Captivated: Emerson Falls, Book 3 (Emerson Falls Series)

by Harlow James

  I set the dish towel on the counter, and then run down the hall to our room, sliding my jeans and sweater off and changing into a black floor-length maxi dress that is elegant, yet still comfortable and casual enough for the restaurant. Releasing my hair from my clip, I run my finger through it, creating soft waves and grab my lip gloss, gliding the color onto my lips in a hurry.

  Normally, I would spend more time on my appearance, but I’m dying to peak in Mason’s office before he comes searching for me, claiming that I’m taking too long. I push open the door, greeted by the larger-than-necessary mahogany desk that sits in the center of the room, surrounded by walls covered in rowing trophies and Dean’s List certificates, and his degree and certifications for real estate. I scurry across the carpet in my wedges and begin searching his desk, looking for anything that may seem suspicious. Of course, if Mason is hiding something from me, I assume he wouldn’t leave it out in plain sight for me to find.

  I open drawer after drawer until I come to one at the bottom that requires a little banging before it pops open. Inside is a burgundy padded notebook, which I’ve never seen before. I bend down to fetch it and slowly open it, like something may fly out and catch me off-guard.

  But the list of names and dollar amounts staring back at me is just as alarming, if not even scarier, as I take in the zeros following the numbers. It looks like some sort of ledger, and if I consider what I just heard Mason say on the phone, I’m guessing that this isn’t the amount of money he’s earning, but rather what he owes to someone else.

  I put on my best face during dinner, but internally I’m drowning—drowning in Mason’s lies and the impenetrable fear he’s instilled in me. After Mason leaves for work the next day, I rush to my parent’s house, seeking my mother to talk to. I find her in the formal dining room, reading the newspaper while she sips on her coffee and eats her breakfast.

  “Pfeiffer?” Her head pops up as she wonders why I’m here. I was so anxious to get to her, I didn’t even take the time to call her and let her know I was on my way.

  “Mom,” I say, partially out of breath. “I need to talk to you. I… I don’t know what to do or think right now.”

  She moves to stand, walking around the table to pull me into her arms. “Shhhh, it’s okay, baby. You’re scaring me. What’s going on?”

  “Mom,” I start and then push myself out of her grasp so I can see her eyes as I speak. “I think Mason is in some sort of trouble… money trouble. I heard him on the phone, pleading with someone to give him more time to come up with money he owes them, and then he threw our family name out there when he started sounding desperate. He told them he is engaged to me and that he needs a few days to get the money…”

  My mother’s face shows her confusion. “Mason? Money trouble? This just can’t be right. Are you sure you heard what you think you did, honey?”

  “Mom, I know what I heard. Mason doesn’t even know that I heard it though. He came out of his office and I pretended to be washing dishes so he didn’t know I was eavesdropping. He acted like nothing just happened… he was calm and casual. It freaked me out! Obviously he’s hiding something from me, but then he put on this face like he was perfectly fine. My head is spinning here, Mom. If he could act like that so easily, what else has he been hiding from me?”

  “This is alarming. And now that you’ve told me this, I wonder if his call to your father this morning to meet for a working lunch has something to do with it.” Her eyes dart around the room as she processes the information I shared.

  “He called Dad to meet up?”

  “Yes, early this morning before he left for the office.”

  “You need to call him, Mom. Tell him not to give him money, or at least let him know what Mason is up to.”

  “I will. But until we know more, you need to pretend like you know nothing, Pfeiffer. If Mason is in serious trouble, there’s no telling what can happen. Just keep playing your part and hopefully, we can get to the bottom of this.”

  I nod, even though my body is still shuddering from the adrenaline running through me, her hands rubbing my back soothingly.

  “It’s going to be okay, Pfeiffer. It’s going to be okay…”

  Chapter 11

  Cash

  “You seem more irritated than normal,” Cooper huffs as we spar in the ring at the gym. “Having trouble getting laid after your STD diagnosis?”

  I swing hard and connect with the padded helmet on his head, still landing a good punch, but not doing irreparable damage. “Not that it’s any of your business, but it’s been a while, yes,” I grit out, shuffling on my feet as we bounce around each other, waiting for the other one to make a move.

