Cady arched an eyebrow in return. “You do play piano, right?”
He grinned. “Just piano... And it’s been a while.”
“Mom tried to get all of us to play something. She wanted us to be the next Partridge family or something.” Zach shrugged.
“Are your folks musical?” Cady asked.
“No,” Zach admitted then laughed.
“I was piano.” Patton smiled at Cady. “Spence plays guitar—”
“Chicks dig guitar more than piano,” Zach interjected.
“Russ played both. But somehow Zach got out of it.” Patton ignored his brother.
“Maybe all the years of listening to you guys changed Mom’s mind?” Zach teased.
“Maybe.” Patton leaned against the bar.
“I have an idea,” Cady said suddenly.
She walked around the counter, grabbing his hand and tugging him to the piano bench. He didn’t resist her. And when she sat on the bench, squishing close beside him, he didn’t mind. She smelled fantastic, sweet and clean and delicious—he could get drunk on the smell of her.
“Chopsticks?” she asked.
He drew in an unsteady breath and grinned. “I might actually remember how to play that one.”
She smiled. By the time they’d played the song through, they were both smiling. But she kept going, making him play faster and faster until he threw up his hands in defeat.
“You win.” He laughed, appreciating the flush of color on her cheeks.
“Which was my plan all along,” she admitted, her gaze meeting his.
He reached up, tucking the strand of blond hair behind her ear without thought. Her skin was silk.
She blinked then jumped up and hurried back into the kitchen. “Now that you’re all warmed up, why don’t you play something?”
He couldn’t look at Zach or Bianca. He knew they’d seen his moment of familiarity—and what it might mean. “Maybe after he leaves. He tends to heckle,” Patton said and then offered, “Can I help in the kitchen?”
Cady smiled, but avoided his gaze. “No,
thank you.”
Patton ignored the inquisitive expression on his brother’s face. Instead he poked around the living room and wandered, wishing there was more than five large black-and-white framed prints and a few glass bowls full of shells decorating the apartment. Either she wasn’t here very often or she’d just moved in. But Zach’s words reminded him he was there for reasons other than learning about Cady.
“We’re using flowers from the Botanical Gardens, Creative Cakes for the cakes,” Zach sighed. “You’ve found your maid-of-honor dress.”
“In peach,” Cady added.
“Thanks, Cady.” Zach grabbed Cady’s hand. “I really appreciate your willingness to give Bianca what she wants.”
Patton saw Cady’s smile dim, the way she glanced at him before she smiled. “What are best friends for?”
He knew Cady was looking to him for cues, so he took a deep breath and jumped in. “Bianca’s grandmother changed her stance on an outdoor wedding?”
“No, she hasn’t.” Bianca’s expression said it all.
“She has the right to her own opinion.” Zach kissed her cheek as he took the bowl of salad and carried it to the table.