True to You in Good Hope: A Good Hope Novel Book 15

by Cindy Kirk

  Startled surprise skittered across Anders’s face before he chuckled. “Not at all. They need their privacy, and I need mine.”

  Unlike her, Anders didn’t appear to mind Gladys’s probing questions.

  The older woman slowly nodded. After Gladys slanted a brief glance at Piper, her expression turned sly. “If you think about it, you two are practically living together.”

  Anders snorted. “Hardly.”

  When Gladys turned his way, he offered a good-natured grin. “Piper and I aren’t living together any more than you and Albert August are living together simply because you have apartments in the same building.”

  It appeared Ami and Beck had caught Anders up to speed on Good Hope gossip. Gladys and the retired high school principal, who both had independent apartments in the Good Hope Living Center, were reported to be “involved.”

  Gladys waved a dismissive hand. “You know what I mean.”

  Piper only smiled as Gladys beamed at the two of them.

  Then the older woman frowned. “You must excuse me. It appears Oaklee is on break and needs to speak with me. Carry on.”

  Piper turned and saw Oaklee motioning to Gladys. When the young woman caught Piper’s eye, she offered a big smile and an enthusiastic wave.

  Oaklee was the minister’s sister and a force of her own. Although only in her early twenties, she’d become part of Gladys’s posse soon after relocating to Good Hope.

  She was known for her over-the-top personality and wild hair colors and styles. Piper envied Oaklee’s panache and wished she could bottle a little of the young woman’s confidence for herself.

  Today, Oaklee’s blunt-cut bob was a gorgeous lilac shade. Although a little bold for Good Hope, the hairstyle and color were much more subdued than the mohawk Oaklee had rocked for several months last year.

  Piper had noticed her speaking with Ethan Shaw earlier. More like flirting with the man, actually. Perhaps Gladys should think about matching Oaklee. Not with Ethan, though. The businessman was too mature and way too buttoned-up for her. Surely there had to be someone in Good Hope who—

  “Here you are.”

  Piper blinked, and Anders now stood in front of her, holding out a beer bottle. “Where did you get that?”

  He gestured with the bottle to a bar stand along one wall. “You didn’t mention wanting a glass, but I can get—”

  “Thanks. This will work.” She lifted the beer from his hand and brought the bottle to her lips for a long drink. “I need this after my conversation with Gladys.”

  “She’s an intriguing woman.” Anders kept his gaze on her and took a sip from his bottle. “Strong, self-assured.”

  Piper laughed. “To the nth degree.”

  “I’m glad you came.” Anders clanked his bottle against hers. “I wondered if I’d feel out of place tonight.”

  Piper widened her eyes. “Why?”

  “Families. Couples.” He gave a little laugh as his gaze scanned the crowd. “My brother and Ami are great, but there’s only so much talk about kids and family things I can take.”

  “Try owning a wedding salon.” Piper chuckled. “I spend all day, every day dealing with love.”

  “You like it.” Anders bumped her with his elbow. “Don’t tell me you don’t.”

  She smiled, shrugged. “Most of the time. My sister’s wedding, well, that’s a whole different animal.”

  “Why?”

  A simple question that she could easily turn aside. She told herself she didn’t have to confide in him. Though, maybe then he’d understand why this wedding was going down so hard and taking all of her emotional energy.

  “You don’t have to say.” His tone remained easy.

  He wouldn’t push. That was clear. But now that the words hovered on her lips, she wanted them out. “My sister is marrying my ex.”

  Chapter Ten

  For several seconds, Anders could only stare at Piper. He had to have misheard. “Your sister is marrying the man who cheated on you?”

  “Yes.” Piper cleared her throat. “Sasha is marrying Heath. Everyone, our parents included, is thrilled. Except me.”

  “Wait a minute.” Anders raised a hand. “This guy cheated on you while the two of you were in a relationship. Yet, your sister agrees to date and marry him. To top it off, your parents are happy about it. What am I missing?”

