by Harlow James
He had sent me a few sweet messages over the past few days, telling me good morning, to have a great day at work, or how much he was looking forward to our date. I thought the gesture was sweet, since it clearly showed he was thinking about me. And I can’t remember if I ever felt like I was a priority in someone else’s mind at the beginning of their day, especially Mason’s.
Looking back, I think I became so complacent with him in our relationship because I didn’t know any better and it was easy. I didn’t have anything to compare it to. The aspects of dating that Mason showed me were the only glimpses of dating I’ve ever experienced.
But now with Cash, I’m seeing the entirely new side of getting to know someone—being pursued relentlessly, desired not just physically, but mentally as well, and stimulated in every way another being could interest someone else.
Five minutes before six, there’s a knock at my door. His text that he was on his way told me to expect him, but just the sound of his arrival has me buzzing with anticipation.
Taking a deep breath in an attempt to calm my nerves, I stand tall before answering the door, greeted with the delectable man that has been clouding my mind since I first laid eyes on him. He’s wearing a dark green Henley that stretches across his broad chest, dark wash denim, and brown leather boots. The man oozes confidence and sex appeal and just the sight of him makes my head swirl and my body heat from head to toe.
“Hi,” I finally say breathlessly, admiring the man picking me up for our date, and begging to be pinched awake from this dream. This man standing before me wants me—but I’m terrified that I may want him more.
Chapter 13
Cash
Fuck, she’s stunning. Of course, she could probably be wearing a brown paper bag and I’d still want to fuck her. But Piper has the type of beauty that doesn’t just come from her looks. It’s evident in the way she carries herself, her smile that twists my stomach in knots, and the confidence she possesses in each one of her movements. It’s in the way she uses her free time to enrich the lives of the members at the retirement home and how she’s giving me a chance when lord knows I don’t deserve one. Her heart is pure gold, a fact I remind myself of as I muster up the courage to take this woman on a date that means more to me than any other date I’ve been on. This is the first time in my life where I think I’ve defined beauty in terms of qualities that can’t be seen by the naked eye because all of the things that make Piper gorgeous are located way beyond her surface.
“Hey, gorgeous,” I greet her as she stands in the doorway.
“You’re early.”
“I’m trying to make a good impression here, Piper. Showing up late would definitely negate that.” I hand her the bouquet of flowers I had hidden behind my back, a bundle of lilies that called to me when I was picking out an arrangement. But before I can deliver them to her hands, they slip from my grasp and tumble to the floor. My first attempt to woo her and I failed miserably. The smooth movements I’m usually confident in are taking on a more bumpy ride every time I’m near Piper.
“Shit. Sorry.” I fumble to pick them up, the stems breaking free from the plastic wrapper that encased them, disheveling the picture-perfect arrangement into more of something mimicking a hot mess.
The corner of her mouth tips up in a playful grin as she moves aside when I stand tall in front of her again, flowers clenched in my hands. “Well, you’re off to a good start. Thank you for the flowers,” she says as she wrestles the heap from my hands. “So, this is my place.” With a wave of her hand, she moves around me before walking to the kitchen, filling up a vase with water and placing the flowers inside as I admire her quaint living room and kitchen.
For an apartment, the place is actually quite spacious and Piper’s added decorative details make it feel like a home. The furniture and décor is all in varying shades of grey and white, with teal accents. A few paintings hang on the walls, a TV sits in the corner on a stand that the couch faces, and her kitchen sits just behind that with a small dining table between. It’s bright and airy, somehow mirroring the aura that she has around her. I know I’ve caught the more fiery and dark sides to her, but she still has a glow around her when she enters a room.
“It’s exactly how I would imagine your place to look.” I turn to her, studying her face as she watches me, admiring the shimmer on her eyelids, her long lashes highlighted with mascara, and the subtle cherry tint to her lips, all framed by her silky blonde hair.
