Olivia shrugged. “Not as much as you’re making at the bank, but more than I would have made at the office supply store.”
“Cool.” He relaxed and gave her a smile. “I’m really happy for you, Liv. I knew something would turn up.”
“She told me this could be a trial run so I can make sure it’s something I want to do, but I can already tell It’s meant to be.” She lifted the mug of cocoa. “Leah said Carol likes to drink this before bed, so I’ll take it into her now.” She paused, tilting her head as she met his eyes. “Will this be hard for you? I mean . . . Leah and Piper are good friends.”
He stuck his hands in his pockets. “Not at all.” Truthfully, he was almost jealous of Liv—with this new job there was the possibility she would run into Piper from time to time. He worked a smile on his face. “Better get in there before it gets cold.”
She nodded. “Thanks for coming over with me. I didn’t know what to expect, so I appreciate that you were willing to help out. I told Leah I’d stay here until she gets back tomorrow night.” She clasped her hands and held them up. “Would you mind hanging out with Carol for a few minutes while I run and get my things?” She batted her eyelashes at him and he smirked.
“Sure.” It wasn’t like he had any other plans for the night. His heart twisted as he forced away thoughts of Piper for the thousandth time that day. Staying away from her was becoming unbearable. Hearing her voice over the phone earlier had almost sent him over the edge. He’d had to go for a long jog afterwards to clear his head. He would be true to her request and give her space for as long as she needed—but that wouldn’t stop him from trying to help.
“Thank you!” Liv gave him a one-armed hug, careful not to spill the cocoa in her other hand. “I’ll just get Carol settled and then I’ll run home real quick.” She moved into the living room and Drew followed, taking a seat on the couch.
“Thank you, dear,” Carol said, accepting the cocoa. “You two are so nice to help me while Leah is gone.”
Drew pretended to be absorbed in the show, but he noticed how well Carol and Liv hit it off. They were soon chatting like old friends, Carol’s earlier confusion seeming to have cleared for the moment. The doorbell rang and Liv moved to get up, but he held out his hand.
“Stay put. I’ll get it.”
“It’s probably my friend Patty.” Carol said. “She’s such a good neighbor—always checking in on me. Tell her we’re in here and I’ll introduce you.”
Olivia and Drew exchanged quick glances. They’d already met Patty. She was the one who found Carol wandering and took her in until they got there. A twinge of pity surged through him, but he smiled. “She sounds like a good friend. I’ll let her know you’re in here.” He checked his watch as he headed to the front door. It was a little late for Patty to check in, but maybe she was still worried about Carol. He opened the door and his jaw went slack. “Piper.” He could kick himself for sounding so breathless.
Her green eyes widened. “Hey.” She stared at him, immediately toying with her purse strap. “Leah said Olivia came to help with Carol. She asked if I would just check in to make sure everything was okay.”
She clearly hadn’t expected to see him here, and he silently thanked Leah for withholding the information. He swung the door wider. “Come on in. Carol and Olivia are in the living room.” He stood to the side as she entered, trying hard not to be affected her tantalizing perfume as she stepped past him. He closed the door behind her and she turned, her features tight.
“It was really sweet of you guys to come help on such short notice.”
He shrugged. “Liv wasn’t sure what to expect, so I offered to come with her. Turns out my help wasn’t necessary. Carol was confused and a little agitated at first, but she’s calmer now. She and Liv are really hitting it off.”
Piper’s shoulders relaxed. “That’s great. Carol is a sweetheart. I feel so awful that things are taking a turn for the worse.”
“Yeah. It’s got to be rough on Leah.”
She nodded and he wanted to smooth out the wrinkle between her eyes. She looked tired. Too tired for someone so young and vibrant. When she didn’t say anything else, he gestured for her to go first and then followed her into the living room, a tangible silence hovering between them. As soon as they entered the room, Carol’s face broke into a smile.
“Piper! What a pleasant surprise.” She stood from her chair to give Piper a hug.
Piper hugged her back. “It’s great to see you, Carol.”
