And tonight wasn’t the night to think heavy thoughts. She’d already done enough of that.
Tonight she was going to have some fun.
CHAPTER 3
MUSIC WAS PUMPING WHEN KAL WALKED INTO THE HOTEL lobby. He could hear the loud beat all the way out here, which meant there was a definite party atmosphere inside. He was so ready.
There was a table outside the ballroom. He recognized Vicky Hayward and Tom Hart right away.
Tom stood and shook his hand. “Kal Donovan. How long has it been?”
“I’d say around ten years or so?”
Tom laughed. “You got that right. How’s it going?”
“Good.”
Vicky handed him a sticker with his high school photo. “Wear it proudly, dude.”
Kal looked at the photo and winced. He looked like a dork in his senior photo. His hair was wild and unkempt. He’d tried to look oh so cool for the photo and failed miserably.
“Thanks, Vicky.”
“Hey, don’t worry, man,” Tom said. “None of us looked all that awesome ten years ago.”
“But he sure looks fine now,” he heard Vicky murmur as he walked away.
That made him smile as he strode through the ballroom doors.
It was dark and atmospheric, with balloons in purple and gold school colors attached to every table and around the room. Music from their graduation year pumped into the room, and there was a bar at the far end, which was where Kal headed.
He knew he’d find Eddie there.
“Buddy,” Eddie said, wrapping his arms around him and giving him a bear hug. “Knew you’d show up.”
Kal ordered a beer and leaned against the bar. “Where’s Veronica?”
Eddie swiveled and pointed to a table by the wall. “Over there with Tina and Jess.”
“The cheerleader table still going strong, I see.”
“Inseparable since high school. You know how it is. Kind of like you, me and Jorge.”
“Where is Jorge?”
“Texted me last night. Said he had a late flight from San Antonio, but he should be here.”
“I can’t wait to see him.”
“Me, too, man. It’s been too long. Come on, let’s go grab a chair and catch up. I keep missing you at the gym.”
They headed over to the table. “I go early. You go late.”
“Hey, some of us keep regular business hours, not like you firefighters. I start work at seven. My workouts have to wait until after five.”
“I get it.”
“Kal,” Eddie’s wife, Veronica, said with a smile. “I’m so glad you’re here.”
He hugged Veronica, as well as Tina and Jess, who introduced him to their husbands.
Then he took a seat, looking around the room to see if he recognized people. Everyone was older, of course, and some people had changed so much he had no idea who they were. He had to ask Eddie, and even Eddie didn’t know a few. Whereas some people hadn’t changed at all.
“Hannah’s here,” Veronica said, looking down at her phone. She got up from the table. “I promised her I’d meet her at the entrance. Be right back.”
“I’m coming with you,” Jess said.
“Me, too.” Tina followed them.
Kal’s heart did a little jump at the mention of Hannah’s name. His high school girlfriend. His first love. Hell, the only woman he’d ever been in love with.
Eddie nudged him. “Hey, your girl is here.”
Kal managed a tight smile. “She hasn’t been my girl in a long time.”
“True. Did you know she’s divorced now? And living back here in Ft. Lauderdale? I heard Veronica talking to her a few times on the phone.”
Oh, shit. “No, didn’t know that.”
“Yeah, she’s been back a few months now.”
Apparently, there was a lot he didn’t know. Then again, why should he know anything about Hannah? They hadn’t been in touch since they broke up. Since he’d gone away to college, leaving her behind.
Was she still angry with him? Did she still hate him? Or had enough time passed that she didn’t care anymore?
He watched the door, and it was a long few minutes before he saw Veronica and the other women come through. But then his attention shifted at the sight of a beautiful, raven-haired woman in a black dress.
He had to feel his tongue with his teeth to make sure he hadn’t swallowed it when he caught sight of Hannah. The dress clung to her curves, and she had plenty of those. Ten years had added to them, making her even more beautiful than she’d been before. Her hair hung in long, straight lines across her shoulders, looking like midnight silk, making him want to reach out and run his fingers through it to see if it felt as silky as it looked. And her lips were painted a shocking red that just dared some guy to kiss that lipstick right off her mouth.
Fuck. Me. He was in deep trouble, because every memory he’d ever had of Hannah McKenzie had just come rushing back to him, making him wonder what kind of dumbass he’d been to ever let this woman go. And as she approached the table, their gazes locked, and she shot him a look that was just as uncertain as he felt right now.
“Hey, Hannah,” Eddie said, going over to give her a quick hug. “Glad you could make it.”
“Me, too.”
She said hello to Tina’s and Jess’s husbands, then turned to face him.
Kal didn’t know what to say, but he couldn’t very well stand there like some jackass and say nothing, so he went over and gave her the most awkward side hug ever. “Hey, Hannah.”
She felt stiff as a board as she returned the same awkward hug. “Hi, Kal.”
“I just heard you moved back.”
“Yes. Not too long ago.”
Veronica put her arm around Hannah. “She’s getting settled in. She already has a new salon, and she’s hired two stylists. She’s doing great, aren’t you, Hannah?”
Hannah managed a smile. “Yes. Great.”
Kal could tell Hannah was uncomfortable, which was probably his fault.
“I think I’ll wander and visit with some people,” Kal said. “Good to see you, Hannah.”
She nodded. “You, too, Kal.”
“Hey, you’ll be back, won’t you?” Eddie asked.
“Sure.”
But he wouldn’t, because Hannah had the right to have some fun tonight, and it was obvious she couldn’t do that with him there.
So he’d go find some of his other friends and leave Hannah alone.
CATCHING UP WITH HER FRIENDS AND SEEING PEOPLE SHE hadn’t seen in years had been more fun than Hannah had anticipated. She was glad she’d come to the reunion.
Except for the part when she’d seen Kal. She figured she’d have at least a glass of wine or two in her first, maybe mellow out a little before they ran into each other. Being blindsided right out of the gate had been unexpected, and she hadn’t been prepared to see him. Her throat had gone dry, and she’d fumbled for something to say. So, instead, she’d said nothing. He probably thought she hated him, when in fact she’d been dumbfounded at how utterly gorgeous he looked in his white button-down shirt and his black slacks and wow, had he gotten even taller since high school? The sharp edges of his cheekbones seemed even sharper, and he’d gained a lot of muscle.