  Though a muscle in her jaw jumped, Piper met his disbelieving gaze with a steady one of her own. “I haven’t told them about the cheating.”

  One more thing about this situation that didn’t make sense. “Why not?”

  Her jaw jutted forward. “It’s complicated.”

  “Surely you must have said something when your sister started dating him?”

  Piper expelled a heavy breath. “I didn’t know they were even dating until she told me they were engaged.”

  Anders started to say that was crazy, but stopped himself. Piper’s situation wasn’t that much different than his own. He hadn’t lived close to family for many years. Hadn’t been involved in their day-to-day lives. Still, he knew without a doubt that before he’d even consider dating someone who’d once been involved with Elliott or Beck, he’d speak with them privately about it.

  “You and your sister must not be close.” It was a statement, not a question.

  “We were close once. That was a long time ago.” Piper’s eyes grew dark with memories. “Sasha dated the same boy all through high school and college. I met him many times and really liked him. Sasha was always texting me stuff about Jesse. Where they went, what he said, even how they planned to move in together after they graduated.”

  Keeping his gaze fixed on hers, Anders nodded, letting her know she had his full attention.

  “I don’t know what happened. One day, they were together, and the next, he was out of her life. I was living here at the time, and when I asked what happened, she didn’t seem to want to share the details.” Piper’s lips lifted in a sad little smile. “After their breakup, my communication with Sasha took a nose dive. Part of it was her graduating and starting a new career and me working hard to launch Swoon.”

  Piper took a breath.

  Anders thought that might be all she was going to say on the matter, but she continued.

  “I heard through my parents that Sasha was dating a lot of different guys. During this time, her path crossed with Heath’s. There, apparently, was a spark. They became exclusive very quickly and got engaged in a matter of months.”

  “Your sister had to know when she was dating him that he was your ex. Your parents certainly knew.” Anders tried to keep any censure from his voice. “You’d think one of them might at least mention to you that she was dating him.”

  “That didn’t happen. I suppose because when Heath and I broke up, I acted as if it was no big deal.” Piper took a long drink of beer. “Sasha was young then. She didn’t know about any of the drama surrounding the breakup. I don’t blame her for falling for him. He’s handsome and can be extremely charming.”

  What Anders couldn’t understand was why Sasha didn’t dump the cheater once she did know. “Yet, she stayed with him even after you told her what he did.”

  “I didn’t tell her.” Piper took another sip of beer and continued in a matter-of-fact tone. “Before you ask, I don’t intend to tell her. Heath has undoubtedly spun his web of lies about our breakup. My sister is loyal, often to a fault. She’ll believe him over me. If I do bring up all the sordid details, all I’ll accomplish is breaking the family apart.”

  There were so many arguments on that point that Anders could raise. Starting with her comment about Sasha being loyal to a fault. She certainly wasn’t loyal to Piper. If she had been Sasha wouldn’t have dated Heath without first discussing it with Piper. Anders said nothing, reminding himself Piper hadn’t asked for his opinion.

  “Anders.” Beck clapped a hand on his shoulder, then smiled at Piper. “Good to see you this evening.”

  Piper smiled and stepped back. �
�I was just keeping your brother occupied for you.”

  Anders stifled a frown. She made it sound as if he’d been speaking with her only until something—or someone—better came along.

  “I appreciate it.” Beck shifted his gaze to Anders. “I thought I’d head downstairs for a game of darts. Interested?”

  Anders turned to Piper.

  “Perfect timing.” Piper flashed a bright smile. “There’s a couple of people over there I’ve been wanting to speak with. You guys have fun.”

  “Did I interrupt something?” Beck asked Anders after Piper had walked away, obviously not convinced by her performance.

  “Nothing that can’t be picked up at a later time.” Anders smiled at his brother. “You know you’re going down.”

  An hour later, Anders was sipping his second beer of the evening. If he’d had to drive to get home, he’d have stopped with one. Tonight, all he had to do was walk across the street.

