2. Sloane
Chapter two
Sloane
“ Rising Star Sloane Bennett: Can she recreate the magic from her debut collection? ”
I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve read this same headline in the latest Artist’s Digest , but it’s hard to look away. You know the saying, “Bad press is good press”? Well, this feels much worse than just bad press. The pressure on me for my next exhibition feels like a mounting swell of never-ending ocean waves that constantly smack over me with no room to breathe.
It’s horrifying.
“Ugh.” I close the magazine, having enough of my existential crisis for one afternoon. Besides, I’m supposed to enjoy my time away from the city. Mia is getting married to Killian— finally —and as her younger sister, I approve.
It feels like they’ve been together forever, but I guess it’s par for the course when you’ve been literally attached at the hip since high school. Yeah, it’s that kind of love. They were smart about it, though. They waited until they had life figured out. They finished school, went to college, graduated, and landed jobs in their respective fields. If I could paint a picture of the perfect life—and I probably could—Mia and Killian would be the two protagonists. I give them crap for being disgustingly cute, but really, Killian treats her the way I hoped she would, and that’s all I could ask for.
The bus continues along the stretch of road, flawlessly transitioning from the bustling New York cityscape to upstate New York—the part no one really associates with the state, which is less high-traffic and more countryside and quaint suburbs. Ever since that opinion piece was released, I never realized how much I truly missed my hometown of Rose Valley. Everything felt simpler and less stressful there. Sometimes, I close my eyes while sitting in front of my computer, imagining myself lying in the grove after enjoying a serene picnic and taking a pontoon boat on the marina. Times were simpler then, but now it feels like the pressure will never cease.
The bus slows as it passes the sign for Rose Valley. I haven’t been back home in over a decade, but this is home. The entire town is rooted in my memory as we near the bus stop. It slowly turns in and comes to a complete stop not soon after.
Getting off the bus is the first time I feel genuinely relaxed in years—the fresh air, the silence aside from people meeting up with their loved ones. Relaxation washes over me that I didn’t know I could feel. Maybe this trip is exactly what I need. Sure, I’m here for an obligation to my family, but it’s a welcome respite from what I’ve allowed to become my everyday chaos.
I get my bag and walk over to the exit, passing by a stand full of the local newspaper—yes, we still have those. But I stop short, reading the headline.
“Hart Inc. and Rose Valley Marina Secure Deal.”
Secure deal?
And… wait a minute.
Is that Cade? Cade Hart?
I can’t believe it. My feet have rendered me unable to move from the front cover of the Rose Valley Times. Cade looks… handsome. I mean, he’s always been handsome, but he’s aged very well. The last time I saw him was right before I left for college.
I sigh. I bet he’s married by now. He’s Cade Hart, and he’s always been the kind of guy that every girl wanted. Either they couldn’t have him, or he made it difficult for them to pursue him. He was the true definition of a player when he and Mike were seniors in high school, but my eight-year-old self thought he was the most beautiful human in existence.
Unfortunately for me, every other girl in town thought the same about him—and probably still does. He always had that effect on people.
I reach for the newspaper, only to stop short when a horn sounds behind me. I look behind me and see Mike waving me over to him. I immediately smile in his direction, forgetting all about the newspaper and Cade Hart.
I walk over to him as he gets out of his car. He rushes around and pulls me into a bear hug, the best kind I could ever ask for from my big brother. He pulls back, smiling widely.
“I thought I’d have to start calling your PR person or agent or whatever to convince you to come back home,” he says, laughing as he takes my bag.
I roll my eyes, walking with him to the back of the car. “That’s not what they’re hired for, you know.”
He smiles softly, placing my bag in the back, and then looks over at me, content and warm. It feels like an oversized blanket has just engulfed us, creating a bubble of comfort.
“My apologies, Picasso,” he replies, bowing to me.
I sigh, shaking my head in annoyance as he closes the trunk and walks back to the driver’s side. We both get inside the car.
“You know I always hated when you and Cade would call me that,” I tell him.
He chuckles softly, which, as welcoming of a sound as it is, doesn’t discount what I’ve said. Ever since I started wanting to make a name for myself in the art world, Mike and Cade always called me “Picasso.” I know it’s out of love or because, in some strange way, it was their way of saying I stack up to his greatness. But all it did was place more pressure on me.
No, Sloane , I think to myself . You’re not in NYC right now. You’re in Rose Valley, your safe haven. There is no place for stress here. Everyone here thinks of you as a success, remember?
