Chapter 3
Chapter three
Piper
Oh, my god.
One minute, I'm chatting with a new friend and sorting through the mental load of wondering what I should do with my life, and the next, I'm staring at a muscled sex god.
He looks like he walked directly out of my fantasy. I practically drool and make a complete fool of myself, but I can’t tear my eyes away.
His tight T-shirt shows off deliciously bulging biceps, and his tool belt pulls his jeans down slightly in the front, revealing a glimpse of abs that makes my mouth water.
My core throbs as he stares back at me. Thank God I’m wearing a loose sweatshirt because my nipples have hardened to little arrows aimed at him, announcing my desire to the world.
My entire body leans toward him in a way I haven’t experienced since college.
I haven't dated since I got sick. My sex drive was pretty much the first thing to go.
But, man, back then, this guy was my type.
Good to know some things haven't changed.
I know Violet is talking, telling me something, probably his name, but all I can do is stare at the thick cords of muscles snaking up his tanned arms. Oh, God. He's a mountain man, isn't he? I thought the girls were joking about not falling in love this weekend.
"Piper?"
I startle, swiveling my head toward Violet, who stares at me expectantly.
"I'm sorry, were you talking to me?" I try to focus on my new friend, but my eyes dart back to the sexy man like magnets.
He hasn't taken his hungry eyes off me either.
My whole body tingles. It's like I've been put in the microwave for the perfect amount of time—heated through to my aching core and ready for this man to take a taste.
Violet looks between the two of us. "Um, I was saying this is Emmett. And Max. They're renovating the new reception hall for us."
"Hi." My voice is breathy and soft. I manage to smile at Emmett, rudely ignoring Max, but unable to help myself.
"Hello." Emmett's rich voice wraps around me. I bite my lip as I picture him whispering filthy nothings in my ear while he rails me from behind.
Holy shit. What is my problem? This is Parker's fault. All the times I've walked in on her and Barrett in the kitchen or living room already going at it, and now I'm horny for the first man who gives me attention.
I squeeze my thighs together under the table to ease the throbbing.
"We're hoping to start booking for the summer wedding season," Violet adds.
"We'll be done in time," Max assures her.
"You build?" I ask, looking at Emmett's large hands. My cheeks heat. One glance at his deep brown eyes and I'm sucked back into the sexy love vortex with my mountain man.
Emmett nods.
"Uh, Betty! Hold up there."
I turn to see a guy hustling after a beautiful older woman as she approaches the table. The woman appears to be in her seventies, with her snow-white hair and sensible shoes, though her skin is almost wrinkle-free. She looks like she's been airbrushed in real life.
"I don't need any help, Hayes, thank you," the woman says, carefully walking up the short steps to our section.
The man—Hayes—follows her anyway.
"Emmett, just the person I was looking for." The woman nods at Violet, who pulls out a chair for her. "Thank you, dear. Oh, and who do we have here?"
"I'm Piper. Nice to meet you." I extend my hand, thankful to have retained my manners.
Her fingers are cold as she shakes my hand, as if she’s just come in from outside.
"Thank you, Cole," she says as another man appears right on cue with a cup of steaming coffee.
He grins as she pats his arm.
"I'm Betty, and you are absolutely lovely," she says, returning her attention to me.
"Isn't she?"
I turn to Max with my eyebrows raised as he agrees with Betty. Max is a flirt, but he’s not interested in me. I could tell the second he said hello. I don't miss the glare Emmett throws his way, which confirms my suspicion that Max is trying to rile Emmett up.
Hayes whispers something in Emmett's ear, and my mountain man’s cheeks flame bright red.
Betty gives Hayes and Emmett a shrewd stare, her eyes twinkling as she takes in Emmett's reaction.
She sips her coffee and claps her hands to get everyone's attention.
"Well, I'd love to chat, but I'm here on business.
" Betty rummages through her bag and pulls out a hat and a T-shirt.
She hands the shirt to Emmett, who reads the front and crumples it against his chest.
"Thank you, Betty," he says tightly, reaching for the hat.
Max grabs it first and runs behind Violet, grinning at Emmett. If looks could kill, Max would be a puddle of goo on the floor. But Emmett seems to be frozen in place. Max makes a show of reading the hat, then bursts into loud laughter.
"Hand it over, Max," Emmett says through clenched teeth as his eyes dart to me.
"Sure thing, man. This hat is definitely for you." Max extends the hat to him. He winks at me as he drops it on the table before Emmett can grab it.