“Thank you. So, are you ready to go?” She reaches for her purse and then starts walking towards the door.
“Absolutely. Bring a coat though, just in case. The temperature is going to drop tonight.”
“Will we be outside?” She asks, opening a small closet by the front door, retrieving a dark brown coat with a fur-lined hood.
“Maybe,” I tease, not wanting to give too much away about my plans for the evening. I spent all week planning out this date, knowing I had one shot to make an impression, so every detail counted. We have reservations at a fondue restaurant about thirty minutes away called The Melting Pot, a very romantic spot where we can feed each other bite-sized food dipped in cheese and chocolate, while sipping wine and engaging in conversation. I took a page out of Kane’s book, Cooper’s future brother-in-law, and have a list of questions ready to ask her tonight. Then after dinner, I want to drive out to this spot up on one of the mountains that offers a spectacular view of Emerson Falls and the surrounding towns, where we can lie in the back of my truck and stare up at the stars while I point out the three constellations I know I can locate with confidence. Maybe that will lead to a make-out session and some heavy petting, but I’m not gonna push it. However, I know for certain that I’m ready to show Piper that this date and chance means everything to me and each second has to count.
Piper turns to lock her door once we’re outside and I guide her to my truck, placing my hand on the small of her back. I’m looking for any excuse to touch her tonight, and this was the first opportunity I found. The current that flows between us every time our bodies connect gives me a high like nothing I’ve ever felt, and I feel like a junkie, chasing that feeling with wild abandon.
“Thank you,” she says as I open her door for her and help her up inside. “Such a gentleman.”
“Birdie would have my head if I didn’t open your door for you. So in case she ever asks, please make sure to give me a five-star rating.”
“The date’s just begun. You’ve gotta earn those stars, Cash. Right now you’re acting as my Uber. Later, you’ll be my date, and then the true test is how you act at the end of the night. Don’t think this will be easy,” she replies as I close the door and make my way around to the driver’s side, shaking my head at her sass, and then firing up the engine and taking off for the next town over where we’ll have dinner.
“So, Piper… I know you said you’d just moved here when I pulled you over on Labor Day, so I’ve got to know… what brought you to Emerson Falls?” I flick my eyes over at her, trying to see her and make conversation while still keeping my eyes on the road.
Piper’s line of sight falls to her hands in her lap as she plays with her fingers nervously. I shouldn’t find it amusing how reserved she seems now that we’re driving, especially when this woman has just shown me her heated disposition. But her fidgeting tells me I’m not the only one anxious about the evening.
I’m in unchartered territory here, taking a woman on a date without the sole intention of it leading to sex. And believe me, I can’t wait for that to happen with Piper because I’m dying to make her unravel beneath me, touching every inch of her skin and discovering all of the spots on that luscious body that make her cry out in pleasure. But Piper deserves the whole shebang—the dates, the wooing, the sweet gestures that I’ve always avoided showing women because it made them think there was more to our arrangement than just sex. So I’m rattled with the pressure to make sure everything is perfect for her tonight, securing a second date instead of letting her go
, like she made me promise I would if I couldn’t prove myself.
“Well, I guess I just wanted a fresh start,” she mutters, looking out the window instead of over at me.
“A fresh start, huh? Care to elaborate?” I’m trying to not read too much in between the lines, but now that she said that my mind is running. My thoughts instantly veer back to when she looked around the bar at Tony’s that night when she slapped me. She was searching for something, like she felt like she was being watched. I mean, I understand that need for a fresh start, looking for the same thing when I moved to Oregon after I graduated from high school, desperate to escape the life my parents made me live. But something about the way Piper makes that declaration invites a shit ton of questions in my mind.
“I guess I just needed to spread my wings,” she says.
“I can understand that. Where are you from exactly?”
“Uh, Charleston.”
“Nice. I’ve never been but would love to visit one day.”
