Spoke Too Soon (Kissing a Kent Brother #2)

Prologue

Daria

As seen in Sign Me Up as the Epilogue

Party planning ranks right up there with shopping for me. It’s an exciting experience that gets my creative juices flowing, my fingers itching to get to work, and my feet ready to pound the pavement in search of the perfect touches to complete the aesthetic I’ve put together in my head.

So when Parker made it official and put a ring on it, I jumped at the chance to throw my two friends an engagement party.

Besides, Jamie’s a little like me in that she doesn’t have a solid family support system. But she’s at least got me, and I won’t let her down. If there’s anything that’s worth celebrating, it’s the love that she and Parker share.

Not that I plan on experiencing a love like they have in my lifetime, but it works for them and I’m here for it.

Placing the last little spaceship in its place inside the terrarium filled with sand, I stand back and admire my work.

When Jamie insisted I add some space-themed elements to the party, I balked.

But after spending a ton of time researching online, I found multiple ways to add little things in here and there that won’t detract from the overall high-end aesthetic.

White, gold, and black balloons curve upward in an arch along the wall and underneath them sits a table full of little themed treats.

My eyes catch on the kissing couple cookie, and I can't help but roll my eyes.

I’ve had to shield my eyes plenty of times after walking in on one of Parker and Jamie's make out sessions. But I guess when you’re in love, that’s how things are. I wouldn’t know. I’ve never been in love and don’t plan to be.

When the last guy I got serious about in college cheated on me, I decided to never let myself go all googly-eyed over another man. Sure, I date. I mean, a girl’s gotta have a good time now and then, but usually after that first date, I’m kicking the guy to the curb.

Because I’m better off alone. I’ve got my friends, Jamie and Briar, even Parker, and that’s really all I need.

There was that one night where I almost let myself get attached to a guy…

he was just too charming and good-looking…

plus, he genuinely seemed to have his life together and was a great conversationalist. We met at a party and ended up talking all night long.

I felt like we had a genuine connection, and he even gave me his number.

But when I tried to text him a few days later, he completely ghosted me.

It was then I realized that I should’ve stuck to my guns from the get-go.

For me, getting attached only ever leads to heartbreak.

The door to Parker’s apartment swings open and Parker’s mom, Alex, steps inside with her arms full of wrapped gifts. “Oy,” she huffs as I run over to try and assist her.

“Here, let me.” I take the two gifts off the top and carry them over to the gift table.

“This place looks excellent, Daria! You did a wonderful job!”

I smile at Alex’s praise as my gaze roves over the industrial-style apartment.

It’s spotless and decorated and ready to receive guests.

I’ve never met either of Parker’s brothers, not even the one who owns this place, but after meeting his mom, I’m excited to see if they’re as gregarious as she and Parker are.

“Thank you, Alex. Are Parker and Jamie on their way?”

She nods as she flits toward the gift table and sets down the rest of her gifts. “They should be. Logan too, but Dane will be late.” She makes a face like go figure at the mention of her middle child not making it on time. I wonder if this is a normal occurrence for him.

Moving to the kitchen to set out the drinks, plates, and napkins, Alex and I make quick work on the party’s finishing touches.

Soon, the studio-style apartment is filled with people from Jamie and Parker’s workplace, Parker’s immediate and extended family, and even some mutual acquaintances from our yoga class.

“D, this place looks stunning! I don’t know how you did it, but it looks awesome,” Jamie squeals as she wraps me in the tightest hug I’ve ever received.

“Oh, it was nothing.” I wink as Parker sidles up next to us, signing what I think are the words Thank you. It looks great.

Jamie’s been teaching me ASL off and on for the better part of a year, but I still struggle to understand some of the signs.

I’m looking into taking an actual class with a professional teacher, but I’ve been working and party-planning so much lately that I haven’t had much extra time to devote to it.

“Well, you both are so welcome,” I say with a bright smile. “If anyone deserves to have a memorable engagement party, it’s you two. After all, you waited like…forever…to finally get together.” I send each of them a sly smirk, but they ignore my ribbing, too infatuated with each other to notice.

When Briar joins us, Parker introduces us both to his older brother, Logan, and his dad, Paul. Both men seem a little shy and not as outgoing as Parker or his mom. After greeting a few more people and mingling a bit, I busy myself with refilling the punch.

