7. Piper
SEVEN
PIPER
Theo rounded the front of his truck. I swore, the man was nothing but a viper ready to strike.
His entire being rippled with that stealthy, intimidating strength. Black hair a mess from the number of times he’d run his big, tattooed hand through it, lips full and so damn red.
But it was those eyes that were sinkholes.
A black sea lit in the moonlight.
As if you had no clue what you were wading into and, a second later, you were slipping.
Falling into an endless abyss that would forever keep you trapped.
He hopped into the driver’s side.
I tried to hold my breath against the onslaught of his presence.
Moss covered woods and crisp snow and worn, weathered leather.
All delivered on a punch of sex.
He pushed the button to start the truck, and the powerful engine roared to life.
It was one of those giant, lifted things, the seats as dark as the man, all black, luxurious leather.
He shifted into reverse and looked over his shoulder as he backed out, that unrelenting gaze raking over me as he went.
I shivered beneath its weight, and all the visions I’d tried to fight last night rebounded at full force.
He pulled out, pushed a button on the visor to lower the garage door, then shifted into gear and started down the paved driveway that wound back through the thicket of trees and dumped us out on the curved, long drive that led to the motel.
He turned right on it, taking it to its end where it T’d at a street called Vista View.
Its name wasn’t an exaggeration.
The setting was absolutely awe-striking as we followed the two-lane road that wound along the crystalline expanse of lake.
Snow covered the trees and the rooftops of the houses and cabins interspersed between them, every inch of ground a glittering white, all except for the roads that were stained even darker from the moisture.
“Sun’s out enough that ice shouldn’t be a problem in town,” Theo said as if he needed to fill the strain that echoed between us. The tension that bound and pulled and made my chest feel like it might cave.
Another beat of silence, his tattooed hands tapping anxiously on the wheel as he stared ahead.
Then he glanced my way, and his deep voice lowered farther.
Rolling through the cab like a seductive caress.
“That accident wasn’t your fault, you know.
Black ice is fuckin’ impossible to see, especially if you’re not familiar with it.
The terrain you were traveling makes it even worse. ”
Blowing out a sigh, I fiddled with the zipper on my purse. “I know, but accidents always make you feel like you did something wrong, don’t they?”
Since it happened, my mind had spun with everything I could have done differently.
Theo grunted as he slowed and flicked on his blinker to make a left onto Culberry Street.
I remembered from last night it was the main street that ran through the middle of the small town.
“Yeah. Think we all wish we had hindsight. Wish we could go back and change every misstep we make. Know I’d change a million things.” Regret twined with his words.
Deep and gutting.
His flesh oozing shame.
I didn’t even want to consider the things he might have done. The things he might have been involved in. All while a very reckless part of me wanted to dip my fingers all the way in.
Air puffed from my nose as I sank into the heated seats, the warmth pumping from the vents wrapping me in a comfort that I shouldn’t feel.
“Same,” I murmured in the quiet.
It was the only thing I could give him that felt safe.
Easy.
Zero actual details.
It wasn’t like every person on Earth didn’t have regrets.
But with the way the man peered over at me, I might as well have revealed my darkest secret.
It felt like he could cut me wide open and see everything written inside.
“What would you change?” An unholy grin tugged at the edge of his mouth.
Pure manipulation.
“You tell me first.” Who said a little deflection ever hurt anything?
That grin grew. “You interested in me, Piper Whittman?”
I almost blinked in question, then remembered that was the last name I’d thrown out when Dr. Reynolds had asked for my name and date of birth.
I hadn’t given my real last name in years.
I managed a huff. “Not at all. Just making conversation so I can get this awful excursion over faster.”
His chuckle was raw, and amusement ridged every line on his face. “Little Liar.”
My mouth dropped open as I whirled toward him. “Did you just call me a liar?”
He shrugged, nothing but arrogance rolling off him. “If it fits.”
“I am not a liar.”
Okay, that’s the only thing that my life was.
Lies.
But he didn’t need to know that.
His laughter softened, and the infuriating man shook his head as if he found me entertaining.