  He wasn’t ready to leave the bar. Not yet.

  By this time in the evening, most of the upstairs party attendees were now downstairs, including the birthday boy. From the back slaps and greetings called out to Clay, these were his people, too.

  Anders had played a game of darts with his brother, surprising Beck by winning two out of three. He’d refused another game, letting Max Brody, Ami’s brother-in-law and a local CPA, take his place.

  Throughout the evening, Anders had kept his eye on Piper. Not in a creepy, stalkerish way. He simply liked the way she looked, the way she tossed back her hair in a nervous gesture that still managed to be appealing. He even liked her laugh.

  Right now, it was the laugh that had him turning down his brother’s request for a rematch and ambling through the crowded tables.

  He didn’t want to sit, even if he could have found a seat. Instead, he rested his back against a wall and focused on the stage where Piper, Charlotte and Bea now stood.

  They stumbled a little over the beginning of the song “Call Me Maybe,” but got into the swing by the time the chorus hit. They even added some footwork that didn’t really match the song, but hey, he’d give them an A for effort.

  The hand gestures were a little more on point, and Charlotte nailed the flirty look.

  “Charlotte surprises me every day.”

  Adam now stood beside him. Though he spoke to Anders, his gaze remained focused on his wife. “I never thought karaoke was her thing. Actually, any of their thing.”

  “It seems like something Piper would do.” Anders didn’t know Bea or Charlotte well enough to comment on them.

  “You think?” Adam’s voice held surprise. “I’ve never gotten the feeling Piper was comfortable in the spotlight.”

  Anders simply shrugged. That might be how Piper was living her life, but he sensed a spark beneath that tight control. A desire to live life to the fullest that, for some reason, she suppressed.

  He enjoyed watching her onstage. The way she and her friends fed off one another’s energy with even more exaggerated movements made him smile. Anders especially liked seeing her flash that bright smile.

  “She’s got amazing moves.”

  Anders turned to find Clay had joined them. At first, he thought the man was speaking about Piper, but Clay’s gaze remained firmly fixed on his wife.

  A soft smile lifted the corners of Clay’s lips. “I’m glad Bea has such good friends.”

  Was it difficult for Piper, Anders wondered, now that her two best friends were married and her sister was engaged to her ex?

  The trio strayed off-key—again—but what they lacked in musical ability they made up for in enthusiasm. Each brought one hand up to her ear in a phone gesture for the final line of the song. “So call me, maybe?”

  Anders smiled as the three held hands to take their bow. They left the stage to thunderous applause.

  Bea’s and Charlotte’s eyes lit up at the sight of their husbands as they made their way to them, accepting congratulations along the way.

  Trailing behind the two, Piper smiled as well, but her eyes held a wary gleam.

  “Thanks for including me.” Bea hugged Piper, then Charlotte. “I had so much fun singing with you guys.”

  “You were absolutely amazing.” Clay pulled his wife close.

  “I think you may be just a teeny bit biased.” Bea’s fingers walked up the front of his shirt.

  “Magnificent,” Adam murmured. Resting his hands on his wife’s shoulders, he kissed her gently on the lips.

  Piper stood back, shifting from one foot to the other, a too-bright smile on her face.

  “Can I interest you in a game of darts, Piper?” Anders kept his tone light. “I have to warn you, though. I beat Beck two out of three.”

  “Then I should warn you that I have stellar aim,” Piper shot back, her forced smile relaxing.

  “Big talker.” Anders stepped to her. “Show me what you got.”

  They said their good-byes before heading toward the area where the dart boards were positioned…and found a long line of people.

  “Guess I’m going to have to wait to see just how good that aim of yours is.” Anders heaved an exaggerated sigh. “We could—”

  “Anders.” Fin Rakes skidded to a stop beside them. “I’ve been looking all over for you.”

  Pregnant and classy was how Anders would describe Ami’s sister. And was every woman in this town pregnant?

  “You know Piper.” Anders gestured toward the woman at his side.

