After they placed their lunch order, Piper gestured to the front of her dress. “I normally don’t dress like this for lunch on the beach, but I was meeting with the owner of Marisol Boutique on Fifth Avenue.”
“How did it go?”
Piper pushed back from the table and crossed her legs. Her skirt hiked up just enough on her toned thigh to make Roman lose his train of thought.
“It went very well. She wants to carry my serpent jewelry line of bracelets and rings with precious and semi-precious stone eyes.” She locked eyes with him and the corners of her mouth curved up slyly. “It’s called Man Eater.”
Roman’s brows shot up. Was it his imagination or had her voice just lowered several decibels? Piper’s bold attitude as she sat before him with one lithe leg nonchalantly crossed over the other was different from their initial meeting when she’d been wary and aloof. What had happened since he’d last seen her to cause the change in her demeanor?
Piper paused and smiled at the waiter when he brought out their iced teas. “I’m sure you’re wondering how my visit with your mom went yesterday.”
“I am, especially when you cut our conversation short.”
“Sorry about that. I had to get ready for my date.” She plucked the slice of orange from the side of the tall glass and nibbled on it.
Her date? Who the hell was she dating, and why was she taunting him with those sexy lips as she leisurely ate the orange, interspersing each bite with a lick of her plump lower lip?
“I’m happy to report that your mom is just fine. I saw no signs that she’s losing it, as you put it during our last meeting.” She sounded triumphant.
Roman’s focus snapped from her distracting mouth to what she’d just stated. “How did you come to that conclusion?”
Piper shrugged. “Sadie’s mind is sharp, and she is pretty much healed from her Jet Ski injury, which by the way, was a torn ligament in her shoulder.”
“Then why is she still wearing the sling?”
She took a sip of her iced tea and set it on the table. “She only wears it when she’s carrying stuff, but the doctor said she could resume most of her normal activities now.”
Piper was making it seem as if he had no reason to be concerned, but there was no denying his mother had been acting loopy lately. “What about her visits to the cemetery? You can’t classify that as normal behavior,” he challenged.
Piper waved a blithe hand. “No worries there. Sadie is quite the matchmaker.”
Roman’s brows snapped together. Piper seemed to delight in each detail she revealed. “What does that mean?”
Piper’s mouth lifted into a catlike smile. “Exactly what I said. Your mom has been matchmaking for her single friends, and she’s good at it too. She’s thrilled with her success rate.”
Roman eyed her with doubt. “Wait a minute. Are you telling me that the men she picked up at the cemetery were for her friends, not her?” he asked incredulously.
“Yes. Isn’t that sweet?” Piper’s turquoise eyes sparkled with delight.
“Hardly,” he said in a dry tone.
“Your mom is so much fun,” Piper continued, ignoring Roman’s lack of enthusiasm. “She says she loves men and knows how to approach them. She even offered to set me up with a great guy.”
Roman sputtered on his iced tea and coughed several times. He blotted his mouth with the cloth napkin and scowled. “Are you going to take her up on her offer?”
“Sure, why not? A girl can never have too many dates.”
“Isn’t that a bit greedy?” he grumbled.
“Not at all. It’s a man’s world when it comes to dating. If someone as savvy as your mom wants to introduce me to a great guy, why would I refuse her offer?”
Roman remained silent. No doubt she was enjoying goading him, and like a fool, he was falling into her trap. He opened his mouth to say something, but shut it abruptly when the waiter approached with their lunch order. His fingertips drummed the table impatiently as he waited for him to serve the entrees.
Piper smiled sweetly at the middle-aged server when he set the blackened shrimp salad before her. “Thank you.”
The server nodded, and sensing the tension emanating from Roman, he placed the steak salad before him and left quickly.
“Who is this great guy my mom wants to introduce you to?” Roman demanded when they were alone.
Piper played with a long curl, twirling it around her finger with maddening calm as she considered his question. Guileless eyes met his evenly. “Nobody you know.”