I’m so engrossed in my work that when Alex chimes, “He’s here!” I can’t bother to look up and pay attention to whoever she’s referring to. I go to the freezer to get more ice, but when I spin around, I’m met with the face of a man I haven’t seen in a year.

He bends down to give Alex a hug and when she puts her hands on his face, his eyes drift upward, snag on me, then do a double take. His expression morphs from happy to…confused? Disgusted?

The plastic bowl that was previously in my hands clatters to the ground. Bending, I scoop it up and avert my eyes, hauling butt to the freezer as fast as I can get there.

“Is everything okay?” Jamie asks, coming up beside me.

“Uh, yeah.” I whip open the freezer and grab the metal scoop from the ice compartment to refill the bowl. “I think I might’ve spilled some water on the floor over there, though. Would you mind grabbing a rag to wipe it up?”

Jamie’s gaze flits to where I dropped the bowl, then back to me. “Oh, yeah, sure.” She scurries away to do my bidding, and I lean further into the freezer, trying to cool myself off.

Why is he here? How is he here? Is he a friend of Parker’s? He obviously seemed to know Alex pretty well…I almost didn’t recognize him with the light growth of stubble lining his jaw or the way his hair is shorter than when we first met.

Taking a deep breath in and releasing it, I finish filling the bowl of ice. I have no idea why Charles, the gorgeous, deep conversationalist I clicked with at the random party I attended last year is here, but I’m not going to give him the time of day.

He ghosted me. Left me on read. Never returned the one solitary text I sent.

Doesn’t he realize how big of a step that was for me? How much I had to have liked him to even send that message? Ugh, I’m getting disgusted with myself all over again just thinking about it.

I shut the freezer door and take the bowl back to the drink table, determined to avoid him. I doubt he’d try to talk to me with the way we left things, especially since the way he did a double-take has me thinking he’s as surprised to see me as I am him.

Still, I intend to keep my distance. This party is about Jamie and Parker, not my issues with the male species as a whole.

But when I spin around, Jamie and Parker are walking toward me with the man in question.

Ughhhh, I’ve never wanted to disappear more than in this very moment.

Jamie steps forward and gestures toward the two guys, who now that I’m looking at them side-by-side, seem to resemble each other. Wait. He’s not…

“Daria, Parker wanted to introduce you to his brother,” Jamie says, taking Parker’s hand.

Parker smiles and gestures to Charles, then signs what I think is, Daria, this is my older brother, D-A-N-E.

My brows pull tight. Huh?

I question my sanity as my gaze immediately swings to the handsome ghost himself, whose complexion has paled remarkably since the first time I laid eyes on him this evening. His lips thin as he locks eyes with me and extends a hand.

“It’s nice to meet you, Daria. I’m Dane.”

Ah, so that’s how he’s gonna play it…

Parker’s brother, the guy who charmed me into texting him, is now staring me dead in the eye and acting like he didn’t give me a fake name at a party just to pretend I didn’t exist the next day. Part of me wonders if the number was fake too.

Resisting the urge to roll my eyes, I narrow them and accept his lousy handshake.

“Dane, is it? Nice to finally meet you too.” I paste the most saccharine smile possible onto my face, but as our hands make contact, I’m overwhelmed with the way his callouses brush against my skin and my smile falters.

Pulling my hand back and wiping it down my designer jeans to rid myself of the feeling, I face Jamie.

“I’m going to see if any of the snacks need refilled.

Call me if you need me.” I make an about face and head for the snack table, which unfortunately is only three strides away, and pick up the one and only tray that looks mildly close to being empty.

Hoping I actually look busy and not just desperate to get away from the lying date that got away, I carry the tray to the kitchen counter and grab the reserve chicken salad croissants from the fridge.

I start piling them onto the tray in a somewhat neat and orderly fashion when a man’s voice startles me.

“That’s not how you do it.”

I whip my head in the direction I heard Charles—Dane—speak from to find him standing against the counter beside me, ankles and arms crossed, his gaze zeroed in on the tray of sandwiches.

“If you do it like that,” he croons nice and low, “they’ll all get smooshed together and no one likes soggy chicken salad sandwiches. ”

I cock my head and glare at the intruder. “Excuse me?”

His dark eyelashes flutter as his gaze slowly drifts upward to meet mine. “I think you heard me.”