The DP Construction logo stares up at me, with what looks like two large penises at the top of the side walls of the house icon. Scripted lettering states: "I know how to handle my caulk!"
My gaze bounces to Emmett's deep brown eyes, which stare back at me like a deer caught in headlights, and I burst into a fit of giggles. Betty winks at me and takes a sip of her coffee like this is a totally ordinary afternoon.
"It's true, Piper. Emmett knows how to use his caulk better than any of us." Max wiggles his eyebrows.
Emmett bristles when Max moves around the table to clap a hand on his back. I smile at Emmett, and his glower falls away, replaced by a grin.
The room fades into the background.
Suddenly, it's just the two of us, and my heart has never been so sure of anything in my life.
"Piper!" Cynthia's voice startles me back to reality.
I blush, breaking the connection. "Um, yes, over here!" I call to my friends, standing so they can see me.
Emmett makes a slow perusal of my body, and I desperately want to find out if the rumor is true about his... caulk.
I introduce Betty and Violet to my friends, but Mia pushes forward before I can get to the men at the table.
"We were going to make you jealous about our great day snowshoeing, but look what you found. Hello. I'm Mia," she practically purrs as she stares at Max.
He falls silent, not looking at Mia at all.
Aubrey blushes under Max's intense gaze.
"Oh, boy. I'm going to... go." Hayes hikes his thumb toward the door.
Max and Emmett don't respond, and Hayes shakes his head as he leaves.
Emmett's eyes are on me, and Max hasn't stopped staring at Aubrey.
Mia’s head swivels between the four of us, and she grins. She sits in the chair next to Betty and extends her hand. "Mia."
"Betty. You’re lovely as well, dear," she says as she assesses Mia. "Perhaps you shouldn't have let poor Hayes escape so easily."
Mia shrugs. "It's for the best. I love living in the city."
Her words register as she pulls my mug toward her and takes a sip of my hot chocolate.
I flick my eyes between Betty, Emmett, and my friends.
A rush of anxiety pummels me. What am I doing? I'm heading back to the city in a day. I'm not interested in a one-night stand, and these guys are picking us off one by one.
"We should go," I say quickly, almost knocking a chair over as I turn to leave.
"No."
Emmett's deep voice startles me.
I suck in a sharp breath.
"I mean"—Emmett runs a hand through his thick hair and grabs the back of his neck nervously—"can I take you to dinner tonight?"
My chest heaves as I stare at him for too long before shaking my head. "Violet made us a reservation for tonight," I say softly, my heart and brain at war with one another.
I'm not the kind of girl who ditches her friends when a guy comes along, but I've also never reacted this way to a man before. Besides, I need a ride-or-die guy, and weekend flings are not the best foundation for that kind of relationship.
"Are you guys builders?" Cynthia asks, eyeing Emmett and Max's tool belts before glancing at me. "We were supposed to do a winter hike tomorrow, but I think we've all had enough of the cold. Any chance you could put together a building workshop for us?"
Emmett blinks at Cynthia, then looks at me. "Do you want to build something together, Piper?"
I swallow hard. I'm sure he's talking about a woodworking project, but hell, I want it to sound like he wants to build a life with me. Not trusting my voice, I nod, despite my brain screaming at me to run away.
Emmett grins, his entire face lighting up like a sunrise over a clear lake. I wonder if my life's goal should be making that happen every day for the rest of our lives.
"My workshop's at my house. I'll give you the address. Text me the time." Emmett says.
I nod and reach for his phone to put in my number. When my fingers brush his, fireworks shoot through my body.
Oh, shit.
Cynthia grabs the phone from me, enters my information, and hands it back to Emmett. "Text Piper the address. 4 pm tomorrow."
Emmett nods, giving me one last lingering look before he pats Max on the chest. Aubrey is now chatting with Violet, and Max shakes his head before following Emmett out of the shop.
I sit down in a daze, trying to sort out my feelings as anxiety and excitement fight for dominance.
Maybe I shouldn't go tomorrow.
The sadness bubbling up from that thought tells me everything I need to know.
I look around the table to find everyone watching my internal battle. I shrug and laugh weakly. "He probably won't text."
Violet opens her mouth to reply when my phone pings with a message.
312-555-7896
This is Emmett. I can't wait to see you tomorrow, Piper. 4 pm. 1360 Willow Way.
My smug heart smirks in triumph at my logical, boring brain, giddy at the prospect of seeing him tomorrow.
Would a weekend fling really be such a bad thing?