Better Once Than Never (By the Book #2)

Chapter 1

Act I, Scene I: London Wedding Expo

Kalina

‘W hy are you bouncing around like your butt’s on fire?’ Scarlet, my friend and new roommate, asked.

She kept me company at the London Wedding Expo where Hotel Verona, where I was now the Event Manager, held a booth for the fifth year in a row.

It was my first time managing it, and I’d not accounted for bathroom breaks.

‘I need to use the loo; I drank at least two litres of water today.’

She shook her head in disbelief. ‘Too much water for a day like today. Go.’

‘I can’t leave the booth unattended.’ This was the biggest task my boss had given me to date. I was the head event planner at the hotel, but I wasn’t about to do anything to ruin the title.

‘Well,’ Scarlet said, sweeping her arm up and down her statuesque frame.

‘Would you mind?’ I was ready to beg her—knowing it wasn’t a requirement.

‘If it means you won’t wet the floor, yes. Nobody will know.’ She tossed some of her dark blonde curls over her shoulder, then reached out to take the white lanyard—where my name and exhibitor details were printed on a laminated card—from my neck and dropped it over her own.

‘Thank you.’ I grabbed my phone and shoved it into the pocket of my pink wrap dress before I ran on the balls of my feet to the nearest bathroom. A broken ankle was not something I needed. Not with it being the start of our busy season.

I was a pro at dodging the couples crowded around the booths and aisles, and weaved around them to avoid being stuck in the crowd. There was nothing worse than being caught behind a couple trying to decide between off-white and ivory for their place settings.

My doctor would give me a stern talking-to during my next check-up if I continued this way, but today I made it in the nick of time.

With relief on my side; I used the full-length lit-up mirror to check my appearance while I washed up. After five long hours of being “on”, my dress had wrinkled along the long-cuffed sleeves, and my hair frizzed around the high ponytail and made it look like I’d rubbed my head with a balloon. The whole look screamed, “Trust me with your wedding and the beginning of your happily ever after.”

I sighed. This was about as good as it was going to get.

With one last attempt to neaten up, and a fresh coat of cherry tinted lip gloss, I made my way back to the booth.

Scarlet chatted away with a couple, who looked sold on using Hotel Verona as their wedding venue, and left me questioning whether she was in the right industry.

I picked up my pace but a trolley, transporting a rather large swan ice sculpture, sped by.

‘Hey watch it,’ the assistant yelled.

I halted to avoid its path but the heel of my shoe caught in the thick carpet. I braced myself for a fall and collided with a wall instead.

‘Kalina,’ the wall said.

Hands gripped my waist to steady me, and it took me a few seconds to realise walls didn’t talk, and the voice in question came from the green-eyed, blond giant before me.

‘Titan.’ I nodded in greeting.

His tall frame was dressed in his standard all-black ensemble—dark jeans, leather boots, and a black knit jersey I knew had to be some cashmere blend.

He would settle for nothing less.

Photographer, playboy and perpetual flirt, Titan Andersson had become a permanent fixture in my life over the last nine months, when his best friend met mine and—after some secrets, scheming, and a little bit of convincing to both of their families—decided they never wanted to spend another day apart.

He also happened to be Scarlet’s older brother.

Titan needed a place for his sister to stay, when she moved to London from South Africa, and Savi was moving out. The timing was perfect.

‘What’s the rush, dimples? You need to be more careful. Death by ice sculpture isn’t graceful. Even if it’s shaped like a swan.’ His lips curled into a teasing smile.

I ignored the nickname he insisted on using, and focused on his hands resting on my waist.

‘If you must know,’ I started while shaking him off and flattening my palms against the sides where his grip left tiny wrinkles in the fabric. ‘My bladder was about to burst, and I am still on duty.’

‘I do love it when you talk dirty to me.’ He laughed. The kind which shook his shoulders and made his eyes tear.

I ignored his remark. It wasn’t surprising coming from him. ‘What are you even doing here? I thought Scarlet and your second shooter were running your booth?’

