He breathed a laugh. “Never been better.”
She managed a smile and took another step closer. “So, what are the doctors saying? Will you be in here a while?”
He rolled his eyes, but before he could answer, someone spoke from behind her.
“Piper? Is that you?”
Piper turned to see her mother standing there. She looked exhausted.
“Hi, Mo—”
Her mom pulled her into a tight hug before she could finish, standing on tiptoe so she could reach. “I’m so glad you came,” she whispered.
Piper pulled back to see tears in her mom’s eyes and her heart melted. “Of course,” she said. “I’m sorry I didn’t call you back. I just,” she faltered and her mom touched her arm.
“It’s okay. I didn’t expect you to. Not after everything.” Her face pinched and her eyes swam. She wiped at them with the back of her hand and turned to Piper’s dad.
“Did you get a look at her, George? For a minute I thought a runway model was standing here.”
His thin lips formed a smile. “Prettiest girl in Pine Ridge. Are you married yet, honey?”
Piper’s heart stung that her own parents wouldn’t know this information, but she brushed the pain away with a small laugh. “No. I’m single. I’m still sharing a place with Savannah.”
“What’s wrong with the boys in this town?” her dad grumbled.
“How is Savannah?” Piper’s mom quickly changed the subject.
“She’s great. Thriving as a wedding planner. She’ll likely be running the company in the near future.”
“That’s wonderful. Tell her we said hello, will you?”
Piper nodded, taking in her mom’s appearance. She looked tired and thin, but there was something else about her that was different. She noticed it in her dad too. She glanced between them. “What’s the plan for Dad’s treatment?” She’d done some research for cirrhosis last night, and it wasn’t promising.
Her mom shifted. “Doctor Jenkins is hopeful. If your dad can get a liver transplant, he has a chance.”
“I’m not holding my breath,” her dad teased.
Piper glanced at him, her forehead creasing. “How long is the waitlist?”
“It could be a while,” her mom said, looking at the floor. “But he’s been sober for over a year now, so at least that means he qualifies.”
Piper’s mouth opened. Her dad? Sober for a year? She never would have thought such a thing possible. She swallowed hard. “Dad, that’s amazing. I-I’m so proud of you.” She smiled, wanting to reach for him, but not knowing how. She hugged her arms across her stomach instead.
“Your mother was my motivator. She’s too modest to say it, but she’s been sober for over two years. I promised her I would come home from jail a changed man. And I’ve done my best to keep that promise.”
Piper swallowed again, trying to fight back emotion as she turned to her mom. “This is such big news. I’m sorry I didn’t know.”
She waved her hand. “I told you it’s alright. We didn’t want to impose on your life. Not when things were going so well for you. But we’ve thought about you,” she rubbed Piper’s arm, “an awful lot.”
“That’s right,” her dad said, waiting for her to look at him. “I did this. I have no one to blame but myself. I’m sorry we’re bringing you into it.”
Piper frowned. She didn’t regret them reaching out to her—it was good to see her parents trying to get their lives together. She only wished they could have done it sooner. She quickly shook off that thought and mustered a smile. “I’ll talk with your doctor and see what information I can get. Don’t give up hope yet.”
Her dad’s eyes grew misty and he reached out a hand. She hesitated only a moment before stepping forward to take it. He gave her hand a squeeze.
“Something happens to a man when he comes face to face with death. I want you to know,” he paused and his Adam’s apple bobbed. “I want to tell you I’m sorry, my girl. I’m so sorry.” Tears trickled down the whiskers on his cheeks.
Piper swallowed. She didn’t speak for several moments. How could she just let go of a lifetime of hurt? Of sadness and disappointment and neglect? She couldn’t. Not on her own. She closed her eyes and said a silent prayer, pleading as she had countless times for the strength to forgive. She opened her eyes, searching her father’s face through blurred vision. Warmth filled her chest, spreading throughout her body and giving her the strength she needed. She wasn’t alone. She could do this. She squeezed his hand back.