Olivia leaned forward on the couch, her eyes flicking to Drew in question.
He gave a brief shake of his head. He knew she was asking if he was okay, but he didn’t know how to answer. Seeing Piper so unexpectedly had opened a flood-gate of emotions he couldn’t process yet.
Carol pulled away from the hug. “Piper, these are Leah’s friends, Olivia and Drew. They needed a place to stay for a few days, so Leah invited them to come here and I’m so glad. It gets lonely when she’s gone on her trips.”
Piper turned to both of them with a smile, though it slipped slightly when she caught Drew’s eye. “It’s nice to meet you both.”
His heart raced as her eyes lingered on his, and for a moment, he saw pain there. He recognized it because the expression mirrored his own. Did she miss him? If she felt even half the misery he did at being apart, it was enough to give him hope.
Piper turned to Olivia. “I just came to see if you needed anything. Leah said she spoke with you for a while, but is there anything else I can do?”
Olivia looked between Drew and Piper and then hopped up from the couch. “Actually . . . yes. I need to run home and grab a few things. I asked Drew if he could stay with Carol. But since you know her so well, I’m sure he’d appreciate if you’d stay here with him until I get back. Do you mind?”
Drew shot Liv a look, torn between wanting to shake her and give her a giant hug.
Piper shifted her weight. “Um, no I don’t mind.” She turned to Drew and his heart tripped when her eyes met his again. “You don’t have to stay. I’ll be fine.”
He leaned back on his heels, not about to let her off that easy. “I don’t mind.”
Olivia glanced between them. “Great. I’ll try not to take too long.” She gave Drew a look that said otherwise, her brown eyes dancing as she walked past him.
“Drive carefully. The deer like to come out this time of night,” Carol said, waving a hand before turning to Piper. “Since the two of you will be here to wait up for her, I think I’ll turn in. Be sure to lock the doors after she gets back.” She took Piper’s hand. “So good to see you again, Jade.”
Piper gave her a sad smile. “It’s good to see you, too, Carol.”
Carol nodded and padded off down the hall.
“Does she need help?” Drew asked quietly.
Piper shook her head. “She’s still lucid enough to get herself ready for bed. Today was the first day she’s wandered out of the house like that, though. She’s going to need round-the-clock help from here on out.” She bit her lip.
Drew nodded. “Leah offered to hire Liv to stay with her while she’s out of town, and I think Liv is going to take her up on it.”
Piper turned to him, her eyes wide. “Really? That would be so great. Leah hates the idea of putting her mom in a home, so Olivia’s help sounds like a win-win for now.”
He held onto her gaze, then looked away when the desire to touch her became agonizing. “How is work going?” he asked.
“It’s fine.” She took a deep breath. “I’m actually glad you’re here.”
His eyes darted to hers, his pulse hammering. “You are?”
She nodded. “There’s something I wanted to talk to you about—more like ask you.”
He held his breath, afraid to hope.
She looked down at her hands. “I went to see my dad today, and a private sponsor had set him up in a fancy hospital suite, offering to pay for the entirety of his stay.”
Disappointment burn
ed his throat like acid, but he arranged a surprised look on his face. “Really? That’s amazing.”
She took a step forward. “Whoever it is has asked to remain anonymous, but I’ll go crazy if I can’t express my gratitude.” She searched his eyes. “Is it you?”
He cocked his head to the side. “Me? Afford a fancy hospital suite?”
She blew out a breathy laugh. “I know. I’m sorry I asked, it’s just that I’ve eliminated the other possibilities and . . .” she shook her head. “I had to know.”
He stared at her, debating how much to say. He hadn’t flat-out lied, simply asked another question to throw her off-track. He wanted to confess that he was the sponsor and have her throw herself into his arms in gratitude—but he wanted her to love him for him, not for his bank account.
He shifted. “I hope you find out who it is.” It was a true statement. “But even if you don’t, it’s great news, isn’t it? Can you afford to quit your other job now that your dad has this sponsor?”