Who does this guy think he is? I purse my lips and take a deep breath. “I know what I’m doing. If I wanted your help, I would’ve asked for it.” I raise what Jamie refers to as my menacing eyebrow, daring him to say another word.

His mouth tips up just the slightest on one side, revealing a perfectly placed dimple.

I avert my gaze and finish piling the sandwiches the way I want to, not the way the liar beside me suggested, when his hand grasps my elbow.

I freeze at the contact and stifle the urge to fling the croissant in my hand at his face.

“Parker tells me you’re Jamie’s roommate.” It’s not a question. Just an obvious statement spoken in a husky whisper.

I meet his eyes again. “Yeah, so?”

“Did you know I was his brother?”

I scoff and shake off his hand. “And how would I know that when I didn’t even know your real name until just now.

” He opens his mouth to speak, but I don’t let him.

“Despite what you obviously think, I haven’t been sitting at home pining for you.

You’ve barely crossed my mind at all.” I straighten my spine.

“In fact, I didn’t even recognize you at first.”

A deep divot forms between his brows as he tilts his head. “Look, I know it looks bad, but there’s no need for this level of hostility.”

I drop the sandwich on the platter and plant my hands on either side of the counter in front of me. “You acted like we’d just met. And gave me a fake name.”

“It’s not—”

I hold up a hand to stop him while my teeth grind together so hard, it takes effort to open my mouth again. “I have little patience for arrogant players, so unless you’ve got something important to say to me, I suggest you get back to the party.”

Something like hurt flickers in his eyes for a split second before he schools his features.

“I was just curious to know if you’d realized that Parker and I were related prior to now.

That’s all.” The genuinely confused look he gives me paired with the surprise in his voice makes heat creep into my cheeks.

I briefly wonder why he seems taken aback, but I’m too proud to ask.

I turn away and finish assembling the sandwich tray. “No,” I answer honestly on a swallow. “I didn’t know.”

I carry the tray back to the table, effectively ignoring the pinch in my chest. It’s not that I want to be rude to Dane, but who has the audacity to come up to someone they lied to and ignored, then correct them on the way they’re assembling a sandwich tray?

A jerk, that’s who.

I’m mostly successful in avoiding Ch—Dane— for the duration of the party.

Up until Jamie and Parker stand tall in front of God and everyone to announce that I have been elected to be Jamie’s maid of honor and Dane is dubbed as Parker’s best man. Everyone cheers and congratulates us like we’ve been awarded a trophy as I fight a disgusted grimace from taking over my face.

“So,” Jamie says, clasping both of my hands in hers.

“We originally wanted to wait until summer to get married, but…I don’t know if I can wait that long!

” Her excitement is precious, but the girl has gone and tumbled face first into the sickeningly sweet pit of love.

Eww. “Now I’m thinking of having the wedding in April which means we’ve only got two months to plan everything.

Dane says he’s got a buddy who owns a gorgeous lakeside estate where we can have the reception, or even the wedding if the weather permits. He’s going to work on that for us now…”

She continues prattling off things we need to go over in preparation for the wedding, but I’ve tuned out.

It’s hard to focus on anything when I lift my eyes to the dark-haired, blue-eyed man smirking at me from across the room like he’s reading each and every one of my thoughts.

Sounds like he’s already inserting himself into the wedding planning too.

But of course he is. He’s obviously a know-it-all control freak who can’t even trust a woman to assemble a sandwich tray properly.

“So, how’s that sound?” Jamie’s question pulls me back to the present.

“Um, can you repeat that?”

She smiles. “I asked if you’d be able to go dress shopping with me next weekend?”

I chuckle and flip my hair over my shoulder. “Oh, of course. You know me, I’m always up for a shopping trip.”

She grins and pulls me in for another hug. I stiffen at first but eventually wrap my arms around her. Ever since she started seeing Parker, she’s become way more affectionate.

“Thanks for being an awesome friend, D,” she whispers into my ear. “I don’t know where I’d be without you.”

I respond with a smile of my own and tamp down the urge to run as fast and as far away from anything wedding related as I can.

Engagement party stuff? It’s fun, cute, and was a blast to pull together. But wedding planning? In two months’ time? Having to share responsibilities with a guy who just put himself at the top of my evil jerk list?

Yeah, no thanks.