ONE
Kai
When I glance over again at the woman across the lawn, the hair on the back of my neck spikes with awareness. I can’t tear my eyes off her as she leans over to Logan’s daughter, and they both start laughing. It reaches my ears, piquing my interest.
Logan walks up behind me and slaps my back. “Take a picture, it’ll last longer.” He nods toward the woman I’ve been staring at for the last few minutes. “That’s my sister-in-law. She swings through, hangs out, and is out again just as fast.”
My eyes dip away from her toward the drink table I’ve been standing at for the past thirty minutes. I pour myself some lemonade as the sun beats down on my face. “Oh, sounds like an exciting life.”
“She owns the coffee and book van.” He gestures toward the driveway, where a van sits with the words“Pages & Brew”painted on, with a book and coffee under it.
I raise an eyebrow, confused and slightly curious. “A coffee and book van? Interesting. I don’t think I’ve seen something like that before.”
“Yeah, it’s a bookstore cafe on wheels.” Logan grins. “Don’t ask me how it works, but she has a decent following on Instagram. You should say hi.”
What a loaded statement. Especially since we’re at the firm’s annual cookout. Dane and Logan are brothers who own the law firm, and over the last year, they’ve become my friends. This is the first office cookout at Dane’s lake house.
“She sounds like someone I should probably avoid,” I mutter.
“Avoid?” Logan laughs. “You need to get out more, man. Go, go say hi.”
I shake my head. The thought of approaching a woman at our company picnic seems like a disaster waiting to happen, but Logan insists. Curiosity has me walking toward her, though. A cropped T-shirt knotted at her waist, a streak of pink in her wavy brown hair, and a messy bun defying gravity. The pull to her, to get a closer glimpse, is overpowering. The woman is poetic chaos.
“And that,” she says to her niece, “Is how you brew happiness.”
She beams as I step onto the lawn—lush, green, and unnaturally perfect. Dane’s yard rolls out before me like a perfect sea of vibrant green, with not an imperfection in sight. Mine’s a patchwork of crabgrass and stubborn dirt, but I’ve been focused on the interior upgrades. With every step, the grass cushions my feet, soft and plush like a carpet. It’s the kind of lawn that makes you feel unaccomplished as a homeowner.
I’m convinced I’m making a big mistake walking over here, but momentum wins. I close the distance silently, unsure what I’ll say—if I’m able to say anything at all. This barefoot woman stops me in my tracks. She is the most stunning woman I’ve ever seen. My thoughts head right into the gutter at the sight of her slightly bent over.
Fantasizing about this woman’s ass as I’m approaching is not a good look on me.
Discreetly adjusting myself as I move closer, this will be a conversation for the books. Not only is this my friend’s sister-in-law, but I’m attracted to her and haven’t said a word to her yet.
“Hey, Logan sent me over to say hi. You run the caffeine-and-literature van, right?” I ask when she swivels to meet me. Out of instinct, I take another step closer to her without even realizing it.
My mouth opens, wanting to say more, to tell her how beautiful she is, and how I can’t stop staring at her. I keep quiet.
She squints up against the sun. Hazel eyes catch the light, gold flecks sparkling. “I sure do.”
I blink and run a hand through my short, dirty-blond, tousled hair, offering a polite smile. I extend a hand. “Kai Hastings, Logan mentioned your venture, and I was intrigued. I had to come over and find out more.”
“Nice to meet you, Kai. Ava Sinclair. Owner of Pages & Brew, lover of strong coffee and stronger protagonists.” She slides her delicate, warm, soft hand into mine, and we both squeeze and shake. The heat that’s emanating from our clasped hands creeps up my arm. When our hands release, my fingers touch my palm, missing the connection.
Up close, she smells like cinnamon and roasted espresso beans. For a moment, something sparks in my chest, like a lit match near dry kindling.
I lean in slightly, engaged, naturally curious. “Well, I like your van.”
She smirks. “You haven’t seen it yet.”
“I like clever ideas. Sue me,” I almost choke on a laugh at my own joke.
She giggles, and for a second, the world quiets around us. There’s a looseness about her, like someone who’s lived out of a suitcase and never found a reason to unpack. It tugs at my heart like a familiar emptiness, but I can’t pinpoint it. I stay rooted in place, wanting more of her. When she keeps talking, my shoulders relax a bit, soaking in her voice. It sinks deep into my chest.
“I’ll be set up at the market downtown next Friday. There’s music, dancing, and food trucks galore,” Ava says, stepping closer, her hand raising toward my chest.Is she about to touch me?“If you ever want to loosen the tie you’re not wearing…” She winks at me, hand circling where a tie would be if I had my suit on. “You could stop by.” The twinkle in her eye doesn’t go unnoticed.
I open my mouth, but no words come out.
“Come on, you look like you need a drink.” Gesturing for me to follow, one foot in front of the other, I meet her strides straight to the van.
