He leaned back in his chair and nodded. “As an only child, you probably got lots of experience doing chores.”
She gave a weak smile. She’d told him she was an only child—leaving out the detail that her parents were hardly around—at least not mentally. Piper had grown up taking care of herself. For her, playing Monopoly and owning Boardwalk represented freedom—as well as a promise. She vowed she would never let her own kids go hungry or make excuses for why their parents couldn’t come to any school activities.
He shook his head. “I have to confess, I didn’t do enough chores growing up.”
Piper focused back on the present, following Drew out of the café. “Really? You were one of those spoiled kids, huh?” He turned and gave her a sharp look and she realized she’d hit a nerve. Why was she always sticking her foot in her mouth? She quickly changed the subject. “How did Henry’s stack up to your expectations?”
His face relaxed. “It was great. I’ll be a regular from now on.”
“Once that happens, you’ll be an official resident of Pine Ridge.”
He gave a short laugh and followed Piper to her car. “Thanks for meeting me today. I still can’t believe I forgot my wallet.”
She fished her keys from her purse and turned to face him. “If you’ve been converted to Henry’s, it was money well spent.” She gave him a teasing smile.
He held her gaze, his face serious. “I’ve been converted, all right.”
Her pulse accelerated. He should not be allowed to look at her like that. Before she could form a response, her phone rang, breaking the moment. She gave him an apologetic look and he nodded for her to take the call. She slipped the phone out of her back pocket, checking the screen. She didn’t recognize the number, but it was a local area code. She held her breath, turning from Drew to answer the call.
“This is Piper.”
“Piper, it’s Josh Graydon.”
She swallowed. “Hello, Mr. Graydon.”
“Listen, I have great news,” he said, pausing for emphasis. “You got the job.”
“Really? That’s amazing. Thank you so much!” She beamed and turned to Drew. He nodded and gave her a thumbs up.
“I’m excited to have you on the team,” Josh continued. “How soon can you start?”
“As soon as you need. I’m completely available.”
Her eyes flicked to Drew and there was a crease between his eyebrows. She blushed, realizing how that last statement sounded. “I-I mean, I’m available to work whenever you need me.” She turned from Drew, too flustered to look at him while she talked.
“Excellent. Come in first thing tomorrow morning and we’ll get your paperwork started. I look forward to working with you.”
He sounded like he really meant it. Piper’s heart soared. “Me too. I’ll be there tomorrow. Thanks again, Mr. Graydon.”
“Call me Josh.”
“Okay.” She hesitated, not sure if he meant right then.
“Talk to you soon, Piper.”
“Okay,” she said again, sounding like a tongue-tied idiot. “Bye.”
“Bye.”
She ended the call and turned to Drew, her eyes wide. “I got the job!” Without thinking, she reached out and hugged him.
He stiffened in surprise for a moment before pulling his strong arms around her, his body warm. It was delicious. He was delicious. Tingles ran down her spine.
“That’s great. You deserve it,” he said into her ear.
His cologne mixed with the rock-hard chest beneath his shirt did crazy things to Piper’s senses. She pulled back, afraid he would feel the way her heart thudded against her ribcage.
“Thanks for inviting me to lunch.” She twisted the strap of her purse. “It’s always nice to make new friends.” She threw the word out to remind herself that was all this was.
Drew tilted his head and slid his hands into his pockets. “The pleasure was all mine. But you have to let me pay you back. Otherwise, what kind of a friend would I be?”
She lifted a hand. “The kind of friend who can accept it as a gift and not worry about it anymore. Really, I’m glad you enjoyed the food.”
He bit one side of his lip. “How about I make it up to you by treating you to dinner sometime?”
She should say no. She knew she should, but somehow the word didn’t make it to her tongue. All she could think about was his arms wrapped around her in that amazing hug. “Sounds great.”
“Tomorrow night?”
“Yes.” The answer was out before she could second-guess herself.
He smiled and opened the door for her. “I can’t wait to hear how your first day on the job goes.”