Piper stepped back, her face lined with fatigue. “I wish that were the case, but I need to keep the job for now. There are still going to be other medical fees, not covered by the sponsor, that I’ll be responsible for.”
He fisted his hand and raised it to his mouth, nodding. It took all of his willpower not to tell her that he was, in fact, covering all of the medical expenses and had pulled some strings to get her dad’s name higher on the list for liver donors. But It didn’t matter—she would find out eventually. “I’m sorry to hear that,” was all he managed.
She twisted her purse strap. “Me too.”
He ran a hand along the back of his neck, needing something to distract him from his frustration. “So, do you want to watch a show until Liv gets here?”
“Not really.”
He turned to her in surprise and she looked up at him through her lashes. “Drew, there’s something else I need to tell you.”
Chapter Thirty-Four
Piper faced Drew, her heart drumming in her chest. Ever since she’d talked with Josh earlier, she realized she couldn’t fight this anymore.
Drew looked at her, his chocolate brown eyes half-hopeful, half-worried.
She took a deep breath. “When I met you, I fell for you so fast it scared me. I didn’t want to give my heart to you and risk getting hurt. I’m used to keeping people at a distance to protect myself.” She lifted a shoulder. “Stupid, I know, but it worked.” She looked at the floor. “So when my life started getting busy, I went into default mode, thinking what I needed was space. But I was wrong.”
He reached for her hand. His hand was warm and strong, giving her the courage to meet his eyes. She held onto his gaze like a lifeline. “Being apart from you,” she bit her lip and shook her head, “it’s killing me.” She took a steadying breath. “I need you in my life, Drew. Every part of it. Can you forgive me for asking for space and let me have another chance?”
Drew put a hand to the side of her face, his eyes soft as they searched hers. “There is nothing to forgive. The way you’ve worked for your family,” he swallowed and shook his head, “it’s the most selfless thing I’ve ever known anyone to do. They’re lucky to have you for a daughter.”
Her heart swelled. She put her hand over his as a tear slipped down her cheek. “I love you.”
His eyes glimmered. “I love you, too.” He pulled her into a tight hug. “And I’m glad you don’t want space anymore, because I can’t bear to be apart from you for one more second.” She laughed and he pulled her closer before drawing back, his face growing serious. “But there’s something I need to ask you first. It’s important.”
Piper’s pulse stuttered, not sure what to expect. “Okay.”
He took a step back. “You’ve told me how important financial security is—and I understand why—but how much is ‘enough’ for you? I promise to stay by your side every day and work with you to help you get it. But would you want to be with me, even if I couldn’t promise you a life of wealth and luxury?”
Her shoulders relaxed and she took his hand, a slow smile working across her face. She’d never been so certain of anything. “Drew, I want you. Your love is all the luxury I’ll ever need.”
Drew’s eyes tightened and he wrapped her in his arms, burying his face in her hair. “That’s all I need to know.”
The scent of cologne and fresh laundry detergent gave Piper a heady feeling as his strong arms wrapped around her. She was safe, secure, and blissfully happy. He tilted her chin up and kissed her, all the pain of the time spent apart dissolving in the heat of the exchange. Warm tingles bathed her entire body as she gave herself into the moment. A small sigh escaped her lips and Drew pulled back, pressing his forehead against hers.
“You’re smiling. What are you thinking?” he asked.
She met his eyes. “I’m thinking I’m the luckiest girl alive.”
One corner of his mouth twitched as he toyed with a strand of her hair. “I thought you didn’t believe in luck.”
“I do now.” Her smile deepened as she reached behind his neck, drawing him in for another kiss.
Epilogue
Piper pulled into the drive-thru at the bank. She’d texted Drew that she would be stopping by to deposit a check after work, hoping her favorite teller could help her today. She rolled down her window and cut the engine, basking in the autumn sunshine as she thought about the first time Drew had served as her teller here. She’d deposited her last check from the Silvermine a few months ago, after discovering her father’s sponsor had pledged to cover all medical expenses. She still hadn’t discovered who it was, but she sent up a prayer of gratitude every day for the person who had become her personal hero.