We drive downtown. Every place we pass fills me with memories of all the time I spent there, like Caffeine n’ Fiction, the coffee shop and bookstore where I spent my time after school, admiring all the big, beautiful books on art history.
“We’re going to meet Mia and Killian over at O’Malley’s,” Mike says, glancing at me. “They didn’t want to wait until tomorrow to see you.”
I nod distantly, my mind shifting back to the headline with Cade and the marina. If anyone knows anything about this deal, it’s Mike. It isn’t like it’s a secret, right?
“What’s going on with the marina?” I ask, and I note that Mike’s shoulders tense up immediately. “I saw the front page of the Rose Valley Times ,” I add. “Why did Cade buy the marina?”
Mike looks over at me, shrugging. “The deal was too good to pass up.”
It’s cryptic, but we leave it at that. It just makes me see how out of touch I am with this place and everyone living here.
He pulls up to O’Malley’s, and we get out of the car. He meets me on the other side and slings his arm over my shoulder excitedly, like the big brother he is. We walk inside, and for the most part, it’s very quiet and low-key. Amid the line of mahogany booths, Killian and Mia sit off to the side as they talk amongst themselves while Killian looks at the menu and Mia at her phone.
I feel a sense of unreality. I can’t imagine my sister being a wife, not because I think she’d be horrible at it, but because memories of her and I having girly sleepovers because we were only four years apart fill my thoughts.
“Look at the happy couple!” Mike announces our arrival, catching the attention of several patrons who are nestled at the bar.
Mia and Killian stand up from their seats and immediately greet Mike as if they don’t see him all the time. Mia looks up and rushes over to me, wrapping her arms around me tightly. Ugh, I needed this. Hugging Mike felt like a warm blanket, but hugging Mia is like air filling my lungs. Without her, I wouldn’t be able to breathe.
She pulls away, giving me a once-over and a big smile. “I can’t believe you’re back,” she says, then hugs me closer. “You look good since the last time I was in the city,” she adds.
I laugh at the memory of her visit three months ago. Needless to say, she had a little too much fun.
Reading my mind, Mia starts laughing hysterically. “Yes, I couldn’t get the tequila smell out of my hair for at least three weeks,” she admits. Taking my sister out for a mini-bachelorette party may have ended up with her sick, but it’s a moment I have with my sister, and that’s what matters.
“Don’t worry, I will avoid the tequila at all costs tonight,” Mia says, still laughing.
Memories spill into my head, and my smile slips a little. Ah, yes, tequila. The bane of my existence, and yet my best friend when I want to forget about my troubles. At least, at one point in time.
Mia and I walk over to the bar while the guys sit back at the booth. “Can I get three beers and two rum and Cokes, please?" Then she stiffens, her gaze flickering to mine awkwardly as she adds, “Er, I mean just one rum and Coke.”
Trying to act as nonchalant as possible, I order a Coke from the bartender. I look at Mia questioningly. “Where’s Gregory?” I ask. Gregory is the usual bartender here.
Mia waves me off. “He’s around, just not as hands-on anymore. He got a little burnt out with bartending, but can you blame the guy? He took care of the entire town for years.”
I nod, remembering him fondly. Again, so much has changed since I’ve been gone.
The bartender returns and places the glasses down for us. “Thanks. Put it on Cade’s tab,” Mia says.
Cade’s tab? Cade isn’t even here, so what’s the deal?
But before I can press Mia for more information, she takes the tray and returns to the booth. Killian gets up and gives me a hug, having missed me earlier, before taking a seat once more. We all sit around with drinks while the lone third beer sits in the middle.
Killian’s voice breaks my train of thought. “Mia tells me you sold all your pieces in your debut collection. That’s fantastic, Sloane.”
I nod, plastering on a smile that doesn’t quite reach my eyes. I’m grateful for the success I’ve found, but self-doubt is never far from my psyche.
“Thanks, Killian,” I tell him.
The door to the bar opens, and the room seems to fall quiet. I turn my head to look, and in strolls the incredibly handsome Cade Hart. He walks with the same confident stride he’s always had, but now appeals to a whole other different feeling inside me now that I’m twenty-eight.
Get a grip, Sloane! He just got here, and you’re already drooling.
Cade walks up to our booth and holds his arms out. “Hey, everyone.” He looks at Mia and Killian. “Congratulations again, you two,” he says as Mia greets him with a hug. He looks over at me, and I muster the best smile I can as he stares at me with an expression I can’t quite place.
“Picasso,” he says, and I roll my eyes at him. He smiles that cute, boyish smile that would make me swoon. The only difference is now it’s matured with a few frown lines and a salt-and-pepper scruff. He takes a seat and sits directly in front of me, his eyes never leaving mine.
