No Sweeter Love (Sweeter in the City Book 3) Read Free

shot back a quick reply: “Just needs a final polish.”
    More like a revisit. He’d stop by tomorrow, this time alone, or maybe with a friend from work. Thursdays were the start of the weekend for the local social scene; he’d get another perspective, set the alarm early, and write a quick draft.
    The article wasn’t due until Friday, but Jud knew it wasn’t like Ethan to wait until a deadline to deliver. It was all that suggestive talk about babies and settling down. It was the stress from this damn wedding. This email from his mother. The third since yesterday. He’d have to reply . . .eventually.
    Ethan’s phone pinged and his hand stilled on his computer mouse. More name-calling from Marla? Or perhaps Celeste from last week still hadn’t finished having her say. Or maybe it was his mother, wanting to make sure things went a little smoother on this upcoming visit, wanting to lecture him on discretion and behavior and all those other things he didn’t want to hear at his age.
    He’d have to respond eventually. It was that or skip the wedding entirely, which he’d love nothing more than to do, except that would make him the worst son, brother, and cousin imaginable, and there was already enough talk about him in the small town of Grey Harbor, Wisconsin, where he’d grown up. And now faithfully avoided.
    Bracing himself, he punched in his password and pulled up the screen, grinning when he saw the text from his best friend: Busy tonight?
    He checked his watch. It was half past five. The article wasn’t due for another two days.
    And Claire Wells was one girl he could never say no to. And the one woman in his life he never wanted to avoid.
     

 
    Chapter Two
     
     
    C laire stepped out of the cab and dashed across the street, her eyes darting in defense all the way to the door of her favorite bar. She and Matt had never come here together, she reminded herself firmly as she followed a couple inside the well-air-conditioned room. She could stop feeling so nervous and jumpy, stop looking for someone who wasn’t there.
    This was her safe place. Her and Ethan’s place. Where they’d laughed and cried, though mostly laughed. They’d first come here two years ago, when Ethan was writing an article on the River North nightlife scene. With its candlelit tables and warm wood tones, it was both cozy and inviting. It was a special place, considering she had only ever come here with her best friend.
    Ethan had promised to arrive early in the hopes of securing a coveted table on the roof deck terrace which opened from May through September. Seeing no sign of him at the big, loud bar, Claire wound her way to the staircase at the back of the room and hurried up them, the warm sun at the top landing promising a pleasant summer evening, but even the thought of a blood orange margarita did little to boost her spirits. Her heart felt heavy as she reached the last step and hovered at the edge of the concrete deck, the Chicago skyline climbing high around her in all directions.
    Her eyes swept to the right, and then the left, reflexively searching for Matt. He’s not here , she scolded herself firmly. With any luck you’ll never see him again .
    She marched forward, looking for tousled brown hair, crinkly hazel eyes, and a smile that made her feel like she was home even though she was nowhere near it and didn’t even know where home was anymore.
    From her periphery, she caught some movement—Ethan’s arm was raised high, gesturing to catch her attention, and her shoulders sank in relief when she caught his eye. There. Everything would be better now. She’d tell him what happened. She’d shed a few tears. By the end of the night, they’d be joking about it. All that heartache would be forgotten, or at least put on pause.
    “Have you been waiting long?” she asked, as he stood to meet her and give her a quick hug, their usual greeting.
    “Long enough to get another call from Marla,” he said wryly, dropping back into