She glanced around, noting she was the only customer waiting. It was close enough to closing time that she doubted anyone else was coming. She grabbed the plastic tube and filled out the deposit slip before placing her check inside with it.
Her job with Josh was satisfying, and now that he was dating a girl from Denver—much less awkward. She and Drew had spent an incredible summer together. He’d been her date to Jade and Connor’s wedding. Savannah outdid herself making everything perfect, and the results had been magical.
With Piper’s evenings free again, she and Drew had spent the rest of the summer taking hikes, going to movies, playing Monopoly with her friends, and visiting Margaret and Piper’s parents. She was surrounded by loved ones in a way she’d never been before, filling the cracks in her heart till it was near to bursting.
She replaced the plastic tube and pressed the button to send it off. She tapped her fingers on the open window frame, smiling as she remembered how Drew had caught her singing the first time he’d helped her. It only took a few moments for the screen to blink to life.
“Miss Robinson, what a pleasure to see you again.”
She turned at the familiar voice and grinned at Drew on the screen. “Why thank you, Mr. Carson.” She raised an eyebrow. “Is that a suit you have on today?” She’d only seen him in a suit once before, at Jade’s wedding. On a normal day he was double-take, heart-poundingly handsome. But in a suit? He was hot. Lethally hot. She wondered what the occasion was—he hadn’t mentioned any important meetings at the bank.
One side of his mouth lifted, his eyes holding that mischievous glint she loved. “It is. Thank you for noticing.” He made a show of straightening his tie and she laughed.
“You look quite dashing, sir.”
“Thanks.” He tipped his head, a piece of dark hair falling across his forehead as he glanced down at her paper. “I see you’d like to make a deposit?”
“Yes please. Into my checking account, as usual.”
He gave a formal nod. “Very good.” He clicked on his keyboard, then looked back to her. “Will there be anything else?”
“That will be all, thank you.” She smiled at him, enjoying the playful formality.
A slow smile spread across his face, his chocolate eyes igniting as they kept hold of hers. �
�Alright. I’ve put a little something extra in with your receipt as a token of our appreciation.” He leaned forward, putting a hand to the side of his face as he stage whispered, “I’m not supposed to say this, but you are one of our favorite customers.”
“I’m honored.” She giggled and he gave her a roguish smile before the screen went dark. The vacuum noise sounded, signaling the plastic tube was about to return. She waited in anticipation to see what the surprise might be. Drew kept things at his desk to slip into her plastic holder whenever she came to make a deposit—a small box of chocolates, a love note, tickets to a special event. He was always surprising her, and she loved it.
Piper reached for the tube when it appeared, nearly dropping it when she saw what was inside. She blinked and looked again, holding her breath—it was a blue Tiffany’s ring box. She made a tiny squeaking noise and covered her mouth, staring at the box for several seconds in shock. She glanced at the screen, but it was still dark.
Her heart leaped in her chest, but she forced herself not to get too excited. Maybe it wasn’t what she thought it was. With trembling hands, she slid the lid on the tube open and reached for the box. The words ‘Tiffany & Co’ were printed on the top. Drew wouldn’t have bought anything so expensive, would he? She held it in both hands for several moments before prying the lid open and peeking inside.
Empty.
She blew out a long breath, glancing over her shoulder just in time to see Drew approaching the car, looking devastating in his dark suit. She waited, her pulse racing as he leaned into her open window, his eyes fixed on hers. “Miss Robinson, if you wouldn’t mind stepping out of the car, there’s something I want to ask you.”
She smiled, tears pricking the backs of her eyes as she managed a nod. “Okay.”
He opened the door for her, and she was grateful she’d parked far enough away from the deposit box to get out. She took the hand he offered and he guided her to an open patch of grass in front of the bank.
Piper noticed several bank employees crowding against the windows, watching with big smiles. Her pulse accelerated when she also recognized Leah, Savannah, Jade, Connor, Olivia, Margaret and her mom. All of them grinning with their faces pressed against the glass.
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