by Cindy Kirk
Anders inclined his head. “I assume you’ve turned the corner?”
Startled, Piper could only stare. Then she realized what he was asking and chuckled. “Yes, I’m fine now.”
“Turning corners can be tricky.” His eyes took on a devilish gleam. “If you feel the need to turn one again…”
“I appreciate the offer. I’d say if I change my mind, I’ll let you know, but you’ll be long gone by then.”
“Don’t be so sure.”
Puzzlement furrowed Piper’s brow. “What are you saying?”
“You obviously haven’t heard.” His gaze locked on hers. “I’m staying in Good Hope through Christmas.”
Chapter Seven
Piper hadn’t seen Anders since their “truck talk.” Not surprising, as she hadn’t been anywhere but her store and her apartment for the past three days.
After Anders had dropped her off at her car on Sunday, she’d quickly texted Bea that she needed to skip their meetup at Muddy Boots due to a wedding-dress crisis. She hadn’t explained that the crisis was an angry call from her mother complaining that Sasha had yet to find a dress and questioning why Piper wasn’t being a better sister during Sasha’s time of need.
Rather than get into a fight about what actually constituted a “time of need,” Piper had simply listened. Once the call had ended, she’d pulled out her brownie pan and ignored a lesson learned long ago—brownies, cookies and pastries were best bought in bakeshops because then you could buy just one.
Yesterday, Piper had vowed to freeze the rest. Mistakenly answering another call from her mother had had Piper slicing off a piece of the crispy edge as soon as the conversation ended.
Today, it was Sasha who’d called during Piper’s lunchtime, distraught and absolutely convinced she was never going to find the perfect dress.
Listening to her sister whine for over an hour had had Piper staring into space once Sasha finally stopped talking. Was this, she’d wondered, how police officers felt after they’d talked someone off a ledge?
Piper decided that once she closed the store, she was definitely having another brownie. No, she was having two.
She could almost taste the chocolate and sugar on her tongue when the bells over the door jingled. Piper perked up when she saw Bea step into the shop.
Pushing back the hood of her coat, Bea smiled and offered Piper a wave of a hand encased in a bright pink mitten. “I’m glad I caught you.”
“It’s not quite six,” Piper teased, gesturing to the enormous clock on her wall that showed five minutes before closing time.
“Once the book club ladies left, there was zero business. Same for Frank. He closed Echoes at four.”
Echoes of Yesterday, Good Hope’s only antique store, sat between Swoon and Bea’s bookstore/coffee bar. Frank Stefansson, the proprietor, had run Echoes for as long as Piper could remember. His business, like Bea’s Book & Cup and her own Swoon, had been relocated due to renovations on the downtown block where they’d previously been located.
Frank, gruff but with a good heart, had been hospitalized several times during the past year.
“Is Frank feeling okay?”
“He seemed to be.” Bea’s expression grew thoughtful. “We talked for several minutes. He looked fine.”
“That’s good to hear.”
Still, Piper made a mental note to give Frank a call—the man didn’t like people stopping by unexpectedly—just to make sure he was okay. Even if traffic was slow at his shop, it wasn’t like him to close early.
“I’m glad I caught you before you locked the door.”
“If it was locked, all you’d have to do is knock.” Piper winked. “There’s a pretty good chance I’d let you in.”
“Pretty good chance, huh?” Bea struggled not to smile.
“Better than seventy-five percent.”
Bea chuckled. “Good to know.”
“Since you’re already here…” Piper made a sweeping gesture with one hand toward the back of the store and the door that led to her apartment. “Do you have time for a glass of wine? I’ve got a nice Pinot. It goes great with brownies. Which I also happen to have.”
“Get behind me, Satan.” Bea spoke dramatically, making the sign of the cross with her two index fingers before laughing. “I can’t think of anything I’d like more than to eat brownies, drink wine and chat with you. But—”
Piper heard the refusal coming.
