by Shannyn Leah
Can’t Say No
Single on Valentine’s Day Series
Can’t Say No
Shannyn Leah
Copyright © 2019 by Shannyn Leah
All rights reserved
No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or transmitted by any electronic or mechanical means including information, storage and retrieval systems, without the permission in writing from the author. The only exception is by a reviewer, who may quote short excerpts in a review.
This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents either are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events or locales is entirely coincidental.
Shannyn Leah
www.ShannynLeah.com
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Single on Valentine's Day
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Table of Contents
Title Page
Copyright Page
Also By Shannyn Leah
Single on Valentine’s Day Series
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Next in the Series
Single on Valentine’s Day Series
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Further Reading: Dax
Also By Shannyn Leah
Single on Valentine’s Day Series
Book 1 - Seven Minutes in Heaven, by K. G. Reuss
Book 2 - Sugar Rush, by Bella Emy
Book 3 – Cupid’s Connection, by C. A. King
Book 4 – Can’t Say No, by Shannyn Leah
Book 5 – Blind Date, by Crystal Lynn
Book 6 – Hands off, by Dakota Trace
Book 7 – Taking the Leap, by Shaan Ranae
Book 8 – Commander’s Weakness, by Caitlyn Fournier
Book 9 – A Seal’s Vow, by Tara Ames
Book 10 – Play Date, by Emkay Connor
Book 11 – Coffee, Tea or Me, by Kelly Moore
Book 12 – Seeking More, by Allyson Lindt
Book 13 – Breaking the Rules, by Erin Cristofoli
Chapter One
“ORDER UP!” ASPEN Hewitt’s trusted and number-one chef slid two plates of steaming lobster capellini with leek tarragon cream sauce on the chrome rack just as the fill-in waitress tied the black apron around her waist and walked into the kitchen.
Aspen sighed with relief, thankful she’d been able to find a waitress fill-in on the busiest day of the year, Valentine’s Day.
She relied on her staff as much as the other employees did. They’d had to pick up the slack tonight while she’d made calls to the employees who had booked the day off, practically pleading for them to work. The task had proved to be a difficult challenge. Generally, Aspen gladly worked the floor on this busy holiday. Not only was a packed house good for her bank account, but she’d been single each Valentine’s Day since she’d opened the business three years ago, leaving her no reason not to work. At least by the end of the night she typically had great numbers to enjoy with a bottle of wine and soothing music.
This Valentine’s was different. She still didn’t have a date—not with a guy anyway—but she wouldn’t work the whole night. Her single friends had signed them all up to a group event on some website called “Single Status,” dedicated to celebrating single people around the globe. After a quick survey, and the option of paying in advance for a surprise trip or paying as you go, the organization sent their clients on what they called “missions.” These missions ranged from heading to a craft night, or taking a cruise, to a simple night at a local restaurant The options spanned from simple to extravagant. Aspen’s friends had signed them up as a group and to pay as you go. The envelope with the mission had been dropped off at the restaurant days ago with instructions not to open until Valentine’s Day. It had remained sealed and tonight she would break the seal.
She spotted her group now, finishing their supper at a large table in the middle of Aspen’s restaurant. She looked around the space and smiled.
When she’d purchased the old house off the main street, she’d gutted the inside and built a rustic-themed restaurant with warm colors, starting with the original brick wall. The whole place had a welcoming feel and romantic glow, including the turquoise seats offered a pop of color.
Directing her attention back to her friends, she saw Clark and Tess, her best friends, sat among a six other people. All platonic friends, she knew. Some had remained closer friends than others since high school, but seeing them all together now felt like transporting into the past.
Aspen had urged them to eat without her after the last minute cancellations had dragged her away. Still dressed in her afternoon work clothes—black slacks and a red, button-up blouse—she weaved her way across the herringbone floor of dark and light woods to her friends. Her little black dress hung in her office. After she told the group the limo would arrive shortly, she’d go change.
Her hand pressed against her apron pocket where the red velvet envelope was tucked away with the details of their mission.
She stopped at their table and her—“Ta-da.”—got their attention.
“Are you finally done?” Tess squeezed her wrist with an exaggerated sigh.
Aspen smiled. “Yes.”
The table cheered, clapping their hands and whistling. A few even rose their glasses in the air to toast her presence before chugging back the liquid.
“The limo will be here in about fifteen minutes, so finish your drinks,” Aspen said.
Clark held up her glass. “But there’s alcohol in the limo, right?”