She met his smile, feeling almost dizzy from the tingles running through her body as she climbed into the driver’s seat. “Thanks. And good luck with your new job, too.”
He nodded and closed the door. She gave a little wave and turned on the ignition. Drew backed up a few steps and gave a returning wave before heading off down the sidewalk. Piper watched just long enough to see him get into a standard silver sedan, before putting her car in reverse.
“He’s just a friend,” she said out loud. “Only a friend.” A friend who made her spine tingle from fifty yards away . . .
Chapter Seven
Drew whistled on the short drive back to the bank. He should probably drive faster—the clock on the dash showed that he only had seven minutes until his break was over. Even though he wasn’t in danger of getting fired, he wanted to make a good impression with his coworkers.
His cell phone rang and he saw his grandmother’s number on the screen. He answered it using the car’s Bluetooth.
“Hey, Gran.”
“Andrew Carson Livingston, what in heaven’s name are you up to?”
He grinned. “Well hello to you too.”
“Making me purchase a mountain chalet in a small town in Colorado? Have you lost your mind?”
“It’s a great investment, Gran. Are you going to fly out and see it?”
“Of course.”
He smiled and shook his head. Gran pretended to be annoyed, but he could hear the eagerness in her voice. She put on an act of being a crochety old woman, but on the inside, she was a gooey marshmallow, doting on him and Olivia in a way their parents never had—a way that didn’t have anything to do with money.
“In fact, I’m planning to stay for a while.”
Drew raised an eyebrow. “Really? That’s great.” He pulled into an empty parking space behind the bank and turned off the ignition, bringing the phone to his ear as the call switched over.
“Olivia tells me there’s also a girl to go along with this insanity,” Gran continued. “I hope you won’t move too fast, Andy. This pretending not to have wealth is new territory for you. Don’t be too hasty.”
He smiled. Gran was the only one who called him that. “First you tell me to meet a good, average girl and settle down. Next you tell me not to rush too fast. I can’t keep up with you, Gran,” he teased.
She hmphed into the phone. “Don’t get smart, young man. I fully intend to meet this young woman at the soonest opportunity.”
Drew got out of his car and glanced both ways before jogging across the parking lot. “We’ve only been on one date. I don’t want to introduce you too soon or it will scare her off.”
“I fly out in a week. You can introduce me then.”
Drew rolled his eyes, but knew it was no use arguing. “We’ll see. I’m heading into work now. Can I call you later?”
“I suppose.” He could hear her smile through the phone. “Go put in a good day’s work. I’m proud of you, Andy.”
“Thanks, Gran. Love you.”
“I love you, too.”
He ended the call and slid the phone into his pocket before punching in at the time clock. They still used actual cards and a machine to do this. So much of the equipment here was practically prehistoric. Once the transition was complete and the bank changed hands, the first order of business
would be to update everything and bring it into the twenty-first century. The sign outside was already getting a makeover, Drew had seen to that.
“How was lunch?” Heather the loan officer asked, leaning over her desk with a big smile. He might have imagined it, but it seemed a few buttons on her shirt had come undone since the last time he’d seen her.
He cleared his throat and kept his eyes squarely on her face. “Great. Thanks.” He turned, looking for the bank manager. “Is Harry around?”
She lowered her lashes. “He’s still at lunch. But he asked me to meet with you about some of the changes that will take place during the transition. Do you have a minute?”
“Uh,” he looked at the front door, wishing he could summon Harry to walk in and save him that very second. “Sure.” He turned back to Heather and forced a smile as she gestured with long fake nails to the chair in front of her desk.
“Have a seat.”
Drew pulled the chair back—a bit farther than necessary—and sat down. “How long have you worked here, Heather?”
“Since I was eighteen, so almost six years now.”
He nodded, ignoring the intentional age drop. He already knew she was single and available. Very available. She’d made that obvious.
“I didn’t start at this position, of course. I had to work my way up.”