“Hey, Cade, I heard you secured the deal with the marina. Congratulations!” Killian says, breaking the spell between me and Cade.
Cade looks over at him and nods proudly. “Yes, it was a difficult one. But I think we all agree it is what’s best for the place.” He grabs the third beer from the middle of the table and takes a swig.
“What was the reasoning?” I ask him, as I never did get a clear answer from Mike earlier.
Cade looks back at me, swallowing his beer. “The marina has seen better days, so I set out for a partnership to offer restoration. It’s lowered the tourist rates significantly, so I hope that this deal will boost our rates up again.”
His explanation makes me both sad and happy at the same time. On the one hand, the marina was a huge part of my childhood, so the thought of it struggling is devastating to hear. But on the other hand, Cade is using all that money for good and saving it.
“What about you, Picasso? How is fame treating you as you forget us little people?” he asks, taking another sip of his beer.
I narrow my eyes, not liking his tone. “I never forgot anyone.” It’s a pointed response to a pointed question.
He smirks, almost challenging me to go down a path I shouldn’t in front of my siblings. “It’s been ten years, Sloane,” he says as if I don’t recall how long it’s been. “A lot has changed.”
And clearly you haven’t, Cade Hart.
I roll my eyes at him again, and he chuckles. “Careful. Roll your eyes anymore, and they’ll get stuck like that,” he says, causing my siblings and Killian to chuckle.
“Come on, Cade, cut her some slack,” Mike chimes in, breaking up our little tiff, if that’s even what you want to call it. I just don’t understand how Cade could be so condescending. So I moved away to go to art school and may not have visited as much as I could have.
But the less Cade Hart, of all people, knows about that, the better.
“Now that that’s over, I’m heading to the pool table,” Mike announces, sliding out of the booth.
Killian and Mia get up and follow close behind him. I get up, too, unwilling to stay with Cade alone. But as I start to walk away, he grabs my wrist gently. His crystal-blue eyes strip me bare as I turn to face him, leaving me drowning in them helplessly.
He smiles. “It really is good to see you, Sloane.”
I snort. “I’d say the same, but after whatever the hell that was, I’d rather just get through the rest of this visit without you in it.”
With that, I stride off and storm into the ladies’ room. I go inside and rest my hands on the counter, taking a deep breath as I stare at myself in the mirror, my face flushed with some mixture of embarrassment, irritation, and attraction.
I can’t believe I ever had a crush on that guy. He’s the worst! I’ve only been around him for a few minutes, and look at me. I can’t stay in here forever, but just for a moment, I will enjoy the peace and quiet away from him.
Just as I feel ready to make my exit, the door swings open. I turn in surprise, and in walks Cade.
I gape at him. “You can’t just walk in here. Are you nuts?” I protest.
But his intense gaze tells me everything.
I’m not leaving.
He steps up to me, his arms encasing me and trapping me against the sink. I could have stopped him, but something possesses me not to. Perhaps curiosity. What on earth is he doing?
I want to see how this plays out.
“Tell me you really don’t want to see me again,” he challenges.
My jaw clenches in annoyance. “What do you want from me?” I whisper to him.
He shakes his head, looking away for a moment, his alpha masculinity softening just a little to offer me a glimpse of… vulnerability?
He meets my gaze once more. “Memories of the night you left for New York made me realize I left a lot of things left unsaid. Seeing you tonight… angered me because you’ve been gone for ten years, Sloane,” he explains, but I’m still left trying to understand what he’s getting at. He sighs heavily. “Just… just tell me you don’t want to see me again,” he repeats.
Suddenly, I see pain in those beautiful blue eyes. And a sliver of hope.
I stare at him for a long moment. “I can’t.”
As soon I get the words out, he puts his hand on the back of my head and pulls my lips to his in a hungry, aggressive kiss.
My brain doesn’t even take the time to process that I’m kissing Cade Hart—my childhood crush, my brother’s best friend. I’m going on pure instinct as I moan into his mouth. He responds to me in kind, moving his hands to encircle my waist. After a moment, his hands move down to my hips, pulling them roughly to his. He tightens his hold on me even more, like all his pent-up feelings are flooding out in this moment.
Mine are, too.
I push him backward without breaking the kiss until we meet a stall door. He turns me around and presses me against it. This is thrilling and dangerous, something I’ve never done before, but with Cade, I can’t deny my arousal. It’s like he’s lit a blowtorch inside me I can’t put out, and I can’t wait to have him.
