14. Piper #2
There was a woman behind the counter that matched the rest of the décor, and a man was wrapped around her from behind.
The two of them were all cuddled up, and it was clear the man was itching to get closer.
Talk about awful timing.
I started to back away, but the woman lifted her head, no doubt jarred from their bubble by the sound of the bell.
She had warm blond hair and welcome on her face, and I couldn’t help but timidly smile in return, trying to get myself together enough that I didn’t completely ruin the chance of getting a job.
“Hi, I hope it’s okay that I just came in, but I saw that you are hiring?” I chanced.
She untangled herself from the man who was every bit as tattooed as Theo, cut from that same cloth of ruthlessness, though there was an easy glint to his eyes when he looked up and saw me there.
The woman moved closer to the counter, and her head tipped to the side as she took me in. “We are. I’m just getting ready to open the shop tomorrow, and with ski season and the holidays, we’re definitely going to be shorthanded. I’m Emery.”
Relief gusted through me. I wasn’t too late and apparently wasn’t interrupting anything too scandalous.
“It’s so nice to meet you. I’m Piper.” Nervously, I chewed at my bottom lip, shrugging a little when I asked, “I was hoping I could put in an application?”
“Of course. Are you new to town? I’ve never seen you before.”
New to town.
It rang of permanence.
As if I’d found my place.
My nod was shaky. “Yes. I just got into town and am looking for a permanent place to stay. I…I hope that’s not a problem?”
“No, not at all.”
Another rush of relief, and I took a couple steps in her direction. “That’s great. I could really use this job.”
Not because I actually needed the money, but because if we were going to stay here, I needed to play the part. Slip in and be as normal as possible.
“And I could really use the help,” Emery said.
“Where are you staying?” the man behind her asked, curiosity burning from his both terrifying and handsome face.
I supposed the sight of him answered my question.
All the men in this town looked like harbingers of death.
I cleared my throat and forced out, “The Sanctuary. Though it might be more aptly called The Prison.”
I nearly clapped my hand over my mouth.
What in the world? Why would I say that?
My stupid nerves were making me blabber.
I released a horrified laugh.
“What do you mean?” Emery’s defined brows arched for the ceiling.
I inhaled and tried to clarify what never should have come out of my mouth in the first place. “The owner is a little…overprotective. He demanded to know where I was going when I left today. He somehow thinks just because he did me a favor, I’ve become his responsibility.”
And there I went again.
Flustered, I dropped my attention to the floor and scratched at my temple as if it might trigger my brain back into thinking properly.
Clearly, my people skills were lacking.
“I probably shouldn’t be unloading that on you, should I?”
A small giggle rolled from Emery, as if she didn’t think my word vomit was strange at all. “You can definitely unload it since I’m pretty sure you and I are going to be great friends. Just to be clear, you are talking about Theo?”
My head snapped up. “Yes. Theo Mallin. You know him?”
“Oh, I definitely know him.” Glee lit on her pretty face.
The man behind her let go of a wry chuckle, and his words dipped in dark amusement. “So, you’re Piper Whittman. Welcome to Moonlit Ridge.”
Alarm boiled in my blood. “You know my name?”
Easing forward, he set his hands on the counter and leaned in my direction. “Ah, well, Theo is basically family, and he might have mentioned you, your son, and grandmother are staying at The Sanctuary.”
A ball of razors lodged itself in my throat.
This was not going according to plan.
The last thing I needed was for them to share a connection with the one man in this town I needed to stay away from.
But I had a feeling that’s what staying in a town this size would be like.
I didn’t know if it was a blessing or a curse.
“You have a son?” Emotion took to Emery’s face. “How old?”
I tried to swallow. “Two.”
She clasped her hands together at her chest. “Oh my gosh, that is amazing. This is my fiancé, Kane. We have a little girl who is almost five. I’m so happy you walked through my door. I feel like this is fate.”
“I…” I almost threw up a wall.
Told her I wasn’t staying permanently.
Told her never mind, and I suddenly didn’t need a job after all.
Nelly’s voice whispered in my ear. Take this time and live it like it’s the only thing you’ve got.
If I ran now, would I ever stop?
I gulped the reservations down and forced a thin smile. “That’s incredible. I’d love to meet her sometime.”
“We will absolutely make that happen. Maci is going to be so excited to have a new friend, the same as her cousin, Nolan. Wait until you meet everyone.”
“Oh, I…”
Emery rounded from behind the counter. She wore a fitted white blouse and pink jeans that perfectly fit the store. “So about the job?—”
“I don’t really have any experience in retail. I mean, I attended a prestigious fashion design school in New York for two years when I was much younger, and I’ve always loved clothes, and I really think I have an eye for it, and I’m a really fast learner.”
There I went again, words flying out of my mouth.
I clamped my lips shut.
Emery laughed a gentle sound. “Well, it sounds like we need your expertise around here.”
Surprise gushed out of me. “Really?”
“Yeah. I think you’ll be a great fit.”
She extended both hands, warm blond curls bouncing around her shoulders, brown eyes filled with a kindness so rarely seen. I inched forward and accepted her hands.
It felt like the most monumental step I’d ever taken.
She squeezed my hands tight. “I think you and I are definitely going to be friends.”
The door jingled, and a rush of cold swept in. A second later, a voice gasped, “A new friend? Why didn’t you call me? I would have come running.”
I was still holding onto Emery’s hands as I shifted to look over my shoulder.
A woman was standing inside the door, holding a giant bouquet of pink, cream, and white flowers that matched the rest of the store.
Her lips were painted bright red and were curved in a smile.
Her black hair was in an intricate twist with a bunch of little flowers tucked into the knot.