“Today is Clay’s birthday.” Bea’s eyes held an impish gleam. “I have a special celebration planned. It involves a fire, a fluffy rug and massive amounts of wine.”
“You don’t need brownies. You’ll be getting your own sweet treat this evening.” Piper managed not to sound wistful.
Bea grinned.
“Be sure and tell him happy birthday from me,” Piper added.
“I will, but you can tell him yourself on Friday. We celebrated with family on Sunday.” Bea spoke fast, as if wanting to get it all out before her husband arrived. “This Friday, I decided to get a bunch of friends together for an impromptu party at the Ding-A-Ling. I texted Ami and Hadley this afternoon. They agreed to make enough cupcakes for everyone in the bar. It should be super fun.”
What would it be like to have such a supportive family? While Piper’s parents and sister never forgot her birthday, she couldn’t recall the last time any of them had gone out of their way to make the day special.
With her mom and Sasha so deep in wedding planning, Piper doubted they’d even remember this year. “Clay is lucky to have you.”
“We’re lucky to have each other.” Bea reached out and grasped Piper’s hand. “I’d really love for you to come.”
Piper didn’t like seeing the worry in Bea’s eyes. Granted, Piper had bypassed going to several big festivals recently. The news of Sasha being with Heath had knocked her off-balance. She was still worried, but steadier now.
“Count me in.” Piper inclined her head. “Can I bring anything?”
“Just yourself.” Her friend gave her a quick hug. “We’ll carve out time for the two of us very soon.”
When her phone pinged, announcing Clay had arrived at Book & Cup, Bea took off.
After Bea left, Piper called to check on Frank before tossing together a quick dinner. As her trash can was now full, and the garbage man was due tomorrow, Piper hefted the bag down to the dumpster.
Stepping into the alley, she came to an abrupt halt. Anders’s truck sat parked behind Book & Cup. Keeping one eye on the vehicle, she tossed the bag into the dumpster.
Why would his truck be parked in a space meant for business owners and their staff? Especially now, when all the businesses on this side of Wrigley Road were closed for the evening?
Ignoring the stiff northern breeze, she strode to the truck. The cab might be empty, but the bed held sacks and boxes filled with everything from food to kitchen items.
“What’s a smart woman like you doing out in weather like this without a coat?”
Piper turned and found herself drowning in Anders’s laughing eyes.
“It was supposed to be a quick trash toss.” She gestured with her head toward the dumpster. “Then I saw your truck and got curious. What are you doing here?”
A sudden gust of wind had her letting out a slight gasp.
“Let’s talk inside.” With the palm of one hand against her back, Anders maneuvered her to the back of Book & Cup, where a door was propped open.
Once she was inside, Anders kicked a wedge of wood out from beneath the door. “Give me a sec.”
As he pulled the door shut, he called over his shoulder, “Open it when you see me coming.”
“Wh-what—” Piper began, but Anders was already halfway to the truck.
In seconds, he was back, his arms wrapped around two large boxes.
Piper hurriedly opened the door, then stepped aside so he could slip past her.
“Do you mind closing it?” Anders asked, already making the trek to the second floor.
“I rented the apartment.”
She frowned at his back while her mind raced. “I spoke with Bea Chapin less than two hours ago. She didn’t say one word about you moving in.”
Anders paused when he reached the upper landing and pushed open another door.
Piper glanced around while Anders dropped the boxes on the counter. She hadn’t been in the apartment since it was furnished. The floor plan was identical to hers, but the decor had an industrial feel. The trendy style struck her as cold.
Of course, the absence of any personal touches didn’t help. “I thought the Triad Group was keeping this space open as a hotel room of sorts for visiting business guests.”
“Business guests and family.” Anders looked up from the box he’d already begun unpacking. He stuck a carton of milk and a jug of orange juice in the refrigerator. “Apparently, I qualify. Who knew?”