“It’s okay.” Those two simple words set her free. Her heart was lighter than it had been in years. She blinked, causing the tears to spill over. She smiled at him. “Everything is going to be okay.”
Her mom hugged her from behind and let out a stifled sob. Piper cried too, her heart bursting. The three of them there, together, filled a void she thought would never be filled. For the first time in her life, she was whole.
Chapter Twenty-One
Drew whistled on his way into work, noting the new sign with a smile: National Liberty Bank. The customers had been notified of the change, and now all that was left to do was to make things official. He glanced at Piper’s text, his heart skipping several beats as he read the words again.
She’d been thinking of him.
The thought quickened his pulse. The truth was, he couldn’t stop thinking about her. He’d tossed and turned all night, reliving how it felt to hold her in his arms. Those kisses that warmed his whole body much better than the fire had.
He was almost to the front doors of the bank when his phone rang. He glanced at the screen and quickly answered when he saw who it was.
“Good morning, Gran,” he said cheerfully.
“Andy, is everything all right?” Gran’s voice sounded strained.
He stepped to the side so as not to block anyone coming into the bank and switched the phone to his other ear. “Yes, everything’s fine. Why?”
“You called me at five o’clock in the morning your time, but you didn’t leave a message,” she said. “And I missed another call from you yesterday. I worried something happened.”
He grinned. “I was just anxious to talk to you and I figured you would be awake. I’m sorry if it was too early.”
“Not too early for me,” she protested. “I took Toodles on an early walk and ended up making a morning of it. But you’re not usually one to get up before the dawn—what happened?”
“I have a favor to ask, about the chalet.” He stepped farther away from the door and lowered his voice when he saw Heather walking toward the bank. She tossed her ultra-blonde hair and gave him a flirtatious wave. He gave a slight nod before turning his back to her.
“The chalet you just had me buy?” Gran asked.
“Yes.” He glanced over his shoulder to see if Heather had gone in. She opened the front door, giving him a sassy smile that made his stomach turn. He waited for her to enter the building.
“Andy, are you there?” Gran demanded. “I think we may have a bad connection.”
“I’m here. Sorry.” He straightened his shoulders. “So here’s the thing. It turns out that Briarwood was a special place in Pine Ridge. I guess it was rented out for parties and special events. Did Tom mention anything about that to you?”
“No. All I heard was that it was a good investment and I had to buy it.” She didn’t hold back the sarcasm.
Drew winced, but knew she was teasing. “Well, it was—is—a good investment. But I guess there were some weddings booked there, and now the wedding planning company is sort of in a bind.”
“That’s unfortunate, but I’m sure they can find another venue.”
Drew scrubbed the back of his neck. “The thing is, Gran, I was kind of hoping we could let them keep their bookings—at least for the next few months until they can find a suitable alternative.”
There were a few beats of silence before her voice came on the line. “How many weddings, Andy? I’m getting ready to fly out
there, and I hardly want to be invaded by strangers when I arrive. You know how I like my solitude.”
“I know. And I’m sorry to have to ask. It’s just,” he shook his head, “the wedding planner is a close friend of the girl I’ve been dating. It would mean a lot if we could help them out.”
“I see.”
He could hear the smile in her voice and his shoulders relaxed. “So, what do you think? Can I tell them we’ll keep the bookings? I promise to make it up to you. You can stay with Olivia and me on those days, if you like.”
“In that tiny little two-bedroom apartment? I should say not,” she huffed.
Drew chewed his bottom lip.
“But if you find me a nice pet-friendly suite in a five-star hotel during the weddings, I’d be tempted to consider.”
Drew blew out a long breath. “Thanks, Gran. I’ll tell Piper. I’m sure her friend will be more than happy to arrange your hotel stays.”
“Piper, is it?” Gran’s voice was interested. “What’s her last name?”
He shook his head. “Sorry. I’m not telling. I know you’ve figured out how to Google people.”
She gave a playful huff. “Some fun you are. It doesn’t matter though, I’ll be meeting her in a few days anyway.”