‘Seems she’s chosen to abandon me for you,’ he said, and waved over my shoulder. With a look in Scarlet’s direction, I caught the cheeky air kiss she blew our way. ‘Besides, I have to show my face sometimes. There’s an expectation you know.’ He jutted his chin out.

I rolled my eyes. ‘You know this is a wedding expo, right? Where brides attend with partners they plan to marry ?’ I crossed my arms over my chest.

He ran a hand through his short-styled hair, the exact same shade as Scarlet’s. It was infuriating when his hairstyle remained intact.

The shared genetics between the two of them was enviable. Same eyes, nose, lips, and tall frame. The only difference was their varying skin tones.

‘They’re not married. Yet.’ He flashed his signature grin at me.

‘You’re the worst,’ I groaned.

He had a surprisingly straight moral compass, but was always ready with some suggestive comment or question.

‘Oh, dimples.’ His voice dropped an octave and he leaned down, ‘You don’t even know the half of it.’

A line and a move. Titan’s MO.

I shook my head to clear it. I usually brushed his behaviour aside but sometimes they threw me off. I crouched down to unhook my heel from the carpet.

When I looked up at him, a reply at the ready, I spotted a familiar head of dark, wavy hair coming toward us through the crowd. My heart stilled in my chest.

‘What’s wrong?’ Titan asked, his voice had lost its playful edge.

I stood and tried taking calming breaths while I hid behind Titan’s towering frame. ‘Jesse’s walking this way.’

My somewhat of an ex—and new brother-in-law of my best friend—Jesse, was not someone I wanted to see today.

Or any day.

Our last interaction had been in front of our families at the registry office a few months ago when his brother married my best friend, and I hid my heartbreak with a smile.

Titan looked over his shoulder, then back at me. ‘Go. You have a clear shot back to the booth.’ He tipped his head at the gap in the crowd beside us.

‘Titan,’ I said, my voice laced with panic as Jesse got closer. If you asked me why, I wouldn’t be able to tell you, but the words flew out of my mouth, ‘This is going to sound like a weird request but, could you kiss me?’

‘What?’ He looked as perplexed as I’d thought he would.

There were two things Jesse hated: public displays of affection and Titan. I had no time to explain my reasons.

‘Could you kiss me? Please?’ I repeated.

‘Kalina, that’s…strange. Even for you.’ He raised one eyebrow.

‘Please?’ I hoped the desperation in my face and voice were evident.

‘I…okay—’

I was one step ahead of him as soon as he’d given me permission. I stood on my toes—a necessity even in three-inch heels—wrapped my arms around his neck, and pulled him down until his lips met mine.

The loud din of conversations fell away as silence wrapped around us. He cupped my face and tilted my chin up as he kissed me back.

My mind stilled as I became aware of his soft lips and shallow breaths. Like he was too scared to move. This unserious and playful man surprised me with his gentle touch.

Kissing Titan was not at all how I’d imagined it would be. Not that I’d thought about kissing him.

At least not often.

I braced my palms against his chest, a mixture of a soft knit fabric and hard muscle.

The sweater—definitely cashmere.

The firm muscle where my palms rested—unclear. But his trainer deserved a generous tip.

‘Lina?’ A voice broke me from the moment and I pulled away from the embrace.

Titan gripped me closer with the hand resting on my waist.

Jesse’s gaze flicked from me to Titan and back again. His mouth opened and closed, like a goldfish, emitting some strangled noise.

‘Jesse, hi. I didn’t see you there.’ I tried keeping the lie out of both my tone and face.

‘The two of you?’ he sniped.

‘Mmm hmm.’ I nodded in confirmation. Which was easier than saying actual words.

I wasn’t good at lying.

Titan straightened and squared his shoulders; making him appear even taller. ‘Some kind of problem, Jesse?’

Before he could respond, a svelte brunette woman walked up to us, took Jesse’s hand in hers and interlocked their fingers. She placed her left hand on his chest where a giant, shiny rock sat on her elegant finger.

Titan’s hand stiffened against my rib for a second, but his expression remained unfaltering.