Bold makeup lined her dark eyes.
Almost as dark as Theo’s, though they weren’t written in the same kind of torment or malice.
They brimmed with deep-seated joy.
“Um, that’s because I literally just met Piper five minutes ago.” Amusement danced through Emery’s words, and she playfully rolled her eyes as she released my hands. “Hold your horses, will you? We were just getting introduced.”
“Hold my horses? Never. You know I am full steam ahead, especially when it comes to a new bestie.”
New bestie?
Apprehension billowed.
The woman’s smile grew as she came closer.
“I’m Raven. It’s so good to meet you, Piper.
I do hope you came to put our dear Emery out of her misery because she has been freaking out for the last week that she hasn’t found anyone awesome enough to help her here at the store, and I have to say, I’m getting awesome vibes. ”
She shifted the bouquet to the side so she could wave her right hand in my direction.
It exposed her huge, round belly that peeked out from her long, heavy jacket that was unbuttoned.
She had to be at least seven months pregnant.
When she realized where my attention had gone, she flourished that same hand over her protruding middle. “As you can see, we’ll be sharing mocktails for the next two months, but after that, I’m your girl when you’re ready for a good time.”
“Says the one who’s never going to leave the house when our Little Luna is born.” Kane cut into the conversation, his voice full of gruff affection.
“Okay, okay, maybe I won’t be frequenting your club quite as much, but we’ve already made a pact—dance party at least once a month. I do hope you brought your dancing shoes.”
My attention volleyed between them.
Raven dropped her focus to my boots. “Oh my God, those are so cute. Yes, yes, you will do.” She swept her attention to Emery. “Tell me you already hired her?”
“Signed and sealed.” Emery nodded emphatically. “She’s ours now. And guess what? She has a son who’s two.”
Raven squealed, basically stamping her ridiculously high heels on the hardwood floors. “This is perfect. The mommas are officially together.”
My head spun, unable to keep up with them. Knowing I probably shouldn’t try to.
That I should deflect and divert.
But isn’t this what I told Nelly I wanted if I could have it?
Friends?
A connection?
Bonds that meant something?
“Wait until you meet Charleigh,” Raven gushed.
“She’s engaged to my brother, River, and they have a little boy named Nolan who is nothing but adorbs.
And then, of course, we have our Maci. The two of them are going to go gaga over your son.
Just wait. Give me your number, we have to make plans to get everyone together. ”
“Oh…” I stammered, half in a daze.
“You might as well not argue with her. This one will hunt you down if you even think of trying to get away from her.” The razzing rolled out of Emery.
Raven gave us a playfully manic grin. “Trust her. I’m not above kidnapping. The rope is in my trunk.”
I didn’t know if I should laugh or be terrified.
She set the bouquet of flowers on a small display table near the windows and pulled her phone from her jacket pocket. She thumbed into it, her fingers poised over the screen. “Hit me with it.”
My number was tumbling out without permission, as if I had no choice but to give it to her.
I had the feeling that might be true.
She giggled as she typed something then waved it at me just as my phone buzzed in my pocket. “There. Welcome to the family, bestie.”
I stood there stunned, having no idea what hit me.
“Okay, I have to run,” Raven said. “My husband, Otto, AKA hottest man on the planet and the deliverer of the best Os in all of history, is bringing lunch to Moonflower, my flower shop next door.”
“Think Emery might have something to say about that.” Kane wagged his brows from where he remained leaned on his hands against the counter.
Emery blushed and swatted in his direction, though the tease was gliding off her tongue. “Don’t go and break Raven’s heart. Let her live in delusion.”
I couldn’t stop the laugh from jolting from my mouth.
Raven pointed between them with her phone still clutched in her hand. “You both just keep dreaming.”
Then she came fumbling up to me in her heels.
She’d pulled me into her arms and was hugging me tight before I had the chance to dodge her advances.
Her belly pressed against mine and her overwhelming sweetness seeped into me.
“Best day ever,” she whispered in my ear as she rocked me back and forth before she suddenly untangled herself and strode for the door. “Love you, cutie batooties. Good luck tomorrow! I’ll stop in to make sure it’s all running as planned!”
She blew a kiss over her shoulder as she disappeared out the door, the bell jingling as she left.
I stared behind her.
Blindsided.
Dumbstruck.
Heart pounding out of rhythm.
A giggle had me turning back to Emery, and she shrugged a sweet shoulder to her ear. “We’re kinda a lot, but I think you’re going to fit right in. Be here at nine in the morning?”
A million reservations blundered through my mind, but I shoved them down and let the hope wash me anew.
“Yeah. I’ll be here.”
I began to back away, taking in Emery and Kane as they stared back at me.
Emery with soft welcoming.
Kane with something knowing in his gaze.
I finally turned when I was within two feet of the door, and I pulled it open so I could step out. Only I stalled midway, turned back to look at Emery, and whispered, “Thank you.”
Her smile widened a fraction. “I think it’s me who should be thanking you.”
Joy threatened to erupt in my chest, this feeling pressing full and heavy. With a tight nod, I forced myself out. The door clattered shut behind me as I stepped out into the brisk, vibrant cold.
I pulled my phone from my pocket so I could order an Uber and saw the notification that a text was waiting for me.
I fought a grin as I read it.
Unknown
It’s me, Raven, you sexy bitch. Surprise party for Emery TOMORROW night at Kane’s (his club, not his house!) Be there at 7! Wear something hot. Don’t make me hunt you down.
That grin spread wide.
Hope was such a risky thing.
That fluttering in my spirit that ached for this.
To belong.
To be held.
To maybe…maybe be loved.
And I was the fool who let Theo’s face flash behind my eyes when I thought it.