Aspen chuckled. “I would assume so. You rented it, remember? Is there alcohol?”
Clark, clearly already a little tipsy, lifted her glass and cheered the air before downing her drink.
“And—” Aspen began to slip the envelope out of her apron when a familiar bay rum scent wafted around her, freezing her hand and breath, but speeding her heart to the rapid sound of drums.
She felt an arm lightly slip around her waist and fingers press into her side. She recognized the man even before he spoke against the side of her head.
“How’s my favorite little sister’s best friend?”
His low, husky voice was the sound of every women’s hottest fantasy and curled her insides into knots. Still, she cringed at the “little sister’s best friend” cliché, even as excitement, fear, and desire pulsed from his touch and soared through her body. He was as much the cliché being her best friend’s older, hot brother. He’d always been hot. And taken. He’d always had a girl on his arm. And he’d only ever seen Aspen as no more than the cliché.
She hadn’t seen him in five years. A quick search on the internet had told her Creed Nigh had retired his professional soccer career a little over a year ago due to a recurring knee injury. A year before that he’d divorced his model-turned-wife actress. That was the type of woman Creed had always been interested in, gorgeous and flashy, nothing like Aspen.
“That’s insulting.” Clark slammed her glass down on the table a little too hard. “What about me? Am I not your favorite little sister’s best friend?”
Aspen felt Creed’s low chuckle vibrate against her side where he clutched her firmly. His grasp made her feel as if he owned her or had a claim on her and was showing her off to the world. Yeah right, not in her wildest dreams.
And yet, she didn’t move. But she didn’t dare look at him either. Maybe in fear of what she might find: another woman on his other arm.
What was he even doing here in Willow Valley? In her restaurant? And was she convincing anyone with her fake, shaky smile?
“Clark, you know I always had a sweet spot for the quiet girls.” She could picture Creed winking at her friend with his charming demeanor.
Clark laughed. “Bullshit. You like them loud, wild, and experienced.” She looked around him. “Speaking of which, where’s your fancy date tonight? It’s Valentine’s Day and I’m sure you have some jet ready to whisk you and your latest catch off to a private island for a weekend in paradise.”
Aspen’s question exactly.
“I’m flying solo tonight.” His husky tone made every word he spoke sound sexy without even trying. And she’d heard his “solo” lines before. “Solo” meant no one was with him right now, not that there wasn’t someone waiting for him at home.
And yet, she still didn’t wiggle free of his grasp. In fact, she felt her body lean deeper into his side. She even relaxed a little. Darn her emotions for overriding her good sense.
In high school, she might have shied away from him while secretly longing for a kiss. For the longest time, she would keep her distance while wondering what his lips tasted like. Until that one night with him.
Now, she wanted to punch him in the face and watch his nose bleed for sleeping with her and then taking off to marry his, at the time, model fiancée in the city and then traveling to far off locales where his soccer career took him.
“Tess told me about your singles night, and I thought, what the hell. It sounds like fun.”
Was her hearing not working correctly? She was certain Creed had just said he planned on joining them tonight. That couldn’t be possible. Why would he when he could literally take a jet to a private island and be with any woman he chose?
She scanned all the areas of the restaurant she could see without moving. Surprisingly, and to her relief, all the other couples were so deeply ensconced in their own romantic bubbles that none noticed one of Willow Valley’s town legends.
Her group of friends were a different story. The women all seemed lost in a daze of desire. They sat with their chin in their hands, mouths draping open, and eyes holding whimsical looks. The men weren’t any better, practically drooling over the guy who had once been the school’s soccer star.
“Have a seat.” One of the guys patted the empty chair meant for Aspen. “The limo is arriving soon.”
“We’re doing this night in style. I’m impressed.” Creed squeezed her side before sliding into the seat. Only then did Aspen steal a look. His dark eyes were on her, and only her, as if she were the only person in the room. It was an impressive stare he’d mastered a long time ago. She wouldn’t fall for it—not again.
With Creed sitting at the table, all the attention had turned to him. Soon, his eyes left hers and dived into conversation with her friends. The platonic group was now a cesspool of suffocating desire, defeating the point of tonight. Thanks to Creed.
She left the envelope in her pocket. “I’m going to change,” she said. No one replied, making her feel as invisible as she’d always felt.
Aspen made her way around the romantic couples holding hands, playing footsies under the table, and sending looks of promise for what would come after dinner. Suddenly, she couldn’t wait to get away from the love and sexual desire invading her restaurant. However, a night out trying to avoid Creed didn’t sound much better.
