Lucky You (Pine Ridge Romance Book 1)

by Holly Stevenson

  He pulled his sister into a quick hug and kissed the top of her head. “Thanks, Liv. You are definitely getting dessert.”

  Chapter Three

  Piper entered the kitchen to find Savannah and Jade at the table looking through wedding magazines. Now that Jade was engaged to her high school sweetheart, Connor McGrath, she came over more often than usual so Savannah could help with the planning. As one of Jade’s bridesmaids, Piper loved hearing all of the details about the upcoming wedding. Connor was a great guy, and she couldn’t be happier for her friend.

  “What did I miss?” Piper asked, stepping to the table and pulling out a chair to join them.

  Savannah looked up in surprise. “You’re home already?”

  “Already?” Piper arched a brow. “It’s almost midnight.”

  Savannah frowned and checked her watch. “Wow, we really lost track of time.”

  Jade nodded. “We were so absorbed in looking at dresses that we didn’t hear you. How was the date?” she asked, setting her magazine aside.

  “Yes—was it amazing?” Savannah leaned forward, her blue eyes sparkling with eager interest.

  Piper hesitated. “I don’t know if I would describe it quite that way,” she said, exchanging a quick glance with Jade. Jade covered her mouth to hide a smile. They both knew Savannah’s record for matchmaking wasn’t stellar. Piper had agreed to the blind date mostly to get Savannah off her case about the guy who was “perfect for her.” But she didn’t want to hurt Savannah’s feelings. She faked a yawn. “Maybe we should talk about it tomorrow. My interview is early, and I don’t want to be tired.”

  Savannah’s face fell. “It was that bad?” She tapped the counter. “I still want details. But wait until I get Leah on FaceTime. I promised her I’d call.” She grabbed her phone, but Piper shook her head.

  “Who knows what time zone she’s in right now? This rundown isn’t middle-of-the-night material.”

  Savannah’s finger hovered over the phone screen, her lips pulling down into a pout. “How is that possible? Greg ticked all the boxes: handsome, ambitious.” She counted the points on her fingers, stopping at two.

  Piper waited for her to continue and then made a face. “Um, there are more boxes than that! How shallow do you think I am?”

  Savannah raised her eyebrows and pressed the button to make the call.

  Piper folded her arms. “Seriously? You really think I’m that shallow?” She looked to Jade for support, but Jade held her hands up, shaking her long brown hair.

  “No one thinks you’re shallow . . . but it’s probably better if I stay out of this.” She bit her lip, fighting a smile.

  “Hmph.” Piper scowled, holding back a smile of her own. She and her friends often teased each other, and it was all in good fun.

  “Okay, how did it go?” Leah’s face appeared on the screen. Even though she was in pajamas and her blonde hair was piled into a top knot, she still managed to look flawless—like some Swedish super model.

  “Hey, Leah,” Piper said unenthusiastically. “What time zone are you in?”

  Leah was a flight attendant, and between her busy work schedule and taking care of her mom, she didn’t have much extra time.

  “Mountain. I’m home for the weekend.” She smiled. “Is this big news? Should I come over?”

  “No, don’t come,” Piper said. “I tried to stop Savannah from calling, but she insisted.” She gave Savannah a playfully exasperated look. “Plus, she thinks I’m shallow.”

  “I never said that!” Savannah protested. “I was just defending that her date, Greg, ticked all of Piper’s boxes. He was an obvious choice to set her up with.”

  “Let me guess—handsome and ambitious?” Leah said, smiling.

  Piper’s eyes widened and she slapped her palm on the counter. “You guys! That’s not all I care about.”

  “No, but those are the main qualifications, right?” Savannah pressed. “It’s nothing to be ashamed of, Piper. Don’t you remember Monopoly?”

  Piper rolled her eyes. “That was like a million years ago.”

  Jade laughed. “That’s right! You were obsessed with getting Boardwalk every time. If you didn’t, you wouldn’t play the game.”

  Piper allowed a tiny smile. Her friends came from well-off families, and so didn’t understand what it meant to her to have money. Even if it was pretend. Piper’s parents were alcoholics and while she was growing up there had never been enough to make ends meet. Monopoly had been her favorite game, and she’d insisted on playing it whenever they got together after school because she didn’t have any siblings to play with.