“What does he do?” Roman said, though he knew he should just let it go.
Piper’s lips lifted in a hint of a smile. “She didn’t say, but boy did she rave about him.”
Roman’s jaw clamped down. “Oh she did, eh?”
Chapter 7
Piper grinned inwardly as she watched Roman get hot under the collar. Always keep ‘em guessing. Sadie’s parting advice yesterday regarding cocky men sure came in handy today.
She plowed into her salad with relish, enjoying Roman’s unease. “These shrimp are delicious. Want a taste?”
“No, I don’t want a taste,” he said testily.
Piper shrugged. “Suit yourself.”
Roman frowned. “I’m not sure you and my kooky mother are a good combination. You were supposed to make sure she wasn’t up to shenanigans and now you’re egging her on.”
“I’m not egging her on, and Sadie is not kooky,” Piper retorted. “She might be a free spirit, but she gives wise advice.”
“Sometimes,” he conceded gruffly. “When are you going back to check on her? I want you to ask her if she’s still taking pain meds.”
“Why would you want me to ask her that?” He sure was asking a lot.
“I’m worried she might be abusing her meds.”
A chill settled over Piper. “You didn’t mention that the last time we spoke. Is this something new?”
“Not entirely new. Something is definitely off with her, and I’m not the only one who has noticed. Since coming back to work after her injury, she has misplaced and lost some documents.”
“So what? That sounds like she had a few senior moments. Many of my clients do.”
Roman shook his head. “My mother might have a few senior moments and forget things now and then, but this is different. They were important documents having to do with our upcoming fundraiser, which she is chairing,” he added.
“Who else works at your office?”
“There are three other people, besides me and my mother.”
“Couldn’t one of them have misplaced the files?”
“No. Each time my mother couldn’t find a file, she went into a panic, and either Nadine or one of the volunteers eventually found it. I hope I’m wrong, but she might be overdoing the painkillers. The last thing she needs is an opioid addiction.”
Piper set her fork down and stared at him, her appetite suddenly gone. This was terrible. Opioid addiction was pervasive these days—a true epidemic, especially among the elderly. She sure hoped it wasn’t the case with Sadie.
She suddenly remembered what Sadie had told her. Nadine, our secretary, overheard Brie tell two board members that given my injury, I wouldn’t be able to handle the workload to make the event profitable. She said I might make unfortunate decisions and mistakes because I was taking an awful lot of pain meds, which isn’t true.
It was clear that there was no love lost between Sadie and Brie. Piper smelled rotten cheese. Could the disappearing files have anything to do with Brie?
“Have you asked her point blank if she’s still taking the drugs?” Piper asked.
Roman rubbed the back of his neck, his face taut with frustration. “Of course, but she denies it and because of privacy laws, I can’t check with her doctor or the pharmacy.”
Piper felt the beginning of a tension headache. She massaged her temples and mumbled, “Do you realize how awkward this is? I can’t just say to your mother, ‘Uh, Sadie, what pill
s have you been taking?’ It’s too intrusive.”
Roman looked unsympathetic to Piper’s objections. “You have experience with seniors. I’m sure you can find a way to do it diplomatically.”
Piper’s shoulders drooped. What a quandary! How could she refuse him when Sadie’s wellbeing was at stake? And what if there really was cause for concern? She had no choice but to go back and find out what was going on. It would be awkward, but she’d have to find a way.
Piper pushed her shoulders back and faced him squarely. “I came here with the intention of telling you I wasn’t going to be a watchdog on your mother. Now you add another detail to the skewed view you have of her state of mind.”
Roman’s eyes hardened to bronze metal as they focused on her. “It’s not skewed. I’m stating the facts and you’re taking them the wrong way. I need you to do this, Piper. I am willing to pay you very well.”
Piper glared at him, insulted and annoyed. Did he really think she could be bought? Persistence was one thing, but by the way Roman’s jaw was jutting, it was clear he planned on getting his way.
