wants you.”
And Raven wanted him.
Too bad she wasn’t destined for the happily ever after Hadley had found. Raven didn’t begrudge her friend the love she and Zach shared. She just wished one day, she could have the same. But fate didn’t seem to cut her any breaks. Still, she’d created a good life for herself and wasn’t one to dwell on the negatives.
The people beside her started to move and Raven followed the woman next to her out of the row. A little while later, she and Stevie stood with a glass in hand, looking around the Meridian NYC Hotel room where
the cocktail hour was being held.
“I have to say, this drink is delicious.” Raven took another sip of the wedding couple’s specialty offering, a peppermint white Russian, made with Kahlua, her favorite liqueur.
“Rich people and their signature drinks,” Stevie said. “My friend got married at the VFW Hall in my small New Hampshire town. Guests paid for their own alcohol. I’m sure you get it, right?”
Raven stilled mid-sip. For all outward appearances, she was just like Stevie. A New York City working girl. Her clothing was a mix of thrift store finds and affordable fashion, she shopped at inexpensive grocery stores and ate at home more often than she spent money in restaurants. When she did go out, she knew all the good but cheap places and her recreation choices were the same. Free museum days, outdoor art in the summer, and free movies at Backyard at Hudson Yards.
Her upbringing, however, was the same as Remy’s. Private schools, expensive restaurants, summers in Sag Harbor…
“Raven?”
She shook her head. “Sorry,” she said to her friend. “I got lost in thought.”
“I was saying I’m sure you understand how out of place I feel at this wedding. The Back Door is much more my speed.”
Raven stepped closer so she could talk lower and still be heard. “Actually, I grew up like this.” She gestured around the gorgeously decorated room.
“You’re kidding?” Stevie’s eyes opened wide.
Raven shook her head. “My biological mom died when I was five and I went into foster care. I was quickly adopted by a wealthy family and had all… this.” And so much more, she thought with a shiver.
Stevie raised her eyebrows. “But you’re so unaffected.”
Raven laughed. “Much to my mother’s chagrin. She wanted a frilly, girly girl. Instead, she got me.”
Stepping back, Stevie looked her over. “Well, if she saw you in that dress, she’d rethink her
assessment, at least on the surface.” She lifted her glass to her red-stained lips and took a sip. “And if Remy’s stares are anything to go by, he also likes what he sees.”
Pleasure rushed through Raven at the thought. No matter how many times she pretended to ignore the man’s flirting and innuendos, she enjoyed it nonetheless. If she weren’t always on edge, waiting for her psychotic brother to be released from prison, she’d want nothing more than to indulge in everything Remington Sterling.
“Where did you find the gown?” Stevie asked. “After searching everywhere, I had to settle for plain black. It was the only one I liked.”
Raven placed her glass on the table and smoothed her hands over her floor-length dress. “Would you believe I found it in a consignment store? And you look incredible. Black always works.”
Raven might come from money but her mother had cut her off for reasons she had no desire to think about. Even if she had access to the family money, she couldn’t see the point in spending a fortune on a dress she’d probably only wear once.
“Good job! That color is incredible.”
The turquoise gown had stood out among the black ones, calling to her, and once she’d tried it on, she’d been sold. The blue-green hue complemented her skin tone and she’d loved the look of the halter top that dipped low at her cleavage.
She turned and looked over her shoulder to find Remy standing with a deep amber-colored drink in his hand. He talked with Asher Dare, Zach’s oldest brother, but his gaze was on Raven. In all the time she’d worked for him, spent time with him at the bar, and tried not to react to his flirting, he’d never looked at her quite this way before.
From the heated expression on his face, the deep flush highlighting his cheekbones, and the way his golden-brown eyes that matched the color of his whiskey drank her in, Stevie was right. He appreciated what he
saw.
Stevie tapped her shoulder and Raven turned. “Oops. Sorry.” Raven blushed at being caught staring at her boss.
Her friend grinned. “Why does something tell me I’m going to be leaving this wedding alone?” They’d done their makeup and dressed at her apartment and had taken an Uber to the party together. When the night ended, they’d planned to split the car service, Raven getting dropped off first, then Stevie.
Raven shook her head. “I wouldn’t do that to you,” she said, her stare still on Remy.
He said something to Asher before making his way toward her with a predatory look in his eyes.
Stevie chuckled. “Famous last words, my friend. Famous last words.”
Chapter Two
Remy glanced around the rose-filled room and knew the décor was courtesy of Zach’s mom, Serenity. All Hadley and Zach cared about was getting married and starting their lives together. Remy liked Hadley for his friend. She was as down-to-earth as a person could be. Sort of like Raven.