Drew put a hand on his hip. “I know, I know. But remember our deal, okay? You’re just a family friend. I don’t want to mess this up. It’s really important to me.”
She gave a small gasp. “You like her even more than I thought. Oh, Andy, this is wonderful!”
He rolled his eyes, though he couldn’t hold back a smile. “Alright, Gran. I’m about to be late for work so I’ve got to go.” He heard small yippy barks in the background. “Give Toodles a treat for me.”
“I will. And keep me posted on Piper,” she half-sang.
“Will do.” He was still smiling as he ended the call. Gran hadn’t sounded that chipper since before his grandfather died. He pocketed his phone and entered the bank, his stomach strangely quivery. Gran would love Piper. She had to. Because at this rate, Drew was beginning to suspect he already did.
Chapter Twenty-Two
Piper pulled her jacket closer as she stepped out into the dark parking lot of the Silvermine. The visit to her parents that morning felt like ages ago. Adding that emotional drain to the stress of learning her new job and then a busy shift at the Silvermine, and she was exhausted. It was past ten. She made a mental note to wear flats instead of heels to the office tomorrow since she would be spending a lot more time on her feet. Especially now.
She was several yards from her car when she saw someone leaning against the trunk. Her heart kick-started into alert mode as she squinted into the darkness.
“Hey there, stranger,” he called.
She sighed at the sound of Drew’s voice, forgetting about her tired feet as she walked quickly to him. He held his arms out and wrapped her in a hug, and she allowed the stress of the day to melt away in the warmth of his embrace. Nothing could go wrong inside a hug like this. “Are you stalking me?” she teased, pulling away to smirk up at him.
“Pretty much.” The smile warmed his chocolate brown eyes and he searched her face, seeming to drink in every detail. “I missed you.”
“I missed you, too,” she whispered.
He leaned down and kissed her mouth softly. She sighed and drew him closer, her skin tingling as warmth spread through her. Drew smiled against her lips and then deepened the kiss, his hands wrapping around her waist. She played with the hair at the back of his neck and he let out a soft groan, pulling away with some effort.
“I’d better stop, or I’ll forget what I came here to tell you.”
Her heart pounded and she took a deep breath of the night air to bring her pulse back to normal. “What’s up?” she asked, still slightly breathless.
He leaned against the car and took both of her hands in his. “I have good news. I talked to Margaret today.”
Piper put a hand to the side of her face. “It’s been so busy I totally forgot about that! What did she say?”
One corner of his mouth lifted. “She said she’s willing to work with Savannah’s company. They can keep the weddings booked at Briarwood, on the condition that they find a nice hotel suite for her to stay in on those days.”
“Oh, Drew!” Piper threw her arms around him and kissed his cheek. “I can’t believe you did this. Savannah is going to love you forever!”
He laughed. “That’s nice—but it’s not Savannah I’m trying to win over.”
She stilled and pulled back, giving him a shy smile. “I’ll be grateful to you forever, too.”
He tilted his head, his eyes playful. “That’s not the word you used before.”
Piper didn’t breathe as she met his gaze. She knew what he was talking about. She wasn’t ready to say that word to him yet—but that didn’t mean she didn’t feel it. This is crazy. You barely know him. She flushed and her mouth opened, but no sound came.
He held her gaze a few seconds more before he relaxed into an easy smile, taking her hands in his again. “Tell me about work today. You must be exhausted. It will be nice when you can be done with your night job.”
Piper shifted. She needed to tell Drew that she wouldn’t be quitting. After talking with her parents and hearing what a financial strain the hospital bills would be, she knew she had to keep working at the Silvermine so she could help them pay for her dad’s medical bills. Gary had even agreed to let her work extra hours if she needed to. And from the sound of it, she would definitely need to. Her heart twisted. Working both jobs wouldn’t leave much time to spend with Drew. What if he lost interest in her because she was so busy? She bit her lip, about to tell him, when he spoke up again.