Piper thrust her chin forward and adopted the same stubborn expression darkening his face. “I am not taking your money for checking on Sadie. I didn’t see any evidence that something was off on Sunday.”
Roman’s expression remained resolute. “You only had one meeting,” he reminded her.
“I was there for four hours,” she snapped. “Don’t you trust what I told you?”
“I trust you completely.” He said it as if it were a no-brainer.
“Thanks, I’m honored.” She eyed him mutinously. Of course he trusted her. She had always been devoted to him, but he’d left her with a broken heart, never once contacting her in the past ten years, except to send a condolence card when her mother died five years ago.
Roman ran a hand though his short-cropped hair, drawing her attention to his muscular biceps and forearm. Why did she have to have a weakness for strong arms? His arms seemed made of steel - like his heart. Piper averted her gaze from the tempting manly eye candy. Everyone knew that candy wasn’t good for you.
“I didn’t mean to upset you, Gypsy.” The corners of Roman’s mouth lifted in a slow smile and his tawny eyes gleamed as he shifted gears. “Let’s start over.”
“First of all, don’t call me Gypsy. I don’t like it,” she retorted, amazed when he drew back in surprise. Did he really think he could sweet-talk her with his favorite nickname? She thrust her pointer finger in the air to emphasize the next and most important point. “And second of all, I can’t be bought. No matter how many big bucks you want to toss my way. So don’t even try it.”
He eyed her for a long moment. “I’ll have to find another way to compensate you then.”
“Stop it with the compensation talk already. I’m not going to back down on this.”
Roman’s eyes hardened as realization dawned that she wasn’t going to agree to his mandate. Piper stared back at him with narrowed eyes and a defiant set of her mouth.
After a moment he said, “Will you go back and check on her if I don’t mention paying you?”
He sure was persistent. She exhaled profoundly. “Yes.”
“Do we have a deal?” He held out his hand.
Piper laid her hand in his outstretched palm. The feel of his large, steely hand closing over her softer one sent tremors skittering through her. She caught her breath at the rampant speed of her heartbeat and the helpless pooling of desire. Astonished by her body’s insane reaction, her eyes flew open and she stared at him.
Roman’s face eased into a warm smile, disarming her further. “Deal?” he repeated, his voice husky. Had he felt the same electrifying connection?
“Deal,” she mumbled and snatched her hand away. Heat tinged her cheeks as he watched her intently. Was he remembering how beautifully their bodies had fit together in the past? How she could never resist melting into him when he held her close?
The flushed warmth in her face intensified, spreading down her neck and into her breasts, filling her with an aching yearn for more.
She gazed at him in dismay, painfully aware that he had to notice she was feeling unhinged. What just happened? She had arrived feeling self-confident and ready to slay the lion, but now she felt like a vulnerable lamb powerlessly trudging into his outstretched jaws.
It wasn’t fair. The lion got to do as he damned well pleased, luring her with his raw magnetism. His burnished eyes glowed with desire as she sat before him, shaken to the core. Sensual memories came back to taunt her, reminding her of how amazing it had been between them.
Piper swallowed hard and broke eye contact. She grabbed her glass and swigged the rest of her iced tea, allowing the cool liquid to soothe her suddenly parched throat. Staring at her empty glass, she felt the pull of his hot gaze.
The waiter came rushing forward to refill her glass, giving her time to arrange her scattered thoughts and calm the skittering sensations invading her body.
Roman’s cell phone resting on the table beeped with a text message, and they both peered at the screen as it lit up.
When are you coming over, babe? Your kitty wants to hear the Roman lion rrrroar.
The text was followed by hearts, smileys and sexy lingerie emoji.
Stone-faced, Roman shut the volume off on his phone and set it facedown, but not before she saw that the text was from his current girlfriend, the notorious Brie.
Piper lifted her nose with a haughty sniff. “Who’s Brie?” she asked nonchalantly. “Your kitten or cheese?”