  “Anyway, back to the date,” Piper said, returning to the reason for the phone call. “Greg was kind of nice, but definitely not for me. Too uptight about everything.”

  Savannah nodded, her face thoughtful. “Pre-law. I should have seen that coming.” She tapped a finger on her chin. “I’ll do a more thorough screening next time.”

  “Next time?” Piper scoffed.

  Leah laughed. “Good luck with that, Savannah.”

  “Oh come on, Piper. You can’t let one bad experience turn you off of blind dates forever,” Savannah pleaded.

  “Actually . . .” Piper couldn’t stop the smile that spread across her face.

  Savannah leaned forward and grabbed her arm. “Wait, I’ve seen that smile before. What happened?”

  Piper shook her head. “Nothing with Greg, but I did meet someone while we were shopping.”

  Jade’s eyes bulged. “What?”

  “Who?” Leah demanded.

  “You hit on another guy while you were on a date?” Savannah asked, her face stricken.

  Piper squirmed. “I didn’t hit on him. He kind of—gave me his number.”

  Her friends squealed, insisting on every detail as Piper related the mall incident. She showed them the paper with Drew’s number on it, her insides fluttery at seeing the handwriting again.

  Jade snatched the paper out of her hand. She read the number and stared at Piper, wide-eyed. “You’re going to call him, right? I can’t believe you turned him down.” She leaned forward. “If he’s half as gorgeous as you say, you have to call him.”

  Piper bit her lip. “You guys don’t think it’s weird that he sent his sister into the dressing room to find out if I was single—while I was on a date?”

  “I think it’s romantic,” Leah said with a sigh. “The fact that he went to all of that effort . . . Who does that? You should call him, Piper.”

  Piper shrugged. “I don’t know. I’ll give it a few days. I have my interview tomorrow, and that has to be my focus right now.”

  “You mean Josh Graydon has to be your focus right now.” Savannah nudged her arm.

  Piper rolled her eyes. “Do you ever think about anything besides getting me into a relationship?”

  “Nope.” Savannah deadpanned, then smiled. “Don’t pretend you haven’t noticed him on the signs around town. He’s cute.”

  Piper nodded. Josh’s face was all over Pine Ridge on realty signs, and she would have to be blind to not notice he was handsome. But she couldn’t think about that. She needed this job. He had a corner on the market of Pine Ridge real estate, and Piper hoped to someday work her way up from his assistant to a full-time realtor. Her stomach twisted with nerves at the thought of her approaching interview.

  “You’ll get the job, I’m sure of it,” Jade said.

  “Thanks, I hope so.”

  “Definitely.” Leah smiled and stifled a yawn. “I’d better go. I have to take my mom to the doctor first thing tomorrow. But keep me posted on the job. And the guy.” She winked.

  Piper nodded. “See you, Leah.”

  “Good night.”

  They ended the call and Savannah leaned her head on her hand. “I’m going to turn in too. I have a wedding tomorrow, but I want to hear all about the interview when I get home.”

  “Ditto,” Jade agreed with a nod.

  “Okay.” Piper smiled and she and S
avannah helped Jade gather up her pile of magazines before walking her to the door. Piper made sure the porch light was on and they watched Jade make it to her car safely before closing the door and locking up for the night.

  “Sweet dreams.” Savannah patted Piper’s shoulder and headed toward her room in her favorite fuzzy slippers.

  Piper turned off the lights in the living room and kitchen, enjoying the midnight quiet as she rehearsed questions she might be asked during the interview. But somehow, in the stillness, her mind kept wandering back to a pair of chocolate brown eyes.

  Chapter Four

  Piper’s heels clacked on the pavement as she made her way to the charming real estate office owned by Josh Graydon. The Colorado Rockies set behind the building were still snowcapped, adding the perfect contrast to the green beneath. Piper drew in a deep breath of the morning air, rich in a way that was unique to Pine Ridge, and tamped down her almost frantic desire to land this job. Though she loved her waitressing job at the Silvermine, this position would pay more and offered potential for a career; something not easy to come by if she wanted to stay in Pine Ridge.

