Loved by You

by Sophia Knightly

  Piper bit into another cookie and chomped on it. “I’m going to avoid him like the plague.”

  Beth’s brows drew together. “Why?”

  “Don’t you remember how long it took me to get over him? If I get that flustered by a mere kiss, I need to walk away now.”

  Beth gave a commiserating sigh. “First love is intense. I don’t think it ever goes away.”

  Piper’s upper lip curled. “Yeah, there should be a vaccine against it.”

  Beth laughed. “How are you going to avoid Roman if you agreed to check in on Sadie? Won’t you have to keep in touch with him for that?”

  “Yes, but I’ll do it on my terms. I can text him the information. He’s trying his best to persuade me to see him again, but I don’t have to agree.”

  Beth’s eyes took on a doubtful glint. “Is that really what you want?” She eyed her pensively. “From what you’ve told me, it doesn’t sound like he’s going to quit anytime soon.”

  “Well, he has a girlfriend,” Piper countered

  “But he said it was complicated, didn’t he?” At Piper’s nod, Beth said, “Maybe they fight a lot and he wants to break up.”

  “Maybe, but who knows?” Piper shrugged. “Sadie can’t stand her.”

  Beth’s brows rose. “That makes it even more complicated. What is she like? Did you look her up?”

  “I tried, but I didn’t find much on the Internet. No Facebook, Snapchat or Instagram account.”

  “That’s weird. What about pictures? Did you find any?”

  “There’s a distant one of her and Roman sitting in the stands of a tennis match. She was wearing a hat and sunglasses, so I couldn’t tell what she looks like.”

  “Only one pic of them together? Maybe he isn’t that into her.” The corners of Beth’s mouth lifted. “It sounds like he couldn’t help himself when he kissed you.”

  “That’s what it felt like.” Piper stared into her teacup. “The awful truth is I enjoyed it—a lot. Roman still makes me weak in the knees. He could easily break my heart. I’d be a fool to let that happen again.”

  “You need a distraction. A hot, sexy guy who will treat you well. Are you still on the dating sites?”

  “Nope. I went inactive for a while.” Guessing what was coming next, she said, “Please don’t offer to set me up with one of Dan’s co-workers. I have the highest respect and admiration for firefighters, but—”

  “Me too,” Beth interjected with an impish smile. “I married one.”

  Piper smiled. “You did, and Dan’s a keeper. But we both know it wouldn’t work for me.”

  Dan was a hardworking firefighter and a loving father to the kids. Nevertheless, Piper couldn’t imagine dating a fireman. She shuddered remembering the day her mom had fallen asleep and left a pot cooking on the stove in their rental apartment. It caught fire and luckily they were able to put out the flames, but they were evicted the next day. Ever since the accident, Piper was terrified of fires.

  “I understand.” Beth smiled and squeezed Piper’s hand.

  “Sadie wants to set me up with her physical therapist. Says he’s a total hunk.” Piper laughed. “Can you believe it?”

  “I’m surprised she wasn’t lobbying for you to get back together with Roman.”

  “She knows her son well. She must think he still isn’t ready to settle down.”

  The corners of Beth’s mouth slid downward. “Oh, that’s not good.”

  “Ironically, he told me he wants to put down roots.”

  Beth perked up. “There’s hope then. Sounds like he was sending you a message.”

  “I doubt it,” Piper said, shooting down her reassurance. “He only wants me now because I’m a challenge. I told him I didn’t feel the same about him anymore.”

  Beth drew back in surprise. “You did? That was bold.”

  “Yep, and he didn’t like it one bit. He’s not going to give up the chase before it starts. He always has to win.”

  “I doubt that’s what this is about.” Beth refilled their teacups. “I can’t believe Roman would act so calculating. He used to be crazy about you.”

  “Used to be,” Piper reminded her flatly.

  Beth sighed. “Sorry you think so. Roman is a great guy. I liked him a lot. We all did…until he left you.”

  “I can’t bear being rejected like that again. It was my fault Dad left us and—”

  “Stop, Piper,” Beth said firmly. “We both know Dad had mental issues. He couldn’t handle taking care of us.” Her eyes filled with tears. “He couldn’t even take care of himself,” she said, referring to his suicide attempt.