Yes, Piper thought, Anders would qualify. David Chapin, one of the three in the Triad Group, was Ami’s brother-in-law. But David was also Bea’s brother-in-law, and David and Clay were close.
“My friend Bea is married to David’s brother. Why didn’t she know you were moving in?”
“I realize news travels fast in small communities, but my communication with David happened only hours ago.” Anders pulled a bowl from the cupboard and settled several apples in it. “David texted his partners. They gave their blessing, and here I am.”
“Beck and Ami must have been in a real hurry to get rid of you.” Piper clapped a hand across her mouth when she realized how that sounded. “I’m sorry.”
Anders’s eyes twinkled. “Forgiven.”
“No, I’m really sorry.” Piper stepped to him and placed a hand on his arm. “That was rude.”
“It’s okay. Beck and Ami wanted me to stay.” His amber eyes softened. “Sarah Rose cried when she heard I was moving out.”
“They have a big house and plenty of room.” Piper stopped, reminding herself that Anders choosing to live here when his brother had available space was not her business.
“Beck and Ami have a lovely home,” he agreed, as if reading her mind. “But I like my privacy.”
Hefting a waffle iron from the box, he placed it in a lower cupboard. As if seeing her questioning look, he added, “I mentioned I love waffles. Ami insisted this was an extra.”
Piper gestured to the counter. She’d never been one to stand idly by while others worked. “Can I help you unpack?”
“Sure.” After sticking his hand inside one of the larger boxes, he pulled out a small one and handed it to her.
Opening the lid, Piper discovered a plethora of personal items, including shaving cream, razors and…a box of condoms. Her heart fluttered. “These are bathroom items. I’ll carry the box in there so you can put them where you want.”
“Thanks.”
The bathroom was small, so she carefully placed the box on top of the closed toilet seat. A single hand towel hung on a black ring near the sink, and a fresh bar of soap sat in a stainless-steel soap dish.
When Piper returned to the kitchen area, which was really more of a kitchen/dining room/living room area, she discovered Anders had the groceries put away. “You work quickly.”
He turned and rested his back against the counter. “I’ve had a lot of practice. I appreciate you being neighborly.”
“Is that what I’m being?” She shot him a wink. “I thought I was being nosy.”
Piper shifted her gaze to a small box now sitting alone on the breakfast bar. Her heart gave a leap. She stepped closer. The puzzle box showed a picture of various succulents.
“This is cool.” Picking up the box, Piper turned it so Anders had a good view. She pointed to a yellow plant in the top left. “That’s an Aeonium Sunburst. Notice the green stripe down the middle of each leaf?”
She sighed. “This will be a fun puzzle to put together.”
A smile teased the corners of his lips. “What is it with people in this town and puzzles?”
Piper was suddenly reminded of the time she’d casually mentioned her love of puzzles to Heath. He’d laughed as if she’d made a joke. Just like then, she felt her cheeks warm.
“Why do you have it if you don’t like puzzles?” Though she tried for offhand, her tone sounded stiff.
“I didn’t want it.” Anders held up his hands. “Ami insisted I take it. She said putting it together would be something fun for me to do on cold winter nights.”
Piper told herself to let the comment lie, but couldn’t stop the laughter that bubbled up. “I can think of a few other things that a young, single guy would find more enjoyable on a cold winter night.”
It was an innocent remark. Or was it? The sultry lilt to her voice—and where had that come from?—had heat flaring in Anders’s eyes.
Darned if that spark didn’t ignite a fire low in her own belly. She fluttered a hand. “I didn’t mean—”
“I get it.” His gaze lingered on her lips. “Lots of options. Do you find working on a puzzle relaxing?”
The jumps in the conversation were giving her whiplash.
“If I don’t get one that’s too difficult.” She glanced at the box. “This one is five hundred pieces. It should be fairly easy.”
His expression turned thoughtful. “I think I never liked puzzles because I’ve never been good at them.”