He straightened, suddenly making a connection with her age. “You grew up here?”
“Sure did.” She leaned forward some more and he moved back slightly, keeping steady eye contact to avoid an embarrassing situation with her collar line.
“Really? Any chance you know Piper Robinson?”
Her expression soured. “Yeah. I know Piper.” She pretended to straighten a stack of papers which were already in a neat pile. “Why do you ask?”
“I just had lunch with her.”
“Oh?” She leaned back further in her seat.
Drew relaxed. Mission accomplished. “Yeah, we had a great time. She seems to really love Pine Ridge.”
Heather smirked. “Don’t we all?” She ran a hand through her short, ultra-blonde hair. “It’s nice to see that Piper has come so far . . . considering.”
Drew frowned. “Considering what?”
Heather’s eyes widened innocently. “Didn’t she talk about it? I’m not surprised. Poor thing.”
Drew crossed his arms to prevent himself from reaching across the desk and shaking her. She was toying with him.
“This was the first time we went out,” he explained. “We didn’t get around to expounding on our life histories.” He certainly hadn’t.
“Oh, so you two aren’t dating?” Heather’s eyes lit up and she leaned forward again.
Drew held back a sigh, glancing at the door for any sign of Harry before facing her again. “Not yet.”
She gave him a short smile that looked more like a grimace. “Well, just so you’re aware, Piper was basically a town charity case growing up—going from one friend’s house to the next.” She put a hand to the side of her face and stage whispered. “Drugs. Jailtime. You get the picture.” She dropped her hand and shook her head. “Such a sad situation.”
Drew stiffened. “Well, she seems to be doing fine now.” He straightened his tie and changed the subject. “Shall we talk about the bank transition?”
Heather gave a satisfied smile and Drew moved into business mode, but even as he talked over logistics, his mind was elsewhere. The picture Heather painted didn’t jive with the Piper he’d met. Was it possible she was an addict? Been to jail even? He didn’t want to believe it. Not the beautiful girl who made his heart stutter whenever she smiled—not to mention the way she felt in his arms.
Drew wanted to write off Heather’s description as jealous gossip. But then again . . . he’d been fooled before.
Chapter Eight
Piper couldn’t stop smiling, her heart joyously volleying between getting the job and thinking of Drew. Her skin still tingled from where he’d touched her. She waited until pulling up at a stoplight before texting her friends.
I got the job!!!
It only took about five seconds before her phone blew up.
Leah: Yes! I knew you’d get it!!
Jade: Yay, Piper!! Your dream job!
Savannah: Congrats! We’ll have to do something to celebrate!
Leah: Yep, and give us the scoop on your date with Dressing Room Guy ASAP . . .
Piper laughed but didn’t have time to read more as the light changed to green. She put her phone down and laughed again when it exploded with more texts. She knew Savannah and Jade would be dying to know about “Dressing Room Guy,” but those details would have to wait. Her grin softened to a nostalgic smile as she turned toward the Silvermine.
Gary Johnson, the owner, had hired Piper to bus tables when she was only fifteen. He knew her family situation and had taken pity on her. He and his wife Iris were more like parent-figures than bosses. They’d always paid fair wages and had been flexible with Piper’s college schedule. This job had financed her degree, and her portion of the townhouse she shared with Savannah. All because the Johnsons were willing to help out a struggling teen.
Piper’s throat thickened as she pulled into the employee parking lot in the back of the restaurant. Her shift didn’t start for another hour, but she wanted to give Gary her two weeks’ notice as soon as possible so he could find a replacement before the busy summer season started. It wasn’t something she could do over the phone.
She stepped out of her car and was greeted with the familiar scent of the Prairie Rose, the fried onion the Silvermine was famous for. She grabbed her bag out of the backseat which contained her clean server uniform: a white button-down shirt, black skinny jeans, and black tie, with black flats to replace her heels.