“Look, there’s something else I want to say to you.”
She glanced at him, surprised to see vulnerability in his eyes. It was a look she’d never seen in them before. “Is everything okay?” she asked.
He gave her a sideways smile. “Everything’s great. And that’s just it. Ever since I met you, my life seems to have new meaning. I don’t know what this is between us,” he held her gaze, “but I know I want to be a part of it.”
She melted. He’d voiced exactly how she felt.
He kissed her forehead and pulled back to meet her eyes again. “Piper, I know we just met, but I’m not interested in dating anyone else.”
She swallowed, her pulse stuttering. “Neither am I.”
He paused, as if afraid to ask the question. “Does that mean I can call you my girlfriend?”
Her heart pounded against her ribcage, butterflies threatening to lift her off the ground. She hadn’t been anyone’s girlfriend before. She’d dated, of course, but being someone’s girlfriend meant commitment. It meant making her heart vulnerable to getting broken. But the warmth that bloomed up inside her now left no room for second-guessing. “Yes,” she whispered.
“Good,” his eyes smoldered as he drew closer until his lips were a breath away from hers, “because I want you all to myself.” He pulled her into a heated kiss, his mouth moving against hers. The kiss was hungry and passionate. It was enticing and warm and coaxing. His strong arms wrapped around her, bathing her in security as she returned the kiss with every bit as much passion.
Somewhere behind the dizzying bliss, Piper knew she had to tell him about work. But then his mouth travelled to her throat, blazing a trail of kisses down her neck. She sighed in rapture. She would tell him about work. Later . . .
Chapter Twenty-Three
“I’m home!” Piper called, dropping her keys into her purse before hanging it on the hook by the door. The hall light was on. They never turned it off, but the rest of the apartment was dark. It was past midnight, and Piper was surprised Savannah wasn’t home. She hadn’t mentioned any plans.
“Savannah?” she called, walking into the kitchen and flipping on the light.
“Surprise!”
Piper screamed as Savannah, Leah, and Jade jumped out from behind
the kitchen island.
“You guys!” she protested, eyes wide as she held a hand to her heart. “You just about gave me a heart attack!”
“Serves you right for making us wait all day to hear about your date last night,” Savannah teased. “But we’re finally all together!”
“I know!” Piper turned to Jade, pulling her into a hug. “When did you get back from your conference?”
“Last night,” Jade answered, giving Piper a squeeze. She pulled back to look at Piper, her golden hazel eyes sparkling. “And just in time, too. I hear you and ‘Mr. Dressing Room’ have been quite the pair.” She waggled her eyebrows.
Piper looked to the ceiling, trying to hold back a smile. “Is that all you guys talk about when I’m not around?”
“That, and Jade’s wedding plans, of course,” Leah answered, laughing. “It’s just that we’ve never seen you smitten before. It’s super entertaining.”
Piper snorted and pointed to the island. “As entertaining as what you have going on here? What’s the occasion?” The granite counter was filled with ice cream cartons, toppings, and enough junk food to feed an army of tweens at a slumber party.
Savannah’s blue eyes danced. “We’re having a girls’ night. Come see.” She pulled Piper’s arm, leading her toward the living room.
Piper laughed when she saw what was set up on the coffee table. “Monopoly? It’s just like old times.”
“You guys pick your pieces, I’ll go dish up the ice cream,” Leah offered.
“Do you want the shoe, Piper?” Savannah asked. “It seems like that was always your favorite.”
Piper shrugged. “You know I have a thing for shoes. Besides, that piece is easy to grab.” She headed for the game board and then froze, pointing at Savannah. “Wait! I was so distracted by the surprise that I forgot to tell you.”
Jade and Leah turned to Piper, but before she could say anything Savannah jumped up, grabbing her by the shoulders.
“Briarwood?”
Piper nodded, unable to keep the grin from spreading across her face. “Drew spoke with the owner. You can keep your weddings!”
Lucky You (Pine Ridge Romance Book 1) Page 11