  When she and Beth were teenagers, their Aunt Ellen, Dad’s sister, had contacted Mom to let her know that he had taken a near lethal combination of pills and booze. But Mom had refused to see him. She’d told Ellen that he was dead to her after he walked out on Piper in the middle of her asthma attack. Piper remembered hearing her mom sob in her bedroom after she hung up with Ellen, and she’d felt terribly guilty and helpless.

  Piper eyes welled up with tears. “Now we’re both crying,” she said miserably.

  “It wasn’t your fault he left. Why can’t you believe it?”

  “Deep down I know that, but I can’t seem to shake off the guilt,” Piper said, dashing her tears away. “I’m sorry I brought it up, Beth. I didn’t mean to upset you.”

  “It’s OK, Pipe.” Beth patted her eyes with a napkin. “Let’s talk about Roman instead. If he has changed, would you give him a chance?”

  “No.”

  “Why not?”

  “Because I’m a coward for pain and emotional pain is the worst.”

  “You’re not a coward, Piper. You’re strong and brave.” Beth’s steady gaze didn’t waver. “Don’t ever doubt it. And don’t worry about finding love because you will.”

  Piper smiled at Beth’s pep talk. It was so like her big sis to take on the maternal role. “I’m not worried,” she assured her, though privately she was.

  “Your perfect match is out there,” Beth continued fervently, “we just need to find him.”

  “Maybe I’ll take Sadie up on her offer. Who can refuse a hunky physical therapist?”

  Beth brightened. “Exactly!”

  Chapter 10

  The following day Piper had two clients to take care of before she could go to Sadie’s. She finished her first job by 10:00 a.m. It only involved a quick trip to the drugstore to pick up medicines and drop them off at Mr. Bleecker’s apartment. The grouchy octogenarian was recuperating from hip surgery and out of sorts because he couldn’t drive.

  Her other client, Mrs. Rosalie Wrigley, was a lively chatterbox who talked nonstop from the moment Piper picked her up to the moment she drove her home. She had stopped driving after suffering a mild heart attack last year, but she still lived independently.

  Once a week, Piper took the 81-year-old widow to the beauty salon to have her silver hair styled and her nails painted scarlet. Afterwards, they would go out for lunch. Today she wanted a late breakfast of buttermilk pancakes and bacon.

  After lunch, Piper drove her to the library where Mrs. Wrigley read stories to small children. She always wore a medieval coronet over her coiffed hair and read to them in an animated voice. A retired college professor of medieval literature, she had never had children. She loved reading to them and they adored her.

  When they got to Mrs. Wrigley’s home, she insisted that Piper come inside for a visit. The living room was bursting with antiques, and Mrs. Wrigley motioned for Piper to sit on a silk chintz loveseat beside a black lacquered Chinese screen inlaid with mother of pearl flowers.

  Mrs. Wrigley set her handbag down on a chair and headed to the sideboard in her dining room. “Won’t you join me for a cup of mead?”

  “I can’t drink on the job,” Piper said, but when Mrs. Wrigley’s face fell, she added, “I’ll end our work session now, so I can join you.”

  “Splendid!” Mrs. Wrigley lifted a crystal decanter and poured her f
avorite mead, a honeyed white wine, into two delicate glasses.

  She carried them to the coffee table and handed one to Piper. Lifting her glass to her lips, Mrs. Wrigley chirped, “Cheers!” and drank a fair amount lustily. “Oh my, it’s lovely, isn’t it?”

  Piper took a sip of the crisp, sweet wine. “Yes, it’s delicious, Mrs. Wrigley.”

  “Call me Alys,” the older woman replied puckishly. “I’m channeling Chaucer’s Wife of Bath today.” She went back to the sideboard and returned with the decanter. “Shall I top you up, lovey?”

  “No, thanks, but you go right ahead,” Piper said, taking a slow sip. The fermented honey mead was sweet, but strong, and she wasn’t going to have more than one glass.

  Mrs. Wrigley refilled her own glass and tossed it back merrily. “Alys knows all about men and love.” Her eyes danced with mischief. “After five lusty husbands, who wouldn’t?” she said with a bawdy wink.