  A little bell rang above the glass door when Piper entered the office. She instantly noticed the other girl sitting in the waiting room, gripping a folder and looking nervous.

  “Good morning,” an elderly woman said from behind a large marble desk. “May I help you?”

  Piper smiled. “Yes. I’m Piper Robinson. I have an interview with Mr. Graydon.”

  The woman gestured to the waiting room. “Have a seat. He’s a little behind schedule.”

  Piper nodded and took a seat a few chairs down from the girl who now looked like she was going to be sick. Piper’s heart softened. “Are you from Pine Ridge?” she asked.

  The girl glanced at her with blank eyes before shaking into focus. “Yeah. My family just moved here.”

  Piper smiled. “You’re going to love it. I’ve lived here my whole life and have never wanted to leave.” That wasn’t exactly true. She did want to travel and see the world, but Pine Ridge would always be home.

  The girl’s shoulders relaxed. “We like it so far. But I’ve heard the winters can be pretty brutal. I’m from Arizona, so I’m not sure how I’ll handle the cold.”

  Piper tilted her head. “I’m not going to lie, the winters can be long. But around Christmas it’s absolutely magical.”

  Before the girl could answer, the door to Josh’s office opened and a middle-aged woman stepped out, her head hanging down as she made her way to the front door.

  “Thanks for coming in, Gretchen.”

  Piper recognized Josh Graydon on the spot. To say she’d stalked him online was only a mild exaggeration. She’d inhaled every piece of information she could about him. He’d started his real estate empire in Denver and then expanded into Pine Ridge, which was becoming a popular tourist spot as well as a lucrative place for vacation homes. With his blonde hair, hazel eyes, athletic build, and charming smile, it was easy to see why people gravitated toward him as a real estate agent.

  He turned in the doorway and smiled. “Who’s next?”

  Piper may have imagined it, but she could have sworn his eyes lingered on her longer than the other girl.

  “Miss Jacobs,” the woman at the desk said, nodding toward the girl near Piper.

  “Great.” Josh slid his hands into the pockets of his slacks. “Come on in, Miss Jacobs.” His eyes flicked between them, clearly unsure which of them was Miss Jacobs.

  Piper gave the girl an encouraging smile as she stood. Josh cast another quick glance Piper’s way before ushering Miss Jacobs into his office and closing the door.

  The minutes ticked by slowly. To keep herself calm, Piper went over potential interview questions in her mind, then sorted through her to-do list for the day. The bell at the door dinged and another woman walked in—a pretty blonde in a killer pantsuit. Piper gave an internal groan but nodded politely as the woman took a nearby seat.

  The door to Josh’s office opened and Miss Jacobs emerged with a bright smile. Piper’s stomach twisted. The smile was a little too bright, but she returned it and offered a parting wave as Miss Jacobs left the office.

  “I’m guessing you’re next?” Josh leaned against the door frame.

  Piper stood, her heart hammering. He kept complete eye contact with her, his gaze not straying to the pretty blonde. Impressive.

  “Good morning, Mr. Graydon. I’m Piper Robinson.” She reached out her hand and he took it in a firm handshake. With her heels on they were almost the same height. At five-foot-seven, this commonly happened between her and men, but she loved heels so she wore them anyway.

  “Thanks for coming in, Piper.” He gestured for her to enter the office.

  “Thanks for taking the time to meet with me.” She smiled and walked into the spacious room. Massive windows displayed the Rockies in all their glory, while a cozy fireplace stood in the corner and a large oil painting of the New York cityscape hung above a sturdy cherry desk. Piper thought a landscape piece would have fit the décor better, but she kept the thought to herself.

  “Nice office,” she said, “I love your view.”

  Josh closed the door and nodded. “It’s alright.” He winked and gestured to the empty leather chair in front of his desk. “Please, have a seat.”

  She smiled and sank into the chair, placing her purse on the floor. “I understand you started out in Denver. How do you like Pine Ridge so far?” Talking helped Piper relax and dissipated the usual interview formality.