The road curved around, and Moonlit Ridge came into view.
The main street was pretty packed since it was Saturday morning. People were bundled up and were bustling about, ducking into the trendy restaurants and cute boutiques that lined the street.
Holiday lights were strung from the eaves of the storefronts, and the streetlamps that lined the road had lit wreaths hanging from each side.
My stomach tightened.
Christmas was only a few weeks away.
Our situation never felt more blatant than when the holidays came around. The glare of what we were missing.
The traditions I would never be able to make for my son.
Nelly’s words whispered through my mind. “We’re going to have to make a change, sweet child. You know you can’t keep doing this forever. Something has to give.”
But how?
Laying down roots felt impossible. Tendrils that would only dig deep.
Cage us and make us nothing but targets.
I knew firsthand since tragedy had struck when we’d attempted it last time.
Instead of allowing myself to spiral, I gazed out the window at the cozy town.
We passed by a few bars and restaurants, a tattoo shop, and an upscale hotel on the corner.
Theo made another left and drove down three blocks before he took a right onto a street that was a bit more industrial.
The road was flanked by rows of metal buildings that housed different contractors and suppliers.
We were about halfway down it when Theo slowed and made a right through a large open gate into an autobody shop.
It was a big yard surrounded by a chain-link fence.
Littered around the yard were a bunch of cars and trucks and an old bus that sat in varying states of disrepair.
An enormous metal building took up the entire back side, and a huge metal sign hung from it.
Torque & Talon Autobody Shop.
What looked to be offices were on the right side and five large bays were situated on the left.
Each sat wide open.
All of them were full, two cars up on hydraulic lifts and the others on the ground.
My Passat was sitting in the farthest left bay.
Anxiety fired through my nerves when I saw four motorcycles parked off to the side of the main building. Immediately, my thoughts drifted to the three that were sitting in Theo’s garage.
There was something about them that made me sure they weren’t just for joyrides.
Something about Theo that promised his sins went dark and deep.
Hazard.
The calm air held with a peril that I could almost taste.
Somehow, I could feel it radiating from this place, too.
Theo pulled into an open spot near the door that read Lobby .
“Don’t worry, Pipes.” His tone was teasing. “Place might be a little messy, but these guys know what they’re doing. Won’t let you get dragged through the mud.”
Money.
That’s what he thought I was worried about.
I swallowed around the disquiet, and I nodded as I unlatched the door and pushed it open.
Cold gushed in, though it was tempered a fraction by the sunlight that poured down to brush my cheeks.
Still, I shivered since Theo was suddenly at my side, the man lifting his hand to hover it over the small of my back.
He wasn’t even touching me, but it felt as if he were searing me through.
“This way,” he grumbled low as he guided me around the front of his truck toward my car.
A man stepped out from the third bay as we approached. He wore gray coveralls that were unzipped, a white tee showing underneath. His hair was the darkest brown and a wry grin was plastered on his savagely handsome face.
God. Did all men look like this around here?
“Theo,” he said, lifting his chin.
“Silas.” Theo returned the gesture, and he pulled his arm away so they could shake hands. At the same time, he swung his chin toward me. “This is Piper. Piper Whittman, owner of the Volkswagen you hauled in.”
Silas wiped his hands with a faded red cloth, gaze appraising as he looked me over.
“Good to meet you, Piper, though I’m guessing you aren’t the most thrilled by the need to meet me.”
“I’m just happy no one was hurt.” I forced the trembling words.
“Yeah, only thing that matters,” he agreed.
My attention drifted to my car. Fearful relief clutched my spirit when I saw the front was completely crumpled. The airbags were deflated, though they were clearly visible through the cracked front passenger window.
“How does it look?” I couldn’t keep the shaking from my voice.
Silas turned toward my car, humming low before he shifted back my way.
“Well, she did her job protecting the occupants, which means the front buckled to absorb the brunt of the impact so there’s going to be a ton of body work.
Plus, the axle is bent, and the airbags need to be reset. Insurance is likely to total it out.”