  Piper smothered a giggle as she braced for her earthy observations. On the days Mrs. Wrigley pretended to be the Wife of Bath, she liked to let go. Other times when she channeled King Arthur’s Guinevere, she adopted a regal air.

  Georgie had recently commented that Mrs. Wrigley was getting more eccentric by the day. OK, so their client was a kook, but she was a loveable one and too generous for her own good. She was constantly gifting Piper and Georgie lovely scarves, beautiful candles and scented body creams. Mrs. Wrigley always got upset if they refused her gifts, claiming it gave her pleasure to give beautiful things to beautiful girls.

  “Look how Beowulf loves you,” Mrs. Wrigley said, when her fluffy black cat rubbed against the edge of Piper’s jeans. “Are you dating anyone special, dear Piper?”

  Piper scratched Beowulf’s ears. “Not at the moment,” she said distantly. The last thing she felt like talking about was her lack of a love life.

  “You’re too lovely not to have a beau. We must find you a special knight.”

  “Knights don’t exist anymore.” Piper smiled to soften her cynical tone. First Beth, and now Mrs. Wrigley. Was everyone eager for her to have a boyfriend?

  “Pish posh.” Mrs. Wrigley hiccupped. “Ooh, pardon. Mead doesn’t usually make me hiccup. I better slow down,” she said, setting her glass down. “Where was I?” Her bewildered moue lifted into a devilish smile. “Ah yes, now I remember. We were talking about your knight.”

  “I don’t have a knight,” Piper reminded her.

  “Why then we’ll have to find you one,” Mrs. Wrigley said with an imperious wave of her hand. “With your face, figure and lovely personality, there’s no reason why you shouldn’t have a beau.” Her forehead crinkled. “I’ll have to see what I can do.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “Perhaps a special potion…er, I mean perfume might garner your knight. It worked for me. My husband fell in love with me because of Shalimar perfume.” A rosy flush flooded her cheeks.

  “That must be some perfume,” Piper said with elevated brows.

  Mrs. Wrigley’s eyes twinkled merrily. “Don’t laugh. He used to say I smelled irresistible. It’s all about the scent. Pheromones you know, and lovely perfume like Shalimar helps.”

  Piper smiled. “Good to know.”

  “Indeed. When you lure your knight with the right scent, he will un-sheath his mighty sword for you, and you’ll never be the same.” She emitted a raucous giggle. “If you know what I mean.”

  Piper eyed the front door. She needed to go soon, but Mrs. Wrigley was having a ball in her Alys persona. A half an hour later, when Mrs. Wrigley started to nod off, Piper took the opportunity to leave.

  As she got in her car, Piper was glad that Sadie had reached out to her that morning, saving her from having to set up another meeting. “Please try to come by this afternoon. I have something fun to share with you,” was all Sadie had said.

  As she drove to Sadie’s house, Piper rehearsed different scenarios in her mind on how she would approach her with Roman’s prescription drug concerns. She had to make it appear natural without letting on that Roman had sent her.

  When she arrived at Sadie’s home and Sadie ushered her inside, Piper noticed her arm was no longer in a sling. She led Piper into her family room where she had a tray of assorted cheese, grapes and crackers. “What would you like to drink? I have wine or …”

  “No wine, thanks. I had a glass of mead earlier and it was really strong.”

  Sadie’s forehead crinkled. “Did you say mead…as in the medieval drink?”

  Piper smiled at her odd look. “It’s a long story.”

  “Well, then how about some juice? I have tomato, cranberry or orange.”

  “I’d love some tomato juice. With lime, if you have it.”

  Sadie nodded. “I always have fresh limes.” She handed Piper a glass of tomato juice with a squeeze of lime and poured one for herself before taking a seat next to her on the fawn sofa. She topped a few whole-wheat crackers with sliced Gruyere cheese and gestured to the tray. “Have some, dear.”

  “Thanks.” Piper helped herself to a cracker and placed it on a small white plate. She added a cluster of red grapes and popped one into her mouth.

  “Sorry I had to hang up on you earlier, but I wanted to talk to my fumigator before he started spraying the outside.”

  “No worries,” Piper said between bites. “What is the fun thing you wanted to tell me?”