Roman responded with a quelling look. “A friend,” he said, his tone succinct.
Piper arched a brow and emitted a throaty chuckle to throw him off. If he was expecting her to react with jealousy, she wasn’t going to give him the satisfaction. “Do you roar for all your friends?”
After a weighted pause, he exhaled forcefully. “It’s complicated,” he said at last. Nothing else.
“I’ll bet.” Piper’s upper lip curled. She grabbed her fork and stabbed a shrimp with a vengeance, ignoring his probing gaze.
Chapter 8
Roman ate the last bite of his salad and washed it down with the remaining iced tea while Piper finished her salad in deliberate silence. The tension in each precise bite of her even, white teeth looked like she wanted to bite him, not the shrimp.
He smothered a grin. Well, bring it on, Gypsy. Nothing would please him more than a sharp little nip from that sexy mouth. Just watching her eat was a major turn on.
When she finished eating, Piper set her fork down and took a sip of water. She fished a mint from her handbag and popped it in her mouth.
Roman smiled. “Some habits never die,” he murmured, letting her know he remembered how she always ate a mint after her meals to refresh her palate.
“Would you like one?” she asked, starchily holding out the small, rectangular box of peppermints.
“Sure. Thanks.” He took one and watched her replace the container in her handbag with jerky movements. Clearly, Brie’s text had set her off. He would have never had his phone in full view if he hadn’t been expecting a bid on one of his oceanfront properties.
He’d have to keep an eye on the phone while it lay face down on the table. If he saw it light up again, he’d let her know he was expecting important communication from the realtor. But before that happened, he’d change the topic or their time reconnecting would be shot.
“I’m curious. What made you start a concierge service for senior citizens?” he said. He’d never asked her and this was as good a time to find out.
He watched the tension ease from her shoulders as she considered his question. “Actually, it was a fluke. Georgie and I were brainstorming ideas on how to supplement our incomes. When she told me about her idea and how it would work, I was on board right away.”
“How did she sell you on it?”
“Neither of us have grandparents who are still alive, and we miss them. We want to help seniors remain independent
as long as they can. We take the worry out of their day-to-day living needs like running errands or driving them to their appointments.” Her eyes glowed with kindness. “Sometimes they’re just lonely and want someone to provide an ear and a hug.”
Roman liked hearing her compassion and seeing her newfound confidence. As a teenager she had tried so hard to fit in with her peers, but it wasn’t in her nature to be one of the cool kids. She’d been shy and self-conscious about her meager circumstances, but he’d always thought she looked amazing in whatever outfit she created with very little means. She was s nonconformist, and he loved that about her.
He recalled the first time he laid eyes on her at the school cafeteria. With her mane of long dark curls and sparkling turquoise eyes, she was the most beautiful girl he’d ever seen, and when he coaxed a sweet smile from her, he was smitten.
“Sounds like you enjoy your work,” he said.
“I do. Not as much as I enjoy making jewelry, but it’s rewarding.” The corners of her mouth lifted, drawing him into the warmth of her smile. “I’ve met many interesting retired folks from every walk of life.”
“I can imagine. Lots of snowbirds here.”
“It’s not just the snowbirds. We serve a lot of locals too. Many seniors are on fixed incomes, so we charge reasonable rates, and we get enough business to pay for living expenses.”
“That’s great. I’m happy for you and proud of your success.” He wanted her to be successful and never want for anything again.
“Thank you. I appreciate that.” Piper’s gaze grew thoughtful as she peered at him. “Tell me about yourself.” She hesitated. “Are you still competing?”
“Only for charitable events. I’m more focused on expanding my tennis academy. That and my tennis foundation for kids take up most of my time.”
“Are you still traveling a lot?”
He shook his head. “Not nearly as much.”
“Do you miss it?” She said it casually, but the shadow in her eyes told him she hadn’t forgotten that his wanderlust and fierce ambition had ultimately destroyed their relationship.
Loved by You Page 5