  “Your poor dick. It must be depressed, huh?” He jokes, and I swing hard again, but he ducks this time to avoid the hit.

  Truth be told, this is the longest I’ve ever gone without sex since I lost my virginity. Four weeks is too long for this red-blooded male to go without the tight, wet heat between a woman’s legs. But that’s how long it’s been since Labor Day, when a long-legged blonde nurse entered my life and knocked it off balance.

  “Just haven’t found anyone interesting,” I lie. I found someone interesting alright, someone so damn intriguing that my dick doesn’t even want to fathom the idea of someone else. Piper is the star in my fantasies each night in bed and each morning in the shower, making me harder than I think I’ve ever been—and that’s a huge problem for my sex drive, pun intended.

  “Nah, I think you’ve found someone you want. And I think that’s the problem. What happened with the girl from the bar?”

  I shuffle around the ring, contemplating whether I should try to land a punch again to shut him up, or how much I should divulge to Cooper. The guy is my best friend and earlier this year, it was him that was having girl trouble. I’ve never considered myself the talk-about-my-feelings type of guy, but maybe his opinion on the matter would help me figure out how to approach my situation with Piper.

  “Can we talk about this while we’re not trying to beat the shit out of each other?” I huff as I drop my hands, my chest heaving with every intake of oxygen.

  “Yeah, truce.” Cooper taps his gloves with mine before we both exit the ring and head to the locker room. Once showered and dressed, Cooper takes a seat on one of the benches next to me, resting his forearms on his thighs as he waits for me to speak.

  “Her name is Piper, and fuck man…” I shake my head, still baffled that a woman has wormed her way into my mind and has made me question the way I’ve been living my life for years.

  “And the man has met his match,” Cooper chuckles. “I remember you telling me her name in the bar, but how do you know her? And more importantly, why did she smack you around that night? You took off after her so fast, Clara and I were left with a shit ton of questions.”

  I spend the next few minutes filling Cooper in on my encounters with Piper—pulling her over on Labor Day, waking up in the hospital with her as my nurse, her overhearing about the date with Misty being a bet, and then kissing her in the parking lot.

  “Damn, Cash. I’m kind of concerned. In the few years I’ve known you, I don’t think I’ve ever seen you chase after a woman. And then you fucking kissed her? Are you feeling alright? Did you really hit your head that hard?” Cooper reaches up to pretend like he’s checking my temperature with the back of his hand on my forehead as I swat him away. After my little accident that landed me in the hospital, Cooper checked in on me once I was released. Part of the job is being put in harm’s way, so if someone isn’t shot or near death, we don’t overreact. Now when Cooper was shot, you bet your ass I was visiting him in the hospital, even though it was only a graze wound.

  “Fuck off, man. Look, I’m just as confused as you. But she’s fucking gorgeous, Coop. And she fights me—goes back and forth with every snarky comment I throw her way. She’s intelligent and volunteers at the retirement center when she’s not saving lives at the hospital, and just the thought of her drives m
e fucking crazy.”

  “Wait… how do you know she volunteers?”

  Fuck. I guess there are even more details about my life I need to fill Cooper in on now.

  “Well, there’s something else I should tell you I guess, since I’m baring my soul today and shit.” Exhaling heavily, I inform Cooper about why I moved to Emerson Falls in the first place—to be closer to Birdie.

  “I feel like I don’t even know you right now, man,” Cooper shoves my arm, trying to lighten the mood.

  “Yeah, well, few people see that side of me. If it weren’t for coincidental timing and what I’m beginning to think is some sort of fate, Piper wouldn’t even know about her.”

  “Why are you hiding that, Cash? I think the fact that Birdie is that important to you isn’t something you should keep to yourself. In fact, knowing that about you now only solidifies the loyalty I know you showcase every day in your job. You may be someone that plays things off casually day to day, but I’ve always known deep down you were a guy who isn’t as selfish as you lead everyone to believe. Why do you think we’re friends? If I didn’t think you were a good guy, I wouldn’t be here.” Cooper shrugs and then sits up tall, turning to face me straight on. “Here’s how I look at it. I spent months with Clara, seeing her behind closed doors because that’s what she wanted. If I had actually gone after what I wanted sooner, we could have both saved each other some heartache, but lesson learned. Anyway, my point is, if Piper is what you want, then go after her.”