Why had she let her friends convince her a group party would be fun? Why hadn’t she stuck to her routine? Why did Creed Nigh always ruin everything?
In her office, she shut the door behind her and stared at the form-fitting, black dress hanging on the back of the door. The hem fell just above the knee and the top was sleeveless. Flashy—which she usually steered away from. Aspen had picked it out because... well, why the hell not? Her work had consumed her for so long, she couldn’t remember the last time she’d gone out, so she’d indulged.
Now, she knew why the hell not. It might be a sexy number hanging in front of her, but it wasn’t her. Tonight, she wanted to be the girl no one noticed. That wouldn’t be possible in this revealing dress.
With no other choice, she quickly undressed and stepped into the dress. As the zipper slid over her backside, it snagged. She tried to continue zipping upwards, retreat back downwards, but it was stuck.
“Dammit!” She grabbed her cell phone and sent Tess a text for help.
Could anything else go wrong with this evening?
Chapter Two
CREED NIGH WATCHED his little sister’s best friend saunter away through the crowd. Damn, the girl had turned into a fine woman.
Although she’d never worn much makeup and hadn’t dressed in the current trend, he’d always thought of her as cute and sweet. He liked her aloof attitude—how she didn’t feel the need to please other people. He liked a lot of things about her. The way she knew who she was, always had been, when it had taken him until two years ago to really find himself.
Currently, the group of friends were trying to impress him, just like everyone always did. He wondered if any of them had ever looked at him and saw more than a jock and famous soccer player. Aspen had always looked at him and seen more. That had been one of the reasons he’d snuck away in the middle of the night, leaving her naked under the sheets. He’d had a reputation to uphold five years ago and she hadn’t lived anywhere near that plain of existence. He’d thought he needed a trophy wife, but it turned out he’d wanted Aspen Hewitt.
Today, he was back to win her over.
“If you’ll excuse me.” Creed stood and made his way to the back of the restaurant. He scoped out the door with the “employees only” sign hung on it. From the little information about Aspen that his sister offered, Aspen owned this restaurant—Brimstone. He owed her an apology, and hoped to put their past behind them before the night began.
The short hallway had a handful of doors, but it was easy to spot the chalk sign that read “office.”
He lightly rapped his knuckles on the wooden door, hoping she wouldn’t force him to beg for her forgiveness and praying she’d actually let him in.
“Come in.”
He’d grown up with Aspen and recognized her frazzled voice. His lips curled upwards as he twisted the doorknob recalling all the mundane
events that would send his sister, Aspen, and Clark into a fit of frazzle. A certain way a boy looked at them a certain way or notes that were passed around. The silliest things tuned their teenage lives upside down. But those moments felt like a lifetime ago now.
Inside, he found a small office, lacking the rustic look of the rest of the restaurant. The room resembled a more classic look of an old man’s office with an old wooden desk and swivel wood chair. Old drawers lined the wall and, along one wall, a thin table had a round tray of scotch and glasses.
Aspen’s bare back faced him.
“Tess, what took you so long?”
Even knowing this moment was meant for his sister didn’t stop his eyes from lingering on Aspen’s silky skin exposed from the unzipped dress she’d changed into.
He’d spent years dreaming about the feel of her body, her touch ... all the things he shouldn’t be allowed after he hurt her. His betrayal wouldn’t have come as a surprise to most people. Creed didn’t have a good track record with women. But Aspen wasn’t just a random woman; she was practically part of his family. He’d swear his mother liked her more than him. Clearly, Aspen hadn’t shared their brief encounter with his mother. Or else, she would’ve tracked him down and yelled his ear off long ago.
Aspen’s fingers tapped the slit of her dress, drawing his attention down her back and to the zipper.
“It’s stuck. Can you un-snag it and, in the meantime, tell me why you thought it a good idea to invite your brother tonight.”
He took three large steps to her back and touched her fingers at the base of the zipper. He heard her light gasp and her fingers went still beneath his touch.
“Creed ...” Her soft whisper stirred up a wildfire of desire he’d planned on keeping locked away until the time was right. Before he’d even apologized was not the time to let his feelings for her overtake him. Still, his fingers couldn’t resist touching her.
Slowly, he used his free hand and traced his finger from the base of her neck, where she’d brushed her long, dark brown hair over one shoulder. He continued his caress down her spine, reveling in feeling her reaction to his touch. She didn’t seem frightened or even undesiring, but just the opposite. Just like the night they’d slept together. He hoped she’d feel this way the rest of their lives.