Chapter 4
Chapter four
Emmett
"Knock, knock," a feminine voice calls out.
I leap up from the work table where I'm organizing the project for Piper and her friends.
Zeus, my St. Bernard-mix, barks excitedly, feeding off my nervous energy. I've never done anything like this for adults before, but when Piper's friend gave me an in, I took it. Because my mama didn't raise a dummy.
It's been over twenty-four hours since I saw her, and I'm jonesing.
I drove past Enoteca Gia last night after Violet reluctantly told me where she had made the reservation for the ladies.
I told her I wanted to ask Piper out tonight and didn't want to take her to the same place, which is true.
But I also used the information so I could drive by fifty times, torturing myself as I tried to spy her through the front window of the most popular Italian restaurant in town.
"Come in," I call out.
The second Piper walks into my workshop, I'm hit with the same rush of adrenaline that almost took me out yesterday.
She's wearing jeans that cup her round ass, then flare out in a way that reminds me of the skater chicks from my youth. A tight black shirt makes her tits look amazing, and the open flannel tied in a knot over the top emphasizes the curve of her waist.
I wondered if yesterday was a weird fluke of my biological clock brought on by spending the day with adorable kiddos, but nope.
My attraction is as intense as yesterday—maybe even stronger.
Her body looks as if it were made for me.
I imagine my hands on her rounded hips as I help her ride my cock to ecstasy.
Zeus pads over to her, nuzzling his head against her legs. She fusses over him, scratching his ears. I never thought I’d be jealous of my dog, but as she coos about what a good boy he is, I suddenly want her attention too.
"Piper." Her name comes out like a prayer even to my own ears.
A soft blush forms on her cheeks as we lock eyes.
"Emmett." My name on her lips is a sound I want to hear for the rest of our lives.
"Oh, shit. I left my sweater in the car."
I startle when I realize her friend walked in with her, and I'm chagrined to think of what my grandma would say about my terrible manners.
"Hi. Cynthia, right? I can turn up the heat, although it might get warmer once the other ladies join us." I want to make this afternoon fun for Piper and her friends. I'm not going to mention taking her to dinner until we're done building.
Cynthia nods. "Maybe, but I'll run out and grab it real quick."
"Tell Mia and Aubrey to hurry up," Piper calls.
Cynthia gives her a little wave as she heads back out the door.
Piper and I watch her leave. Then, our eyes meet again.
She finally breaks the trance by walking over to the table where I've laid out the project. "This looks great. What are we making?"
I walk up behind her, breathing in her honey and vanilla scent. I have to physically force myself not to touch her by jamming my hands in the pockets of my jeans. "I thought we'd start with a small box," I say, sliding up next to her at the table.
Piper turns her head to look at me. This is the closest I've gotten to her since we met, and I notice flecks of green in the bright blue of her eyes. She has freckles across her nose, and a lock of dark blonde hair falls over her forehead.
The heat of her body pulls me closer, and our arms brush. Neither of us moves. We stand next to each other for what feels like an eternity, the touch of her warm skin on mine a delicious torture.
"Sounds good," she breathes, her gaze flicking to my mouth before darting back to my eyes again.
I start to lean in, but she pushes away from the table.
"I'll go check on my friends. Not sure what's keeping them. Sorry." Piper glides over to the door of the workshop and peeks through the window.
I kick myself for forgetting we aren't alone.
She isn't going to kiss you with her friends about to walk in, I chide myself. Slow and steady wins the race, right?
"What in the hell?" Piper races outside.
Zeus barks and springs into action to save the day.
I head outside, staring at the empty driveway.
"Did they ditch you?" I ask, thinking those ladies might be my new favorite people.
Piper shakes her head, glancing around in bewilderment as she pulls out her phone. She punches a button and lifts it to her ear.
"Where are you guys?" she demands, staring out at the tree line as one of her friends answers.
"What?" She glances at me, then cups her hand around the mouthpiece and continues talking in a hushed whisper.
"We were supposed to do this together." She rolls her eyes at the response, then her cheeks turn bright pink as she bites her lip.
Piper’s gaze flicks to me again. I grin, enjoying this sudden turn of events and the prospect of an afternoon alone with her.
She turns away from me, ignoring my flirtatious look and continuing the call with her friend.
That's okay. I'll enjoy the view of her backside.
Her round, peachy ass calls to me, and my cock perks up like it's morning, thickening as she parades that delicious, curvy treat back and forth in front of me.
"I'll meet you for dinner." She catches me looking at her ass and mumbles. "Fine. I'll call you and let you know my plans."
When she hangs up, she puts her phone back in her purse and shrugs. "Uh, it's just me this afternoon."
I bite my lip to keep from looking too giddy and open the door to my workshop for her. "After you, Piper."
She walks in front of me. "Thank you."
Man, I love this view.