  Releasing a deep breath I didn’t realize I was holding, I contemplate what Cooper’s saying. I know that when I asked Piper out the other night, she turned me down. But maybe Cooper is on to something. I know she was fighting what she clearly wanted—what we clearly both want. I felt her desire for me in her kiss last week. I know she’s attracted to me like I am to her. And I know that even though everything inside of me is screaming to run the other way, there is a part of me desperate to know more about her, break down the wall she’s erected between us. She’s a mystery, and I love a good puzzle.

  “I don’t know how to do that, Coop. This all so foreign to me. I don’t date seriously, I don’t chase women, they come to me. And, well, she kinda shot me down when I asked her out the other night…”

  “You… Cash Williams… asked a girl out on a date?” Cooper’s eyebrows shoot up.

  “Fuck off, man. Seriously, you think I should still go after her? God, I hate that I’m even having this conversation with you right now. I feel like such a goddamn pussy.” I rake my hands through my wet hair in frustration.

  “Don’t be. Remember when I got all mushy on you in the cruiser talking about Clara? Even though we’re men, we need to process shit out loud too. And who better to do that with than each other?”

  I narrow my eyes at him from the side. “Okay, now you’re freaking me out. Being in a relationship is making you all warm and fuzzy. I feel like we need to beat the shit out of each other again just to get our man cards back.”

  Cooper’s laugh fills the locker room. “Maybe next time. I’ve got a smokin’ hot woman waiting for me for a lunch date, and you have some wooing to do.”

  “Wooing? How the fuck do I do that?”

  “Show her who you really are, man. Show her that you’re interested and not going anywhere. Don’t let her tell you no. Be the cocky asshole I know you are, but just a little less cocky and asshole-y than normal,” he winks, and then grabs his bag and stands to leave.

  “Coop,” I call after him. “Thanks, man. Wish me luck. Fuck knows I’m gonna need it.”

  “Good luck, man, but you’ve got this. Wear her down.”

  I brought a change of clothes to the gym, so I’m dressed and ready to take on the rest of my day before I visit Birdie this afternoon. I try to see her as often as I can during the week, usually a night here or there, and at least on one of my days off. Well, today is my day off, so Birdie asked if I could come by earlier than normal for a game of Scrabble.

  Cheez Its in hand, I make my way inside, checking in with Sarah at the front desk like normal.

  “You know, I’ve never understood why you always bring Cheez Its when you visit, Cash. I mean, Birdie has a car and could buy some at the store easily on her own, but you always bring a box with you. I need to know.” Sarah rests her chin in her propped up arms and waits.

  Leaning against the counter, I rest one elbow on the smooth surface and then confess. “We always ate them together when I was a kid. They were my favorite snack, and when they came out with the White Cheddar flavor, Birdie and I went nuts over them. Since then, they were a requirement when we watched a movie or played a game. She knows she can get her own, but it’s always better when I bring them to her myself.”

  “Wow. That’s really cheesy, but I love it,” she giggles just as a woman approaching us pulls my attention to the hall, forcing my body to rise as I study the movement of her hips.

  Piper. Fuck, she looks amazing. Black leggings encase her thick thighs and long legs. She has a loose, light purple sweater hanging off one of her shoulders, and her long blonde hair is pulled up into a high ponytail, showing off the milky skin of her neck and the beautiful curves of her shoulders. She strides so effortlessly across the floor, floating towards me like the angel I dream her to be.

  And… there goes my dick again, waking from his slumber, sniffing out the woman he wants as she comes closer.

  “Hi, Piper. Have you met Cash yet?” Sarah asks as Piper arrives at the receptionist desk.

  “Uh, yes, I have. Here are the sign-up sheets for next week’s paint class, by the way.” She hands Sarah a stack of papers.