And based on the way he’s touching me, kissing me, and groaning into my ear as I slide my hands under his shirt to feel his taut stomach, he seems to feel the same way.
We pull away breathlessly, our hungry eyes searching the other’s for approval. Suddenly, my lips are back on his, and my hands find his belt buckle as his go to the button and zipper on my jeans. Before I can process anything, he’s pulling down my underwear, licking his lips as he gazes between my legs with undisguised hunger.
There’s no time for foreplay—we both know anyone could burst in at any moment—but Cade reaches out a finger to trace my entrance gingerly. He lets out a low, guttural moan as he feels for himself how wet and ready I am for him. With a growl of approval, he pulls down his boxers. I get the briefest glimpse of his considerable size before he puts his hand on the back of my neck and sheathes himself inside me, leaving us fully melded together in a passionate, sticky heat that neither one of us could have expected tonight.
We may only have mere seconds to see this through to the end. Cade starts thrusting into me hard, and I roll my eyes back in pleasure, letting my head fall against the stall door. I feel like I’ve been transported to a different universe with only me and Cade in it.
It only takes a few thrusts from him until I’m coming hard, burying my mouth in Cade’s neck in the hope of muffling my moans. If it didn’t feel so incredible, I’d almost be embarrassed about how quickly he made me come.
It turns out that Cade isn’t far behind me. He lets out a final thrust and a low, rumbling groan. I feel him twitch and pulse as he spills into me.
We stand there for a minute, unmoving, our breath coming out in pants. My face is still buried in his neck, and I find myself unwilling to meet his eyes. But we can’t stay like this, so when I finally manage to look up, Cade slips out of me and grabs a paper towel to wipe himself before pulling up his pants and redoing his buckle. He gives me a final glance I can’t interpret before he leaves me standing there utterly bewildered, convinced I must be dreaming or at least hallucinating.
I just had sex with Cade Hart? My brother’s best friend?
In a public bathroom?!
Still breathing hard, I manage to remember where I am and compose myself, locking myself in the stall as I snatch a paper towel and clean the dripping mess down my legs. After splashing my still-flushed face with water, I exit the bathroom.
I stand outside the bathroom door for a moment, feeling a flash of irritation as I spot Cade looking as cool as a cucumber back in our booth, laughing hard at something Mike is saying.
He’s acting like this never happened.
Well, two can play at that game .
I order another Coke from the bar before rejoining the group. When they ask me where I’ve been, I tell them I had to take a call from a friend. I refuse to meet Cade’s eyes, and to my relief, no one is glancing suspiciously between me and him like they’ve just made the connection for our previous absence.
About an hour later, the sky darkens, and O’Malley’s picks up. Cade and I sit in the booth across from each other as the others chat and laugh. I keep my head down, still unable to make eye contact with him after what happened in the bathroom.
I still can’t believe I just had a bathroom hook-up with Cade Hart. I should feel used, shouldn’t I? Or offended in some way?
My God… I don’t even know if he’s married or has a girlfriend! My gaze flickers to his left hand, which is empty of rings, so that apparently answers that question. And though he was a player back in the day, no one ever talked about him as a cheater.
What we did should feel so wrong, but why does it feel so right?
I finally give in to the urge to look at his face, the curiosity killing me. I let my eyes flicker up at him. He’s staring at me with that same inscrutable intensity as before. But that look that once prompted annoyance in me is now replaced with liquid desire, which only complicates things. Not to mention annoys me to no end.
“Well, Killian and I have an appointment with the caterers tomorrow morning,” Mia announces. “So we need to head out now. And we need to drop off Sloane at Mom and Dad’s.”
I nod, getting up as quickly as possible, desperate to get out of here and away from Cade.
When all of us step outside, Mike puts my suitcase into the trunk of Killian’s car as we all say goodbye. To my surprise, Cade steps in front of me and hugs me tightly. To keep up appearances, I hug him back, though I stiffen once he opens his mouth.
“I meant everything I said,” he murmurs into my ear.
I can’t help but scoff. “And yet you said very little,” I mumble back as we pull away.
I wonder if he’ll say more, but he just waves goodbye and starts heading to his car on the other side of the lot.
What the hell is he up to? This man mystifies me like nothing else.
I turn back to Killian’s car, stopping short when my eyes catch on a lone figure across the way just standing there, looking straight at me. It’s not Cade, who’s already in his car and backing away. I let out an involuntary shiver, even though I can’t make out who this person could be.
My gaze locks with the figure’s for several seconds. They appear frozen in place. Then a car passes between us, and they’re gone like they never existed, leaving me reeling all the more after this totally surreal evening.