His gaze drifted to the woman who was never far from his thoughts. She stood with one of the bar waitresses and they talked as they sipped their drinks.
Remy was used to seeing Raven wearing her Back Door uniform; a pair of formfitting black jeans and a matching T-shirt with the bar logo on the back. Though she was tall and thin, her round breasts filled out the snug shirt and her jeans accentuated the sweet curve of her ass. She typically wore her long hair up in a ponytail on workdays and when he ran into her on days off, her light brown curls fell to her mid-back.
He’d thought she was gorgeous with a full face of makeup and casual clothes, but he hadn’t been prepared for the siren who showed up tonight. The turquoise dress accentuated her green eyes and draped her body, the low dip at her cleavage revealing what her T-shirts only hinted at.
He itched to unwind her hair now pulled into an updo. Then he’d thread his fingers through the soft strands, wrap it around his hand, and pull hard as he entered her from behind. Imagining the moans coming from deep in her throat, he thought about flipping her over so he could look into those teal-colored eyes and watch her face as she came.
She was so fucking hot but more than that, she had a good heart. How did he know? He’d seen her take a sandwich in hand each night and walk it out to the homeless man who all but owned the corner nearby. From the time he’d bought into Zach’s two businesses and met Raven, he’d been hooked.
“You haven’t heard a word I’ve said, have you?” Asher asked.
Caught, Remy forced his gaze away from Raven and glanced at Zach’s brother. “Not a word.”
Asher shook his head and laughed. “Nothing I can say, considering I’ve been in your shoes.” He looked around the room, finally locking his gaze on his young wife, Nikki. “Hell, I still am,” he admitted.
Asher and Nikki’s story was unusual. He’d taken his now wife to his Bahamas retreat as a favor to his best friend as a means of getting her away from a nude photo scandal. Since Nikki was much younger, not to mention his friend’s little sister, Asher had tried to keep his hands off. Needless to say, he hadn’t. It had taken a while, but they were now a solid couple.
Remy’s gaze came to rest on Raven again, watching her toy with a strand of hair dangling around her face.
“Oh, hell. Go for it already,” Asher muttered on a low chuckle.
With a shrug, Remy decided his friend had a point. It was time. His stare still locked with Raven’s, he made his way across the room and joined the two women standing by a high table.
“Hello, ladies,” he said, his focus never wavering.
“Hi, boss,” Stevie replied
He glanced her way and smiled. “I think you can call me Remy when we’re not at work.”
She laughed. “Remy,” she parroted. “Since you’re here, can you keep Raven company while I go to the ladies’ room?”
He turned to see Raven glare at her friend and stifled a laugh. “Go ahead, Stevie. I’d be more than happy to take care of her.”
Stevie’s devilish grin told him she was playing matchmaker. Remy was so grateful he might even give her a raise.
He waited for the other woman to walk off before stepping closer to his prey. “You look beautiful tonight,” he said to Raven.
Edible, but telling her that would be beyond inappropriate. Not that he cared much for proprieties but he didn’t want to scare her off.
“Thank you.” Her eyes did a sweep of his body, ending with her gaze meeting his. “You’re looking dashing yourself.”
He grinned, pleased she wasn’t shy or backing away. “Thank you.” He took a sip of his drink and placed it on the table.
“I see the men have a signature drink as well. What’s in yours?” she asked.
“Whiskey smash. It’s whiskey with mint and powdered sugar sprinkled on top. Jury’s still out. I prefer my liquor neat. What’s yours called?” He pointed to the two glasses that were hers and Stevie’s.
“Peppermint white Russian.” Picking up a glass, Raven took a long taste and let out a groan of delight. One that had his cock perking up in his tuxedo pants. “Delicious.”
“Mmm. I’d like a taste,” he said, staring at her mouth because he wanted to sample the liqueur directly from her lips.
Her eyes grew heavy at his implication. “Here.” She offered him her glass instead.
Since it was the next best thing and her lips had already been on the rim, he accepted the drink and lifted it to his mouth. With their stares still connected, he drank. The thick, coffee liqueur mixed with vodka—Dirty Dare Vodka, no doubt—was sweet. “I agree. It’s delicious.” He placed the
glass back on the table.
The lights began to flash, indicating they were ready to move on to the ballroom part of the night.
“Time to take our seats. I’ll see you later,” Raven said, the relief in her voice palpable. She started to walk away but Remy was onto her.
He caught up and hooked his arm in hers as they stepped toward the ballroom along with the rest of the guests.
“What are you doing?” she asked.
“Escorting you to our table.” He guided her around the slower people who had stopped to talk. “You’re at table two and so am I.”
She tripped and he steadied her, keeping her close. ...
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