  “Perfect. Cash, did you know that Piper here is one of our new volunteers?”

  I glance in her direction, watching Piper’s face as Sarah introduces us, loving how uncomfortable she looks right now. The tension between us is palpable—so strong, I wonder if Sarah can sense it.

  “Yes, I knew that. Remember, I’m here almost as much as you,” I shoot a wink at Sarah as Piper’s eyes narrow at me.

  “Yeah, we do see a lot of each other, huh?” Sarah smiles as Piper raises her chin curiously, almost questioning what’s going on between Sarah and me.

  “Not enough, in my opinion. But hey, I need to get to Birdie, so I’ll see you later,” I say to Sarah as I walk closer to Piper. “What are you doing here today, beautiful?” Piper turns and starts walking back to where she came from, pretending I’m not following her.

  “Don’t try to pretend I didn’t just walk up on you flirting with Sarah. You make no sense, Cash. You say you want me, yet you can’t refrain from charming the pants off of any attractive woman you come across.”

  Oh, this is gonna be good. I can’t wait to put her in her place right now.

  “Sorry, babe. It’s a reflex. But hey, maybe Sarah would be interested in tagging along on a date with us sometime?”

  Piper stops dead in her tracks and turns to face me. “Are you kidding me?”

  “Nope. I’m sure her and her wife would love to go on a double date.”

  Piper’s face falls and then her mouth drops open. “Wait… her what?”

  I can’t help the laugh that escapes my lips, and the look of confusion on Piper’s face just makes me laugh even harder. “Sarah is gay, sweetheart. But hey, good to know you were still jealous.” I reach up to tuck a strand of hair behind her ear, watching her eyes for her reaction—and she’s as see-through as a jellyfish. The hitch in her breath accompanied by the rise and fall of her chest alerts me to the fact that she may say she can’t get involved with me, but that’s definitely not what her body wants.

  “Cash… I…” She starts before I grasp her hand and then pull her behind me, searching for an empty room or hallway to pull her into. Once I remember there’s a corridor that leads outside that rarely has foot traffic, I turn sharply as Piper struggles to keep up, twisting her around and pinning her up against the wall as her rapid breathing fills the space between us.

  �
�Piper, I’m going to say this one more time. Let me take you out. Let me show you that you mean something to me—what that is yet, I’m not sure, but fuck if I know I’m dying to find out. I meant what I said the other night. I want to get to know you. Let me prove to you that I’m more than the guy you got a glimpse of the first few weeks we crossed paths.” My eyes search hers for an answer, my heart beating so violently in my chest, I swear my whole body is vibrating from the rhythm.

  A hard swallow of Piper’s throat and a few seconds later, I finally get the words I’ve been so desperate to hear. “My head is telling me to tell you no again, Cash. But my heart—for the love of me, I don’t know why—but my heart is telling me to give you a chance. I don’t understand it. This makes no sense to me and it terrifies me, but I think everyone deserves the opportunity to prove themselves. So…” she pauses, biting down on her lip before putting me out of my misery. “One date. Show me what kind of man you truly are. But if at the end of the date, I can’t look past everything I’ve already seen, you let me go.” She’s out of breath by the time she’s done speaking, almost like uttering those words and giving in to what she’s feeling towards me was exhausting for her, like she ran a marathon of emotions just now.

  And as fast as my hope skyrocketed, Piper’s ultimatum buried it beneath the cold ground below us. But this is my chance, so I have to take what I can get. I’ll show her everything if it means she’ll let me in—let me figure out what makes her tick and what she’s hiding, because I know it’s there. A desperation I didn’t know I was capable of feeling hits me hard when I realize Piper fucking owns me already and I barely know her.

  “One date. I won’t let you down,” I reply, my eyes dipping down to her lips that have been haunting my dreams and taunting me since I saw her walking towards me in the hall.

  “Please don’t. I don’t think my heart can take being let down again,” she whispers and fuck it—I lean down and press my lips lightly to hers as I feel her body melt beneath mine. I give her one small stroke of my tongue and then use every ounce of control I possess to pull away from her, leaning my forehead down to hers.