“It’s beautiful, especially in the summer time. So what about you? You said you were from Washington the other night… which part?” She tucks her hair behind her ears as she turns, listening intently.
“Well, I was born in Seattle, but then my parents moved us out to Sammamish when I started school. My mother wanted me to have a more traditional upbringing outside of the city where the best schools were and all of the families had money like us.”
“Oh, were you one of the little rich boys?” Her grin grows wider, finding humor in this new piece of information I offered up.
“Unfortunately, yes. And if it weren’t for Birdie, I’d probably be just as awful as the majority of them are.”
Piper huffs besides me. “Oh, I know all about the thoughts and behaviors of the privileged. My family has money too.”
“Really? Are we talking country club memberships and debutant balls?”
“Oh yeah. Except my parents remained honest humans, despite the social circles we were involved in. We didn’t let our money change us or how we treated others. In fact, when I told them I wanted to be a nurse, both of my parents were extremely supportive. Other girls in our circle only went to school for the piece of paper, all the while knowing they would just marry into money and never have to work a day in their lives. I never wanted that.”
Piper’s drive gives me yet another reason why I’m so drawn to her. She wasn’t willing to sacrifice what she wanted to fit in to the cookie-cutter-life she was born into, and better yet, she had parents who didn’t pressure her to do that either. Envy hits me hard as I think about how my parents never gave me that support. Piper and I may have a similar upbringing in common, but I’m sure our family interactions were far different.
“Sounds like the Piper I know.”
She tilts her head in my direction, searching for clarity. “What do you mean?”
“Well, from the interactions we’ve had, I know you stand up for what you believe in and speak up about things you find wrong. Hell, you put me in my place more than once, so I admire that you insisted on having a life you wanted instead of settling for one you thought you were supposed to have.”
A subtle smile graces her lips before she turns to face the road once again. “Well, thank you. I couldn’t imagine doing anything else with my life. I love my job, and I thank God every day I got the chance to fulfill that dream.”
“Do you like working at the hospital? You know, even when handsome deputies hit on you?” I chide, making Piper chuckle beside me.
“Yes, even when the patients are royal pains in the ass.”
“Come on babe. If I hadn’t been such an ass, we wouldn’t be here right now. Call it what you want, but I think things all panned out the way they were supposed to.”
“We’ll see if that’s true,” she fires back before growing silent as we cruise along the highway, closing in on our destination.
“So, do you have any siblings? Family you’re close with?” I’m reaching with questions here, but I want to know as much about her as possible. I wish I could safely check my phone for my list while I’m driving, but it’s not worth the risk.
“No. I’m an only child. My mother had a difficult time getting pregnant, miscarrying several times before I stuck. Her delivery was scary too, so once I was born, my parents decided to be content with one child and made me their entire world. If there is one thing I miss more than anything about home, it’s them.” The light from oncoming traffic highlights the tears building in Piper’s eyes.
“Fuck. I’m sorry, Piper. I didn’t mean to make you cry.” Reaching for her hand, she gives into my touch willingly as I try to comfort her from the driver’s seat.
“No, it’s okay. It’s just been months since I’ve seen them.”
“Do you plan to go home to visit soon? Or are they gonna come out here?”
She sniffles and then looks away from me. “Maybe someday soon,” she says wistfully, and the despair in her voice radiates off of her and sinks into me.
“Well, not that I can relate to missing my parents because I couldn’t wait to escape their manipulation and greed, but I know how lonely it can be in a new place. Just know you’re not alone now, sweetheart,” I offer as we continue to glide along the highway.
“Thank you. For the first time in months, I actually don’t feel so alone. I’m sorry you don’t have a great relationship with your family, but at least you have Birdie.” She smiles sweetly just as the truck jolts to the left and a loud pop echoes outside, both of our bodies giving into the momentum.
“Fuck,” I shout as I attempt to control the swerve of the wheel and loud thumping sounds beneath the vehicle as our entire balance is thrown off.