  Fin offered a perfunctory smile. “Of course. How are you, Piper?”

  “I’m doing well.” Piper inclined her head. “If you need to speak with Anders alone, I can—”

  “No. Stay.” Fin placed a hand on Piper’s arm. “This will only take a minute.”

  “What do you need?” From the moment Anders had met Ami’s sister, he’d liked her, despite her somewhat prickly outer shell.

  “The Bayshore Hotel has a huge family reunion coming into town this weekend. First-timers to the peninsula. They arrived today and are staying through the weekend.”

  Anders had seen the large hotel near the water. Beck had pointed it out and told him it had been built a couple of years earlier. That’s also when he’d learned that Fin, now the wife of former mayor Jeremy Rakes, was in charge of bolstering tourism in the area.

  “What does this family reunion have to do with me?” Anders asked, trying to figure out the possible connection and coming up empty.

  Piper’s curious gaze said he wasn’t the only one puzzled.

  Fin blew out a breath. “The family wants to take their kids cross-country skiing while they’re here.”

  “Good plan.” Anders liked seeing families enjoy outdoor activities together.

  “The problem is they never mentioned wanting to hire a guide. They thought they’d simply hire one once they got here.”

  “I don’t see why they’d need a guide. It should be a fairly simple matter to give them a map of the area and the popular trails.” Anders still couldn’t pinpoint the issue or what Fin needed from him. He wished she’d get to the point.

  He sensed Piper’s growing restlessness. The last thing he wanted was for Piper to make some excuse and disappear into the crowd.

  “I’m not making myself clear.” Fin flung out her hands. “They need an instructor as much as they need a guide. Several have never skied before. They want someone to refresh them on the basics. And Sharron, my point person, told me they made it clear they also want a leader to take them on the trails.”

  Anders rubbed his chin. “Are there skis available?”

  “The equipment is covered for tomorrow.” Fin grimaced. “They didn’t tell me before they got here—and to be fair, I didn’t ask—that they also needed a leader. Which is where you come in.”

  Fin offered a beguiling smile.

  Anders felt the punch. He understood now why his brother said people tended to do as Fin asked.

  “You taught ski lessons in Aspen,” she continued. “You’re more
than qualified.”

  He cocked his head. “How’d you know about the ski lessons?”

  “We’re family. Family steps in to help when another family member is in a bind.” Fin turned to Piper, who’d remained silent. “Isn’t that right, Piper?”

  A look Anders couldn’t quite decipher skittered across Piper’s face. Anders wondered if she was thinking of all the demands her family was placing on her in regard to the upcoming wedding.

  Anders wanted to tell her—and Fin—that sometimes you had to say no to family…and that was okay.

  Piper lifted a shoulder in response to Fin’s effort to get her support, then let it drop, refusing to be drawn into the discussion. “It’s up to Anders.”

  “Please.” Fin met his gaze. “This group is big. If the family members have a good experience, they’ll continue to have their reunions in Good Hope. But this instructor snafu could leave a bad taste, and we could lose them for good.”

  “I’ll help.” Anders smiled. “Tell me where and when, and I’ll be there.”

  Fin flung her arms around him, her protruding belly pressing against him. Anders felt her baby’s swift kick against his abdomen, apparently not a fan of the close contact.

  “Hey, your kid just kicked me,” Anders said when Fin released him.

  She laughed. “He’s excited, just like I am.”

  “What time—” Anders began.

  “I’ll text you.”

  “You need my number.”

  “I got it from Ami.” Fin shot him a wink. “I’ll send you the details in a minute. Thanks, Anders. I told Jeremy you can always count on family.”

  Family? His sister-in-law’s sister? Anders chuckled to himself. Beck had said everyone was family in Good Hope. It appeared his brother had that right.

  “You taught skiing in Aspen?” Piper asked.

  “As well as a few other places.” Anders grinned and took her arm. “I’ll let you in on a little secret. This Georgia boy loves cold weather.”