“They’re not all that difficult.” Piper offered a reassuring smile. “Just take it a step at a time. Once you flip the pieces upward, you concentrate on finding all the edge pieces and putting them together.”
His brows drew together. “It seems to me sorting the pieces by color would come before working on the edges.”
Piper shook her head. “Grouping by colors comes after you have the border.”
He gazed at her in mock amazement. “Am I looking at a puzzle expert?”
She shrugged with a laugh. “I’ve put together my share.”
Even as she said it, Piper could almost see Heath roll his eyes. She reminded herself she was no longer defined by another person’s likes and dislikes. “Some of my abilities in this area are likely because I’m good with shapes and gradations in color.”
And that, she thought, was likely far more than Anders had ever wanted to know.
Anders took a step closer, and the spicy scent of his cologne teased her nostrils. “I realize this is a lot to ask.”
She cocked her head.
The smile he shot her arrowed straight to her heart. “Will you stay and help me with the border?”
Chapter Eight
Anders wasn’t certain if it was his pleading look or the fact that Piper loved puzzles that made her agree. He was simply glad to have the company.
Okay, he admitted. Not just company, her company.
While Anders wasn’t a pushy guy, he’d sensed a sadness in Piper when he spotted her by his truck.
Once her gaze had settled on the puzzle, the confident woman who’d talked so passionately about her business at the wedding had returned.
“Nearly done.” Her eyes remained fixed on the top right part of the puzzle.
“The bottom left is complete.” Anders locked the last piece into place.
There had been very little talking while they worked. He liked the way her teeth latched on to her bottom lip as she intently studied the puzzle. He smiled at the little humming noise she made as she searched for just the right piece.
Reveling in the comfortable silence, Anders relaxed fully.
At the advertising firm where he’d worked, there’d been lots of chatter, both in the office and at parties. Men and women who worked in the field were, for the most part, a gregarious group who loved discussing thoughts, proposals—heck, almost anything—to death.
The ranch hands he’d worked with the past couple of years had been not only comfortable with silence, but most preferred it.
Anders had grown accustomed to going for hours
without saying a word. Which was why the time with Beck and his family had been a splash of cold water. Constant noise and talk. As nice as he’d found it to be so close to them, his brother’s household was a busy, noisy one.
Which was why when David had mentioned he could take possession of the apartment right away, Anders had chosen to move immediately. Ami had insisted on plying him with food staples and items she wasn’t sure the apartment stocked.
Now, he was here and with Piper.
Anders settled his gaze on the shiny dark hair that tumbled around her shoulders. He still remembered how soft it had felt between his fingers as they’d kissed the night of the reception. For one second, Anders was tempted to stroke his hand down the strands.
Knowing that kind of action would likely send her scurrying toward the door, he concentrated instead on the puzzle. He studied the faceup pieces, looking for one with an edge that wasn’t quite yellow but not quite green.
“Is this what you’re looking for?”
Lifting his gaze, Anders caught sight of the piece she held between her thumb and forefinger. “That’s a definite possibility.”
He reached out and plucked the piece from her fingers, ignoring the sizzle when his flesh brushed hers. “Let’s see if it works.”
Turning it slightly, he pressed it between two edge pieces. It locked into place.
He grinned. “You’re a genius.”
She returned his smile.
In that moment, Anders knew she was seeing him, wanting him.
Anders had a sudden vision of the rest of the evening. He would hold Piper. He would kiss her. They would make love.
He’d wanted her from the moment he’d first seen her in that sexy red dress. That night, there’d been too many other people to consider. Now it was just her and him.
When her eyes darkened and she still didn’t look away, hope surged.
The ringing of her phone shattered the spell.
Shaking her head as if needing to orient herself, Piper expelled a ragged breath. She slipped the phone from her pocket.
The second she saw the screen, her expression turned stony. By the time she answered, she was on her feet. “Hello, Mother.”