Gripping the handle on the door, Piper turns to me as I pull over on the side of the road. “What was that? What happened?”
“Sounds like I blew a tire. Let me go check it out.” I spring out of the truck on the side of the highway, walking around to the right rear tire that’s completely shredded. Rage builds in my body as I stare at the rubber splattered around the rim like my hope is being desecrated right now.
Piper’s door pops open as she jumps down and walks over to me, and even though I’m fucking livid, I can’t help but admire the sway of her hips as she saunters towards me. But then I remember why we’re outside of my truck in the first place.
“Well, that doesn’t look good,” she jokes as I shoot her a glare. This can’t be happening. Tonight was supposed to go perfectly. This was my one chance to impress Piper and it seems karmic retribution chose tonight to pay its dues.
“No, it doesn’t. And, my spare is at home in my garage. I took it out last week when I had to pick up some supplies from Home Depot, and I forgot to put it back in. Fuck!” I shout, running my hands through my hair.
Piper rests her hand on my tense shoulder. “Hey, it’s alright, Cash. No biggie. Do you have AAA?”
“Yeah, I do,” I mutter just as red and blue flashing lights turn on behind us and a police cruiser pulls up behind my truck. “Are you fucking kidding me?”
“Hey, everything okay?” Cooper steps out of the cruiser and walks over to us on the shoulder of the road. “I recognized your truck, man.” Sliding his head around me, he notices Piper to my right. “Oh, hey. You must be Piper.” Extending his hand to shake hers, she reaches for him simultaneously.
“Yes, hi. You are?”
“Cooper Walsh. I work with Cash.”
“Piper, this is Cooper, my best friend. Cooper, this is the infamous Piper.” I step back so I’m not between them anymore as I watch their interaction.
“Infamous? You’ve been talking about me?” Piper teases as Cooper subtly laughs.
“Oh yeah, he’s talked about you. All good things, though.”
“Hey, man. If you wanna keep that best friend card, you’d better watch what you say.”
Cooper strides up closer to the tire to inspect the damage. “Fuck, that tire’s done. Call AAA to come get the truck and I can giv
e you guys a lift back into town, man.”
“This fucking sucks. I had reservations at The Melting Pot.”
“Oh, that sounds interesting,” Piper interjects and then quickly sees the frustration on my face. “But hey, we can go another time. It’s okay, Cash, truly.” She’s trying to comfort me, but beneath the calm exterior I’m fighting to portray, I’m furious about our circumstances. Fighting every natural need I have to punch something right now, the least I can do is take a deep breath and be grateful that Piper is being so easy-going about the shitty situation we’ve found ourselves in. “I’ll make it up to you, I promise,” I state before reaching into my pocket and fetching my phone, dialing the number for AAA to come get my truck as I walk away from her, seething from my anger.
Once I’ve cooled down and rejoined Cooper and Piper next to my truck, we all make small talk until about fifteen minutes later when the tow truck arrives, the driver working quickly to get my car loaded and secured on the ramp. “I’ll take her to JJ’s Garage back in town. He’ll call you in the morning when it’s all ready to go.”
“Thanks,” I reach to shake the driver’s hand, then turn back to Piper, who has been waiting patiently the whole time. “You’re probably starving by now, huh? I’m so fucking sorry, Piper. Tonight was not supposed to go like this. You gave me a chance here, and I’m fucking blowing it.”
With a slight tip of her lips, her hand reaches for mine. “This isn’t your fault, Cash. This is just a little bump in the road,” she consoles me as her stomach growls and we both laugh. “Apparently, I could eat though. But listen, it doesn’t have to be fancy. I’m good with just a burger and fries, honestly.”
“Then I know just the place.” I lead her to Cooper’s cruiser, where we sit side by side in the backseat behind the metal barricade.
“Sure is weird being on this side of the cage,” I jokingly mumble as we drive back to Emerson Falls.