‘Baby, they have the Vera Wang dress I wanted, a little over budget but I think we can swing it.’ She pouted up at Jesse.

He cleared his throat, and she followed his gaze to where Titan and I stood.

As I looked up at the three of them, all ridiculously tall and beautiful, I realised my plan wasn’t going well. To be fair I hadn’t thought past the kissing Titan phase of it.

‘Titan, oh my God. It’s been ages.’ The brunette woman squealed. She took a step forward to place a kiss on both of his cheeks.

Now, that threw me off.

‘Lexie, how nice to see you.’ His voice said otherwise, but his face gave nothing away.

‘Don’t feel too bad about things not working out between us. I wouldn’t have met my Jesse if it did,’ Lexie said.

‘Great…’ Titan replied.

Jesse smirked while I had to inhale to stop myself from throwing up.

Or crying.

Or both.

‘Who’s this?’ Lexie asked, and all three heads turned to me.

‘Titan’s latest, I presume?’ Jesse said.

Titan’s jaw clenched and he pulled me so close I felt the heat of his body through the thin fabric of my dress.

I never knew side ab muscles existed before.

‘Watch it.’ Titan glared at him.

Jesse paled and looked like he’d swallowed a frog.

If it came down to an actual showdown between these two; my money was on Titan.

‘We better get on. I’m hoping to win the destination honeymoon. Ciao.’ Lexie waggled her fingers at us before she grasped Jesse’s hand and pulled him away.

‘Fuck, I hate him,’ Titan said on an exhale. He turned to me. ‘Are you okay?’

‘Yes, why?’ My eyes welled up, and I blinked to make it stop.

‘He’s an asshole. Don’t worry about him.’ His gaze was tender.

‘I’m not,’ I snapped. I didn’t need to have a meltdown during working hours. Not outside of the office anyway. ‘Sorry, he threw me off. I haven’t seen him since…’ The words caught in my throat.

I wasn’t about to tell Titan about my encounter with Jesse a few months ago. When I’d thought our feelings were mutual, and shared my first time with him only for him to disappear immediately after.

Titan’s gaze was fixed to mine and the fluorescents made his eyes look like golden delicious apples.

‘It’s unnerving when you do that.’

‘Do what?’

‘The laser focus thing.’ I gestured to his eyes.

‘What?’ He looked perplexed.

‘Never mind.’ I shook my head to clear it. I lifted a hand and chewed on the side of my thumb. ‘I should go.’

‘Okay. Thanks for the kiss.’ His playful grin replaced the concerned frown. He was enjoying this a little too much.

‘Don’t feel flattered, you were in the right place at the right time.’

‘I’m happy to be of service anytime you need it.’ He winked.

There he was. The Titan I knew. All beautiful blond hair and shiny green eyes, filled with mischief. His hair stood out like a halo above him, as if butter wouldn’t melt in his mouth.

‘Doubt it would be necessary.’

‘The offer still stands.’

‘Goodbye, Titan.’

‘Bye, dimples.’ He released his hand from my waist.

‘See you when I see you.’ Which was nearly every other day when he visited Scarlet.

‘Don’t wait too long now, I miss you when you’re not around.’

I sighed dramatically, turned around—this time with some care—and made my way back to the booth.

‘Mind telling me why you were making out with my brother?’ Scarlet asked.

‘I wasn’t making out with him. It was a peck.’ Compared to the last kiss I’d had—Jesse nearly ten months ago—it was delicious.

But I was not about to confess to his sister.

‘Mmm hmm. I saw what I saw.’ She raised one eyebrow at me.

Was it something they taught everyone in the Andersson household?

‘Which was nothing.’

‘Okay, sure...’

I busied myself with the already neat stack of pamphlets. ‘It was a friend helping another friend.’

‘They sure do use the term “friend” differently in this part of the world,’ Scarlet teased.

‘It was a one-time thing.’

‘Oh, I’m sure it was.’ Her voice dripped with sarcasm.

I knew her brother and if his actions were anything to go by—currently talking up a blonde staff member of the expo right across the way from us—then the kiss was like any other greeting we’d shared.