Alarm tightened my throat, and I tried to swallow around the barb, the words barely audible as I pushed them out. “I’ll be paying for it out of pocket.”
Theo’s attention whipped my way, his gaze searing into the side of my cheek.
I crossed my arms over my chest as I struggled not to look at him, trying to protect myself from the energy he emitted.
The man like a blackened sun.
Pure gravity.
I knew this was a mistake. Coming here. Allowing one single person the ability to look at me the way he was.
I could almost feel the agitation of his thoughts as he calculated, and there was no question when he came to the conclusion that I didn’t have insurance because I was broke.
“How much?” I whispered, hands running up and down my arms.
Silas looked back to study my car, a tattooed hand roughing through his brown hair that glinted beneath the sun. “Eh, seven…maybe six considering I owe Theo a favor or two.”
Oh, the favors this man was owed. I could only imagine how he’d earned them.
The menace that rolled off him. The power he oozed that made me sure he was exactly what I thought he was.
Trouble.
And crap, that was a lot of money, but not close to what I’d paid for it. I couldn’t just scrap it and leave it behind.
Irritation throbbed, and my skin felt clammy even in the frosty cold.
“Okay,” I finally managed to say.
“Send the bill to me.” Theo punted it from out of nowhere.
That time, there was no stopping it, and my gaze flew toward the man who stood there like any of this was normal.
The doctor and the motel and the groceries that we’d woken up to.
And now he thought he was going to pay for the repairs on my car?
“Absolutely not.” I couldn’t help but spew it, the fraying of my nerves sparking into a panic.
I was careful with the money. Didn’t fritter it away.
Our lives were far less than extravagant.
But there was no way. No way I could let him do whatever in the world he thought he was doing.
“Not a biggie.” Another freaking shrug from his arrogant body.
“Oh, it is plenty a biggie.”
Okay, so fine, it was clear the man had money. I guess owning a cute, eclectic motel in a tourist town was lucrative.
Or maybe he was crooked.
Bad.
My insides convulsed with the thought, but I shoved it down where it belonged.
I was nothing to him and he was nothing to me.
It didn’t matter who he was or what he did.
Theo fully turned in my direction, eclipsing me in shadow as he took a step forward.
Towering.
Obliterating.
His voice dropped to something that sounded too close to a threat. “Told you that I wanted to take care of you while you’re here.”
“And I told you that I don’t need your help.”
A low chuckle coming from Silas cut into our stare down. “How about I let you two argue this out on your own time? Seems I have a new project to get started on and plenty of other duties to attend to.”
I whipped my attention to him. “How long will it take?”
It was almost amusement that lit on his face as he glanced at Theo.
Theo who stood so close to me, he might as well have been tacked to my side.
Like I was...
I gulped, refusing to allow the thought to even enter my brain.
Silas’s brown eyes slid back to me. “At least three weeks.”
“Three weeks?” I screeched.
“That’s generous,” he said.
Dread slipped into my being, and I pressed a shaky hand to my stomach in an attempt to stop the nausea that suddenly churned.
Three weeks.
I couldn’t stay here for three weeks.
In this town that had begun to feel like a trap.
Too beautiful and cozy to be real. A mirage that would enchant me into carelessness.
“Just make sure when you finish that her car is as safe as it was before the accident,” Theo ordered.
“You know nothing leaves this shop that isn’t mint.”
“Only reason I’m here.”
Silas dipped his head. “I’ll be in touch when I know more.”
“Thanks, brother,” Theo said, putting his hand out in front of him and making a deal like it was his to make while I stood there trying not to completely spiral.
Trying to conjure the words to shut him down.
Once and for all.
End whatever control he seemed to so easily wield over me.
“Let’s get out of here.” That time, Theo actually set his hand on the small of my back to lead me away.
I nearly came out of my skin.
The flashfire of energy that streaked through me at that bare touch.
A rush of flames that chased out the cold.
He turned me around and guided me toward his truck, the man nothing but dark persuasion as he leaned down close to my ear. “Looks like you’re stuck with me for a bit, Pipes.”
And that was exactly what I was afraid of.