  “You’ve done your research.” Josh grinned, taking the chair behind the desk. “I love it here, so far. Business is going well. In fact, just this morning we had an offer on a sizeable chalet, so this is an excellent time for an interview—I’m in a good mood.” He winked again.

  Piper raised both eyebrows. “The Briarwood Chalet?”

  He clasped his hands and nodded. “Yes. You’re familiar with it?”

  She nodded. “It’s where I attended my senior prom.” The chalet was built high into the mountains with a winding drive leading to it. Growing up, Piper had daydreamed about living there, like a princess in a castle. There were some high rollers in Pine Ridge, but none wealthy enough to make an offer like that.

  “Who made the offer?” she asked.

  Josh squinted. “The buyer’s broker has asked for complete anonymity, so I’ll have to keep that information confidential.”

  Piper nodded. “Of course.” Her heart pinched. It sounded like the sale was definitely happening—and likely to someone outside of Pine Ridge who wouldn’t want to open up the property to local events. Savannah would be devastated. Briarwood was the most popular venue for weddings in Pine Ridge.

  “I hadn’t realized it was for sale,” Piper said.

  “Everything is for sale for the right price,” Josh answered with a wink. Again with the winking. “I’m assuming since you attended prom at the chalet, you’ve lived here quite a while?”

  Piper straightened her shoulders, switching back into interview mode. “All my life.”

  He nodded. “That’s excellent. I’m looking for a local who knows the area well. Elsie has been invaluable in that department, and I’m frantic to find someone just as knowledgeable now that she’s retiring.”

  She smiled. “I’m your girl. I know all of the neighborhoods of Pine Ridge well.” Even the rundown parts where she’d spent her childhood.

  “I like your confidence,” he glanced at her resumé, “and the fact that you’ve got a master’s degree in public relations runs in your favor as well. You’re certainly qualified—I might even say overqualified.” He looked up from the paper and met her eyes. “What makes you want to work for me?”

  Piper was ready for this question. She leaned back in her chair. “I could commute to Denver—there are definitely more positions available there,” she met his eyes to let him know she was a hot asset, “but I want to stay in Pine Ridge. When I saw this job listing, I knew I would be a good
fit: I like working with people, I know the area, and I’m looking for something long-term.” She lifted a shoulder. “This position hits every box on my list.” She crossed her legs, knowing by his nod of approval that she’d nailed it.

  “Well, Miss Robinson, I must say I’m impressed.”

  She smiled. “Thank you.”

  “I’d like to go over some more of what your job description would look like, to make sure you’re still interested.”

  He spent the next several minutes outlining Piper’s day-to-day tasks, as well as her salary (which was substantially more than she’d expected), sick leave, vacation pay, and retirement options. Josh finally checked his watch and his eyebrows raised. “Holy smokes, I’ve kept you almost an hour!”

  Piper’s stomach leaped. He’d talked to her much longer than Miss Jacobs—a good sign.

  He stood and offered his hand. Piper accepted it with a firm shake.

  “I won’t keep you any longer. Elsie will be in touch tomorrow to let you know whether you got the job. But don’t go running off to Denver in the meantime.” He winked. Again.

  Piper ignored the winking as her heart soared. Those were encouraging words. “Thank you, Mr. Graydon. It’s been a pleasure meeting with you.”

  “The pleasure’s all mine.” His hazel eyes held hers and she noticed how nice they were when they weren’t winking. He hurried around his desk to hold the door open for her and Piper stepped through. The blonde grimaced at her from her waiting room chair. Piper beamed in return, no longer threatened by the pretty face and pantsuit.

  “Have a nice day, Miss Robinson,” Elsie said from behind her desk.

  “Thanks, Elsie.” Piper smiled at her. She couldn’t stop smiling, in fact—which was exactly how Miss Jacobs had looked after her interview. The thought made her pause as she opened the door and the little office bell chimed.

  “We’ll be in touch, Piper,” Josh called from his office.

  She turned and nodded. “Thanks.” She walked out into the late morning sunshine, swinging her purse as birds chirped in the trees nearby. He hadn’t said that to Miss Jacobs. This job was as good as hers.