  Sadie’s eyes sparkled with enthusiasm. “I want to buy a piece of your jewelry for our fundraiser event and include it in the silent auction. Would that be OK with you?”

  “Yes, of course! Thank you so much,” Piper said, touched by Sadie’s generosity. “What are you looking to donate?”

  “How about a tennis bracelet to tie in with our theme? Do you have one that’s different from the classic diamond design?”

  “Yes, I have just the thing,” Piper said, thrilled over the visibility her Man Eater line would get with all the well-heeled patrons at the event. “It’s a single strand of baroque freshwater pearls linked together with gold beads. It has a serpent’s head for the clasp. The pearls are big and freeform and the serpent has sapphire stone eyes and a ruby for the tongue. It’s set in 18 carat burnished gold.”

  “That sounds perfect,” Sadie trilled. “I can’t wait to see it.”

  “It retails for a thousand, but I’ll give it to you at my cost for the materials.”

  “You’ll do no such thing, Piper,” Sadie said in high umbrage. “This is going to be my donation to the event, and I will pay full price.” The firm set of her mouth told Piper not to dare argue.

  For the next few minutes, they discussed the price and how Piper would package it. When Sadie reached up to massage her shoulder, Piper asked, “How’s your shoulder doing?”

  “Much better, thanks. No more sling and just a bit of pain now and then,” Sadie said with a triumphant smile. “I kicked that crutch to the curb.”

  “That’s wonderful! Are you taking any pain meds for it?” Piper asked casually.

  “Oh no, honey, I only took the pills for the first two weeks when the pain was unbearable, and I couldn’t sleep at night. But as soon I could, I ditched them and tried acupuncture and physical therapy to control the pain.”

  Piper studied Sadie. She looked great, her complexion was refreshed and her eyes were clear and alert, not the picture of someone struggling with an addiction. “Did those things work?”

  “For the most part they eased the pain, but there were some days that nothing worked, and I just had to soldier on. I don’t have an addictive personality, but those pills can do a scary number on you.” She shuddered. “I’ve seen a few friends get addicted to them and getting off is brutal.”

  “It sure is. So you’re not on any meds now?” Piper asked to make sure.

  “No pain meds, but I take something for my blood pressure.” Sadie tilted her head and looked at Piper with questioning eyes. “Why do you ask?”

  Piper swallowed a swig of tomato juice and searched for t
he right words. “Because Roman is worried about you,” she finally said.

  Sadie’s brows drew together as her gaze fixed on Piper. “How do you know?”

  “He and I had lunch yesterday and—”

  “Wait a minute. You and Roman had lunch together?” Sadie said gleefully. “I’m so glad. How did this come about?”

  “He called me and set it up.”

  A broad smile brightened Sadie’s face. “And?” she prompted.

  “It’s not what you think, Sadie,” Piper said, feeling worse by the minute. She’d have to come clean and do it without hurting her feelings. Moments ticked by as Sadie’s expression morphed from delight to concern while Piper sat before her in mute despair.

  “What’s wrong, Piper? You look upset.”

  “I’m not upset,” she dithered. “I’m wrestling with a bunch of questions I want to ask you.”

  “What’s stopping you? Fire away.”

  “OK.” Piper paused to collect her thoughts. “Can you tell me how many people work at the foundation office?”

  Sadie’s brows knitted at the change of subject. “Sure. Other than Roman and me, there’s our secretary Nadine, and two college students, Rachel and Jaden. They volunteer once a week to get in their hours before they graduate. In addition, of course, we have the staff dedicated to the tennis school and academy. That is a separate organization with its own quarters. We have ten employees there, in addition to the coaches and instructors, but they rarely come into the foundation office.”

  “What about Brie? Does she work or volunteer there?”

  Sadie shook her head. “No, she doesn’t do either. Roman runs the foundation and relies on me to spearhead the charity events. If she comes in, it’s when Roman is there and she makes a big production about wanting to help, but he doesn’t encourage it.”

  “Really? You’d think he would welcome her help.”

  “Well…” She hesitated. “Could be because Brie’s father, Vince, is one of Roman’s biggest investors. He was also his mentor after Rex died. Roman feels he owes him a lot, and he does. Vince stood by him when Roman fought to clear his name. His solid reputation helped Roman considerably.”