She shouldered the bag and closed the door, walking slowly toward the back entrance. How many times had she walked into this building? It had been a second home to her. A safe haven when things were falling apart. Even after she’d moved in with Savannah’s family when she was sixteen and her personal life stabilized, the Silvermine had been an anchor. A path that provided independence.
“Hey, Piper, what’s with the frown?” Romero, the head cook, called from his permanent fixture behind the stove.
She arranged a smile on her face and waved. “Hey, Romero. It’s nothing.” She wouldn’t share the news about her new job with anyone until she’d told Gary. “You figured out that next move yet?” They had an ongoing chess game they played during shift-breaks.
Romero grinned, displaying a gold front-tooth. “Your queen is in trou-ble.” He sang. “It’s your move but watch out. I’m closing in fast.”
She smirked. “We’ll see about that. You saving me some wings for later?”
He held up both hands. “Has Romero ever let you down? There’ll be a plate waiting for you at seven fifteen.”
She grinned. “You’re the best.”
“Ah,” he waved a hand and went back to his work at the stove.
Piper greeted the rest of the kitchen staff and high fived a few servers who came and went serving the late lunch crowds. She paused outside Gary’s door, her smile slipping as she raised her hand to knock her usual rat-a-tat-tat.
“Come on in, Piper,” Gary called through the door.
She swallowed and turned the knob. Gary sat on the edge of his desk. Iris sat in his chair.
“Piper,” Iris said, standing from the chair and coming around the desk to give her a hug. “What a pleasant surprise.”
Piper swallowed again as she accepted the hug. Having Iris here made it all the harder, especially adding in the motherly hug. Piper’s eyes spilled over and she pulled Iris closer.
The older woman pulled back and searched her face. “What’s wrong, honey?”
Piper gave a short laugh and swiped at the corners of her eyes. “I’m sorry. It’s really nothing to get emotional about. It’s just that I—” She turned to Gary, unable to finish the sentence.
His ey
es tightened, deepening the wrinkles around the edges as he gave her a sad smile. “You’re leaving us, aren’t you?”
Piper met his gaze and nodded once.
“Oh sweetheart, is that all?” Iris put a hand to her chest. “I was afraid something terrible had happened.” She took Piper’s hand in hers. “We knew this day would come eventually. We’re going to miss you like crazy. You’re one of the family. But we understand you don’t want to serve tables forever.”
“Thanks, Iris. I hate to leave. You guys have done so much for me.” More tears slipped down Piper’s cheeks as Iris pulled her in for another hug.
“You’ll always be welcome here. You know that, don’t you?” she whispered.
Piper nodded into her shoulder. “Thank you. For everything.”
“So where is this lucky place that gets to hire you?” Gary asked as Piper and Iris pulled away from the hug.
“His name is Josh Graydon,” Piper said, wiping the last of her tears with her ring fingers. “He’s a real estate agent here and he’s hired me as his personal assistant.”
“Ooh, I’ve seen him on those signs around town. He’s handsome!” Iris gushed, her eyes bright as she gave Piper an approving nod.
Piper gave a short, nervous laugh. “Yeah. He is that.” If only Iris could get an eyeful of Drew. She would have heart palpitations.
“Well, he couldn’t have made a better choice.” Gary stood and took both of Piper’s hands in his. “I wish you all the best. You just promise to come back and visit us sometimes, alright?”
His eyes were slightly misty and Piper squeezed his hands, willing herself not to cry again. “I promise. Thank you, Gary.”
He gave a curt nod and dropped her hands, clearing his throat. “You’ll always have a place here, if you want it. Are you okay to give two weeks while I find a replacement?”
“Yes. More if you need it. I wanted to let you know as soon as possible, before summer hits.” Working both jobs wasn’t ideal for her social life, but Piper could do it for two weeks. She’d work days with Josh and nights at the Silvermine. Luckily, she wasn’t on the schedule for the following night, so she could still go out with Drew. Her stomach fluttered with anticipation at the thought of seeing him again.
Lucky You (Pine Ridge Romance Book 1) Page 4