“What? Ryan is a nice boy and he just wants to get to know you. She showed him your picture and he happens to think you’re a hot tamale. I think it would be good for you to get out there. I’m not getting any younger.”
My mother’s ultimate goal is to have grandchildren. She doesn’t seem to push my brothers though, only me, and I don’t know why.
“Why are you trying to push this guy on me? You’ve been trying to set me up with him for years.”
“We must be talking about Ryan Russo,” Benjamin calls out from the kitchen. He’s clearly been eavesdropping through the small window where we pass food from the kitchen to the front.
“See. Case in point. Everyone knows who he is because you’re relentless. And you said he’s a real estate broker? That’s so… boring.”
“And what’s the matter with boring, Piper? Not everyone has to be as wild as Jason. He broke your heart, so you need a little calm in your life,” my mother scolds.
“I try really hard not to think about that, actually.”
Jason Sanders destroyed me in my most vulnerable time. We met right after my father died, and I dove headfirst into that relationship without a net.
We were together on and off for six years before finally settling into a real relationship for two years… until I found him on Long Island, fucking his coworker in the back of a car that I cosigned for.
I may or may not have almost been arrested for kicking the shit out of him in the middle of the street, but that’s neither here nor there.
I’m not one to really put my heart out there, but I did for him, and he stomped all over it. So, my new motto is strictly casual.
Orgasms and nice conversation. Nothing more.
“None of us like to think about that, Piper, but you’re closer to thirty than twenty. I don’t want you to waste your prime years.”
“My prime years? It’s not like I’m pushing fifty, and even if I was, I don’t need a man to define my prime years.” I use air quotes to emphasize the final two words.
She sighs. “You’re so stubborn. Just like your father.” She crosses her arms. “Can’t you just agree to let me give your number to Ryan? What could it hurt, Piper?”
“If I say yes, will you stop pushing me to do things before I’m ready?” I lean against the counter.
“Cross my heart. Give him a chance. He’s a sweet boy and he’s quite the looker.”
I raise one shoulder in semi-agreement.
I’ve seen photos of him, and of course I’ve stalked him on social media like any good millennial, but I’ve never felt that… spark… when I looked at him.
My mother, however, is clearly already planning the wedding.
“Fine. You can give him my number, but I’m not making any promises. Okay?”
“Just give him a shot. That’s all I ask.”
“I’ll be sure to give you every single detail of every single conversation.” I tease her then lean over to give her a hug. “I love you, Ma.”
“I love you too, Piper. With my whole heart.”
Nathanial
“Is there a reason we are still waiting for the mock-up of full jacket covers from creative?” I ask that particular department’s manager, Dylan.
“We are working through them and trying to make them as quickly as possible, but…”
“I hear you preparing to feed me some kind of excuse as to why they are not on my desk, a full day after the deadline, but I suggest you save the effort. I don’t care what the excuse is, they need to be on my desk within forty-eight hours. One missed deadline causes a domino effect and I am not willing to deal with that bullshit.”
Dylan clears his throat and makes a note in his phone. “Yes, sir, and I emailed Piper the full cover collection for Danielle Grace’s series. That’s set to release this fall. I think she has left for the day, but you should have those in the morning.”
The mention of her name is enough make my skin heat with a heady combination of frustration and desire. She has an uncanny ability to make me feel both of those things simultaneously; unlike anyone I’ve ever met in my life.
“At least that’s timely,” I say with a twist of snark. I know I’m being a fucking asshole because I’m in a bad mood, but I’m not in a place to apologize for it.
“Is there anything else you wanted to discuss before I head out? Kesha isn’t feeling well today and I’d like to get home to her.”
Ah yes, the pregnant wife.
“That’s all. You can go.”
He scurries out like he was itching to leave the minute he walked in, and hell, he probably was. I’m a hard motherfucker to be around lately. Ever since I took over for my father, I have been in a perpetual bad mood: hard to work with, hard to please, and everything in between.
Honestly, the only sense of light in my dark moods is when I see Piper and she decides to push back against everything I’m dishing out.
Pushing her buttons is the highlight of my day.
***
I leave my office shortly after he does and pass by Piper’s desk, which is situated just around the corner from my door.
Against my better judgment, I pause in front of it and really take in the contents of her area.
A small fan is nestled in the corner that she rarely uses, but when she does, the air whips her hair around and sends the scent of her shampoo around her vicinity. It’s a scent I have ingrained in my mind like a fucking stalker.
She has a few pictures hanging on the wall just opposite her computer. I step closer to gaze at them and find one of her and an older woman, who I can only assume is her mother because she is the spitting image of her. There’s another of her and our receptionist, Kate. I’ve deduced from paying close attention that they’ve been friends for quite some time.
Then there’s a picture of a man, he’s young, strapping, and based on the color of the photo and the clothing he’s wearing, I know this isn’t a modern photo.
Though, I don’t know who he is. Perhaps I’ll ask one day.
She has a small, pink orchid on the edge of her desk and a glass, lidded jar with chocolate candies inside, and just beside that there’s a framed photo of a quote that reads Do what you want. Chase the excitement. Live High. Live Free.
She’s a conundrum, this one. I shouldn’t want to know about her. Hell, I shouldn’t even be looking this closely at her personal things, but I can’t seem to stop myself.
Honestly, I’m not sure I would even if I could.
Chapter 3
Piper
“So, what time are you meeting Ryan tonight?” Kate asks from her perch on the corner of my desk. She came through to bring a package that was dropped off in reception and took some time to talk my ear off for some gossip.
“Happy Friday to you too.” I laugh. “You’re very eager for my date… that I’m not even sure how you found out about.”
“Ryan told his mom, his mom told your mom, your mom told Oliver, and Oliver told me.”
“You all are worse than a sewing circle.” I pause and hold my hands up. “Whoa, hold on. Why were you talking to my brother?”